The Dazed Review – QPR at the KC

After the FA Cup exploits of the previous week it was back to business as wee looked to carry on our recent resurgence in league form and try and pull away from the bottom three to try and get some much needed daylight so we could all breath a little easier as the season enters its second half.

There were three changes to the side that drew against Middlesborough, all expected, Marney, Delaney and Barmby all returned to the starting XI with Coles, France and Elliott making way, France did not even make the squad at all. QPR had come out 2-0 winners at the away game so this was a game not to be taken lightly despite our good form and their in comparison patchy form of late.

As the game kicked off we seemed to start slowly and it was QPR who were making the early advances in the game although Barmby had the first chance with a speculative effort which went wide, we seemed to allow them too much time on the ball when they were going forward although when ever we got control of the ball we looked a very threatening team and every attack looked like it would end up in a shot ? Then Mcphee had the ball in the back of the net with a cool finish only for it to be ruled offside, this seemed to wake our team and our fans up as we started to see that we were out to attack QPR who had already started with the time wasting tricks (walking at a snails pace to get the ball at any opportunity and going down at the faintest challenge) trouble is the ref was playing up to this and breaking the game up way too often for us to get any momentum.

Credit to the lads though they carried on when they could and it was only ourselves who seemed to have the chances, Turner had a glorious chance which he was unlucky not to score, for a defender who has been slated so much I like his composure when presented with an opportunity like that, did not panic and knew what he had to do. Unfortunately wide on this occasion however.

Mcphee then cheekily lobbed the keeper only for it to bounce agonizingly wide, this guy needs a goal, everything else is there in his play, just needs that first of what I hope will be many goals.

After these chances the game descended into a farce to be honest, a whistle stop every minute or so, neither team could get going and the physios were doing the most running on the pitch! A nice piece of sportsmanship when the QPR physio offered himself straight away to treat Delaney I think it was when Barmby was already being treated by our physio, the treatment was not required but it showed a rare good gesture between the teams when otherwise it was in danger of boiling over into a free for all on the pitch at times and all down to one man in my opinion, the referee. Parkin got himself booked carelessly also as the half drew to a close and then QPR gave us a sucker punch by taking the lead, Ricketts should have never allowed himself to be made to look as bad as he did and Myhill then fumbled the ball on the cross for them to score in what was a comedy goal and reminded me too much of silly errors we used to make a few games back.

Half time – Hull City 0 – 1 QPR

The Second half started and Barmby had to come off with a swollen ankle, Forster replaced him and I feared although Barmby had not had a great game that we would miss him because in his recent form he has always been capable of that one piece of magic to unlock the defense and score or create that goal for us. I feared we would not get what we deserved.

Then the ref decided to be even more annoying and start the crowd off nicely by claiming on two false starts to the half which most refs would have just let go, this typifies the ref and his game, too bothered about the silly things and did not get a grip on what actually mattered which was controlling two sets of increasingly angry and frustrated players, it was both teams that were getting frustrated not just ourselves.

Forster was getting himself involved nicely and hit the side netting before being brought down on the edge of the area which should have resulted in a straight red for the QPR player as he was clean through and goal and would have scored in my opinion, the resulting free kick hit the post and if anyone had been around the 6 yd box then they would have surely scored.

It was then that the ref decided to play with his yellow card a bit, Ashbee showed his frustration at the game by booting the ball into row Z of the east stand and got himself booked for it, Livermore soon after for his second mistimed challenge of the afternoon, Duffy then came on for Mcphee as we looked to try and pressure their goal to get at least an equalizer and get at least a point as we did not deserve to lose this one.

Forster then came close once more and Turner hit the bar from a corner, QPR had a chance that hit the side netting as we had a rare period of non stop play! Parkin then missed a great chance for us before we brought on Elliott for Livermore as we looked to desperately get something from the game as the clock was ticking down worryingly and we looked like it just was not going to happen.

Elliott came close once with a header, it was all pressure by us and it told in the end when Parkin held the ball up wonderfully for Marney to get into position for a neat pass from Parkin, he then put a great little cross in for one of Elliott or Duffy to tap in, Elliott duly did the deed and we were level! With 5 minutes to go still we started to wonder could we win this one now? Our players definitely thought we could as we launched wave after wave of attack, especially when a QPR player had himself sent off for dissent after what was really a valid claim for a penalty. Marney shot high and wide with a free kick but did so much better with a corner which Elliott neatly headed in for us to take the lead in stoppage time.

