QPR 0-0 Reading:
Dec 30, 2018 15:58:20 GMT
Post by simoncheshire on Dec 30, 2018 15:58:20 GMT
QPR 0-0 Reading:
It was a frustrating afternoon in W12 for Queens Park Rangers as a stubborn Reading stood firm and hung on to a precious point in what was both sides last game of 2018.
Going into the game the R’s made one key change to the starting XI as Massimo Luongo missed out for the first time ahead of his selection in the Australian Asia Cup squad meaning Jordon Cousins paired with Josh Scowen in the centre of the Rangers midfield.
In a half of very limited chances for either side it was the visitors who controlled possession and looked the most likely to go ahead. Rangers were able to eventually clear Yakou Meite’s goal mouth scramble, before Gareth Mcleary had a great run and effort blocked by Toni Leistner to see the ball fall to John Swift and his shot flew over Joe Lumley’s crossbar.
In the dying minutes of the first half Leistner had a chance to give Rangers what would have been an undeserved lead, but his effort rocketed off the crossbar and at the half time break the score was goalless, but QPR knew they had to drastically improve if they were going to get something out of the second half.
Much to the home crowds displeasure it was Reading who started the second half more threatening with Swift seeing his free kick canon off the bar before former Swansea man Modou Barrow forced Lumley into action.
These efforts seemed to finally kick a lacklustre R’s side into action, with Nahki Wells having two efforts on goal but he was unable to find the target. Luke Freeman saw his volley from the edge of the box well saved by Anssi Jaakola in the Royals goal. Before captain Leistner saw another chance rocket off the crossbar following a good corner piece move from Freeman.
Wells had a looping header to snatch all three points for the R’s, but it was the away side who had the shot of the match as they broke from a QPR corner before substitute Jón Dadi Bödvarsson unleashed a great shot which was equally matched by Lumley in the Rangers net to ensure a share of the spoils remained in West London.
Player Ratings:
Joe Lumley 8: My man of the match today, when was called into action produced some fine saves.
Darnel Furlong 7: A good performance from Furlong who seemed to fade later on in the game.
Toni Leistner 7: Was unlucky with his efforts, was caught out a bit in the first half.
Joel Lynch 6: Similar to Leistner seemed to struggle with Reading’s pace in the first half but grew into the game.
Jake Bidwell 7: A consistent performance from Bidwell, looked an attacking threat going forward.
Josh Scowen 6: Struggled in the heart of midfield without Luongo.
Jordon Cousins 6: A poor first half with many misplaced passes, grew into the game a bit in the second half.
Pawel Wszolek 6: Didn’t do anything significant in the first half and produced a couple of threatening crosses in the second.
Luke Freeman 7: Looked our most attacking threat during game.
Eberechi Eze 6: Not Eze’s greatest performance but still looked a threat when he was on the ball.
Nahki Wells 7: Another tireless performance from Wells who looked very leggy as the game went on.
Substitutes:
Matt Smith 6: Wasn’t on long enough to affect the game.
Ilias Chair 6: Again wasn’t on long enough to affect the game.
It was a frustrating afternoon in W12 for Queens Park Rangers as a stubborn Reading stood firm and hung on to a precious point in what was both sides last game of 2018.
Going into the game the R’s made one key change to the starting XI as Massimo Luongo missed out for the first time ahead of his selection in the Australian Asia Cup squad meaning Jordon Cousins paired with Josh Scowen in the centre of the Rangers midfield.
In a half of very limited chances for either side it was the visitors who controlled possession and looked the most likely to go ahead. Rangers were able to eventually clear Yakou Meite’s goal mouth scramble, before Gareth Mcleary had a great run and effort blocked by Toni Leistner to see the ball fall to John Swift and his shot flew over Joe Lumley’s crossbar.
In the dying minutes of the first half Leistner had a chance to give Rangers what would have been an undeserved lead, but his effort rocketed off the crossbar and at the half time break the score was goalless, but QPR knew they had to drastically improve if they were going to get something out of the second half.
Much to the home crowds displeasure it was Reading who started the second half more threatening with Swift seeing his free kick canon off the bar before former Swansea man Modou Barrow forced Lumley into action.
These efforts seemed to finally kick a lacklustre R’s side into action, with Nahki Wells having two efforts on goal but he was unable to find the target. Luke Freeman saw his volley from the edge of the box well saved by Anssi Jaakola in the Royals goal. Before captain Leistner saw another chance rocket off the crossbar following a good corner piece move from Freeman.
Wells had a looping header to snatch all three points for the R’s, but it was the away side who had the shot of the match as they broke from a QPR corner before substitute Jón Dadi Bödvarsson unleashed a great shot which was equally matched by Lumley in the Rangers net to ensure a share of the spoils remained in West London.
Player Ratings:
Joe Lumley 8: My man of the match today, when was called into action produced some fine saves.
Darnel Furlong 7: A good performance from Furlong who seemed to fade later on in the game.
Toni Leistner 7: Was unlucky with his efforts, was caught out a bit in the first half.
Joel Lynch 6: Similar to Leistner seemed to struggle with Reading’s pace in the first half but grew into the game.
Jake Bidwell 7: A consistent performance from Bidwell, looked an attacking threat going forward.
Josh Scowen 6: Struggled in the heart of midfield without Luongo.
Jordon Cousins 6: A poor first half with many misplaced passes, grew into the game a bit in the second half.
Pawel Wszolek 6: Didn’t do anything significant in the first half and produced a couple of threatening crosses in the second.
Luke Freeman 7: Looked our most attacking threat during game.
Eberechi Eze 6: Not Eze’s greatest performance but still looked a threat when he was on the ball.
Nahki Wells 7: Another tireless performance from Wells who looked very leggy as the game went on.
Substitutes:
Matt Smith 6: Wasn’t on long enough to affect the game.
Ilias Chair 6: Again wasn’t on long enough to affect the game.
