QPR 2 Hull 0
A comfortable win and a moderate game, lit up by two super goals. Akos Buzsaky made his Rangers debut in place of the perhaps unfortunate Adam Bolder, while it was good to see the legendary Jay-Jay Okocha turning out for the visitors, even if he is past his best. By the way, if you're wondering what JJ is doing at Hull of all places, apparently "God told him to do it". I suspect this was more likely a Hull backroom staffer employing a glass and a spooky voice, still whatever works.
The first 25 minutes were a puntfest, with Hull exerting slightly more pressure. Suddenly though Martin Rowlands pinged a crossfield pass to Hogan Ephraim on the left wing. Ephraim was allowed to cut inside to the edge of the box, from where he laced a fine drive low into the corner. If this goal was too good for the game, the second was even better. Mikele "Legs" [1] Leigertwood shrugged off a challenge coming in from the left wing and curled a beauty over the flailing Boaz Myhill. Leigertwood came in with a high price-tag and some very doubtful comments from supporters of his previous clubs, but he's playing very well in midfield and is a big factor in Rangers' improvement.
The other major contributor is Martin Cranie in defence, as Rangers held on fairly comfortably to prolong their unexpected recent defensive record to just one conceded in five games. In fact, unexpected could be rephrased as inconceivable by anyone who saw the shambles against Southampton or the 5-1 whacking at West Brom. Fortunately Cranie is here for at least another two months ; the loan periods of Ephraim and Rowan Vine are due to expire soon and it will be interesting to see what happens with them. Vine was very much Mick Harford's man (and vice versa), while Ephraim's situation is such that (I believe) we have to sign him for the rest of the season or not at all. Hopefully they can stay on ; one look at the Rangers bench today (Bolder, Ainsworth, Nardiello and Timoska) is enough to know that we have a squad now compared to just (or not even) a team. Onwards and upwards ; out of the bottom three now and hopefully we won't be back there for the rest of the season.
[1] "Legsofwood" as he was known at Sheffield United, but I think just "Legs" quite suits him and I'm campaigning for this label to stick.
The first 25 minutes were a puntfest, with Hull exerting slightly more pressure. Suddenly though Martin Rowlands pinged a crossfield pass to Hogan Ephraim on the left wing. Ephraim was allowed to cut inside to the edge of the box, from where he laced a fine drive low into the corner. If this goal was too good for the game, the second was even better. Mikele "Legs" [1] Leigertwood shrugged off a challenge coming in from the left wing and curled a beauty over the flailing Boaz Myhill. Leigertwood came in with a high price-tag and some very doubtful comments from supporters of his previous clubs, but he's playing very well in midfield and is a big factor in Rangers' improvement.
The other major contributor is Martin Cranie in defence, as Rangers held on fairly comfortably to prolong their unexpected recent defensive record to just one conceded in five games. In fact, unexpected could be rephrased as inconceivable by anyone who saw the shambles against Southampton or the 5-1 whacking at West Brom. Fortunately Cranie is here for at least another two months ; the loan periods of Ephraim and Rowan Vine are due to expire soon and it will be interesting to see what happens with them. Vine was very much Mick Harford's man (and vice versa), while Ephraim's situation is such that (I believe) we have to sign him for the rest of the season or not at all. Hopefully they can stay on ; one look at the Rangers bench today (Bolder, Ainsworth, Nardiello and Timoska) is enough to know that we have a squad now compared to just (or not even) a team. Onwards and upwards ; out of the bottom three now and hopefully we won't be back there for the rest of the season.
[1] "Legsofwood" as he was known at Sheffield United, but I think just "Legs" quite suits him and I'm campaigning for this label to stick.
posted by Andy_Ward @ 7:47 PM
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