FIRST HALF GIVES GARY THE BLUES
R’s score twice to punish visitors
BIRMINGHAM manager Gary Rowett described the first half of his side’s defeat against QPR as their worst display all season.
Having only conceded three goals in their last seven games, the Blues found themselves two down at the turnaround.
Just past the half-hour, Tjaronn Chery managed to sneak the ball past Tomasz Kuszczak after Ryan Shotton surrendered the ball in a dangerous position.
And five minutes later, Michael Morrison bundled over Sebastian Polter in the box for Junior Hoilett to score from the spot and double the advantage.
The Blues’ defeat meant they failed to capitalise on Derby and Preston both losing but City boss Rowett was more disappointed with the performance than the result.
“I don’t want to take any credit away from QPR because I thought they were good value for their win today,” said Rowett.
“For the first 45 minutes I think that was the poorest that we’ve been in terms of our energy and in terms of our drive.
“The first goal was a very poor goal to concede. I think Shotts (Shotton) has a little bit of time, could get there a little bit quicker and ends up trying to be too clever.
“He perhaps should just stick it in the stand and ends up getting closed down, then they go and score.
“I don’t want to sound like sour grapes but I felt their penalty was little bit soft as well.
“I’ve never seen anybody fall over when they’re slightly shoulder barged.”
For Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, ‘control’ was the buzzword. The Loftus Road manager was delighted with how little spare change his side afforded the visitors.
He said: “I think the performance was really good from back to front.
“From the first five minutes of the game we had control over it and we created chances and we scored a really brilliant goal. Even the move for the penalty was a very, very beautiful move.
“We never looked deep in trouble. We looked in control. I would have liked to have had more control in the second half, but then thinking back we still didn’t get ourselves in trouble.
“The last eight matches of Birmingham they only had three goals against them. They are a very organised side that are going to be very difficult to break down.
“For us to score two goals and have other chances is delightful.”
QPR started by far the brighter of the two teams, but spent much of the opening 30 minutes getting into good crossing positions only to squander them.
Chery finally broke the deadlock in the 34th minute. James Perch nicked the ball from Shotton on the City right and was able to find the Dutchman inside the box.
After a twist and turn, he squeezed a low shot out of Kuszczak’s reach just inside the far post.
Before the half the R’s added a second from the spot. Hoilett kept his cool to net from 12 yards after Polter’s progress was halted in the box by Morrison, earning the home side some breathing space.
The Blues came out with a bit more punch in the second half and nearly pulled one back when Jonathan Grounds’ volley into the deck had to be headed off the line by Karl Henry.
After that bright spell the game went off the boil a little with the R’s in full control.
Birmingham looked increasingly blunt as their substitutes failed to provide more enterprise, allowing the game to peter out to its conclusion.