QPR 0 MIDDLESBROUGH 1
FIRST HALF REPORT
Andy Morgan, 5 Dec 2009
Adam Johnson wasn't even in the squad as Middlesbrough faced QPR at Loftus Road. He was dealing with a family illness.
Gary O'Neil made his return as captain in midfield, whilst Rhys Williams slotted in at right-back. These were the only two changes from the side that drew 2-2 against Peterborough United last week.
This meant Brad Jones was in goal, with David Wheater and Sean St Ledger in the centre of defence. Emanuel Pogatetz was on the left.
The midfield read Mark Yeates, Julio Arca, Isaiah Osbourne and O'Neil whilst Leroy Lita and Dave Kitson resumed their partnership in attack.
Jones, Williams, St Ledger, Wheater, Pogatetz, Yeates, Arca, Osbourne, O'Neil, Lita, Kitson Coyne, Hoyte, Riggott, Digard, Emnes, McMahon, Bent
Report Continues Below...
THE FIRST HALF
The home side started the brighter of the two, attacking within the first minute. Akos Buzsaky took a shot within the first 50 seconds, which Yeates managed to block. This forced two corners in a row, which Boro managed to clear both times.
Spurs' promising youngster, who is on loan at Rangers, Adel Taarabt had a shot in the fifth minute that went high and wide.
Boro's midfield was found wanting in the twelfth minute as Rangers threatened to have a three v three. However, the defence managed to deal with the issue as Taarabt's shot went wide after he was put under pressure.
Ben Watson's in-swinging corner should have been converted by Mikele Leigertwood, who had a free header from six yards. The Boro were marking zones again and QPR should have punished them.
This didn't deter Rangers though and Gary Borrowdale had a shot that was collected by Jones with ease.
At the other end, Leroy Lita launched a powerful shot towards Radek Cerny's goal. However, he didn't test the man between the sticks, who grabbed comfortably.
Rangers showed some excellent movement and technique in the eighteenth minute. Tarrabt picked up the ball on the left hand side and crossed it into the box. This resulted in Jay Simpson having an attempt which flashed narrowly wide of Brad Jones's right hand post.
Mark Yeates could have opened the scoring in the twenty-second minute when he blasted the ball towards goal from thirty yards. He was trying to catch Cerny off-guard as he was off his line. In doing so, he cracked his effort against the crossbar when he deserved for it to drop just under.
A terrific reverse pass from Kitson released Lita, who darted towards the goal shortly afterwards. However, he didn't have the confidence to take on Fitz Hall in the Rangers defence, meaning he shot too early. Cerny made the save.
Fitz Hall was booked for a foul on Mark Yeates in the twenty-ninth minute.
Pogatetz then released O'Neil who had a rousing run down the left hand side of the pitch. He was trying to get the ball on to his right foot before crossing it across the face of goal.
Despite QPR having the majority of the play, Boro were having the best shots and they got the breakthrough on the half hour. Fantastic delivery from O'Neil was difficult to defend and Kitson got his toe on the ball. This smashed it into the back of the net for Kitson's third Boro goal.
QPR 0 MIDDLESBROUGH 1 (Kitson, 30)
Three minutes later, Lita went down in the box and the Boro fans were screaming for a penalty. The referee stood there, thought, looked like he was going to give it, some tumbleweed and a Sainsbury's bag blew across the terrain, and then he gave a goal kick.
Julio Arca was angry with Mark Yeates in the thirty-fifth minute after his excellent run was ignored. Instead, Yeates tried the reverse pass to Lita, who was flagged offside.
In the forty-first minute, O'Neil found himself in considerable space and launched a curling shot that was heading into the top corner. This forced an excellent save from Cerny, who tipped the ball around the stantion. Nothing came from the corner apart from a Rangers free-kick.
Middlesbrough were coming into the ascendancy towards the end of the half as the goal had knocked Rangers sideways. Where there had been creativity in the opening half hour, QPR were now looking distinctly flat and boss Jim Magilton, with arms folded on the touchline, was clearly not impressed.
