Queens Park Rangers 3 - West Bromwich Albion 1

Dave Watkin:

Blundering Baggies Warnock-ed

Albion never really recovered from conceding two early goals against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. They did pull a goal back, but then gifted a third, to ensure that Neil Warnock celebrated a win in his first game as QPR Manager.

Roberto Di Matteo made four changes. The three players, Abdoulaye Meite, Robert Koren and Graham Dorrans, who played full games at international level in midweek, were omitted. Steven Reid, on loan from Blackburn Rovers, made his debut at right back and James Morrison and Youssouf Mulumbu were selected in midfield. In the continued absence of Bednar, Simon Cox was preferred to Luke Moore as lone striker.

Albion made a sluggish start and were punished in the 13th minute. Taarabt raced down the right and hit a low cross into the six yard box which Carson fumbled. When the ball ran free, Jay Simpson pounced to side-foot into the empty net. The second goal, in the 18th minute, was well worked from the home side?s point of view, but appalling defended by a visitor?s viewpoint. Faurlin picked out full back Connolly racing unmarked into the Albion area and he had the relatively simple task of beating the exposed keeper. It took some time, but with Simon Cox making intelligent runs off his marker, the Baggies did begin to threaten. An opportunist shot by Ben Watson forced Ikeme into a flying save. Then, in the 36th minute, Albion put together their best move of the game. The ball was fed into the feet of Simon Cox, who laid it off to Jerome Thomas wide left. The winger crossed to the far post and Chris Brunt, with a very deliberate looping header deceived the keeper. This was our best spell of the game and there a couple more close things, before the half time whistle blew.

The lively Cox was involved in two incidents early in the second half. First he met a Brunt cross at the near post, but volleyed just over; then he twisted past Gorkss and went to ground, but appeals for a penalty were dismissed. Albion needed to make a change and when they did, just after the hour, it was radical; full back Cech replaced by striker Ishmael Miller, as we switched to 3-5-2. However, it was Rangers who scored next, in the 67th minute. They were awarded a free kick wide left, ten yards inside the Albion half, Buzsaky swung the ball in and it pitched on the edge of the six yard box before bouncing high into the net past a static Carson. Cue the arrival of Graham Dorrans for a tiring James Morrison. However, the only significant action was an inspiring run by our attacking left back Jonas Olsson, which finished when he nutmegged a defender and fired in a low shot saved by the keeper. Sadly, the game finished with Simon Cox carried off on a stretcher after having been flattened when the over aggressive goalkeeper came out to collect the ball.

Neil Warnock seems to have succeeded in turning around a side which had lost five of their last six games and only won once since the turn of the year. They were much more determined than we were, closing down players with the ball and making it difficult for us to build attacks on the narrow pitch.

For all the opponents good work it was our own shortcomings which cost us the game. Does Carson need a rest; he was certainly badly at fault for the first and third goals? Don?t we have a competent left back; Cech was nowhere to be seen for the second goal and poor throughout? What happened to Watson; man-of-the match last week, but gave the poorest midfield performance I?ve seen this season? Looking for positives, Gabriel Tamas and Jonas Olsson (after a shaky start) were fine. Simon Cox had his moments, but is not really suited to the lone striker role. I was very impressed by Steven Reid, strong in defence and good going forward and have given him a share of the man-of-the match award with Youssouf Mulumbu, who made mistakes but was the only player to show the sort of commitment needed to match a Warnock side.

We edged possession and had the most shots and corners, but didn?t show our normal dominance. Should we criticise the manager for his team selection, in particular resting Graham Dorrans? It?s certainly shown how vital he is to our team; he?s the driving force behind the midfield and nobody took on that responsibility in his absence. I would certainly have brought him on for the hapless Watson after an hour, when we were only one goal down. This would still have allowed the later introduction of Miller and if Morrison tired, Koren.

STATISTICS

Today?s defeat by QPR, was our first in just over nine years, although the five unbeaten games were spread over just the last four seasons. Fans will hardly need reminding that on our last visit, on Sunday 4th May 2008, we won 2-0, with the goals from Do-Heon Kim and Chris Brunt clinching our first league title for 88 years. Back to the present, the 3-1 reverse equals our largest ever defeat in 36 league and cup games against Rangers, which was also at Loftus Road, in the opening match of the 1984/85 season.

ALBION FORMRATE: POOR

MEN-OF-THE-MATCH: STEVEN REID / YOUSSOUF MULUMBU

Newcastle United hit six at home to Barnsley, so it looks like a straight fight for the second promotion spot with Nottingham Forest, who won 1-0 against fourth placed Swansea City, with a controversial stoppage time goal. We trail by a point, but play our game in hand, at home to Sheffield Wednesday, on Tuesday.

Londonbaggie:

IMO bob matthews should shoulder much of the blame today. The original line up with cox up top on his own and mulumbu and watson both holding players with jimmy mozza in the free creative role. Result no threat on their goal for 30 mins and handing them a 2 goal lead. Yes we could have gone in level but that was down to one good attack and some somewhat Albion like defending. Presumably bob's toys came out of his pram at half time and we came out with a lot more vigour and tempo in our play. That was all undone with a moment of albion like defending and all of a sudden its game over. Yes we still have good individual players but it is up to the head coach to getting them playing well as a team.

Note for batman, our right back is not sh@@e.

