[Archived] Match Report: Qpr 2 - 2 Blackburn Rovers

[Kamy100]

Parsonblue's match report from the QPR match:

Wednesday 16^th September 2015 – Football League Championship

Queens Park Rangers 2 v 2 Blackburn Rovers

Queens Park Rangers (0) 2

Henley (own goal) 46, Onuoha 79

Alex Smithies; James Perch, Nedum Onuoha, Gabriele Angella, Paul Konchesky; Karl Henry, Daniek Tozser; Matt Phillips, Massimo Luongo, Tjaronn Chery (Jamie Mackie 68); Charlie Austin.

Subs not used: Joe Lumley (gk), Grant Hall, Clint Hill, Ben Gladwin, Michael Doughty, Alejandro Faurlin.

Head Coach: Chris Ramsey

Blackburn Rovers (1) 2

Duffy 14, Rhodes 60

Jason Steele; Adam Henley, Shane Duffy, Grant Hanley, Tommy Spurr (Marcus Olsson 8); Ben Marshall (Tom Lawrence 89), Danny Guthrie, Corry Evans, Craig Conway; Fodé Koita (Nathan Delfouneso 82), Jordan Rhodes.

Subs not used: David Raya (gk), Matt Kilgallon, John O’Sullivan, Hope Akpan.

Manager: Gary Bowyer

Referee: Mr. D. Deadman

Bookings: Queens Park Rangers – Alex Smithies, Charlie Austin

Blackburn Rovers – Adam Henley, Danny Guthrie

Attendance: 14,007

The search for the first three points of the season goes on but there can be no doubt that this encounter, against one of the club’s tipped for promotion, produced some real signs of encouragement for Ewood’s travelling fans. As at Craven Cottage on Sunday, the Rovers produced any number of chances to have won the game with ease but, sadly, were simply not ruthless enough in front of goal. Nonetheless, this was a performance which offered hope for the future and certainly shot down rumours of the manager having lost the dressing room. The players certainly put in a shift for the man that many would have us believe had lost the players some time ago.

After the terrific second-half performance against Fulham, the manager kept the side which began that half at Craven Cottage but within the opening minutes a change was required when Tommy Spurr was laid out after a corner in the opening exchange of the game. Spurr, who had taken a knee to the face, received lengthy treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off to be replaced by Marcus Olsson.

The Rovers took the lead after fourteen minutes. After Craig Conway had been brought down, he took the free-kick and lofted the ball to the back post. Shane Duffy and Alex Smithies went for the ball and the ‘keeper appeared to drop the ball at the feet of Duffy who merely prodded it over the line. Smithies, making his debut for Rangers, complained bitterly to the linesman to the extent that to compound his misery the referee promptly booked him.

The Rovers continued to press Rangers back and both Conway and Rhodes had shots blocked as the home defence looked increasingly uncomfortable. A shot from Ben Marshall was deflected into the path of Fodé Koita but his effort was blocked for a corner.

At this juncture it was all Rovers as the home side looked increasingly rattled and unable to get Charlie Austin into the game.

On twenty minutes, Koita headed the ball on into the path of Rhodes who took it on but his shot was deflected wide for yet another corner.

The home side put a telling move together a couple of minutes later but when the ball came to Karl Henry he fired over the bar from the edge of the area.

Marshall, who was finding plenty of time and space, picked out Rhodes with an inch perfect pass but the striker hesitated momentarily and a last ditch tackle got the ball away for a corner.

The home side were then awarded a free kick within shooting range after Rhodes had brought down Gabriele Angella. Tjaronn Chery lined it up for a shot but blasted it high over the bar – a truly shocking effort.

The Rovers then strung a lovely move together with passes being interchanged across the pitch before a cross found the head of Koita whose effort when straight to Smithies, although a linesman’s flag would have ruled out any goal.

Austin was then booked after a bust up with the fourth official – much to the delight of the travelling fans from Ewood.

A long free kick from Jason Steele went straight to Rhodes in front of goal but the striker was unable to control the ball and it bounced off him into the hands of Smithies.

On the half hour mark a corner to Rangers was comfortably held by Steele who came and caught the ball in imperious fashion.

The Rovers were playing with plenty of confidence at this point but when Adam Henley was caught in possession Massimo Luongo made a dangerous run into the Rovers penalty area before pulling the ball back to Austin. Fortunately, the former Burnley man, struck his shot well wide.

More excellent approach play from Danny Guthrie and Marshall ended with Conway putting a dangerous ball into the box which was cleared by an overworked defence.

Conway then whipped another ball across the face of the goal but Rhodes missed the ball completely before it was eventually cleared for another corner.

As the half moved into the seven minutes of added time the home side had their best chance of the half. Austin cut into the area on the dead ball line, left Grant Hanley on his backside and then lofted an inch perfect cross onto the head of Chery who promptly headed over from close range.

