Queens Park Rangers 2 - West Bromwich Albion 3

Date:	Tuesday 19th February 2019
Competition:	Sky Bet Championship
QPR: 4.8
WBA: 6.5	Johnstone 6.8, Holgate 7.2, Dawson 6.0, Hegazi 8.0, Gibbs 6.9, Livermore 6.2, Field 7.2 (Phillips, 81 5.9), Johansen 4.9 (Barry, 65 6.9), Murphy 6.9, Rodriguez 6.1, Montero 5.3 (Harper, 57 6.2) Unused subs: Bond, Bartley, Edwards, Adarabioyo Manager: Darren Moore 7.1
Scorers:	Montero (5), Murphy (61), Livermore (94)
Referee:	John Brooks 3.6
Attendance:	12,257 Home Fans 3.4 Away Fans 8.0

Brendan Clegg:

There really isn’t a better feeling than a last minute winner and this one was so important.

I thought it was a strange game in that we were so in control for large spells, looked like we might score with every attack but were really wasteful and we gifted QPR 2 goals from nothing.

On another day with Gayle in the team to finish the chances we created it could’ve been another 4 or 5 job.

In the first half the pace and width of Montero and Murphy, backed up by Holgate and Gibbs, gave them big problems and, after a deserved opener we got into really good positions through decent play and/or poor defending but didn’t have that final ball or right decision. It cost us when Johansen lost the ball cheaply deep in our half and QPR finished their only sniff at goal.

It rocked us a bit and they had the better of the rest of the half although they looked terrible at the back when we got out.

2nd half we were a bit disjointed before and after the subs but Murphy’s fine individual goal and outstanding finish put us in control.

We looked like we’d keep them at bay, defending well under pressure and breaking with threat but conceded a daft penalty from nowhere - Daws not dealing with a ball properly than he or Livermore tangling legs with the QPR player. It looked soft and they’d been diving in the box all night. SJ seemed to watch the penalty trickle in.

After that we really went for it, working the ball well and slinging in threatening crosses that strikers with instinct would’ve lapped up. At times we were too open and risked throwing it away but as we pressed higher in the last 10 QPR couldn’t get out as we win corner after corner.

With almost our last kick, rather than aimlessly sling it in, Barry expertly Worked the ball for Holgate via an exquisite Harper Backheel and his low and hard cross from the byline was turned in to absolute delerium.

Absolutely massive - our biggest result of the season and every game from now is our most important.

SJ - 7 Generally did well. Good handling.
Holgate - 7 Has so much quality. Still young and makes mistakes but brings way more to us than his odd lapse or rashness.
Daws - 6 So good for long spells. Penalty a blemish.
Hegazi - 8 I thought he was excellent. Headed everything away and kept playing it to feet.
Gibbs - 7 Looked knackered by the end but another classy performance.
Livermore - 6 Strong, ran well, always offered for the ball. Better chasing things down than sitting.
Field - 8 I thought he was our best player for long spells. Read it so well, never gave the ball away, dropped into defensive positions to mop up. Really intelligent and playing him in the deep role over Livermore was spot on.
Johansen - 5 Busy but didn’t take care of the ball well enough.
Murphy - 7 Much better. Had a go, great goal, quick and direct, some fantastic crosses that deserved better.
JRod - 6 Ran himself into the ground, better dropping deep, benefitted from pace around him. Should’ve scored a goal.
Montero - 6 Pace alone caused them problems and got us up the pitch. Needed to do better with opportunities.

Barry - 7 Took a little while but once he caught up with the game he bossed it.
Harper - 6 So trustworthy on the ball, great power and technique. Crucial for the winner. We could have the real deal here.
Phillips- Crikey, he’s put some timber on.