The lowdown on Sheffield United 2 QPR 2 – Second half comeback earns Rangers an impressive point on the road
QPR came from two goals down against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane to earn their first point of the season.
Here is Dan Evans’ lowdown on the match from Bramall Lane:
THE LINE-UPS
SHEFFIELD UNITED: Davies, Gilchrist (Souttar 77), Ahmedhodzic (Rak-Sakyi 90), Robinson, Burrows, Arblaster, Souza (Brewster 90), Brooks (Slimane 85), Hamer, O’Hare (Peck 85), Moore.
Subs not used: Cooper, McCallum, Trusty, Marsh
QPR: Nardi, Dunne, Cook, Clarke-Salter, Paal, Andersen (Smyth 43), Varane (Colback h/t), Field, Dembele (Celar 68), Frey (Dykes 84), Lloyd (Saito 68). Subs not used: Walsh, Morrison, Dixon-Bonner, Santos
SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME
A late strike from substitute Lyndon Dykes secured an unlikely point for Rangers after Jimmy Dunne had pulled a goal back with a header from a corner.
Jack Colback had been sent off by the time Dykes levelled the scores after receiving two yellow cards for dissent in the space of just four minutes.
Sheffield United cruised into a two-goal lead early on through Gustavo Hamer and Kieffer Moore as Rangers struggled to get to grips with the hosts, but the second half proved to be a very different story.
TACTICAL APPROACH
Marti Cifuentes made four changes from the side that suffered an opening day defeat to West Brom last weekend, including changing his entire front-line.
It was largely the same in terms of formation though, with Jonathan Varane struggling as he made his first Championship start in the holding midfield role.
Sheffield United pair Gustavo Hamer and Callum O’Hare gave Varane a torrid time in the first half, with both players heavily involved in the home side taking a two-goal lead.
The Frenchman was substituted at half-time and, combined with debutant Karamoko Dembele moving into a more central role from the right wing, Rangers had far more control after the break.
Cifuentes changed to a two-striker formation after Dunne had headed home from a Dembele corner, but it looked like it would have little impact after Colback’s sending off.
There was no rhyme or reason to Rangers’ equaliser with Koki Saito somehow breaking in behind the Blades defence before pulling back for Dykes to sweep home.
A rear-guard that was vastly improved after the break hung on valiantly throughout eight minutes of additional time.
BEST MOMENT
Dykes’ late equaliser. The striker has had a difficult summer as injury forced him to miss the Euros with Scotland and new signings have pushed him down the pecking order at Loftus Road. However, his swept finish from the edge of the box in front of the away end will live long in the memory.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
Colback’s ridiculous red card. The experienced midfielder took issue with referee Anthony Backhouse not showing a second yellow card to Hamer after the Blades midfielder had gestured to the official that a QPR player should have been booked.
The 34-year-old was given a yellow himself for his initial protestations but that did not calm him down in any way.
Colback could then be seen remonstrating with the fourth official as the game continued, which resulted in Backhouse being called over to the touchline before brandishing a second booking less than four minutes after the first.
The former Sunderland and Newcastle man was not finished there either, as he continued to gesture in the direction of the fourth official as he made his way off the pitch before eventually being ushered down the tunnel by Cifuentes.
A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB
Debutants Dembele and Saito. Dembele was the only bright spark for QPR in a poor first half, regularly demanding the ball on the right wing and more often than not getting the better of any would-be tacklers.
He was equally impressive in a more central role before being taken off, but replacement Saito also gave the opposition defence plenty to worry about.
The Japanese international caught the eye with his dribbling, and also kept his composure late on to pick out Dykes for the equalising goal.
WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY
“It’s definitely a game with two halves.. The first one was very disappointing. All the things that we missed in the first half we had in the second.
“We were more dynamic on the ball. We were more fluid in possession. We had the capacity to challenge in one v ones where we want to challenge, breaking the first line of pressure and creating chances. There was definitely a big difference.
“Sometimes, when you are angry and have something to prove, it is important to have the adversity we faced in the first half.
“What we spoke about at half-time was that it was important to win the second half no matter what the score because we felt that scoring the goal could be a game changer.
“Even when we got the red card at 2-1 there was nothing to lose and we needed to push, and I’m happy for the guys because we showed the resilience and the character we need to compete in this league.”