Team: Kenny, Hill, Walker, Gorkss, Connolly, Derry (Leigertwood), Buzsaky, Taarabt, Mackie (Smith), Ephraim, Helguson (Agyemang).
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Borrowdale, Rowlands, Parker.
Attendance: 13,990 (including 630 away fans).
Gone was the free flowing football of the previous home games and it was replaced by a gritty performance with everyone playing their part, including the frame of the goal on two ocassions !!! Have to say well done Rovers for playing football the way it should be played and giving us a fright on a couple of occasions. If the truth be known, they were the better team at times, but its goals that win games unfortunately (fortunately for us) and we stuck our limited number of chances away. I thought Walker was outstanding at right back and I also liked their right back.
ChrisPTenner
No doubt we didn’t have it all our own way, but we were both patient and confident in the belief that the goals would come. Hill’s clearance off the line said all we needed to know about the team spirit in the camp. Some good performances and some not so good, but the attitude of the players is second to none. So three more goals, and another clean sheet…it doesn’t get much better. Getting carried away ? Yeah just a little, spent long enough looking at the table from the bottom up.
Jimmy
A resounding scoreline will hoodwink the ignorant into believing that Queen’s Park Rangers steamrollered Doncaster Rovers. The Championship leaders were flattered by their margin of victory but even those who did not witness this encounter will know the West London club continue to crush all obstacles in their path by whatever means. They were not fluent and owed their triumph to a brace of goals from Latvian defender Kaspars Gorkss. Six points clear at the top, the notion that Rangers seamlessly scamper away from the rest overwhelms any sense of weakness within their game. “There will be moments where they won’t win games like that,” said Doncaster Manager Sean O’Driscoll. The first half was exasperating for the home side. Adel Taarabt, their exuberant playmaker, struggled to decorate his tricks with penetration. The Moroccan was crowded out and over-elaboration does not sit well with those who demand success. Nonetheless, Doncaster dared not neglect him. When he did escape two markers, he was cynically checked by Shelton Martis.
In the second period, Heidar Helguson, on his 300th league appearance, was felled by goalkeeper Neil Sullivan. Taarabt converted the penalty to double his side’s lead. Expectant paying customers endured plenty of fervour without a cutting edge for long spells. Kyle Walker, on loan from Spurs, was keen to sprint up the right flank from full-back but deliveries into the box were at a premium. Invention did not pierce often enough for Neil Warnock’s liking but victory soothed those anxieties. “You’ve got to keep grinding away. We’re difficult to play against,” he said.
Doncaster, a collection of underrated footballers who have raised eyebrows, menaced. The game was goalless when Martin Woods’ free kick was pushed on to a post by Paddy Kenny. James O’Connor’s follow-up was cleared off the line. The visitors were not robust when it mattered. Ephraim’s corner at the start of the second half found Gorkss, whose effort was blocked. The defender slammed in the rebound. James Coppinger struck the bar for Doncaster but Gorkss headed in Taarabt’s corner. This was not memorable but their rivals find it arduous to reveal telling flaws in QPR.
Neil Trainis – The Telegraph
“Never Felt More Like Singing The Blues”…..was sung numerous times in the 2nd half. The team worked very hard again to secure the points and once the penalty was converted, the match was as good as over. Doncaster are a very decent side and played pretty much as I expected. They could of taken the lead after 25 minutes when a free kick was finger tipped against the post and the Doncaster player followed up with the ball looking destined for the net. Suddenly and from nowhere it seemed, Hill cleared the danger close to the line. Amazing defending ! Earlier we could of done better in a goalmouth scramble and after 35 minutes, a shot driven low by Helguson was well held by Sullivan.
Eight minutes into the 2nd half, Hogan’s corner found Gorkss and his header was initially blocked but he was on hand to belt the ball into the roof of the net. Doncaster hit the crossbar with a dipping shot but there was some drama which sealed the points. On 80 minutes, a through-ball from Taarabt found Helguson who was brought down by Sullivan. Amidst screams for a penalty, he got up and placed the ball into the net which provoked ‘goal’ celebrations. The referee pointed to the spot and Sullivan received yellow when he really should of been red carded. It was Taarabt who stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way. Our third came eight minutes or so later from another corner, this time taken by Taarabt and Gorkss rose up to head home and notch up his second of the match. The work rate and spirit running through the team is wonderful and we can still play much better than this.
Steve Russell
Both images were taken by Martin Percival and used with his permission.