QPR v Birmingham City Match Report:
Apr 29, 2018 20:19:50 GMT
Post by simoncheshire on Apr 29, 2018 20:19:50 GMT
Queens Park Rangers 3-1 Birmingham City:
Queens Park Rangers claimed all 3 points against Birmingham City in the Sky Bet Championship in what was the final game of the season at Loftus Road.
Rangers made a number of changes from their defeat to West London rivals Brentford, with most noticeably Joe Lumley returning from his loan spell at Blackpool early and making his home debut for the R’s in this game. As a result Rangers lined up with Lumley in goal, a defence of Osman Kakay, Darnell Furlong, Jake Bidwell and Ryan Manning. Whilst the midfield consisted of captain Josh Scowen, Luke Freeman, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ilias Chairl and Eberechi Eze. Whilst Idrissa Sylla played the long striker for Rangers.
In contrast relegation threatened Birmingham City lined up with: Stockdale, Harding, Morrison, Roberts, Colin, Jota, Davis, N’Doye, Maghoma, Adams and Jutkiewicz.
The game started and Rangers began on the front foot with Eberechi Eze, Ilias Chair and Luke Freeman all having efforts which Stockdale in the Birmingham goal was able to simply save.
As the first half progressed Rangers continued to dominate but on the 27th minute against the run of play Jacques Magohma beat Osman Kakay and broke into the box before he pulled the ball back for Che Adams to tap home past the helpless Joe Lumley making it 1-0 to the visitors.
However from kick off Rangers attacked and Bright Osayi-Samuel worked some space and the ball eventually fell to him before he managed to poke the ball past a group of players and level the scoring.
Osayi-Samuel and Eze started to become Rangers most threatening players and Osayi-Samuel had an effort from the edge of the box expertly saved by Stockdale to keep the score level at the half time break.
As the second half kicked off Rangers were the more dominant side, with Eze, Chair and Freeman pulling the strings in the midfield, Jake Bidwell saw his header from a Freeman corner blocked on the line before Darnell Furlong’s effort was cleared.
Birmingham were able to withstand the Rangers pressure and eventually grew into the second half with Jota and Davis having efforts which were well saved, before Morrison missed a guilt edge chance to put the Blues ahead from a Jota corner. With the former Charlton man failing to make clean contact with the ball from 3 yards out.
Jamie Mackie was then introduced to the home crowd for the final time in his Rangers career and this seemed to spur Rangers on and a minute later Chair pounced in the 6 yard box to put Rangers 2-1 up.
As Birmingham tried to push for that all important equaliser, they became quite open at the back and Mackie should of put the game out of sight for R’s but his effort was blocked, but deep into injury time Matt Smith was able to out strength the Birmingham defence and smash his effort past Stockdale and end Rangers home campaign on a high note.
Player Ratings:
Joe Lumley 8- I thought he made some really important saves and looked very confident in the Rangers goal.
Osman Kakay 7- Again for someone of such a young age he looked very confident on the ball and didn’t look out of place in a Championship defence.
Darnell Furlong 8- Won a lot of headers and in what was a very young team Furlong looked one of the more experienced.
Jake Bidwell 8- Playing at centre back seems to suit Bidwell as he was very impressive against a relatively week Birmingham attack.
Ryan Manning 8- Another player technically out of position but again looked really assured and confident.
Josh Scowen 7- Captain for the day and did well to hold what was a very attacking midfield together.
Luke Freeman 7- He looks a lot more confident when he plays with more attacking players, ultimately played well and his corners caused lots of problems.
Eberechi Eze 9- My man of the match, Eze looks so calm on the ball and can beat players with ease, I think Rangers will do well to keep hold of Eze in the summer as he is quickly becoming one of our biggest assets.
Bright Osayi- Samuel 8- Took his goal well, which topped off a fine first half display but faded a bit in the second half.
Ilias Chair 8- Again played really well and linked up well with Eze, looks very promising for next season.
Idrissa Sylla 6- Sylla struggled to hold the ball up or win many headers, we looked a lot more physical when Smith came on for Sylla.
Substitutes:
Jamie Mackie 7- The whole ground wanted Mackie to score on what was his last performance at Loftus Road.
Matt Smith 7- Took his goal well and caused the Birmingham defence problems when he came on.
