Struggling Rangers beaten by West Ham

QPR 1 West Ham 2

QPR remain bottom of the table after having their defensive shortcomings exposed once again.

Mark Hughes’ side, still without a league win this season, were two down at half-time before being hauled back into the game by Adel Taarabt’s brilliant long-range strike soon after the Moroccan came on as a substitute.

But they were left to play the final 15 minutes with 10 men after Samba Diakite – also on as a substitute – was sent off.

The damage was done during a first half in which Rangers were nothing short of abysmal at the back.

Matt Jarvis’ first goal for West Ham put them ahead after only three minutes and Ricardo Vaz Te struck 10 minutes before the break to double their lead.

The impressive Vaz Te gave the R’s defence – and Clint Hill in particular – problems throughout and played a key role in the opener.

He crossed low from the right and after Kevin Nolan then hooked the ball to the far post, the unchallenged Jarvis was able to head home.

Esteban Granero had a chance to level but missed the target after being found by Shaun Wright-Phillips’ right-wing cross.

Hughes’ men also came close to equalising after keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen failed to claim Granero’s free-kick.

Jaaskelainen misjudged the Spaniard’s delivery and clattered into team-mate Winston Reid – who had to go off following lengthy treatment – and after the ball ricocheted off Hammers defender James Collins, Joey O’Brien cleared off the line.

Reid’s replacement, James Tomkins, set up the second goal.

Tomkins retrieved the ball after a goalmouth scramble and crossed from the right for Vaz Te, whose first-time shot deceived keeper Julio Cesar at his near post after taking a slight deflection off Stephane Mbia.

Hughes made a double change early in the second half, replacing the ineffective Ji-sung Park and Wright-Phillips with Taarabt and Diakite.

And Taarabt, effectively playing as an additional forward, scored only 84 seconds later, cutting in from the left and sending a glorious 25-yard shot beyond Jaaskelainen.

But after Jaaskelainen produced fine saves to deny Granero and Djibril Cisse, QPR were dealt a huge blow when Diakite was shown a second yellow card following a foul on Vaz Te – the second time the midfielder has been dismissed since moving to west London in January.

That knocked the stuffing out of Rangers and Cesar had to produce a stunning stop to prevent them falling further behind, diving to his right to push Vaz Te’s drive on to the bar.

QPR (4-4-2): Cesar; Onuoha (Hoilett 84), Nelsen; Hill; Wright-Phillips (Diakite 56), Granero, Faurlin, Park (Taarabt 56); Cisse, Zamora.
Subs not used: Mackie, Ephraim, Ehmer, Green.

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