Highbury Baggie:

oh dear, oh dear, oh dear oh dear oh dear. A crockful of shite and really no excuses. No excuses from the players who by and large hoofed the ball about like old division three players and certainly no excuses from the management. Granted with Warnock in charge game one, it was a shoe-in of a win, but for large parts of the game the hoops didn't show up and after our first goal, I thought we should have walked it. But we didn't despite dominating the first 20 minutes of the second half. Their third goal was visible to the entire albion faithful right at the opposite end of the ground. We all saw it unfolding in slow motion - cross from the left - goalie goes AWOL - central defence knowhere. Then, with 20 minutes remaining we get Miller and Dorrans on as it goes 4-4-2. Miller is unfit, overweight and sadly out of touch: example - Brunt fires in a near perfect corner and Miller rises to head in what should have been an easy goal, but turns his back at the last moment and the ball spoons over the bar. Bob Matthews is going to be on his way if albion persist with this ineffectual nonsense. Definitely the worst I've seen us play since Bristol City.

And another thing........

No fighters out there today - only Mulumbu. He was the only player to acknowledge the away support today - absolute disgrace - the rest went off heads down, tails between legs, including Bob Matthews. Carson must be dropped - no authority in the box - responsible for all three goals (and claiming others were at fault) - distribution inept. Bring back Deano whatever his age. Back 4 know it, we know it, Carson knows it. What do Bob Matthews and his sidekick think? Naive management, bringing in new players for such an important game, when it was obvious Warnock would have them pumped up (not one of the Albion players was there for this game - why not??).

At best, see you in the premiership next season and back down in the championship in 2011/12. At worst, still in the championship without Dorrans and all the rest of the showboaters who've turned up for the gravy train. Come on you Baggies - save me from a coronary thrombosis!

Chris (Another London Baggie):

Went to Loftus Road today full of hope with the sun shining (although it was bloody cold) - really thought we would win this one. However Colin clearly got his charges "up for it" and had everyone snapping at the heels of every Albion player as soon as they got the ball. Thomas was marked out of the game completely and few others had the gumption to run at the QPR line apart from (surprisingly) Olsson late on. Thus the game became a midfield dog fight which didn't really suit us despite having about seven midfielders on the pitch.

Their first and third goals were gifts - pathetic defending with Carson at fault for both. Their second was well worked and well finished. They had a few other chances as we chased the game and left ourselves open at the back - but QPR were no great shakes, let's be honest.

We actually had relatively few clear cut chances ourselves - apart from the Brunt header (which was well worked) Morrison had a one on one in the first half but that was about it. In the second we had a few shots from around the edge of the penalty area but nothing clear cut. Cox (who was our most energetic player) had a good penalty call turned down in the 2nd half. I thought once we got a goal back we would go on to at least draw if not win it. But to be honest we were out-muscled by a typical Warnock inspired team who chased everything till they dropped. I also thought the lad Taarabt was useful - he played well at the Hawthorns as well against us. Held the ball up well and very skillful to boot - one one of the few players to look comfortable on a hard bouncy (small) pitch.

Not sure there are many "positives" to take away from this performance. Reid looked quality at times but would probably be better in midfield. Mulumbu ran around and tackled a lot but kept giving the ball away. Cox was enthusiastic but his first touch was awful. Thomas was marked out of the game completely. Carson was the culprit for two of the goals although he did make a few good saves as well. Good to see Morrison and Miller back but both are clearly well short of match fitness. But all in all we lacked a cutting edge and wobbled in defence. Dorrans came on but too little too late.

Looking at our run in we still have a great chance of automatic. Forest have to go to Newcastle as yet - whilst our toughest is probably Swnasea away.

Come on you Baggies - we can do it!!!!!

WBAlex:

QPR deservedly took full points, with a typical Warnock inspired performance. People focus on the individual defensive errors, but of most significance to me is that Albion didn't muster one decent chance in the first half (apart from Brunt's goal). The 4-5-1 system doesn't work with Cox as the only forward, although he's as skilful as our other options. He is more the type of player to feed off another striker.

I think there was another problem in midfield. With Dorrans rested for understandable reasons, there was not enough incisive passing forward. Watson is more of a defensive player who sticks his foot in. Mozza was tidy, but didn't really set up any chances, and Mulumbu, who had a good game, is also a defensive midfielder.

On the right wing, I think Zuiverloon was missed. There was a classic misunderstanding betweeen Reid and Brunt, whereas Zuvi and Brunt combine very well, which helps to set up crosses from the right.

Otherwise, I think Reid looked a decent defender, strong in individual duels, and he did make a few decent runs through the middle.

Albion will have to (using the never-to-be forgotten Mowbray phrase) take it on the chin and move on.

John Deol:

The blame for this defeat lies at the feet (or rather the flailing arms) of one man - Calamity Carson. I don't think we'd have have lost to a poor Rangers team without those cock-ups. The goals knocked the stuffing out of a nervy looking Baggies team with a number of new boys and returning from injury players. The first and third goals were an embarrassment. The look on Steven Reid's face after the first goal said it all. His glare at Carson seemed to read: 'Were you really once picked for England? No way!'. The new boys - Reid and Watson - haven't settled in yet and the returning players - Thomas, Morrison and Miller - looked match unfit. With Dorrans back in the starting line-up for the Wednesday game, some desperately lacking stability should return to the team. Up front is a real concern though. Without Bednar we look toothless.