Quick report

[LoughboroBlade]

Warmth just about returned to my fingers...

Thought after the horrific start today we played well, did well to equalise, and worked hard throughout.

Unfortunately, we played well under the serious limitations that our tactics allowed. QPR really were there for the taking. We created some good chances to win it even with this system - we might have actually won with a bit more ambition. Unfortunately, no change to the system meant we were hanging on to one point at the end, when really this could have been three. To make not even one chance was just odd, and I'm concerned that Blackwell will be delighted tonight with just 1 point.

Kallio did well to set up the goal. Quinn and Ward (should have scored 1st half) were good in patches. Bunn was really solid (great grab to deny a 1 on 1 chance), Morgs was a rock at the back.

Unbeaten run continues though, and the table still looks encouraging.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I'd agree with most of that. We could have done with camara coming on towards the end. Both teams will have thought they could have won that. Like you disappointed to see blackwell not looking to mix it up towards the end. Felt we were hanging on for the last 5.

 

[tomtheblade]

Considering West Brom struggled to get a draw at home to QPR on monday, a draw at loftus road isn't altogether a bad result.

I just wish it was a draw with a good positive performance rather than a draw with a negative, scrappy performance.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

A decent point out of a tricky away game. Bag it, and move on...

 

[Highbury_Blade]

A decent point out of a tricky away game. Bag it, and move on...

Nothing decent about it.

QPR were there for the taking, but we didn't have the balls to go for it.

 

[WorkingtonBlade]

I didn't think the performance was negative and scrappy overall. After a poor start we had the better of the remainder of the first half (the better team from the time we scored). In the second half we lost the initiative and QPR had the better of it, albeit without creating many clear cut chances.

To say we didn't create a single chance is just untrue. We had chances - we just didn't get the resulting efforts on target.

I didn't think QPR were bad. They were very much up for it, and threw everything at us from the start, but having conceded the early goal (a deflected shot) we did well to stop that turning into an avalanche, and to turn it around.

Not a great performance by any means, but deserving of a point at a difficult place to go, at a difficult time.

We simply do not have the resources to expect to play well every week. The key is picking up points when we're not at our best, and that's what we've done.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

Nothing decent about it.

QPR were there for the taking, but we didn't have the balls to go for it.

Wasn't there Highbury, so I'll have to defer to your views, but there are many times when 'going for the 3 points' ends up in getting caught on the break and coming away with nothing. From a distance and taking the fixture on paper, I think a point is a decent outcome...

 

[Micalijo]

Hello Duncs - I agree with you.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Wasn't there Highbury, so I'll have to defer to your views, but there are many times when 'going for the 3 points' ends up in getting caught on the break and coming away with nothing. From a distance and taking the fixture on paper, I think a point is a decent outcome...

We lined up to get a point, but we didn't go any further. Stewart was ineffective down the left, and cresswell was very isolated upfront. This was obvious for most of the game.

Monty was playing very deep which should have allowed Quinn and harper to push up on the counter, but this happened on very few occasions.

When we broke, there was only creswell in the centre with 3 defenders..

Rubbish tactics today in my opinion.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I didn't think the performance was negative and scrappy overall. After a poor start we had the better of the remainder of the first half (the better team from the time we scored). In the second half we lost the initiative and QPR had the better of it, albeit without creating many clear cut chances.

To say we didn't create a single chance is just untrue. We had chances - we just didn't get the resulting efforts on target.

I didn't think QPR were bad. They were very much up for it, and threw everything at us from the start, but having conceded the early goal (a deflected shot) we did well to stop that turning into an avalanche, and to turn it around.

Not a great performance by any means, but deserving of a point at a difficult place to go, at a difficult time.

We simply do not have the resources to expect to play well every week. The key is picking up points when we're not at our best, and that's what we've done.

