The lowdown on Bristol City 1 QPR 1 – Spectacular Smyth strike continues Rangers’ unbeaten run
QPR are unbeaten in their last six matches after drawing 1-1 at Bristol City on Saturday.
Here is the lowdown on the match.
THE LINE-UPS
Bristol City: O’Leary, Vyner, Dickie, McNally, Pring, Bird, Knight, Earthy (Bell 77), Hirakawa (Twine 59), Mehmeti, Wells (Mayulu 77). Subs not used: Bajic, McCrorie, Atkinson, Roberts, Cornick, McGuane.
QPR: Nardi, Dunne, Cook, Morrison, Ashby (Paal 80), Field, Varane, Smyth (Bennie 88), Andersen (Madsen 74), Saito (Chair 74), Kolli (Lloyd h/t). Subs not used: Walsh, Frey, Fox, Morgan
QPR continued their recent resurgence by grinding out a draw against Bristol City. Paul Smyth rescued a point for Rangers thanks to a remarkable goal from long range with what was the visitors first shot of the game.
QPR survived wave after wave of pressure from the home side in the first half as they struggled to keep hold of possession.
And they fell behind on the hour mark when substitute Scott Twine scored an impressive free-kick with what was his first touch.
Smyth equalised five minutes later, breaking away from a Bristol City corner, rounding goalkeeper Max O’Leary on the halfway line and scoring from close to the touchline.
TACTICAL APPROACH
Marti Cifuentes stuck with the same tactical approach that has brought about QPR’s good recent form. He made just one change from Wednesday’s 2-0 win against Oxford United, with Lucas Andersen replacing fellow Dane Nicolas Madsen in midfield.
QPR struggled to gain any control of the game in the first half, as they struggled both when trying to play out from the back and when they went long to striker Rayan Kolli.
Gaps also began to appear in midfield when Bristol City had the ball, as the effects of a hectic run of games on an injury-hit squad began to show.
Alfie Lloyd’s industry after he replaced Kolli at half-time brought about an improved second half, but the unbeaten run looked in real danger when Twine struck.
However, QPR were arguably the better side following Smyth’s unusual goal and had a couple of breakaways that could have seen them win the game if executed better.
STAR MAN
Jonathan Varane. Continues to get better and better in midfield. Made five tackles, helping to put out fires all over the pitch, and was often a reassuring presence in the periods of the game when it looked like Bristol City were set to get on top.
BEST MOMENT
Smyth’s goal. The best goals are the ones that come from nowhere and this was certainly one of those. The winger can often be criticised for being wasteful in the final third, and he has scored just five goals since returning to Loftus Road last summer, but he showed great composure to take the ball beyond the onrushing O’Leary and he executed the finish that followed perfectly.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
Early Saturday kick-offs. The last thing QPR needed at the end of a three-game week was an early start on the road. While the trip to Ashton Gate is not one of the longer jaunts they will undertake this season, the 12.30pm kick off did little to help either the atmosphere or the tempo of the game.
A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB
Have you ever seen a goal like that? It was peculiar that Bristol City effectively left no defender back when they were attacking a corner and also a goal up. It was perhaps even stranger that goalkeeper O’Leary came charging out to the halfway line to deal with the situation. Either way, it was a great moment of improvisation from Smyth and will help make a memorable day of a forgettable QPR performance.
WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY
“A difficult game. The first half was poor. We were not at the level that was required and Bristol City showed an amazing energy, which I’m not surprised about because in terms of athleticism and ability to press, they are one of the best in the league. We knew the challenge and we were not at the level required. I’m very, very proud for the guys because in a game scenario that was not great, a way of playing that is not exactly what we want to do – we were dominated by a team that was doing a lot of good things – we had the capacity to compete.
“There is a new English expression that I learnt this week, ‘grind it out’, and I think that definitely is the summary of the game.”
PICTURE: ALAMY