EZE DOES IT FOR REBORN RANGERS
IQPR 2 MILLWALL 0
F Ebere Eze had a point to make, he did. Released as an 18-year-old by Millwall, they saw up close what they missed out on as he scored to help QPR brush them aside last night.
Eze’s strike followed Massimo luongo’s goal to keep up a serious upturn in form for Steve McClaren’s side. They have now won three out of four after an awful start, in part inspired by a late raid on the transfer market.
Even starved of one signing in Tomer Hemed as a starter due to the Yom Kippur fast he observed today, QPR were not any less hungry.
They began well and beat their struggling london rivals courtesy of a rapid-fire double either side of the half hour. The first came after a corner fell to loanee Nahki Wells. His shot was deflected to luongo, who flicked past Ben Amos.
Just two minutes later, another cross reached Eze. He volleyed into the ground but the ball bounced over the diving Amos and in.
McClaren was delighted: ‘The first half in general put us in charge. It was an excellent performance.’
And when asked about Eze’s exit from Millwall, McClaren admitted: ‘I’m just glad we’ve got him. He’s a talent. He can get better. We need to add discipline to his game and work rate. He’s showing that and he’s getting the rewards.’
Millwall pushed for a way back in the second half. Substitute Steve Morison, overlooked for Tom Bradshaw, had a volley beaten away, while Jake Cooper hit the bar.
It was not enough, and lions boss Neil Harris mostly blamed himself: ‘I take full responsibility for picking the 11 I did and the tactics in the first half. I got it wrong.
‘What I will bemoan is my players’ lack of fight in the first half. Ultimately, we’ve lost 2-0 to two really, really bad goals’.