QPR v Nottingham Forest Match Report:
Feb 24, 2018 18:39:20 GMT
Post by simoncheshire on Feb 24, 2018 18:39:20 GMT
QPR 2-5 Nottingham Forest:
Queens Park Rangers were left feeling humiliated following their 5-2 home defeat to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.
Going into this game Rangers made two changes, with Jack Robinson and Paul Smyth both returning to the side. This meant Alex Smithies was in goal, a defence of Pawel Wszolek, captain Nedum Onouha, Jack Robinson, Joel Lynch and Jake Bidwell. The midfield consisted of Massimo Luongo, Josh Scowen and Luke Freeman. Whilst Matt Smith and Paul Smyth led the attack for Rangers.
In contrast Nottingham Forest lined up with: Pantilimon, Darikwa, Figueiredo, Fox, Osborn, Watson, Colback, Cash, Tomlin. Lolley and Brereton.
Nottingham Forest kicked the game off as Rangers won the toss and decided to kick against the sun, straight away Nottingham Forest’s passing game was evident to see, with former Ranger Ben Watson using his Premier League experience by controlling the midfield.
Rangers had the best effort of the game, early in the first half when Luke Freeman’s corner picked out Matt Smith and his header rattled against the bar and bounced on the line. The referee used his goal line technology and nothing was given, which meant that play continued.
The game never really seemed to get any better for Rangers with Forest having all of the possession and creating a lot more opportunities. Lee Tomlin had numerous chances to put the Reds ahead but he just couldn’t find the target.
However after a well worked move, the ball fell to Tomlin on the edge of the Rangers box and he smashed home to put Forest ahead just before half time.
This meant that Forest deservedly went into the break leading 1-0.
As the second half kicked off, it seemed to continue in the same way as the first half finished, with Forest having all the possession and creating more threatening opportunities.
2 minutes into the second half Tomlin curled a wonderful right footed shot from the edge of the box past the helpless Alex Smithies to put Forest 2-0 up and somewhat kill any momentum Rangers had built up over the half time break.
4 minutes later Joel Lynch and Nedum Onouha failed to clear a loose ball and Lynch ended up colliding with Onouha and going down injured, this allowed Forest in and Smithies did well to save the initial shot, but Joe Lolley was able to convert the ball past Smithies to put the visitors 3-0 up and into dreamland.
Rangers re galvanized themselves and were able to pull what seemed a consolation goal back through Massimo Luongo, who was able to bundle the ball home from close range in the 68th minute. This gave Rangers some fight and encouragement as they looked to push for another goal and potentially cause some heroic scenes at Loftus Road.
However in the 76th minute as Rangers pushed forward in the chase of the great comeback it left them exposed at the back and Matthew Cash was able to finish his shot to surely put the game out of sight.
But 2 minutes later Luke Freeman was able to pick out Matt Smith, who finally was able to beat the tall Costel Pantilimon and again give Rangers some sort of hope with the score now 4-2 with 12 minutes remaining.
Nottingham Forest then did well to slow the play down and destroy any momentum Rangers had created and just as 6 minutes of injury time had been announced Brereton produced a wonderful run and shot which again flew past the helpless Alex Smithies and put Forest out of sight once and for all with the score now 5-2.
Rangers are now again starting to look back over their shoulders and the relegation zone, whereas Nottingham Forest leapfrog Rangers and with a dominant display like that should only be looking up.
Player Ratings:
Alex Smithies 6- Wasn’t at fault for any of the goals.
Pawel Wszolek 4- He wasn’t effective throughout the game and his final ball was poor.
Nedum Onouha 6- My best performer today, however considering his defence conceded 5 goals, it highlights how poor Rangers were.
Joel Lynch 4- He eventually went off injured, but kept giving the ball away.
Jack Robinson 5-An unusually poor performance from Robinson who was constantly out of position.
Jake Bidwell 4- Is he a winger or a full back? Only Holloway knows the answer but his current position isn’t helping his performance and is always sacrificed.
Josh Scowen 4- Scowen constantly gave the ball away during the game and was booked.
Massimo Luongo 5- He looked okay on the ball but looked very slow and it wasn’t his best performance.
Luke Freeman 4- Some good set pieces early on, but drifted out of the game and was eventually moved to left back and was at fault for at least two of Forest’s goals.
Paul Smyth 5- Worked tirelessly throughout the game but never really looked like troubling a strong Forest defence.
Matt Smith 5- His physical presence worked until Forest sussed him out and then drifted out of the game. However had enough opportunities to score more than the one goal he eventually got.