Koita then got away down the right and whipped in a superb cross which went across the face of the goal with both Rhodes and Marshall failing to take advantage.

Marshall then found Olsson who sent in the perfect cross which landed at the feet of Rhodes and he fired in a close range shot which Smithies managed to block with his body. It was yet another chance which really ought to have been converted for after dominating the first half the Rovers left the field with only a narrow one goal advantage.

Within a minute of the restart the Rovers paid the price for their profligacy of the first half. A ball played into the Rovers area came back of Shane Duffy into the path of Austin. Steele managed to save his first attempt but the ball came back to Austin and from the narrowest of angles he whipped it back across the goal where it hit the unfortunate Henley on the foot and bounced in the net.

The goal clearly motivated the home side and the crowd and for a time the Rovers were on the back foot as Rangers poured forward at every opportunity. However, Hanley and Duffy defended stoutly at the heart of the Rovers defence and eventually the Rovers were able to push the home side back. A cross from Conway caused panic in the home defence but, unfortunately, the ball wouldn’t come down quickly enough for Rhodes to be able to capitalise.

The home side tried to break quickly but Guthrie’s professional foul stopped them in their tracks although it did earn the former Reading man a booking. From the free kick James Perch shot high over the bar.

The Rovers survived a penalty appeal when the home side appealed for hands against Henley after Henry had blasted the ball goal wards and the ball seemed to hit Henley who really couldn’t get out of the way as such short distance. Fortunately, the referee waved away the appeals.

On the hour mark the Rovers regained the lead with a wonderful goal. Steele’s long kick was headed on by Koita into the path of Rhodes. The Scottish international striker lifted the ball over Nedum Onuoha and then held off the defender before tucking the ball past Smithies into the net. It was a splendid piece of work by the Rhodes.

Steele was at full stretch to tip away a cross from Luongo for a throw in and when this was launched into the area, Duffy was on hand to head away.

Another flowing move by the Rovers saw the ball come out to Henley and his cross found Koita whose shot was blocked for a corner. From the corner Smithies did well to collect the ball under heavy pressure.

Both sides were going forward and both sides were creating chances with the home side having a great chance on seventy-three minutes when Matt Phillips got down the wing and found Luongo with a perfect pass in front of goal. Inexplicably, with the whole goal to aim at, he opted to pass the ball to Jamie Mackie and Henley stepped in the clear for a corner.

However, on seventy-nine minutes the home side drew level from a corner. As the ball came across to the far post Onuoha rose to meet the ball whilst Koita was rooted to the spot and the former Manchester City man sent a powerful header past Steele.

Steele then had to make a number of decent saves at the home side looked for a winner. However, undaunted, the Rovers finished strongly with Deflouneso and Olsson sending in crosses which caused panic in the home defence. The, as time was almost up Corry Evans, who had enjoyed an outstanding game in the centre of midfield, found Delfouneso on the edge of the box. The former Aston Villa man produced some nibble footwork to turn the defender and the getaway a first time shot which flew narrowly over the bar.

A succession of Conway corners came to nothing as the Rovers had to settle for a point from a highly entertaining game.

Jason Steele had another good game in goal and has fully justified his recall.

Adam Henley had a number of difficult moments against the lively Matt Phillips but, in fairness, was all too often left in a one-on-one situation with the winger.

Marcus Olsson proved just what the Rovers had been missing with his pace down the wing and his crosses causing problems for the home side. Defensively he was very sound.

The pairing of Shane Duffy and Grant Hanley worked extremely well in this game. Both defended well and Duffy, of course, grabbed the first goal. This was the best performance of the two in combination this season.

Corry Evans and Danny Guthrie worked incredibly hard in the centre of midfield and formed an excellent partnership. This was as well has Evans has played in a long while. Full of running, he closed down the opposition and looked to instigate attacking moves at every opportunity. Guthrie used the ball with intelligence and kept the play moving. He looked much fitter than before the international break.

Ben Marshall and Craig Conway caused Rangers problems all night with their intelligent use of the ball from the wide positions.

Fodé Koita again showed his potential with a strong running performance and a physical approach which troubled the home defence. He tired towards the end and, with hindsight, perhaps should have been replaced earlier than he was.

Jordan Rhodes could easily have had a hat-trick. He missed a number of excellent opportunities but scored an absolute cracker of a goal. Despite missing chances he continually got into goalscoring positions and his colleagues were finding him with the ball which augers well for the future.

Whilst it was disappointing not to pick up three points it was a very encouraging performance and for the second time in a matter of days there were signs that the manager and his coaching staff are gradually integrating the new players into the an efficient unit. The need now, of course, is to turn that potential into points – hopefully starting with a win on Saturday against Charlton Athletic.