QPR v Norwich City Match Report:
Apr 2, 2018 20:18:08 GMT
Post by simoncheshire on Apr 2, 2018 20:18:08 GMT
QPR 4-1 Norwich City:
Queens Park Rangers ran riot at Loftus Road against Norwich City in the Sky Bet Championship this afternoon ,running out 4-1 winners.
Rangers made four changes from the side which narrowly lost to Reading at the Madjeski stadium on Friday evening, with Massimo Luongo, Ryan Manning, Matt Smith and Eberechi Eze all returning to the side. This meant that Rangers lined up with Alex Smithies in goal, a defence of Darnell Furlong, Nedum Onouha, Joel Lynch and Jake Bidwell. The midfield consisted of Josh Scowen, Massimo Luongo, Luke Freeman, Ryan Manning and Eberechi Eze. Whilst Matt Smith played the lone striker role.
In contrast Norwich City lined up with: Gunn in goal, a defence of Pinto, Zimmermann, Hanley and Husband, a midfield of Reed, Vrancic, Murphy, Maddison and Hoolahan, whilst Oliveria led the line for the Canaries.
The game kicked off in what was very challenging weather, with the swirling wind and rain providing very difficult conditions for both teams and as expected for an end of season fixture the game started very slow with both sides having plenty possession, but neither team able to create anything significant. With Luke Freeman and Nelson Oliveria having the first real opportunity for either side.
Rangers then started to grow into the game and started to dominate the play, with Freeman, Luongo and Eze all have opportunities to open the scoring. Eze then saw his cross pick out Matt Smith who’s header struck the right hand post and the ball harmlessly found a Norwich City defender who calmly cleared the ball under pressure from Joel Lynch.
In the 38th minute Rangers were on the attack again and Matt Smith’s effort was blocked by a crowd of Norwich defenders and then was eventually cleared, which allowed Norwich to counter attack through Murphy and his cross somehow hit the helpless Ryan Manning and the ball cannoned past Alex Smithies and put the Canaries 1-0 up just before half time.
But straight from kick off Massimo Luongo was able to pick the ball up and hold off 3 Norwich defenders, he then played a nice one-two with Matt Smith and somehow poked the ball home to cancel out Norwich’s freak goal and make the scores equal.
Rangers then really started to turn the screw and had a chance through Ryan Manning, this was saved and the teams went in at the break all square.
After half time, Rangers came out for the second half the better side and in the 55th minute Josh Scowen saw his long range effort blocked on the edge of the box and the ball then looped into the air, Matt Smith was quick to capitalize on this and got in front of the Norwich keeper Gunn and head the ball over him to put Rangers into the lead.
This goal seemed to kill Norwich off and Rangers really started to turn the style on, with Eberechi Eze, Massimo Luongo and Luke Freeman having many forward runs which caused the Norwich defence many problems.
In the 60th minute Matt Smith headed the ball into Eze’s feet and after taking one touch Eze was able to tuck the ball home and put Rangers 3-1 up. A minute later Oliveria had a shot from the edge of the box which fizzed across the Rangers goal, however the score remained 3-1 and the Norwich players heads seemed to drop after this.
Rangers were comfortably just passing the ball around and winding down the clock, Massimo Luongo and Luke Freeman worked a free kick well which went inches past the post.
In the 80th minute Ryan Manning headed home a Jake Bidwell cross to put the game well and truly out of Norwich’s reach, as he made the score 4-1 with ten minutes remaining.
Rangers were able to see out the game and run out comfortable victors, which now sees them hit the 50 point mark for the season, with Norwich sitting two points above them on 52.
Player Ratings:
Alex Smithies 7- In a game which Smithies wasn’t really called into action, what he did do he did well.
Darnell Furlong 7- Another strong performance from Furlong, who seems to be improving every game.
Nedum Onouha 8- A solid display from Onouha, who has drastically improved since his return to the side.
Joel Lynch 7- Lynch defended well and also looked a threat from attacking set pieces.
Jake Bidwell 7- Following his penalty miss at Reading on Friday, Bidwell did well to clear his mind and played well as a result, his assist for Manning’s goal was very satisfying to see.
Josh Scowen 7- After missing the Fulham game through illness it was good to see Scowen back to his best.
Luke Freeman 7- Freeman had many good runs and shots especially in the first half, he just was unable to trouble the Norwich keeper.
Massimo Luongo 9- My man of the match today, Luongo’s goal topped off a wonderful first half display, and somehow he managed to up his game even further running the midfield throughout the game.
Ryan Manning 7- A good performance from Manning, but I felt his was playing on the wrong wing for a long period of the game. He took his goal well.
Eberechi Eze 8- A wonderful second half performance from Eze, who again took his goal well and caused Norwich’s defence a huge amount of problems throughout the game.
Matt Smith 8- Smith led the line so well for Rangers and his physical presence was hugely important, his quick reactions got Rangers the second goal.
Substitutions:
Paul Smyth 6- Smyth had one run when he came on, but didn’t really have time to effect the game.
Pawel Wszolek 6- Again Wszolek didn’t really have time to affect the game.