Substitutions:
Conor Washington 5- Didn’t impact the game.
Eberechi Eze 5- Again didn’t really impact the game.
Queens Park Rangers were left feeling humiliated following their 5-2 home defeat to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.
Going into this game Rangers made two changes, with Jack Robinson and Paul Smyth both returning to the side. This meant Alex Smithies was in goal, a defence of Pawel Wszolek, captain Nedum Onouha, Jack Robinson, Joel Lynch and Jake Bidwell. The midfield consisted of Massimo Luongo, Josh Scowen and Luke Freeman. Whilst Matt Smith and Paul Smyth led the attack for Rangers.
In contrast Nottingham Forest lined up with: Pantilimon, Darikwa, Figueiredo, Fox, Osborn, Watson, Colback, Cash, Tomlin. Lolley and Brereton.
Nottingham Forest kicked the game off as Rangers won the toss and decided to kick against the sun, straight away Nottingham Forest’s passing game was evident to see, with former Ranger Ben Watson using his Premier League experience by controlling the midfield.
Rangers had the best effort of the game, early in the first half when Luke Freeman’s corner picked out Matt Smith and his header rattled against the bar and bounced on the line. The referee used his goal line technology and nothing was given, which meant that play continued.
The game never really seemed to get any better for Rangers with Forest having all of the possession and creating a lot more opportunities. Lee Tomlin had numerous chances to put the Reds ahead but he just couldn’t find the target.
However after a well worked move, the ball fell to Tomlin on the edge of the Rangers box and he smashed home to put Forest ahead just before half time.
This meant that Forest deservedly went into the break leading 1-0.
As the second half kicked off, it seemed to continue in the same way as the first half finished, with Forest having all the possession and creating more threatening opportunities.
2 minutes into the second half Tomlin curled a wonderful right footed shot from the edge of the box past the helpless Alex Smithies to put Forest 2-0 up and somewhat kill any momentum Rangers had built up over the half time break.
4 minutes later Joel Lynch and Nedum Onouha failed to clear a loose ball and Lynch ended up colliding with Onouha and going down injured, this allowed Forest in and Smithies did well to save the initial shot, but Joe Lolley was able to convert the ball past Smithies to put the visitors 3-0 up and into dreamland.
Rangers re galvanized themselves and were able to pull what seemed a consolation goal back through Massimo Luongo, who was able to bundle the ball home from close range in the 68th minute. This gave Rangers some fight and encouragement as they looked to push for another goal and potentially cause some heroic scenes at Loftus Road.
However in the 76th minute as Rangers pushed forward in the chase of the great comeback it left them exposed at the back and Matthew Cash was able to finish his shot to surely put the game out of sight.
But 2 minutes later Luke Freeman was able to pick out Matt Smith, who finally was able to beat the tall Costel Pantilimon and again give Rangers some sort of hope with the score now 4-2 with 12 minutes remaining.
Nottingham Forest then did well to slow the play down and destroy any momentum Rangers had created and just as 6 minutes of injury time had been announced Brereton produced a wonderful run and shot which again flew past the helpless Alex Smithies and put Forest out of sight once and for all with the score now 5-2.
Rangers are now again starting to look back over their shoulders and the relegation zone, whereas Nottingham Forest leapfrog Rangers and with a dominant display like that should only be looking up.
Player Ratings:
Alex Smithies 6- Wasn’t at fault for any of the goals.
Pawel Wszolek 4- He wasn’t effective throughout the game and his final ball was poor.
Nedum Onouha 6- My best performer today, however considering his defence conceded 5 goals, it highlights how poor Rangers were.
Joel Lynch 4- He eventually went off injured, but kept giving the ball away.
Jack Robinson 5-An unusually poor performance from Robinson who was constantly out of position.
Jake Bidwell 4- Is he a winger or a full back? Only Holloway knows the answer but his current position isn’t helping his performance and is always sacrificed.
Josh Scowen 4- Scowen constantly gave the ball away during the game and was booked.
Massimo Luongo 5- He looked okay on the ball but looked very slow and it wasn’t his best performance.
Luke Freeman 4- Some good set pieces early on, but drifted out of the game and was eventually moved to left back and was at fault for at least two of Forest’s goals.
Paul Smyth 5- Worked tirelessly throughout the game but never really looked like troubling a strong Forest defence.
Matt Smith 5- His physical presence worked until Forest sussed him out and then drifted out of the game. However had enough opportunities to score more than the one goal he eventually got.
Substitutions:
Conor Washington 5- Didn’t impact the game.
Eberechi Eze 5- Again didn’t really impact the game.