QPR pay for misses

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Louise Thomas

Editor

A WEALTH of chances, much close-knit passing on an immaculate surface, flair, improvisation and attack from both sides - a goal would only have spoiled the fluency in the first half.

QPR - only one goal this season - had no fewer than nine near misses in this easy-on-the-eye display. Left-back Rufus Brevett, came close to doubling the season's total, a swerving 25-yarder clipping the top of the bar. Ian Holloway ran on to climax a sweet interchange of passes pivoted by Danny Maddix but sidefooted over.

Trevor Sinclair switched wings and ran at defenders, sometimes with effect, often in the manner of the proverbial decapitated poultry.

After the break, Sheffield Wednesday restricted the flow of QPR chances and took their own. In fact, for all the pressure on them, Wednesday had come closest after 27 minutes. Dan Petrescu, shackled in defensive midfield by Sinclair's speed and unpredictability, went beyond the halfway line for the first time. Carrying on into the box, he received John Sheridan's rolled 30- yard pass eight yards out, but slid wide by a narrow margin.

Sheridan and Mark Pembridge were linking calmly and cleverly in midfield and Pembridge's freedom to come forward led to the first goal. His shot through a crowd ricocheted to Mark Bright who tapped in a simple goal. Five minutes later he scored again, leaning back to volley Petrescu's cross cleanly into the left-hand corner from 15 yards.

Bright and debutant striker O'Neal Donaldson were only playing because Marc Degryse and David Hirst - Hirst for the umpteenth time in his career - were injured. Donaldson, a 25- year-old signed last season from Doncaster, had been harshly booked for diving, but celebrated a promising start by scoring the third.

Pembridge's corner was flicked on by Julian Watts and Donaldson finished the move and, effectively, the game. There did not appear to be anything drastically wrong with Rangers, with the exception of the inept forward Daniele Dichio, who looked too predictable to survive in the Premiership.

Their main problem is lack of steel at key moments and too many optimists gambling on the run of the ball in one-on-one tussles. The spirited Kevin Gallen needs an experienced solid partner up front.

Rangers, described by one magazine as "the coolest geezers in the Premiership" may be in for a cold snap.