QPR (0) – Aston Villa (1) – ‘Ollie now has a Mountain to Climb, Passion alone will not sort it’

Team: Smithies, Bidwell, Onuoha, Lynch, Perch, Hall, Ngbakoto, Luongo, Wszolek (Shodipo), Chery (Mackie), Washington (Sylla)

Subs Not Used: Ingram, Borysiuk, Sandro, Polter

Attendance: 16,285 (including 3.068 Villa fans)

We had nine attempts at goal. None of which were on target. We have about eight midfielders in the squad. Seven of whom don’t deserve to be in the starting line-up.

We started with five defenders on the pitch. We had no defenders on the bench. One of them was playing in midfield. He happens to be our best defender. He was voted player-of-the-year last season.

We have a captain. He isn’t a leader. We have the best goalkeeper in the division. Where will he be playing come February?

ChrisPTenner
I didn’t think there was much in it, other than a bit of quality, of which we have none, something we have been lacking throughout, particularly in the final third.

Work rate comes to nothing if the final ball is poor, and the finishing even poorer.

We never looked like scoring, unlike Villa. We have nothing in our locker, its empty.

As for Jamie Mackie, he did more in his few minutes than the rest put together.

Ollie now has a mountain to climb, passion alone will not sort it.

This window is his only chance of turning it around….wish him well.

Jimmy Murray

Jonathan Kodjia’s powerful low shot was enough to secure Aston Villa’s second Championship away win of the campaign at strugglers QPR. The striker had a first-half penalty saved by R’s keeper Alex Smithies after he was fouled by Pawel Wszolek.

Villa improved after the break, but Smithies stopped efforts from both Kodjia and Leandro Bacuna. But Kodjia was not to be denied, as his strike squirmed under Smithies to make it five losses in a row for Rangers.

It is the first time Villa have won a league game at Loftus Road since 1991, when Dwight Yorke scored the winning goal.

One positive for Ian Holloway’s side was the return of forward Jamie Mackie following an eight-month lay-off.

However the R’s have not tasted victory since Holloway’s first game in charge, and it would have been worse had Smithies not saved his fifth Championship penalty out of the last seven he has faced.

The result leaves the London side just three points above the relegation zone, while Villa are six points from the final play-off place.

QPR manager Ian Holloway: “I feel just like the supporters I imagine; there was lots of real good stuff, but we got to 65 minutes and went a little too deep.”

‘The closing and pressing, the way the lads chased and worked, I couldn’t ask them to give me any more.”

“The longer it goes and the less-confident you get, the deeper you go and then you start to worry.”

“We need to get someone who can bobble it in off their ear hole. I don’t care how ugly the goal is – it doesn’t matter, we need to score first.”

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce: “We’ve had the most outstanding chances, and I thought their goalkeeper was going to get man-of-the-match.”

“There was one save in particular down to his right-hand side that was unbelievable, then he saved the penalty and you’re thinking if it’s going to be one of those days.”

“Thankfully Kodjia has done what he’s done best. The pleasing thing is that he’s stuck at it, missing the penalty, and won us the match. It’s his eighth goal in 11 games.”

“We’ve still got a long way to catch up, we’ve got to try and make an impression on the top six, that’s got to be our aim.”

BBC Sport

Alex Smithies’ outstanding display included another penalty save. Will we be able to hold on to him?

Most of the out-field players were out-muscled, Chery’s corners were all over the place and we didn’t even manage a single effort on target!

However Nedum Onuoha did kick away a purple flare that had been thrown on the pitch after the goal, while the Stewards and everyone else stood and looked at it.

There was a minute’s applause prior to kick-off in memory of all the Rangers and Villa fans who had sadly passed away during the past 12 months.

A massive well done to Dave Jamieson and Ciara Hayes who had saved Terry Long’s life on White City Station after he had collapsed. They had administered life-saving CPR until the ambulance arrived. It was an emotional moment when all three stood on the pitch together!

Lastly well done to the Club for bringing back Don Masson (after 24 years I think?). He spoke well of Stan and his other former team mates.

Steve Russell