Nedum Onouha 7- Again like Mackie on his final performance at Loftus Road everyone wanted to see him play well which we did.
Queens Park Rangers claimed all 3 points against Birmingham City in the Sky Bet Championship in what was the final game of the season at Loftus Road.
Rangers made a number of changes from their defeat to West London rivals Brentford, with most noticeably Joe Lumley returning from his loan spell at Blackpool early and making his home debut for the R’s in this game. As a result Rangers lined up with Lumley in goal, a defence of Osman Kakay, Darnell Furlong, Jake Bidwell and Ryan Manning. Whilst the midfield consisted of captain Josh Scowen, Luke Freeman, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ilias Chairl and Eberechi Eze. Whilst Idrissa Sylla played the long striker for Rangers.
In contrast relegation threatened Birmingham City lined up with: Stockdale, Harding, Morrison, Roberts, Colin, Jota, Davis, N’Doye, Maghoma, Adams and Jutkiewicz.
The game started and Rangers began on the front foot with Eberechi Eze, Ilias Chair and Luke Freeman all having efforts which Stockdale in the Birmingham goal was able to simply save.
As the first half progressed Rangers continued to dominate but on the 27th minute against the run of play Jacques Magohma beat Osman Kakay and broke into the box before he pulled the ball back for Che Adams to tap home past the helpless Joe Lumley making it 1-0 to the visitors.
However from kick off Rangers attacked and Bright Osayi-Samuel worked some space and the ball eventually fell to him before he managed to poke the ball past a group of players and level the scoring.
Osayi-Samuel and Eze started to become Rangers most threatening players and Osayi-Samuel had an effort from the edge of the box expertly saved by Stockdale to keep the score level at the half time break.
As the second half kicked off Rangers were the more dominant side, with Eze, Chair and Freeman pulling the strings in the midfield, Jake Bidwell saw his header from a Freeman corner blocked on the line before Darnell Furlong’s effort was cleared.
Birmingham were able to withstand the Rangers pressure and eventually grew into the second half with Jota and Davis having efforts which were well saved, before Morrison missed a guilt edge chance to put the Blues ahead from a Jota corner. With the former Charlton man failing to make clean contact with the ball from 3 yards out.
Jamie Mackie was then introduced to the home crowd for the final time in his Rangers career and this seemed to spur Rangers on and a minute later Chair pounced in the 6 yard box to put Rangers 2-1 up.
As Birmingham tried to push for that all important equaliser, they became quite open at the back and Mackie should of put the game out of sight for R’s but his effort was blocked, but deep into injury time Matt Smith was able to out strength the Birmingham defence and smash his effort past Stockdale and end Rangers home campaign on a high note.
Player Ratings:
Joe Lumley 8- I thought he made some really important saves and looked very confident in the Rangers goal.
Osman Kakay 7- Again for someone of such a young age he looked very confident on the ball and didn’t look out of place in a Championship defence.
Darnell Furlong 8- Won a lot of headers and in what was a very young team Furlong looked one of the more experienced.
Jake Bidwell 8- Playing at centre back seems to suit Bidwell as he was very impressive against a relatively week Birmingham attack.
Ryan Manning 8- Another player technically out of position but again looked really assured and confident.
Josh Scowen 7- Captain for the day and did well to hold what was a very attacking midfield together.
Luke Freeman 7- He looks a lot more confident when he plays with more attacking players, ultimately played well and his corners caused lots of problems.
Eberechi Eze 9- My man of the match, Eze looks so calm on the ball and can beat players with ease, I think Rangers will do well to keep hold of Eze in the summer as he is quickly becoming one of our biggest assets.
Bright Osayi- Samuel 8- Took his goal well, which topped off a fine first half display but faded a bit in the second half.
Ilias Chair 8- Again played really well and linked up well with Eze, looks very promising for next season.
Idrissa Sylla 6- Sylla struggled to hold the ball up or win many headers, we looked a lot more physical when Smith came on for Sylla.
Substitutes:
Jamie Mackie 7- The whole ground wanted Mackie to score on what was his last performance at Loftus Road.
Matt Smith 7- Took his goal well and caused the Birmingham defence problems when he came on.
Nedum Onouha 7- Again like Mackie on his final performance at Loftus Road everyone wanted to see him play well which we did.