Aussies first post back on the TFF told us to get to the ground early, I always do anyway and did he say that because we were expecting a big crowd? To be honest 1429 was a bit disappointing as that figure was made up with a good number of QPR fans and on the popside it was so empty you could walk around any part of it you liked.
I got to my place on the popside and there right in front of me was Neil Warnock giving and interview and thanks to these wonderful magic mobile phones we have today I was able to take a picture of him.
There they were packing away the cameras used in the interview and I looked up to see that gentle giant Andy Charles standing looking down on the little one, I never mind having to look up to this fine person and we enjoyed a very good chat for a while until that Jon and chelstongull only went and stole him from me. I was also very surprised and pleased to see Ant walking up with big Al to take his place with me on the popside, having Ant at a game with me has not happened for such a long time sadly due to issues discussed before.
I expect due to Mark Ellis having an over night stay in Torbay hospital after receiving a knock to the head during the Plymouth game, that the starting line up was maybe the side Paul Buckle would put out for a league game with the players he currently has to pick from.
If Mark had been OK to play then I would have had Robertson as the right back as he grew into that position at the end of last season and have Mansell in the midfield along side Wroe instead of O'Kane. Nicky Wroe I felt played brilliant in this game and while O'Kane had some nice touches in the first half, if Wroe plays in future games as well as he did against QPR, I would rather see Mansell playing in the middle with him.
I like the look of Billy Kee who is strong, never ever looks prepared to pull out of any tackle and will I’m sure get goals for us, but I’m not sure if Benyon is the best player to play up front with him. We worked very hard in the first half but did give possession of the ball away far too much and for nearly the whole of the first half failed to create one single decent chance. I had to keep looking to see if Elliot was still on the pitch as he was so hardly in the game at all in the first half.
QRP’s first goal came about because we once again lost the ball in the midfield and a clever flick with the outside of the right boot saw the ball go out wide on the left hand side of the pitch deep in our half, followed by a good cross and a simple unchallenged header hitting the back of the net.
I wished the few fans that did bother to sing sung songs to encourage our own team instead we were treated to songs for the whole of the first half aimed and Mackie and yes many had the sort of language used in them you end up asking is there really any need for it at all. So fed up Mackie was of the treatment he was receiving he swopped places with a fellow QPR player and ended up playing most of his football more towards the main stand. Mackie did not have a very good game but did have a decent effort on goal with a shot from the edge of the box that Scott Bevan was able to get down to and save with relative ease.
Scott Bevan had a very fine game and played the whole if it, he made some very good saves indeed and he found himself having a player with a one on one with him and I was expecting to see the QPR player chip the ball over Scott, but Scott stayed nice and big and was able to block the shot when it came.
Shortly after this Mackie had is only other effort on goal a header he put well over the bar. A good long ball was played into acres of space toward the corner flag in the QPR half of the pitch; Billy went racing from his starting position just outside the box to try and get to the ball, and once he got there he almost stood still letting the QPR defender just bounce off him. He then played in a very neat ball to Danny Stevens who was bursting into the right hand side of the QPR box; he took a shot that got blocked.
Billy also played in Zebs into the left hand side of the QPR box with a good pass, Zebs twisted and turned and finally got off a good shot that was very well saved but that was the only real effort we had on goal in the first half.
The start of the second half saw Grits on for Billy and we looked a much better attacking force with grits winning many headers and his ability to hold up the ball and bring others into the game and I would love to see both Grits and Billy start together as I’m sure it could be a very good partnership.
We started creating more chances and Benyon might have scored after a Nico free kick headed for the back post but Benyon was only able to hook his shot wide of the post. QPR were still having their fair share of the ball and attacks and Mansell did ever so well when a ball was flashed across the face of our goal from the right hand side to someone get the ball around the post and out for a corner.
Nico was having a much better game than he did against Plymouth, that partly was due to the fact he did not really have to deal with a pacey winger always looking to take him on and get past him and as a result Nico found he had far more time on the ball to pick out his passes.
He took one corner that Zebs got his head onto and the header was downward bouncing up in front of the QPR keeper who made a good reaction save and the ball fell back at Zebs feet and he hit it at the goal again and I thought he just spooned it over the bar but as a corner was giving it must have taken a defection before it went over the crossbar.
Our goal came about because of the very hard work of Zebs himself, he fought hard to win the ball from the two QPR players on him and poked the ball forward, it looked impossible to catch up with the ball before it went out for a goal kick, but he got there, it a first time cross and there was Robertson to put a very powerful header past the QPR keeper.
Lathrope came on for us and I felt a bit sorry for him as he lost the ball one once but twice due to simply being to slow and wanting to much time on the ball and he was never going to get that as QPR often hunted in twos when they were trying to win the ball back.
Charnock made a wonderful tackle in our box as the QPR forward was one on one with Scott bevan, he had to time the tackle to perfection and thankfully got it right or else the ref would have been pointing to the spot.
Bevan made a wonder save from a shot from the number 16 of QPR, he jinked into our box on the left and hit such a powerful shot, but there was Bevs flying through the air to beat the ball put with his hands.
The second goal for QPR came when Mansell let his man go outside him who then hit a wonder shot that gave Bevan no chance at all. Halpin was doing what he always doe and running at defenders always looking to shoot, he does get lucky at times as a tackle comes in on him and somehow he still finds the ball at his feet. His best chance came when the ball came to him just inside the box but he ballooned the ball well over the crossbar.
We did look like we would end the game at two all when nico played a cross into a tightly packed area with Benyon hooking the ball into the goal right on the goal line, the ref saw a push somewhere in the box and disallowed the goal.
A few second later a shot from just outside the area found its way across Bevan and into the back of the net with Bevan still standing upright and then letting our defenders know what he thought of their defending.
All in all a good game with our players showing a good standard of play more and more as the game went on and for the last quarter of the game looked a very capable side who should do well for us this season.
These boys get so wrapped up in their ipods and play stations, they neither know nor care where the team coach is taking them..................
