Back to Life, Back to Reality...

Sheffield Utd 3-0 QPR

QPR got a huge reality check as a Billy Sharp hat trick gave the Blades an extremely comfortable win at Bramall Lane on Saturday and brought the R's back down to earth with a massive bump!!



The day started well enough with myself, PK and the returning Darren, setting off just after 10am and despite a minor hold up on the M1, arrived in plenty of time for some pre match food and drink. Due to QPR's raising their profile, such to speak, instead of finding a pub, we thought we would do what we did last year and take in the excellent 'Hellas Cafe Bar', in which we enjoyed a bistro type lunch and some cold bottled beers before the short walk to the stadium - which from there on in, the day went downhill, rapidly.

There is no way to sugar coat it, this was a shocking performance from Rangers, who went a goal behind on just two minutes - Halford hurled in a long throw and striker Darius Henderson flick-headed the ball into the danger area to find Sharp, 'unmarked' to stoop and place his header out of Radek Cerny's reach. Ten minutes later and it was 2-0 - Mikele Leigertwood dithered and veteran Gary Speed stole the ball. He angled an ball for Sharp who let's be honest, after a big money move fromScunthorpe last year, couldn't hit a barn door from the inside last season! He raced into space leaving Rangers trailing and rifled a cool shot past Cerny and Rangers went into the break fortunate to be just 2 goals down.



Six minutes into the second half and it was game over - Sharp finally added his third goal when he stabbed the ball in from close range after Cerny flapped at a Tonge corner. The best it got for Rangers was during a brief 20 minute spell, when Ledesma struck the Blades post from outside the box and Blackstock was denied at the rebound by a great tackle from Ehiogu.

QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Hall, Leigertwood, Parejo, Blackstock, Gorkss, Connolly, Cook (Alberti 80), Balanta (Di Carmine 46), Ledesma. Subs: Camp, Stewart, Mahon.

Lotfy's Man of the Match - N/A!!!



Don't get me wrong, Sheffield United are a decent outfit and this was always going to be a tough game for Rangers. But, as mentioned, this was a HUGE reality check for the R's and many questions could be asked of Iain Dowie's team selection against an as always, physical Sheffield United side? The back four looked like they had never met before and plenty of work needs to be done before the visit of Doncaster to Loftus Road. Personally, I am not worrying just yet as with all the expectation surrounding the club at the moment, this heavy defeat may well do us some good in the long run. One of Dowie's favourite quotes is 'bouncebackability'. Let's hope we see some next Saturday!

Come on You R'ssss!!!