It looked like we had it won but QPR started playing again and only Jon Parkin stopped an equalizer as he headed off the line to save our three points and get us the result that over the 90 minutes I feel we truly deserved.

Credit has to go to each and every player in black and amber for not giving up and showing the fight and determination that had been lacking so often earlier this season, get a few more on the bounce and who knows where we could end up? Top ten anyone? (Kidding)

Full time – Hull City – 2 – 1 QPR


Anyway Player Ratings

Myhill – 6 – You would have to say that the goal was at least partly down to him, but otherwise hardly troubled throughout the game.

Dawson – 7 – Carried on with his good form of late, like the way that he seems to be getting forward a lot more recently.

Delaney – 7 – Glad to have him back, no disrespect to Coles but Delaney just seems a lot more “safe” than Coles does.

Turner – 8 – Really good performance yet again from Turner, Amazing his change around in form at of late, You can tell Phil Brown has been working with him quite a bit.

Ricketts – 6 – Was made to look foolish on QPR`s Goal but other than that pretty solid and putting in some useful balls into and around the box going forward.

Ashbee – 7 – Good game by Ash, seemed to revel in the what had become hostile atmosphere on the pitch and got himself stuck in where needed, should not have been booked.

Livermore – 8 – The Perfect compliment for Ashbee with system that we play, goes about his job quietly and always helping to maintain that we run the middle of the park, mistimed a couple of challenges though and got booked as a result, is he to miss next game?

Marney – 7 – Wayward free kicks at times but kept on going and ended up with two assists to his name for the game, over all well played, will be interesting to see him against Middlesborough on Tuesday.

Barmby – 6 – Not a great game, well not as good as his last couple of games anyway, misses Middlesborough on Tuesday, hope he is back to “remind” Peter Taylor of what he missed out on by not playing him in this type of role!

Mcphee – 7 – Getting more and more chances each game and had a goal disallowed, get the feeling once he gets his first goal they will come flooding in for him, his over all contribution is already making a few fans say “Craig who?”.

Parkin – 6 – Did the job he is asked to do well enough, just do not like the way that when he is challenging for a header, afterwards instead of chasing the ball afterwards a number of times he just seems to be stood there wondering why he did not win the header, great pass to Marney to help set up the first goal though.

Subs

Forster – 7 – Thought he did well when he came on, terribly fouled when through on goal which should have resulted in a red card but knew only one direction whenever he had the ball, always looking to get a shot away.

Duffy – 6 – Hassled the defense and seems to be able to draw fouls from the opposition instead of simply getting shoved of the ball like he used to, whether this is him making the most of it or not who knows?

Elliott – 7 – Came on with one aim to score goals and he did it, twice! Could not ask for more than that from the guy really, Added more assurance in the box height wise I feel. When was the last time a sub made such an impact for us?

Top Tiger – – Turner for me, his partnership with Delaney is looking better and better each week, credit to Livermore also for the vital role he plays each week.

Tigers Tail – – I think Ricketts purely on the way he was skinned for the QPR goal, made to look like a very low league player by the winger on a few times.

Brown`s Performance – 8/10 – Showed that he just will not give up trying to go for goals by bringing on Elliott to essentially have four forwards on towards the end, and it paid great dividends.

Crowd Watch – 8/10 – The Ref played his part in getting all four sections of the crowd going and the atmosphere especially in the last fifteen minutes was electric, best I have heard for a long while.

Ref Watch – 2/10 – Shocking is the word, for an hour it was all QPR and then he seemed to want to make it up by giving us every decision for the last half hour, gave out silly cards, played up to QPR`s play acting and gave them it all, really generally pissed off both sets of players.

Where to from here? – First of all the small matter of an FA cup game against Middlesborough which to be honest I cannot see us getting anything out of, then from there we go to Crystal Palace and go see our old boss Peter Taylor, they have been on good form of late and so will provide a stern test, mind you with three league wins on the bounce who knows what could happen as we look sharp, confident and always capable of getting a goal whether it be in the first ten minutes or in the last few minutes added time!