CLINICAL CITY’S PERFECT CRIME
Nagy nicks it and Hoops should call Scotland Yard
ADAM NAGY’S winner sent Bristol City to within a point of the Championship summit – but Scotland Yard should be investigating a robbery.
Outplayed for 40 minutes, and fortunate to escape a first-half avalanche, the Robins led a more charmed life than a snake in a basket.
But Nahki Wells’ equaliser against his old club, not to mention against the run of play, turned the tide, and Nagy’s clinical finish kept City in the thick of the promotion chase.
For long periods at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, Dean Holden’s side were bang average, but they dug in, clung on and took their chances.
Just 24 hours earlier, in former QPR defender Anton Ferdinand’s eye-watering TV documentary, Loftus Road was the stage for football rushing to support a player complaining of racism with the urgency of a milk float on a Grand Prix circuit.
But there was no lack of urgency from QPR, and Bright Osayi-Samuel had already been thwarted by Daniel Bentley’s smothering save before the home side earned tangible reward for their dynamic start.
Although cardboard cut-outs are not due to be replaced by real people until lockdown is eased today, Bristol City’s defence did not seem to get the memo, as Rob Dickie rose unmarked from just four yards to head home Chris Willock’s left-wing cross after 12 minutes.
It was Dickie’s first goal for the Hoops and he is unlikely to be afforded more space in the opposition six-yard box if he scores another 99. QPR threatened to run amok. Willock’s shot was smuggled off the line by Zak Vyner, Tom Carroll’s goalbound effort was blocked, and Ilias Chair fired inches wide.
But for all their enterprise, QPR failed to put City to bed, and when the equaliser came, five minutes before the break, it was a travesty. Callum O’Dowda’s deflected cross fell kindly for Wells and the ex-Hoops striker could not miss from two yards.
Unbelievably, City had turned the game on its head within five minutes of the restart, as Dickie’s mistake was punished and O’Dowda’s low cross was buried by Hungarian midfielder Nagy.
Osayi-Samuel’s glaring miss in stoppage time merely confirmed it was not the hosts’ night.