It was a very sparse Loftus Road crowd that welcomed the teams onto the pitch although our support of nearly 1800 did us proud in numbers. The team selection for me was surprising with Bonham not featuring other than on the bench but it was good to see Kelly getting a start in a back four of James Clarke,Lockyer, Craig and Kelly. The midfield was Matthews, Ollie Clarke, Upson and Rodman with Stefan Payne up front on his own and Bennett in the hole.
The game itself I can only describe as pretty well over when QPR grabbed an early 2-0 lead but to be fair we looked like we were capable of getting back into the game as we held the ball for long periods but too often the final ball was either a failed pass or cross or a weak shot. Over the entire game I would say we played the more attractive football but were wasteful one end and giving Christmas gifts the other. it could easily have gone our way had we managed to score any of a number of clear cut opportunities.
Smith: 4.5 Difficult to judge the amount of blame on the first two goals but his confidence looked shot. From the angle of the first goal it looked like he should have saved it and the second was outside the penalty area and again he looked slow going down but could have been deflected. I was sat to the right and in the top teir so can only give probably a poor judgement but generally he looked below par despite a couple of good reflex saves and to me had the look of a keeper who knows his place is under threat. DC is not a Manager who inspires confidence in his keepers and struggles to handle the situation with his criticism which goes back to his handling of Mildenhall and Roos. The sad thing is that he has signed all the keepers since Mildenhall!!
J Clarke: 4 The reaction of the "fans" to his performance was sad to see as this is a player who has probably been our best player this season despite playing all over the back four and although he was poor and caught out quite allowing his winger far too much time and space which was the direct cause of the first goal he stuck to his task and tried his best but on the night it was beyond him. You cannot gain pace you haven't got but I don't see that DC had many options for that position.
Lockyer: 7.5 This was more like the "old" Tom both in central defence and at right back later on. His passing was at his best and his reading of the game shone through. Personally I believe he should be relieved of the captaincy which has pressure with it as we do lack leadership on the pitch when things go wrong.
Craig: 7.5 Should be the Captain. Had a good game at the back and was not to blame for any of the goals conceded.
Kelly: 7.5 I thought he had an excellent starting debut and I have added a point to Rodman's score for his helping him through the game and always trying to be available. He looks to have both good defensive skills and attacking skills and made very few mistakes. He should have even had a goal to his name when he exchanged passes but put his one on one with the keeper past the far post. For me DC must play him Saturday as I feel we could have quite a player here but wouldn't surprise me if he is dropped and James Clarke back there. Such is DC's selections and despite results this season I don't see him changing.
Matthews: 5 Disappointing game as he started well but faded as the game went on but overall I would describe his performance as workmanlike and average.
Upson 7 Grew into the game and for me always made time for himself when on the ball and generally passed the ball very well. Kept going to the end and I feel his goal albeit a scrambled affair will give him the confidence to up his game to the heights he is capable of.
Clarke: 8 (MoM) Much better from Ollie last night who had his best game in a long time. Covered a lot of the field and won a lot of the ball. in many ways we controlled the middle of the park for long periods but we now have to be far more alert at both ends.
Rodman: 6 An average performance but formed a good partnership with Kelly and worked hard but should definitely have put the header away instead of heading over. Hopefully he will get a goal soon to build his confidence and help him gel into the side. This should have happened in the pre season friendlies but unfortunately does not appear to have happened.
Bennett: 6 Very much an in and out game. Managed to have the most shots and brought a couple of good saves from the keeper but on at least two occasions should have done better with the final shot. He is well capable of beating players but does overdo it on occasions and loses possession cheaply.
Payne: 6 Never gave up but the problem we have is that since his first and only goal he does not display the look of a player who is going to score many goals. Hopefully this is just down to him not yet finding a regular partnership and most of his time receiving the ball with his back to goal. Didn't really miss any clear cut chances and did his best to lead the line but it is difficult when you lack support.
Subs
Broadbent: 5 Possibly at fault on the third goal which was another high cross headed in excellently by the dangerous Smith and just after he came on we were almost caught out again when changing to three at the back as was the case against Accrinbgton. Did OK otherwise and looked steady on the ball.
Nichols: 6. Caused the home defence problems with his clever running and also had his first assist of the season as he picked out Upson with a good pass across. I would much prefer us to stick with two up front rather than "finding" a place for Bennett just behind him but it is difficult with all of our strikers having two goals between them.
Reilly: 6 Looked like a possible penalty near the end and he again worked hard in a short time but we really need to give one striker a run in the team alongside Payne if we are to have any chance of scoring the number of goals over the season to avoid a relegation battle. It's early days but at the moment there are no real signs that we have goals in our strikeforce and taking that we can't keep a clean sheet these are worrying times.
Ref: 8. Good game.
QPR: 6. Mainly a second string team and to be honest not that good and I would compare them to the teams who lead our division but of course they did beat Peterborough 2-0 in the first round. The difference in the teams was that they took a fair proportion of their chances and we were very wasteful.
Crowd: 5 Home crowd very sparse and quiet. Away support noisy but I am afraid that some of the things thrown verbally at some of the players is disgusting and not exactly going to inspire players to raise their game.
DC I think he is facing a very tough season as he is no nearer knowing his first choices in many positions. We are now close to a month in and deadline day is Friday- DC should be going to Wael and stressing the importance of getting a commanding centre half and possibly another striker or winger but I have a feeling that his team building so far has not gone well with at the moment no real first choice keeper, a defence who can't stop conceding and an attack that don't honestly look like scoring many and I see his request to increase his budget falling on deaf ears.
Team Saturday
Bonham
Leadbitter Lockyer Craig (Capt) Kelly
Rodman O Clarke Upsom Mathews
Payne Nichols
UTG
