United – A win. Not a classic performance and did we deserve it? Maybe not. Possibly a draw was a fairer result but we did improve after going behind and certainly second half we looked the more likely after the break and up to when we scored. After this, they had a few chances and Henderson made some decent saves but I never felt we were under massive pressure. We got the crucial win and showed some guts today, especially after going behind. We showed some real character and resolve as having lost two and then going behind, you sort of feared the worst but the players stuck at it; got level and went on to win in albeit with a little bit of luck in terms of a decision.
Yes, it was not brilliant and in truth not a lot better than the previous two games really but we showed a bit more organisation, fight and spirit and a bit more of a goal threat. On another day the lad Zee may score a hat trick and we were fortunate to get a penalty and it could have been completely different. However, you could say the same about the game at home last week where things did not quite go for us. It is such small margins but today Henderson made 3 or 4 saves (nothing out of this world and saved you would expect on the whole – but he made the saves non the less). We have away another sloppy goal as no one closed down the attack or the player shooting and they had other chances around this. The equaliser came at a great time as we needed a lift and Clarke had a good chance 2nd half and then we got a very dodgy penalty. After this they had a few decent efforts but no glaring misses or clear chances and we defended well.
The returning Freeman, Stearman, Duffy and Sharp made a difference and Basham stiffened up the middle too. There were no superb performance but a number of workmanlike showings and we showed some determination and more effort to win those crucial first and second balls. QPR were not as good a side as the previous two opponents but confidence had dropped so it was a big turning point before and after half time.
Crucial to get the win after two poor defeats and now we have a home game next week; where if we win then the bad start if almost forgotten. With players coming in too, you suddenly feel a bit more optimistic about things- shows how things can turn so quickly in this game. We definitely needed a win today with fans being frustrated and players confidence under threat. The reaction at the end by many of the players showed how important it was to get the three points after two defeats.
Hopefully now we see a few new players coming in and it was great to see Coutts training on the pitch before the game so hoping he will only be a few weeks away now and if we get in another midfielder (Norwood?) and a striker we have a few more starting options.
QPR – Fancied them to struggle and saw nothing today to change my mind. They had a few bright moments but overall, they too looked clueless in attack and slow in build-up. The lad Zee is a talent and is only just 20. He caused us the most problems. Freeman got on it for the home side and tried to make things happen but outside of the aforementioned Eze, the rest of the team looked very slow and static. Not many make runs off the ball and they looked a bit stationery. Still they had plenty off efforts on goal and will complain about two decisions (possible offside and then a really controversial penalty) but for a home side after leading; not sure they did enough to preserve this. They gave away a sloppy goal and then went behind, unfortunately. After this they had some long-range efforts but they looked a bit clueless. They were static at the back too and I felt if Clarke had looked bothered; we would have caused them more problems. They are not a side blessed with much experience. Surprised Smith did not start today as his height would have caused us problems I feel but we handled him quite well when he came on; albeit for limited time.
They have kept Freeman for now but you worry if he will be there for much longer with a lot of buds in. They lack experience at the back and in midfield and will pin a lot of hopes on the young lads. Exe was very good today and United struggled to mark him or top his touch and shoot policy. I did fee they would struggle when I predicted the table and I saw nothing today to change that belief. They need players with the financial issues; it is more likely more will depart. Forgot Steve McClaren was even there until he shook Wilder’s hands at the end. That sums him up really. Good coach but poor manager. I do think that Rangers could be in a relegation scrap this year. Normally at home it is quite intimidating and they make Loftus Road a tough place to play but today it felt a bit mundane and was rather sterile. United came back into it and second half sensed a win with a nervy team and fans watching.
Opposition Man of the Match – Freeman flitted in and out of things but Eze was easily the main man. He scored and had 3 or 4 other decent efforts. Showed pace and dribbling and had a good shot on him that he wanted to get away whenever he could.
Opposition Weak link – The whole defence looked a bit square at times and I felt with better balls, United could have caused more problems. The lad Lynch looked particularly clumsy and struggled to make even routine clearances at times. Another lad at the back Leinster was very slow and looked a player that teams with pace (not us) could get at.
Henderson 8/10 – Excellent today. His saves were not out of this world but he made 4 or 5 smart saves down low and managed to push them out of the way too rather than back into the danger area. Some of those may have gone past Blackman or Moore last season and maybe reason we brought him in. He will have been annoyed that the defence allowed so many shots away (same lad Eze a lot too) but in the end he managed to save shots that were decent but not right in the corner but a few were so crucial. Had little chance with the goal. His kicking was poor again as he sent it out a few times but he got better as this game went on and took a few key high crosses. Clearly really cares and his reaction on the goal and at full time showed how much it mattered to him.
Freeman 7/10 – Good to see him back. Gives us much more an attacking threat with more of an end product. Today he was a bit slow at times defensively losing his man a few times and a bit hesitant to react but got better as the game went on. Attacking wise he seems to find the key ball more than Baldock and showed this on the goal with a precise cross. He gave us some good energy and you sense somehow, we have to find a place in the team for him
Stevens 6.5/10 – He was ok today in terms of defensive shape but his end product and passing was not the best once again. At times he was once again wasteful when he got into good attacking areas but he got there time and time again. He showed real energy today getting up and down. A few times he sliced the ball or panicked and needs to show more composure but I felt he did keep plugging away and I also thought defensively he did well second half as they threw men forward. Just needs to steady himself when he gets forward and not hit the first man when he does cross.
Egan 6.5/10 – Better game today even though he still had a few shaky moments. First half he did not quite communicate with his fellow defenders and this led to shots coming in as we did not close down attackers. He slowly started to become more assertive in terms of headers and clearances as the game went on and I felt he looked better with Stearman alongside him. His distribution was still poor at times and he does panic when he has to pass the ball. Hoping today will give him a confidence boost.
O’Connell 7/10 – Steady showing and better than he has been. He has not featured much in terms of from an attacking sense this season save for a few moments first half v Swansea. However, today without going forward much he defended better and after a few moments where we did not close down, we started to become more solid and restricted them to long range efforts second half. Knows he is here now till January at the very least, so needs to settle down and get back to standards of last season. Today was a move in the right direction.
Stearman 7/10 – Our best defender. Felt he looked nice and solid in terms of defensive stuff he did (heading and clearing) but he just seemed to calm the defence down today and made a few key tackles and interceptions. Admittedly, at times we let them advance and shoot; especially Eze but as game went on; him and the defence improved. When Smith came on; he clearly took the responsibility of marking him and did a good job of limiting him to one decent chance but made sure he had to fight for every header.