Idrissa Sylla 6- It was good to see Sylla return to action after such a lengthy time out, but his presence didn’t really affect the game.
Queens Park Rangers ran riot at Loftus Road against Norwich City in the Sky Bet Championship this afternoon ,running out 4-1 winners.
Rangers made four changes from the side which narrowly lost to Reading at the Madjeski stadium on Friday evening, with Massimo Luongo, Ryan Manning, Matt Smith and Eberechi Eze all returning to the side. This meant that Rangers lined up with Alex Smithies in goal, a defence of Darnell Furlong, Nedum Onouha, Joel Lynch and Jake Bidwell. The midfield consisted of Josh Scowen, Massimo Luongo, Luke Freeman, Ryan Manning and Eberechi Eze. Whilst Matt Smith played the lone striker role.
In contrast Norwich City lined up with: Gunn in goal, a defence of Pinto, Zimmermann, Hanley and Husband, a midfield of Reed, Vrancic, Murphy, Maddison and Hoolahan, whilst Oliveria led the line for the Canaries.
The game kicked off in what was very challenging weather, with the swirling wind and rain providing very difficult conditions for both teams and as expected for an end of season fixture the game started very slow with both sides having plenty possession, but neither team able to create anything significant. With Luke Freeman and Nelson Oliveria having the first real opportunity for either side.
Rangers then started to grow into the game and started to dominate the play, with Freeman, Luongo and Eze all have opportunities to open the scoring. Eze then saw his cross pick out Matt Smith who’s header struck the right hand post and the ball harmlessly found a Norwich City defender who calmly cleared the ball under pressure from Joel Lynch.
In the 38th minute Rangers were on the attack again and Matt Smith’s effort was blocked by a crowd of Norwich defenders and then was eventually cleared, which allowed Norwich to counter attack through Murphy and his cross somehow hit the helpless Ryan Manning and the ball cannoned past Alex Smithies and put the Canaries 1-0 up just before half time.
But straight from kick off Massimo Luongo was able to pick the ball up and hold off 3 Norwich defenders, he then played a nice one-two with Matt Smith and somehow poked the ball home to cancel out Norwich’s freak goal and make the scores equal.
Rangers then really started to turn the screw and had a chance through Ryan Manning, this was saved and the teams went in at the break all square.
After half time, Rangers came out for the second half the better side and in the 55th minute Josh Scowen saw his long range effort blocked on the edge of the box and the ball then looped into the air, Matt Smith was quick to capitalize on this and got in front of the Norwich keeper Gunn and head the ball over him to put Rangers into the lead.
This goal seemed to kill Norwich off and Rangers really started to turn the style on, with Eberechi Eze, Massimo Luongo and Luke Freeman having many forward runs which caused the Norwich defence many problems.
In the 60th minute Matt Smith headed the ball into Eze’s feet and after taking one touch Eze was able to tuck the ball home and put Rangers 3-1 up. A minute later Oliveria had a shot from the edge of the box which fizzed across the Rangers goal, however the score remained 3-1 and the Norwich players heads seemed to drop after this.
Rangers were comfortably just passing the ball around and winding down the clock, Massimo Luongo and Luke Freeman worked a free kick well which went inches past the post.
In the 80th minute Ryan Manning headed home a Jake Bidwell cross to put the game well and truly out of Norwich’s reach, as he made the score 4-1 with ten minutes remaining.
Rangers were able to see out the game and run out comfortable victors, which now sees them hit the 50 point mark for the season, with Norwich sitting two points above them on 52.
Player Ratings:
Alex Smithies 7- In a game which Smithies wasn’t really called into action, what he did do he did well.
Darnell Furlong 7- Another strong performance from Furlong, who seems to be improving every game.
Nedum Onouha 8- A solid display from Onouha, who has drastically improved since his return to the side.
Joel Lynch 7- Lynch defended well and also looked a threat from attacking set pieces.
Jake Bidwell 7- Following his penalty miss at Reading on Friday, Bidwell did well to clear his mind and played well as a result, his assist for Manning’s goal was very satisfying to see.
Josh Scowen 7- After missing the Fulham game through illness it was good to see Scowen back to his best.
Luke Freeman 7- Freeman had many good runs and shots especially in the first half, he just was unable to trouble the Norwich keeper.
Massimo Luongo 9- My man of the match today, Luongo’s goal topped off a wonderful first half display, and somehow he managed to up his game even further running the midfield throughout the game.
Ryan Manning 7- A good performance from Manning, but I felt his was playing on the wrong wing for a long period of the game. He took his goal well.
Eberechi Eze 8- A wonderful second half performance from Eze, who again took his goal well and caused Norwich’s defence a huge amount of problems throughout the game.
Matt Smith 8- Smith led the line so well for Rangers and his physical presence was hugely important, his quick reactions got Rangers the second goal.
Substitutions:
Paul Smyth 6- Smyth had one run when he came on, but didn’t really have time to effect the game.
Pawel Wszolek 6- Again Wszolek didn’t really have time to affect the game.
Idrissa Sylla 6- It was good to see Sylla return to action after such a lengthy time out, but his presence didn’t really affect the game.
