By Jack Watson
I did say that it would be typical of us to drop points to third from bottom QPR, but I wasn't expecting us to lose all three. I made the trip down with my family hoping that we would win, but it was exactly like this same fixture last season: no real plan, QPR playing some quality football and our players not putting in their best efforts.
It was, however, made up for when we met up with Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Sceptic, Toby Young and his family, for lunch at the Victoria Pub on Uxbridge Road. But, that was uneventful: the whole system went down, so all bookings disappeared and someone re-booked our table when they came back online. Thus, we had to vacate outside, which stank of piss, and wait nearly 50 minutes for our food - at least, when it arrived, it was delicious. And, just to pour salt into the wound, all trains were cancelled from Kings Cross Station, so we had to book a hotel and stay overnight. All this was topped off with a 2-0 defeat. Lovely.
Back to the football. Since Roesnior took control, we have not lost two games on the bounce; however, QPR were victorious in their previous two games and have lost just the one with their new manager, Martin Cifuentes, who seems to be the man to dig them out of the mire. So, even though they are in the relegation zone, they certainly were to be taken seriously.
Rosenior made two changes: Alfie Jones and Jason Lokilo were not involved (Jones was celebrating some good news and Lokilo picked up an unexpected injury), so Sean McLoughlin and Adama Traore came in for them. That meant we were lined up as follows: Ryal Allsop, between the sticks; Lewie Coyle, Sean McLoughlin, Jacob Greaves and Cyrus Christie as the back line; Tyler Morton, Scott Twine and Jean Seri, anchoring the middle; Adama Traore and Jaden Philogene on the wings and Liam Delap, up-front.
It was us who came out the better side looking for that opening goal, but due to not doing anything with the ball, it was the hosts who had the first chance of the afternoon; in the 10th minute, a defensive error and mis-comunciation between Coyle and McLoughlin, allowed Illias Chair to capitalise on the loose ball, who struck from the right and curled wide of the far post. This was followed by another effort in the 24th minute when another misplaced plass from Coyle to Greaves was intercepted by Dykes, who dragged it wide.
Finally, in the 29th minute we had our first and best opportunity of the period after some great passing in the middle allowed Morton to link up with Delap, who turned and struck the ball outside of the box, which went straight at Begovic. We never looked a threat after this and it was probably the weakest performance I have seen; the ball was not going forward enough, we were shaky playing from the back and none of our forwards were making runs. We made it very easy for QPR who could have gone ahead earlier. Their goal did come in the 45th minute and the warning signs were there for us. Chris Willock picked up the ball in our own half, ran down the left flank, before cutting in our weak defence and curling the ball into the top-right corner of the net. Allsop had no chance.
The second period was slightly better, but it was not up to our usual standards. Disaster struck in the 50th minute when Philogene, our best player, was replaced by Regan Slater after going down injured. Hopefully he is fine for out next game, which will see us face Middlesbrough at Riverside. We had a few great chances in a 15 minute spell of dominance; Delap had another cracking chance when a dangerous ball was put into the box, in which he was able to pick up the ball, dummy their defence and get his shot off, but it was saved superbly by Begovic. Following this, Scott Twine was denied by the keeper after his effort in the box was put wide.
Then, after all that effort trying to get back into the game, another sloppy defensive error allowed the R's to seal the three points. Substitute Sinclair Armstrong pressured Allsop, who stumbled and the ball fell to Willock on the right, who teed up Chair to slot it home.
Who would have thought of this result? We really need to find a new plan and stop wasting time playing out from the back. Both goals were conceded from this and they could have got a lot more. I am, however, quite glad that they beat us as it will teach us a lesson and hopefully sort it out before all the teams work us out. That's both QPR and Watford who have caught us out and I am sure many teams will love the chance to do the same. Let's not make that happen.
We are still joint sixth with Sunderland and Cardif City, so it has not done too much damage. Our next game is Middlesbrough away, who sit in 12th place. I will not be going to that one, but will be watching at home and with luck, we bring back the three points.
