Taarabt and Routledge Send Sky Blues to Coventry...

QPR 2-1 Coventry

Superb goals from Adel Taarabt and Wayne Routledge, on his 2nd debut and 50th game for the Club, sent Rangers five points clear at the top of the Championship in this lunchtime's televised game at Loftus Road.



It seems an age since I sat down to write the report since the Bristol City game, but I must say we had had a couple of corking reports from Lee following the trips to Blackburn and Burnely. Despite the game being on a Sunday, the gang were all in attendance bright and early at the Springbok, with the inclusion this week of little Jack and also Lee's lovely lady, Jess. But sadly, missing was California Hoop due to family commitments. Football on a Sunday should be banned!!! I must just mention also how nice it was to have a catch up with Corinne and friend Sarah at the Springbok and at half time.

We were all in good spirits beforehand and eager to see what our new signings would bring to the team. However, Wayne Routledge was the only new face to start and Ishmael Miller was on the bench. Pascal Chimbonda was not to feature.

Onto the game and although the R's made a promising start, you couldn't help but think it was going to be another one of those days, when Heidar Helguson headed over from close range with the goal gaping. Taarabt had a shot blocked by the again, impressive Westwood in the Sky Blues goal and he later denied Shaun Derry his first goal for the club, superbly pushing away his 25 yard effort.

Rangers were made to pay for their missed chances on 25 minutes and it just had to happen didn't it? As per the away game at the Lifeless Arena, Marlon King's previous misdemeanours lead to him getting a fair bit of stick from the R's faithful and it was King who silenced the home crowd, shinning McSheffrey's cross home to give the visitors the lead. It could have so easily been two minutes later when Eastwood fortunately dragged an effort wide when in fairness, it looked easier to score.

But on the stroke of half time, the R's were level - the surprisingly subdued at times, Adel Taarabt, cut inside two defenders and curled his shot into the far corner, a superb finish for his 13th goal of the season.

Onto the second half and another 'one of those days' feelings sprang to mind, as Faurlin smashed a low free kick against the Coventry post and the ball rolled across the goal line and spun behind to safety. A free kick that was so well taken, yet we didn't even get a corner from it?

Paddy Kenny then performed heroics in the R's goal with an outstanding triple save, before Ishmael Miller entered the play for the injured Helguson. The big striker almost made an immediate impact, cutting into the box, before unleashing a left footed drive which was superbly saved by Westwood. The referee then decided that football was to become a non contact sport and was making all sorts of quite ridiculous decisions.

But with 11 minutes to go, a moment of magic that will live long in the memory - Taarabt simply carved open the Coventry defence with a pass from the left touchline with the outside of his right boot. Routledge marked a fine second debut by controlling the ball superbly with his right foot and coolly placing home with his left - a quite superb goal!!

Despite a late injury time flurry from Coventry, there was to be no repeat of the Bristol City game a few weeks back and the R's gained their first win in 2011.

QPR: Kenny, Orr, Hill, Derry, Taarabt, Faurlin, Helguson (Miller 55), Gorkss, Routledge (Ephraim 90), Connolly, Smith (Hall 82). Subs: Cerny, Clarke, Hulse, Vaagan Moen.

Lofty's Man of the Match - a big gang discussion for this one, with Paddy Kenny getting the vote from Jo. Corp, Sam and Jess opted for Shaun Derry. But with 4 votes from myself, PK, Luke and Lee, todays award goes to Wayne Routledge.

In summary, a great 3 points in front of the cameras with 2 great goals. Routledge and Miller look decent additions with Chimbonda still to come in and more signings rumoured. Personally, I am glad to see the back of Coventry for this season and chuffed to bits that we have taken 6 points from them. Their style of play isn't pretty to the eye but nevertheless, it leads to them being extremely difficult opponents, but I certainly couldn't go and watch that every week...

Lee returns next Saturday as the LH gang take the road to the KC Stadium for the rearranged game against Hull...

COME ON YOU R'ssssssssssss!!!!!