Team: Green, Perch (Angella), Onuoha, Hall, Konchesky, Sandro (Henry), Faurlin, Phillips, Fer (Polter), Hoilett, Austin
Subs Not Used: Smithies, Tozser, Chery, Emmanuel-Thomas
Attendance: 15,268 (including 2,360 Brighton fans)
Absolutely cracking atmosphere at Loftus Road, you can’t buy that anywhere. At 2-0 down, the crowd just kept on going. Now playing with far more composure and confidence, on the ground, good movement and a joy to watch.
We did more than enough to get all three points but too many chances missed and relying too heavily on Charlie Austin. It was an appalling ‘tackle’ on Ale Faurlin and another xxxx ref.
Expectations are rising and I expect a win at Bristol City on Saturday, as we slowly climb the table.
Jimmy Murray
At long last after two tough home games we have a Rangers side playing with passion and purpose. We also now have a management team who direct and have the tactical awareness to change games from the dugout.
The squad is still far from being a Premiership side but is more than capable of a top six spot – it was always about the right management!!!
Having seen Burnley, who have the edge fitness wise and Brighton, who are organised and well drilled, we are not far off both of them so let’s hope the January window is a positive one for both players in and out.
The only downside on Tuesday night was Rob Green, time for a change between the sticks I think.
W12boy
It was really good to meet up with Steve R and Colin (ESSEXURs) for a pre-match session in Wetherspoons, plus a visit to the Hammersmith archives, all very enjoyable.
This was the best R’s performance I have seen this season. Apart from a 20-minute spell after half-time, we were the better side. It was a great fight-back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 and I suspect that had we scored the first goal we would have gone on to win the game.
The first Brighton goal was a fluke and the second was a fluking cock-up! When Brighton went down to ten men following the sending off they were like a punch-drunk boxer, well and truly on the ropes.
It was a pity we could not quite deliver the knock out blow for what would have been a deserved victory.
Ever since we signed Charlie Austin I have always said that he is a very difficult player to mark even in the most crowded of penalty areas. That is what makes him unique. I reckon if you put him in a phone box with two other opposition defenders he would still find space. Austin Powers on.Yeah Baby, Groovy!
Kerrins
It was a brilliant match and the best that I have seen for several seasons.
Charlie, when not being hugged in the area was constantly being pushed from behind. I don’t know why they bother to have referees and assistants, as they are useless!
I thought Rob Green was slow getting down for both goals and we need to address that position together with a partner/replacement for Charlie who had a superb game.
A much better team performance and we are looking fitter now. Credit to Neil Warnock and our new management team for that.
ESSEXURs
Ten-man Brighton slipped to second in the Championship as Charlie Austin scored twice to earn a point for new QPR boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
The hosts shaded the first-half but Brighton scored twice in two minutes through Dale Stephens’ volley and Rajiv van La Parra’s 30-yard effort.
Until Austin’s ninth and 10th strikes of the season, Brighton looked in control despite elements of fortune in both their goals. Stephens appeared to push QPR midfielder Sandro before his unorthodox overhead kick, while Van La Parra’s long-range effort took a slight deflection to catch out home goalkeeper Rob Green.
Austin, who scored 18 goals in the Premier League last season and has attracted interest from top-flight clubs, was QPR’s only outlet and smashed in at the second attempt to get Hasselbaink’s side back into it.
And the hosts were given an added boost when Dunk was shown a second yellow six minutes from time for a high challenge on Faurlin that provoked a furious response from the Argentine.
The dismissal gave Austin some extra space in the box and he headed past David Stockdale from a corner to earn Hasselbaink a second draw in as many games since taking charge at Loftus Road.
QPR boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on Charlie Austin’s future: “In football there are no guarantees and everybody wants to make a profit. At the end of the day it’s a business. But do we want to sell him? No.”
“It’s up to the owners and as a manager I can only advise and can say ‘No, I don’t want him to leave – I need him’ and I think they would respect that.”
“I think (their first goal) was a foul but we showed enormous character to come back and I think we deserved all three points.”
BBC Sport (extract)
Glad to see even today’s Greenford Gazette agreed with me when I said Brighton scored twice against the run of play. I bet they were grateful for the point, as they knew that they had been in a game.
Of all the teams we’ve played so far Derby are by far the best side we’ve played with Brighton looking half-decent. As for the rest??? Anyone can beat anyone.
We just need to kick on now. Still struggling to see what Leroy Fer brings to the game, as his first touch is poor and his second touch is a tackle.
ChrisPTenner
I was still buzzing the following morning. Obviously disappointed that we didn’t go on to secure the three points but the most important thing for me was that performance.
It was a disgusting challenge on Ale Faurlin by Dunk and I hope that he gets into further trouble for his abuse of the 4th official as he headed for the dressing room!
I thought we were the better side in the first-half and it was a quality fight back after going 2-0 down. Loftus Road was absolutely rocking.
Steve Russell