Really pleased for the club, the players, NW and us, the fans. Great to read so many happy, positive comments from one and all.
I quite enjoyed this game. The first half was difficult as Leeds didn't show too much ambition so it was up to us to try and break them down, it was very similar to our last home game v Preston. It looked like another nil nil was on the cards. We did have the majority of the possession and got the ball forward into good wide positions but the delivery and execution when we had chances were lacking. We needed a little bit of stardust to sprinkle on the team. That came on the 57th minute mark. Austin and Chery on for Petrasso and Yun. Within thirty seconds Chery played a ball inside the Leeds left full-back Taylor, Phillips latched onto it and charged for the goal line only for Taylor to recover and block the cross and give away a corner. Faurlin took it and the cross was perfect as Austin made a simple run, lost his man and powered his header into the goal for the winner with his first touch of the ball. The game should of been put to bed as the excellent Leeds keeper Silvestri, pulled off two magnificent saves to foil a Hoilett chance and then a point blank effort from Chery. This game could easily have been 3-0 to the R's and it would have been a deserved score line. QPR finished the last five or so minutes on the back foot as Leeds decided to try and get something from the game. If they did it would of been an injustice. QPR held firm to rightly claim all three points. I'd just like to mention the Leeds fans. I felt a bit sorry for them. They filled both the upper and lower tiers of the school end. They were in full voice and backed their team and this added immensely to the atmosphere of the game. This enthusiasm started to wane as they realised that their team didn't display the same passion and it became evident that we were dominating the game. Their singing however loud was never going to lift the team. It replicated us on the many occasions when we've turned up at away games with great support only to be confronted with the same lack of response. Brentford away, Charlton twice, West Ham, Spurs, Arsenal etc ... even Wembley it could be argued. Green - 6 Not his fault, I could've played in goal for us today. Perch - 6 Showed signs of improvement and was better in the 2nd half. Konchesky - 6 Good first half but faded in the 2nd. Possibly due to him playing a more defensive role. Onuoha - 8 Has been impressive the last two games and looks more confident and the Captain we all expected to see. Hall - 8 He is our most consistent player. Steady and reliable and reads the game well. Faurlin & Sandro - 8 They're both growing as a pair. They both lasted the full 90 minutes which is a massive bonus to the team. Sandro even got a standing ovation on returning to the dressing room after the game. This partnership could be key to how the rest of our season develops. Hoilett - 9 He was my motm. He was up for this and was as lively as I've ever seen him. It just goes to show how a players performance can be elevated with confidence. The way Warnock hugged him after he was substituted spoke volumes. Petrasso - 6 He got into some good positions in the first half and tried to beat the full-back with limited success. It was good to see him start and hopefully will learn and develop enough to become a regular. Yun - 6 Very much similar to Petrasso. Fairly solid but unremarkable. Probably needs more game time to get into full flow. Phillips -7 It's hard to judge Phillips. To play him as a lone striker is unfair. He gave his all and wasn't short of effort but lacks the awareness that a striker needs to make those instinctive runs in and around the box. He was superb when Charlie came on and reverted to his natural position. Subs - Austin - 8 Scored with his first touch and his all round game was excellent. He was strong and good on the ball and laid the ball off well. Chery - 7 The whole dynamic of the team changed when he entered the arena. There was some great inter play with the front four of Hoilett, Phillips and Austin. When we got the ball down and played we would struggle to find a better footballing side in this division this season. We played some of the best football I've seen from us for quite some time. Henry - n/a He came on very late for Hoilett in a typical Warnock manoeuvre to protect the centre backs in the latter stages of a game. He used to use Fitz-Hall in a similar fashion quite often too in his last stint as manager.
Couldn't make the game, but it sounds like we're actually playing as a team. This isn't a moan, but a general question, is Polter injured? Thought it might have been a good half for him to play in rather than Phillips (bit like the Iceman used to do in Warnock's 2011 vintage) prior to Austin coming on?
Got five minutes at Birmingham and it had to be seen to be believed. Still, plenty of players have had unspectacular starts and just needed time to settle in. If we'd had a League Cup run (lol) he'd probably have featured more. Expect to see him for our annual FA Cup tie.
If he was half as good as the Iceman he'd have been in the squad and on the bench at least throughout the season, his absence under two different managers speaks volumes...
That has to call into question the Director of Football's judgement of a player in a key position in the team, especially as they were expecting to sell Charlie...
Warnock needs to stay you know....this is so against my way of thinking that it shocks me. I want to move my team forward, and Colin is not the way forward.....but what he can do with a bunch of players to make them a team is amazing. The CD are solid...and we now have 3 (Ned and Hall, with Clint as back up.) We are not shipping goals He has a solid partnership starting in midfield between Ale and Sandro (bit like Lady Gaga song Alejandro) He has Junior pretending to be Adel. If Colin can keep Austin after Jan (and he might just do that ) I think Colin has the measure of this team....and I would like to see him take it forward An interesting aside yesterday TF tweeted (please some one get his phone off him) "talking to a prospective manager, who said Loftus Road is like a 12th man "...and what did Colin say in the after match press conference. "Loftus Road was rocking...it was just like having a 12th man" (Am I reading too much into that)
Warnock has changed his tune and it is clear from his post match interview that he wants the job. If he isn't offered the job, I think I will give up, I honestly do.
Agree entirely Kerry.....I know I am back tracking, I admit it, but Colin can work miracles. Sandro was given an ovation in the dressing room after the match, on Colins request...Sandro says the spirit is great.. The fact that Austin wanted to get on, another testament...He was disinterested with Chris in charge I too will dismay if SLF cannot see what is happening.....Another good display on Thursday, and it could seal Colins job....come on u RRRS
I said to Simon at half time...where is Col, he ought to be watching this....we would never hear the end of it! When is your next foray to the hallowed ground Col???
