Team: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Gorkss, Borrowdale, Routledge, Faurlin, Watson, Buzsaky (Mahon), Simpson (Vine), Taarabt (Agyemang)
Subs Not Used: Heaton, Hall, Alberti, Ainsworth.
Attendance: 11,900
Wow, Wow, Wow. It was another fantastic performance last night. You can’t really blame Watson for his sending off. The second yellow card was for taking a free kick too quickly – since when was that a bookable offence ? Even with ten men I still felt confident of an R’s win, as poor as the fake hoops were, we were on fire again. The only criticism I have is that perhaps at times we were a bit too casual (particularly Messrs. Taarabt and Routledge) when we were 2-0 up. The overall passing and movement was excellent and it was good to get both Vine and Agyemang on the score sheet at last
Samp99
I thought that last night’s performance was terrific. Strong in defence, especially the centre backs, quick, pacey attacks and most of the players looked so comfortable on the ball. The passing was excellent and on this form, we are going to go very close this season. I know that it’s been a tough start for Reading, but it’s frightening just how quickly a team can go backwards following relegation from the Premiership. It now seems commonplace for at least one relegated club from the Premiership to be in League One a couple of seasons later, for that is where Reading are destined. What a shame that so few Rangers fans are able to get to see the team playing so well. It will need some very creative marketing and perhaps for a few people at the club to swallow their pride and to connect with the ‘stayaways’ and get some of them back. It must be hurting the finances as well. I bet when the budget was being put together, the club would have allowed for a substantially bigger gate than 11,900 against Reading, even allowing for the woeful numbers of travelling fans last night.
rangernick
With white trainers in the High street and the teams warming up to American Rock, the 80’s are truly back in fashion. For long periods last night, Queen’s Park Rangers captured the mood to perfection. Just like their illustrious predecessors that graced the top flight, this team have a glamour, sparkle and an exhilarating cutting edge. Their performance was epitomised by Akos Buzsaky’s wonderful free kick and Jay Simpson’s expertly taken volley, goals that came after they had been reduced to ten men. Both sets of fans taunted Brendan Rodgers, the Reading Manager, with chants predicting that he would be sacked. His team are barely recognisable from the side that appeared in the Premier League two seasons ago and “Brendan’s Babes”, as they have been nicknamed in the local paper, are finding life too hot to handle. From near certainties for promotion last season, they face a battle to avoid League One.
Reading were not troubled by QPR’s bright opening, but crumbled after conceding during a bizarre minute. Ben Watson, the QPR midfield player, received a second yellow card for taking a quick free kick, having been booked for a lunge on Shane Long a little more than ten minutes earlier. Buzsaky scored from the second attempt at the free kick, but the dismissal worked against Reading. They came close when Simon Church hit the post, but conceded a second when Wayne Routledge’s cross dissected the defence and Simpson volleyed in. Reading were reduced to ten men themselves when Ivar Ingimarsson received a second booking, for tripping Simpson just after half-time, and conceded twice more. Rowan Vine cut in to beat Adam Federici at his near post and Patrick Agyemang rounded the Reading goalkeeper to score their thirteenth goal in the past three home games. Brian Howard scored a consolation. Flavio Briatore, the QPR co-owner, sat in the Directors’ Box before celebrating with the players in the dressing room. “If we produce these performances in April, then the players have grasped it,” Jim Magilton, the Manager said.
Gary Jacob – The Times
That pass by Akos out to Routledge for the second goal, was worth the entrance fee alone. It ended up with a peach of a cross into the danger area when Simpson buried it. Again, for the second game running, the score flattered the opposition. Even when Watson was ridiculously red carded, I was confident that we wouldn’t lose as were so superior it was embarrassing. Reading are the worst team I’ve seen in years and had possibly three of the worst players in the Championship – the keeper, the no.5 and the no. 14. And again we had a weird referee who deems taking a free kick quickly is a bookable offence ! Yet before that, Reading took a quick free kick AND while the ball was rolling, and their no.14 was clean through on goal. Thankfully he was flagged offside otherwise we may of gone 1-0 down.
It seemed that every foul committed in the 1st half resulted in a card……..if it was a QPR player ! I recall that we were awarded about five free kicks on the edge of the box in the 1st half but none of the culprits were shown a yellow card. The only cards that I thought were justified were Borrowdale’s and Ingimarsson’s second yellow. To brandish the cards like confetti almost ruined what was a good game, if you supported the real hoops of course. It only galvanised the team and the home crowd. If I was a fan of the fake hoops, I would be very worried, but I’m not so who cares ?
chrisPTenner
Watson’s dismissal was bizarre but we then scored from the same free kick and it really fired us up (players and fans). If you wanted someone to score last night it would have to be Vine and Agyemang. Vine cut-in to slot home nicely and Agyemang’s goal came after being put-through, he kept his composure after a step-over or two. Despite the domination, Cerny still had to make two terrific saves in the last 10 minutes or so. Apparently this was the first time we’ve beaten Reading at Loftus Road since 1967.
Steve Russell