https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x55lx9r_qpr-vs-aston-villa-0-1-championship-all-goals-highlights-18-12-2016_sport
I have to say I really enjoyed that game as much as any I’ve watched in a while.
Okay, the quality wasn’t the best, but I felt the team did what I mostly want and that’s keep the pace up and try to entertain.
Unfortunately, it seems that keeping that pace up introduces more errors and we looked really poor early on, with simple passes being mislaid.
Fortunately, QPR’s quality is worse than ours and we won out in the end; a result that still keeps us in the promotion game.
Steve Bruce made several changes and my opinion says we looked better for them.
I’m going to concentrate on the pluses, as it’s alway easier to moan, isn’t it?
I know some of you don’t rate Bunn as any better than Gollini, but I have to massively disagree.
There were a few situations where Bunn commanded his area in a way I don’t believe Gollini would and I feel the defence trust him more.
Dare I say, I thought Hutton played well? That’s another one that many might disagree with, but for me, he simply did. Rangers certainly didn’t get much change out of him, but I should also point out that he had much better support, with Chester and Jedinak helping him out.
Chester? He was excellent along with Baker, who was a welcome return.
Amavi was very good, getting back for good defensive work, while also looking to get forward. I felt he faded somewhat in the second half, which wasn’t surprising, given his work-rate.
Jedinak, after a dodgy start, where all he seemed to do was give the ball away, got better and he really is a rock in covering the defence.
Adomah, I thought looked a threat and he also helps Hutton too.
Gardner didn’t do a fat lot, but he does provide more work than Westwood. This is the position we need to improve on, I’d say.
Bacuna looked like he deserves a run to me. I don’t think he was anything special, but he just offers more, especially over someone like Westwood.
McCormack? He was played out wide and it just doesn’t suit him, as he needs to be around the box more. He was again anonymous and as I’ve previously suggested, I don’t think he suits Bruce’s thinking.
Kodjia worked his socks and indeed his shirt off. He led the line and provided lots of movement. His penalty attempt was poor, but his hard work paid off and he got a thoroughly deserved goal.
Subs:
Gabby? I can only think that Bruce is trying to keep him in the shop window, with a view to getting rid. We all know he’s finished, after all. Who’s going to pay anywhere near his wages though?
Westwood was purely about fresh legs, surely. He offers nothing in attack and doesn’t help in defence in the last few minutes.
Gestede serves a purpose, but should he have done better in the one on one? I think so.
This game offered us a few things.
We won for the first time on Sky in ages.
We have another away win in the bag.
And it was an away clean sheet.
All in all, a very good day, where I believe we’re six points off the play-offs.
It’s all still to play for, which is no doubt a position we wouldn’t be in, if we were in the Prem. Well, not in a positive way, at least.
I’ll add the video as soon as I find it.
UTV!
