Blues keep with tried and trusted formula...
BLUES moved ever closer to another season in the Championship after defeating Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
The two teams were neck-andneck in the table going into Saturday’s clash, but Tahith Chong’s early goal gave John Eustace’s side a much-needed three points. Blues go into the international break with 45 points, nine clear of the relegation zone.
The picture looks far healthier than it did after last Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat at Watford. Here are the talking points.
A very Blues three points
An early goal, a battling display and a clean sheet, Blues’ supporters have seen this before. Not only are they the Championship’s early-goal specialists, with 14 in the opening 15 minutes of games this term, they tend to shut up shop quite well too.
John Ruddy kept his 11th league shut-out of the season and, in truth, wasn’t really tested. Blues managed to cope with QPR’s aerial assaults time and time again.
This game felt like a six-pointer, even though neither Blues nor QPR have ever been in pole position to go down. It was a battle between two out-of-form teams desperate to put breathing space between themselves and the relegation battle –- and Blues have done that now. It would take an enormous collapse – coupled with those at the bottom finding promotion-winning form – for Blues to get dragged into it from here.
‘Perfect game for Roberts’
Marc Roberts won a whopping eight aerial balls during a rock-solid 90-minute showing. The defender was drafted in to make his first start since December after Harlee Dean suffered an injury in the closing stages of the Watford match. He headed and kicked everything in sight, alongside central defensive colleague Kevin Long, who won an impressive seven aerial duels.
“It was the perfect game for him,” Eustace said of Roberts. “We knew what to expect. It was a great game for Robbo to come in and lead, and play the way he did. I thought the two centre-halves were excellent.”
Khadra and Chong justify selections
We could have been forgiven for thinking Reda Khadra and Chong’s places were at threat after they were hooked at half-time on Tuesday. Eustace wasn’t happy with either forward at Vicarage Road and replaced them with George Hall and Scott Hogan.
He saw their reduced game-time as an opportunity to work with more intensity on the training ground on
Thursday to formulate a plan to hurt QPR. It worked with Khadra and Chong enjoying excellent games in west London.
Both still have a lot of learning to do, as Eustace alluded to after the match, but in a team which possesses more substance than style, Khadra and Chong bring the latter to the party.
Jutkiewicz delivers
Lukas Jutkiewicz has been one of the few constants at St Andrew’s over the past seven years. The powerfullybuilt striker has seen better days, but
the fact he continues to lead Blues’ attack says everything.
He was at his horrible best against QPR, battling for every ball – and winning his fair share – to make sure the Hoops’ defenders woke up on Sunday morning with plenty of bumps and bruises. Jutkiewicz, now 33, should probably have been phased out by now, yet he has forced his way to the top of Eustace’s striker pecking order once again.
The position will no doubt be addressed in the summer window, but Jutkiewicz – goals or no goals – is the club’s best solution right now.