QPR v Hull City - The Final Word
Article by Jeff MayakovskyClick here to follow e-QPR on Twitter!
At last the season finally was here, all the speculation could be put aside and the team selection decided. We gathered in our usual watering hole, discussing new additions and with side long glances at the pub TV as Swansea set about upsetting the form book by beating Manchester United.
We were hopeful with the news that Remy would be playing upfront with Austin and talk was about the 'new system' of 3:5:2 that Harry Redknapp would employ for the fixture against a Hull city side that he claimed would be a blue print that the R's would try and emulate.
It was a packed Loftus road that welcomed the teams onto the pitch, with Bobby Zamora's name ringing around the ground, his match winning goal at Wembley had brought us to this point in time.
Rangers started slowly showing respect for their opposition, but grew into the game. We had memories of previous seasons opening home games in the Premiership going badly very quickly. This was not the case in this match instead the R's started to carve out opportunities and create chances.
Jelavic had a header that flew over the cross bar for Hull, then Remy made a run down the right to cross for Mutch to head his attempt across the goal. Then his former team mate at Cardiff, Caulker had a header cleared off the line and the second attempt punched over the bar by the keeper for a corner.
Rio Ferdinand making his competitive debut for Rangers and played excellently for most of the match, though it was the man he was marking, Chester, that scored for Hull from a corner early in the second half.
Tom Ince had a shot well saved by Rob Green, that could have put the game beyond Rangers at that stage. But this looks like a much more able QPR team and they began to push forward , Ferdinand had a weak effort cleared off the line. Then in the 83rd minute a dubious penalty award gave the R's a chance to pull themselves back into the game. Charlie Austin took the penalty and placed it to the keeper"s right which he was able to save and was eventually cleared by their defence.
Remy was becoming more active and placed a good pass to Zamora who was slow in responding and had his chance blocked. Remy had one last effort saved by the Hull keeper McGregor just before the whistle was blown.
Though this was a disappointing result for the fans, there was much to remain optimistic about, Rangers look a far more composed outfit and the new signings have settled in well. We will need to be more decisive upfront but I feel far more optimistic then our previous two campaigns at this level. It is going to be a hard slog but I think this time round we can be more hopeful of a better outcome.
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