A trip to Derby...
..Lloydy rapporterar från en inte alls tråkig mållös match!
"One thing I'll say for being in this division is the far better quality of away ground and usually the allocation available for Rangers fans. Fresh from paying £29 at Ipswich, £21 for Derby got better value for money and whilst not quite up there with Sunderland it is one of the best grounds I've been to since I started following QPR away. Derby is a relatively easy ground for me to get to so this one was chosen over the longer trip to Rotherham on Saturday.
The football was also good value, which may seem odd given the 0-0 scoreline but it was a good game, plenty of chances for each side, a thousand plus vocal Rs fans and some magnificent displays from the boys in blue. The side lined up with one change from the win over Watford, the returning Andrew Davies joined big Dan in defence, Santos moved to midfield and Ainsworth dropped to the bench.
During the first half, which QPR spent a lot of under pressure, they spent most of the time in a 4-5-1 formation, Rowlands and Gallen alternating as the player 'in-the-hole' behind Furlong. As much as nearly everyone wants Rowlands in the centre of the park it didn't help having Gallen playing wide right as he was regularly beaten by the Derby left sided players.
QPR defended the away fans end and we were to see much of the action. Derby clearly have some talented players, namely Idiakez and Rasiak who were always dangerous. Fortunately they got no change from Dan and Davies in the centre of defence, Bignot had a stormer at right back (yet again this season) and Rose was his usual steady self. Behind these four the impressive Royce was to keep another clean sheet. Although not the tallest of keepers his sense of positioning is such that he was to save the Rangers on at least four occasions by tipping the ball over the bar. In the first half he was very nearly caught out by a speculative first time flicked lob but was equal to the task.
As an attacking force most of the good work again came from the Cook and Rose combination on the left though Cook threatened to spoil it by making a few mistimed tackles, one of which he was booked for. Whilst Derby are very good going forward they do leave space which Rangers did their best to exploit and we could see we would get chances as the match wore on.
So we went into half-time at 0-0, the general perception being that whilst we could easily have been behind we were still creating chances and generally we have been more of a ƈnd half team' over the last couple of seasons, especially when going in level or behind at the break.
After catching up with a number of familiar faces at half-time, we settled back down in the spacious away end (Ipswich take note!) for the second half. QPR reverted to a more familiar 4-4-2 formation and the natural formation suited us as we put more pressure on the home side. Most of our best work was still coming down the left but Rowlands was able to get more in the game as he was out wide rather than drifting between that and an advanced midfield role. I'm not sure he really has the experience to play just off the front man - catch 22 obviously but probably not his ideal position, he seems happier in a more defined role be it on the right/left wing or in the centre.
As good as those chances were Derby were largely resigned to shots from around the edge of the box and apart from one close moment where Royce had to collect the ball at the second attempt and the bar got rattled the defence stood firm. It was testament to Dan and Davies in particular that Derby were unable to make any of their 12 corners tell.
On the attacking front Gallen had three very close efforts, one an absolute screamer from 25 yards and a more delicate effort going left to right that shaved the outside of the post. Lee Camp, who had a very warm welcome from the travelling fans was in good form - as expected! His best save coming from a great effort from a freekick that was touched off for Furlong to hit with his accustomed power and accuracy.
The low spot was late in the game as Rose pulled up lame whilst chasing a Derby player to the goalline, he carried on over the line, realised it was a corner, came back onto the pitch and laid down. As you might expect this infuriated the home fans and the referee punished us by letting Derby take three corners in quick succession before allowing Edgehill to replace him.
I don't really want to spend any time on negatives as it was a very good team performance but yet again I was disappointed with Bircham. He scuffed a number of clearances as he did at Derby, his passing let him down and he seemed on capable of heading the ball straight up in the air whenever he won a header. He did his usual harrying tactics and this probably unsettled Derby but when winning a ball he almost invariably gave it away. Santos may not be the best of central midfielders either but at least his clearances stay hit and his headers have distance, he is also more than useful at set pieces (both for and against) - he also managed to provide a bit of a amusement when a shot of his went for a throw in rather than the more traditional goalkick!
I have to say I was more than happy with a point against a tough team who are established in the play-off picture. We are now 4 points from 6th with a game in hand. It is going to be tough but it is an interesting position to be in and keeps it exciting, 3 points against Rotherham (who have yet to win a game on a Saturday this season!!) and we'll be right there in the mix still.
MOTM - tough choice between Royce and Dan but Royce edges it. Big Dan though is improving with every game and is right back where he left off before his serious injury. Davies was also excellent and I've big hopes for the partnership"
