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QPRnet.com
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RANGERS AVOID
BEE'S STING
If you had asked Ian Holloway before the game whether he would
settle for a point apiece the answer would have been a definite yes.
The fact of the matter is that a slightly more adventurous
performance from Rangers could have taken all three points against a
Brentford side that showed their league position belies their
ability.
Holloway kept faith with the majority of the players that had tanked
Swindon during the week. The only change was an enforced one with
the knee injury to Ollie Burgess allowing Marcus Bignot back into
the side. Once again 14-goal striker Andy Thomson had to make do
with a place on the bench as Doudou and Gallen again paired up.
From the beginning, you could see that this was going to be a
physical battle. The Brentford front pairing of Lloyd Owusu and Ben
Burgess are as big as you will encounter in this division. They gave
a true test of physical prowess to Danny Shittu and Matthew Rose and
both passed with flying colours. With the news that Shittu has
signed on for another month, Holloway has surely found his best
pairing at the heart of the defence.
Much had been made of the ability of Paul Evans in the Brentford
midfield. He has scored some spectacular goals in his time at
Griffin Park and it was vital that he be stifled if we were to get
anything from this game. This may have accounted for the negative
play of the Rangers midfield throughout the game. Steve Palmer and
Alex Bonnot hardly had an attacking intention between them. In the
wide areas, Marcus Bignot and Karl Connolly did little to trouble
the Brentford fullbacks. This meant that any attacks had to be
sparked by Warren and Forbes running from deep.
The first half was a largely forgettable affair with neither side
forcing a real save from the respective keepers. Owusu fired wide
after good work inside the box and at the other end Gallen had a
shot well blocked. Set pieces looked the best route to goal from
both sides and with referee Matt Messias turning in a particularly
fussy performance there was no shortage of opportunities. Christer
Warren was handed the responsibility for corners and free kicks and
in general, his delivery was good.
The second half wasn't much better as both sides huffed and puffed
for little reward. Rangers nest effort came when Shittu got his head
to a Warren corner only to see his powerful effort turned over the
bar by Gottskalksson. Brentford had an effort kicked off the line
and Fraser Digby had to be alert to turn a Mahon piledriver over the
bar. This had turned into a war of attrition with both sides
seemingly afraid of committing to many forward for fear of
conceding.
Midway through the second half Doudou was replaced by Andy Thomson
but even this move could not breathe any life into a lacklustre
game. As is so often the case with local derbies, the actual game is
overtaken by the occasion and the football gets lost somewhere in
between.
I say the occasion but it was only the Brentford fans that saw it as
such. I am told that their website has had a countdown to this game
since we were relegated. How fucking sad is that! I was hoping that
the Rangers fans would not sink to their level and make them think
we actually give a shit about them. There was one fleeting burst of
"If you all hate Brentford clap your hands" but other than that this
was viewed as just another game.
On another day, Rangers may well have been handed the advantage with
twenty minutes left to play. As the ball bounced in the midfield
Rose attacked it and won it. Brentford midfielder Martin Rowlands
had also attacked the ball but arrived late and high to leave Rose
writhing in agony. It was a red card offence, no doubt about it. I
could hardly believe my eyes when referee Messias didn't even give a
free kick. He later chose to book players from both sides for far
less brutal challenges. With Rose just back from injury and
seemingly in excellent form, the last thing we need is to have him
injured by some petty Division 2 thug!
For the second match in succession Steve Palmer turned in an
instantly forgettable performance. For those of you who have
instantly forgotten it let me give you a reminder. He lost nearly
every header, lost nearly every challenge and gave the ball away
nearly every time he touched it. Quite simply it is not good enough
and his lack of pace makes Alan McDonald look like an Olympic
sprinter. I have seen milk turn quicker and I can't believe that we
can persist with this for much longer.
Overall, this was a good point earned in a professional if not a
laboured manner. Better teams than us will, and have, come away from
Griffin Park with nothing this year and we should be pleased with a
point. We now go into a match with Colchester United at Loftus Road
in good spirits. Hopefully Burgess will be fit enough to return and
our midfield can resort to a slightly more attacking frame of mind.
I would also like to see Thomo in from the start to show what he can
do as Gallen's partner. If we don't win our hard work today will all
be for nothing. |
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