Thing is, I did think we put the ball about quite well yesterday, but the moment we got near the final third we just looked isolated - it either resulted in Cresswell holding it up, seeing little support, and the move dying, or either Ward or Stewart would get it down the wing and have about one person in the box to aim at.

QPR's defence were struggling to clear their lines from the hopeful crosses we were hitting in - they did not look comfortable, and really we needed someone up with Cresswell. Cresswell himself looked absolutely exhausted the final 10 minutes - I was amazed, given how we worry about players picking up injuries at the minute, that he wasnn't subbed.

Best chances for us to get a second were i) Ward's poor left-footer that dragged the ball wide 1st half after a good move involving Quinn, ii) Harper's great chance after being set-up by Quinn, and iii) Cresswell's header that went wide. 3 good chances, none of which tested the keeper unfortunately.

Also looked as though in the 2nd half QPR had a good shout for a penalty, so perhaps on reflection it isn't a bad result. In truth though, if we're really wanting to make up the ground we ceded in the dodgy run this season, this is one of those missed opportunities.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

Hello Duncs - I agree with you.

 

[Willie Carlin]

Thing is, I did think we put the ball about quite well yesterday, but the moment we got near the final third we just looked isolated - it either resulted in Cresswell holding it up, seeing little support, and the move dying, or either Ward or Stewart would get it down the wing and have about one person in the box to aim at.

QPR's defence were struggling to clear their lines from the hopeful crosses we were hitting in - they did not look comfortable, and really we needed someone up with Cresswell. Cresswell himself looked absolutely exhausted the final 10 minutes - I was amazed, given how we worry about players picking up injuries at the minute, that he wasnn't subbed.

Best chances for us to get a second were i) Ward's poor left-footer that dragged the ball wide 1st half after a good move involving Quinn, ii) Harper's great chance after being set-up by Quinn, and iii) Cresswell's header that went wide. 3 good chances, none of which tested the keeper unfortunately.

Also looked as though in the 2nd half QPR had a good shout for a penalty, so perhaps on reflection it isn't a bad result. In truth though, if we're really wanting to make up the ground we ceded in the dodgy run this season, this is one of those missed opportunities.

Looks by your report and reports in this mornings paper that Quinny had
another decent game.

 

[bladeinlondon]

I think we were all pretty much agreed in teh pub aftrwards that we dominated most of the first half; evens first 30 mins of second half and a nervy final 15. yes we could have won but we could easily have lost so a point was a fair result. Worry again about KB's reluctance to substitute. Stewart had a stinker -why not sub for Little? Cresswell was tired and we know Camaro as a late sub lifts the team but KB didnot even have anyone warming up in freeezing conditions. Speed seemed to be giving him some serious ear hole for the last 15. I am sure he will be off to do it his way as soon as he gets a chance and I suspect the improvements we have seen in oving teh ball around on the ground are his work not KBs

 

[bladeinlondon]

Looks by your report and reports in this mornings paper that Quinny had
another decent game.

He did - he really ran his little socks off

 

[DazBlade88]

I didn't mind the fact we went for a point, you have to sometimes.

But, after 75 minutes when you realise that the side we were up against weren't great defensively you've got to think you've got a chance to make a sub that can change the game. I firmly believe if we'd have brought on Camara to support Creswell and gone 4-4-2 we could have won it. Their defence wouldn't have been able to handle his pace.

What really pisses me off though, is when you hit them on the counter attack in the last minute, giving yourself a chance to win the game, and run it into the corner. I was furious about that.

I'd have took a point before the game, so I'm not complaining about the result. It's just disappointing to see us not even attempt to win the game late on.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

I firmly believe if we'd have brought on Camara to support Creswell and gone 4-4-2 we could have won it. Their defence wouldn't have been able to handle his pace.

To be honest, we didn't even need to make that drastic a change. Cresswell could barely run the last 10 minutes, so even subbing him off for Camara would have been a positive move - it at least could have meant that whacking it into the channels might lead to someone like Camara creating a chance for themselves.