JUST LIKE DECLAN Nathan compares to you, Bilic tells Rice
QPR 0 WEST BROM 2
SLAVEN BILIC rated Nathan Ferguson alongside Declan Rice after West Brom extended their unbeaten league start
Ferguson, 18, netted his first goal for the senior side with Matheus Pereira adding a late second moments after QPR’s Yoann Barbet was sent off.
Bilic gave Rice his debut at West Ham in May 2017 and sees similarities between the pair.
The Baggies boss said: “Nathan is talented, he reminds me of Declan Rice. He is only 18 on paper but his head and mind is like he’s 25 or 27.
“But he’s not a kid, he’s a kid in a positive way in that he is not afraid to play left-back. That’s the good thing about being young because he is thinking positively.
“I have no doubt that it’s our job, and his family’s, to keep him humble and then there is no doubt that he has an extremely bright future and great career in front of him.
“Funnily enough, he started as a right-back – he’s more of a right-back than a left-back – but then we lost both our full-backs for five weeks at the same time. Someone had to step in and he stepped in and did the job.”
After a disappointing first half, where neither side created much, the deadlock was broken on 54 minutes.
Ferguson picked up the ball in his own half and was left to run 30 yards from goal. His low shot flew past keeper Joe Lumley to give Albion the lead.
The game livened up, with the QPR keeper keeping out efforts from Charlie Austin and Grady Diangana.
Barbet saw red in the 82nd minute when he was judged to have halted Hal Robson-Kanu’s clear run on goal.
The day got even worse for Rangers when from the following free-kick, Pereira drove low through the wall to leave Lumley stranded.
QPR manager Mark Warburton said of Barbet’s dismissal: “I thought it was harsh. I felt as though it was a tangle of bodies. But I haven’t seen the replay yet. If there was a tangle, then it’s 50-50.
“We just lost at home and missed d the chance to go top of the table e so obviously I’m disappointed.” QPR WESTBROM 0 ........ Shots on Target .........7 4 ........Shots off Target .........4 4 ................Corners .................6 21 .................Fouls.................. 10 0 ...............Offsides .................3 75.5 ..Passing Success ... 78.0 367 .......Total Passes........ 427 46.3 .......Possession ........53.7 50.....Territorial Adv % ..... 50 AFC WIMBLEDON caretaker manager Glyn Hodges hailed his side’s performance despite defeat.
Mo Eisa scored a brace after Marcus Maddison opened the scoring for Posh.
Mitch Pinnock and Anthony Wordsworth replied in the second half for Dons.
Hodges said:
“I was pleased with their efforts.”
Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson heaped praise on Eisa, saying: “Mo’s finishes were outstanding.”