Monday 3rd January 2011
Loftus Road Stadium
Npower Football League Championship
Referee: F Graham
Attendance: 15,618
Queens Park Rangers 2-2 Bristol City

QPR starting line-up: Kenny, Orr, Hill, Derry, Taraabt (Vaagen-Moen 87), Faurlin, Mackie, Gorkss, Walker, Hulse, Smith.

Bristol City starting line-up: James, Elliott, Johnson (Stewart 88), Skuse, Campbell-Ryce, Cisse, Nyatanga, Adomah (Haynes 74), Stead (Clarkson 66), Pitman, Caulker.

Queens Park Rangers dominated this match from start to finish and, had it not been for two silly defensive mistakes, would have won comfortably. I don’t often like to single players out in my match reports, but on this occasion Rob Hulse, as well as Kaspars Gorkss and Clint Hill, have to take a large share of the responsibility for the failure to beat Keith Millen’s Bristol City team. The former Derby County striker squandered three or four golden opportunities, which quite simply should have ended up in the back of the net.

Since the match, I have read one or two interesting posts on WATRB that have defended Hulse’s performance, pointing out that he won several crucial headers outside the box and got himself into some dangerous positions. I don’t dispute this, but the fact of the matter is that, as a striker, he needs to be able to convert chances into goals. He needs to improve dramatically in that respect if he is going to retain his place in the side. However, I’m still not convinced that Hulse is fully fit and I don’t think that we should write him off just yet. After all, his career record illustrates that he is capable of scoring prolifically at this level. Perhaps we need to be a little more patient with the forward.

It was a shame because, in many ways, this was an excellent performance from Queens Park Rangers. Bristol City were on the backfoot for the entire match and, frankly, were outclassed by the Rs’ midfield combination of Faurlin, Derry and Taraabt. I did have to laugh when Keith Millen claimed that the Reds “deserved their point” , as I hadn’t seen such a one-sided affair for quite some time. Tommy Smith, who has just signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the club, was absolutely superb, causing the opposing fullback problems throughout and producing several excellent crosses into the penalty area, which really should have been converted. However, I know it’s a cliché, but it’s the goals that matter and the Super Hoops were not clinical enough inside the box.

QPR started brightly and almost took the lead with only five minutes on the clock. Star man, Adel Taraabt, received the ball 35 yards out from goal and unleashed an audacious drive, which sailed inches past David James’ right-hand post. The Moroccan is continuing to impress and I just hope that a Premiership club doesn’t become interested in securing his services: after the departure of Kyle Walker, we can ill-afford to lose another key player.

Five minutes later, Tommy Smith picked up the ball on the left flank and, skilfully beating the fullback, produced a perfect cross into the penalty area, finding the unmarked Rob Hulse. To my despair, the striker could only send his header sailing well over the crossbar. He really should have done better.

Then, Hulse had an opportunity to redeem himself in an almost identical situation. Once again, Smith did all the hard work, progressing down the left flank and curling it into the penalty area. This time, the striker’s header was more powerful and accurate, forcing former England international goalkeeper, David James, into a superb diving save. Still, I couldn’t help thinking that he should have put it into the back of the net from such close range.

It took the away team 41 minutes to carve out their first opportunity of the match. Driving towards Gorkss and Hill, Pitman smashed the ball towards the bottom right-hand corner, forcing Kenny into a decent save. Pitman, along with Campbell-Ryce, was probably one of the only City players who posed a strong threat to the Rs’ defence and would eventually go on to score.

Just a minute before half time, Rob Hulse was gifted yet another opportunity. This time Mackie was the provider, charging down the right-hand side and whipping a cross into the penalty area. From just a couple of yards out, the former Derby County man could only head it over the crossbar, much to my frustration.

Half-time scoreline: Queens Park Rangers 0-0 Bristol City

Five minutes after the break, disaster struck. Clint Hill, who was filling in for the suspended Matthew Connolly, completely messed up his clearance from an aimless long-ball up the pitch, heading it straight to Pitman. The young forward completed the simple task of tapping it past Paddy Kenny and into the back of the net, sending the travelling supporters into wild celebration in the School End.

Fortunately, Queens Park Rangers have an excellent team spirit this season and responded almost immediately with a fantastic equaliser. Once again, it was Adel Taraabt who created the goal, receiving the ball on the byline and confusing a defender with a series of step-overs. The Moroccan then passed to the onrushing Alejandro Faurlin, who slotted it neatly into the bottom corner of the net.

Following that, Rob Hulse squandered two more golden opportunities. Firstly, he skilfully spun away from his marker inside the penalty box, before scooping his effort over the crossbar. Then, for the third time, he headed over the crossbar from Tommy Smith’s beautiful cross. I was beginning to feel that this wouldn’t be Queens Park Rangers’ day. But, just five minutes from the end, the breakthrough came.

After a deep cross into the penalty area, Marvin Elliott was adjudged to have held back Rob Hulse, the referee pointing to the spot immediately. I have to say, it seemed to be a very harsh decision on the City defender, but I didn’t particularly care about that when Adel Taraabt smashed the resulting kick into the corner of the net, seemingly winning the game for Warnock’s men.

But things took a dramatic twist in the 92nd minute. Campbell-Ryce picked up the ball on the left flank and charged at the defence, cutting inside and curling a beautiful effort towards goal, Paddy Kenny making an absolutely terrific save, pushing it out for a corner. Then, from the resulting set piece, the unmarked Caulker headed past Kenny and into the net, silencing the Loftus Road crowd.

Even after that, the Rs could have snatched the three points. Substitute and debutant, Petter Vaagen-Moen, crossed into the area, finding Tommy Smith at the far post. However, the former Watford winger sliced his effort high over the crossbar.

Full time scoreline: Queens Park Rangers 2-2 Bristol City

Conclusion

Make no mistake: this was a disappointing result. The performance, however, was mostly superb and I don't agree with supporters who have said that "things are starting to go horribly wrong". We are not an "invincible" side and there will be times when we drop points, even against struggling opposition, as West Brom and Newcastle did last season. Obviously it is a shame to lose Kyle Walker, a player who has been brilliant for the club over the last few months. However, I am confident that the manager will make a few useful additions to the squad during the current transfer window. Keep the faith: in Warnock we trust.

Man of the match: Tommy Smith - this was the best I have seen him play. Caused problems for City throughout and deserved to score right at the end. Hopefully he can continue to produce performances of this standard: if so, I'm sure he will prove to be a real asset to the club.