Patient QPR See off Pompey....

QPR 2-0 Portsmouth

It wasn't always pretty on the eye, but goals from Taarabt and Clint Hill, gave Rangers a 2-0 victory over Portsmouth at Loftus Road this evening.













Well being a midweek game, the gang sadly were not in full attendance as Jenson is at a Stag do/Wedding in Las Vegas and PK was also absent, being stuck up on a cherry picker, or something... Sadly, I was later than normal to arrive and was unable to join in the banter and pre match discussions at The Springbok as normal.

Moving swiftly onto the game and in an easily forgettable first half, Pompey could have been ahead after just 30 seconds when Halford directed a free header straight at Paddy Kenny. Rangers had a couple of half chances with Adel Taarabt firing wide and Clint Hill shooting narrowly over. But Pompey were giving as good as they were getting with Liam Lawrence, being the annoying little s*** that he always is and getting at the ref with every opportunity - and after trying to get Matt Connolly sent off, the resulting free kick was superbly pushed away by Kenny for a corner. Lawrence trotted over to take it and I can honestly say, I have never seen a player get barracked as much as he did tonight from the Loft and the Ellerslie Road stand. He seemed to lap it up but also looked around in absolute amazement.

Neil Warnock obviously worked his magic during the break and Rangers returned a lot more positively and some great work on the right from Taarabt, who then played in Miller and the big striker turned and shot narrowly wide. But on 59 minutes, the R's made the breakthrough - Taarabt ran at the Pompey defence, with Hogan Ephraim in acres of space to his right and the whole ground screaming at him to pass, the Moroccan let fly with a low drive which Ashdown fumbled - and the ball happily bounced over the line.




















Pompey hit back and some good work from Kitson, played in Johnathon Hogg who screwed his shot wide when in truth, he probably should have levelled things up. But it was game set and match on 73 minutes when Clint Hill met Taarabt's corner with a bullet header which Ashdown could only help on its way in - his long awaited and much deserved first goal for QPR.

QPR: Kenny, Orr, Hill, Derry, Taarabt (Vaagan Moen 90), Faurlin, Gorkss, Routledge (Hall 85), Connolly, Ephraim, Miller (Hulse 70). Subs: Cerny, Rowlands, Chimbonda, Shittu.

Lofty's Man of the Match - EXTREMELY difficult one to call this one. Personally, I gave it to Taarabt, who put Saturday's hissy fit behind him to put in a solid performance. Paddy Kenny once again was in the running with some fine stops ahead of his, quite amazing, 16th clean sheet of the season - but with 3 votes, coming from Lee, California, Corp and with Neil Warnock stating 'that's the best he has ever played for me' - tonights award goes to Alejandro Faurlin.






















In summary and as mentioned, it wasn't always pretty tonight but it's results that matter and the R's patience certainly paid off. Lee will return to the fold on Friday night as the R's travel to Reading for the Sky Sports encounter.

Come on You R'sssssssssssssssssss!!!!