City’s luck ran out on West London on Saturday afternoon
Two goals in 10 second half minutes saw QPR come from 2-1 down to beat Hull City 3-2 in a pulsating Championship encounter at a rain-soaked Loftus Road.
Despite a slow start, the Tigers were on the scoresheet 17 minutes in when Regan Slater’s quick break saw him find Joe Gelhardt to thump in the opener, with what was their first real attack of any substance.
Rangers did finally take one of their 15 first half attempts when the ball fell kindly to Ilias Chair to slot in the net, and find themselves deservedly level at the interval.
Enis Destan made it 2-1 before Rangers turned it around to lead 3-2, and that’s how it finished, with the Tigers suffering a second successive defeat on the road.
Here’s how Tigers reporter Barry Cooper rated the players at Loftus Road on Saturday afternoon….
Ivor Pandur: Really good save early on to deny Rumarn Burrell from close range and shortly after from Amadou Mbengue.. Beaten for the equaliser. Could he have done more with the second? Third was like the first. Pulled off a fine save late on. Far too exposed. 7/10
Ryan Giles: Vital block on Kone after Pandur’s important block. Put in some great deliveries, including for Enis Destan to make it 2-1. 7/10
Charlie Hughes: Had far too much work to do in the first period. Was unlucky that two of their goals came from blocks off him. One of those days. 6/10
John Egan: Like Hughes, was overworked in a first half where City had little control. Exactly the same theme in the second period. 6/10
Lewie Coyle: One behind Regan Slater now on 199 Tigers appearances and was busy in the first period, making a couple of important tackles with his side under the pump for much of it. 6/10
Regan Slater: Made his 200th appearance for the Tigers and capped it with an assist. He won the ball in midfield before surging forward and finding Gelhardt to score. Withdrawn in the second period. 6/10
Amir Hadziahmetovic: Couldn’t get any kind of control in the middle of the park in the opening period and that continued in the second, before he was withdrawn. 5/10
Matt Crooks: Like Amir, found it tough to get on the ball and make use of it when he did get it. No lack of effort, just a day where little came off. Booked in added time and will now miss Tuesday night. 6/10
Joe Gelhardt: His first meaningful involvement came 17 minutes when he latched onto Slater’s pass to power the Tigers in front. Joff’s sixth goal in his last seven games. Didn’t feature enough after that for his liking. 6/10
Kyle Joseph: Ran hard, we now expect from KJ, but most of his work was defensively. Went up front when Destan was replaced, and then came off late on. 5/10
Enis Destan: Kept his place after making his first start and marking it with a goal last time out, but couldn’t get into the first period. Bagged his second goal in as many starts with a bullet header from Ryan Giles’ cross, before coming off. 6.5/10
Subs:
Darko Gyabi (for Amir 62): Did actually bring some welcome control to proceedings, which just hadn’t been there. 6/10
Joel Ndala (for Destan 62): Looked bright when he came on, and saw two shots blocked as he looked to get a second Championship goal. 6/10
Mo Belloumi (for Slater 72): Good to see him get back on the pitch with a really useful runout. 6/10
David Akintola (for Joseph 83): Headed over under pressure from goalkeeper Ben Hamer, and then tried a crazy overhead kick, which saw him give away a foul. 6/10
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