Posh punish poor R's

Aaron Mclean’s early goal proved to be enough for Peterborough United as they saw off the challenge of nine-man Queens Park Rangers at a chilly London Road.

Mick Harford made four changes from last Saturday’s home defeat to Scunthorpe United as the R’s looked to get their season back on track. New signings Marcus Bent and Tamas Priskin made their debuts up front, whilst Peter Ramage was recalled at right back. Encouragingly for Rangers’, Lee Cook made his first start in over nine months after finally recovering from a knee injury.

The game kicked off and the R’s quickly registered the first shot of the game as Bent’s shot from outside the area dribbled harmlessly wide.

Peterborough responded to the early shot in the best possible way, as they took the lead just nine minutes into the contest. After Kaspars Gorkss sliced his clearance, Craig Mackail-Smith fed George Boyd down the right, who in turn rolled the ball into the path of the unmarked Mclean and the Hammersmith-born striker had the simple task of firing home from six yards out.

The Posh were very much on top and Rangers’ ‘keeper Carl Ikeme had to be alert to get to a Boyd through-ball before the onrushing Mackail-Smith.

Not to be deterred, QPR went in search of an equaliser. Bent’s shot was deflected away for a corner before skipper Mikele Leigertwood, playing in an unfamiliar right-wing role, shot straight at Joe Lewis in the Peterborough goal.

Mackail-Smith was proving to be a constant thorn in the side of the R’s backline, and after good work down the right, his cross was headed just off target by the onrushing Tommy Rowe.

Rangers’ were not on top of their game at all, making plenty of basic mistakes. The fans weren’t impressed, and the poor performance was greeted with a chant of “We wanna’ go home” by some of the 1500+ travelling support.

Half-time came and went and it was the Superhoops who had the first effort of the 2nd half, as Matt Connolly shot straight at Lewis.

Any hope that Rangers’ had of getting back into the game was dealt a massive blow on the hour-mark, when Leigertwood was seen to have gone over the ball on Rowe and received his marching orders. From my view in the terracing, it was hard to see how bad the tackle was, but having seen the replay, it looked to have been no worse than some of the tackles that flew in and weren’t punished with red cards during yesterday’s Merseyside Derby.

Peterborough made use of their one-man advantage, and only a smart stop from R’s custodian Ikeme prevented Mackail-Smith from killing off the contest.

Things went from bad to worse for Rangers’ on 82 minutes, when Peter Ramage was sent-off for a second bookable offence following a late tackle on Rowe.

As the game looked to be petering out, the away side did have one last chance to salvage something from the game. Jay Simpson forced a fine save from Lewis before fellow substitute Hogan Ephraim blazed the rebound well over the bar.

It wasn’t to be, though, for the R’s as they succumbed to yet another away day defeat.

Things are not looking at all rosy in the Rangers’ camp at the moment. The team look toothless, devoid of passion and haven’t won away from home in three months. QPR are now only five points clear of the dreaded relegation zone, and if things continue to go on as they are at the moment, it’s pretty conceivable that the R’s could well be playing League 1 football next term.

Peterborough United: Lewis, Williams, Morgan, Lee (Simpson 46), McLean, Boyd (Frecklington 82), Mackail-Smith (McLeod 82), Rowe, Whelpdale, Bennett, Livermore.

Subs not used: Gilbert, McKeown, Geoghaghon, Reid.

Bookings: Lee (45), Simpson (52), Bennett (83)

Goals: McLean (9)

QPR: Ikeme, Ramage, Leigertwood, Bent, Gorkss, Quashie (Ephraim 57), Connolly, Cook (Vine 81), Faurlin, Hill, Priskin (Simpson 65).

Subs not used: Stewart, Buzsaky, Cerny, German.

Bookings: Ramage (73 & 82)

Red Cards: Leigertwood (60), Ramage (82)

Referee: Mr D McDermid

Attendance: 8, 933 (Away: 1570)