QPR thrashed by Watford on opening day
QPR lived up to the gloomy pre-season predictions as they began their Championship campaign with an appalling display and a heavy defeat.
Rangers, tipped by many to be relegated, were behind after just 36 seconds and four down by half-time in a truly dreadful start to their season.
Goals from Tom Dele-Bashiru, Imran Louza, Matheus Martins and Vakoun Bayo put Watford in total control.
The laughable defending QPR produced so often last season was evident again immediately.
Osman Kakay and Morgan Fox allowed Louza’s ball towards the penalty area to drift between them and Dele-Bashiru strolled through to score the opener.
With many of the visiting fans venting their fury at QPR’s woeful performance – and boss Gareth Ainsworth’s route-one tactics – Watford easily picked their opponents apart in an embarrassingly one-sided first half.
Louza curled the second beyond keeper Asmir Begovic and Martins scored with a near-post flick from a corner before Bayo added the fourth by netting at the far post after getting to Francisco Sierralta’s off-target shot.
Watford had chances to add to their tally, with Begovic making a number of saves on his debut and Louza hitting the bar with a second-half effort.
QPR: Begovic, Kakay, Fox, Gubbins, Paal, Field, Dozzell (Dixon-Bonner 90), Chair, (Willock 90) Smyth (Armstrong 45), Kelman (Duke-McKenna 45) Dykes.
Subs not used: Archer, Drewe, Larkeche, Adomah.
06/08/2023 @ 10:04 am
The manager has to GO. His style of play does not work. Counter Attacking football does not work. How many shoots did we make yesterday ? How many on TARGET. ? You need to score goals to win matches. The owners need to be brave & accept that the current manager & his way of playing is not working. We just about stayed in the Championship last season. We need a manager who has a style of play that brings HOPE. A style of play that uses are best players. A style of play that brings GOALS. The current manager cannot offer this. If he cares about the club he will resign now.
05/08/2023 @ 6:45 pm
Im with Joel here, its not as though he hasnt ‘strengthened’ the defence at all, we only lost Dieng & Dickie, but I think enough is enough – and yes, I do realise we are only one game in, but pre season proved to be a bit of a joke too. On this showing, we will lose every one of the next 16 or so games unless something gets done.
05/08/2023 @ 5:57 pm
I want to give every human being a fair chance. I wanted to give him pre season but he has to go NOW. ok, we were going to concede goals with those centre backs, but we had NO STRATEGY for when we were in and out of possession, and that’s unacceptable
05/08/2023 @ 5:08 pm
I ask again – how come Brentford can do it AND stay within FFP rules, but we cant ?
05/08/2023 @ 3:58 pm
Changes needed at the top urgently.
05/08/2023 @ 3:45 pm
Jeeze, here we go again on a downward spiral,