QPR 3-0 Middlesbrough: Sunday Mirror match report
Published 22:00 11/09/10 By Mike Allen
Gordan Strachan admitted QPR had left his players “shell-shocked” with a quick-fire treble that destroyed Middlesbrough at Loftus Road.
After a first-half midfield battle not for the faint-hearted, the second half showed there is only one team who can really aspire to put their name on the Championship trophy that was on display near the ground.
Rangers took Boro apart with a penalty converted by Heidar Helguson followed soon after by goals from Hogan Ephraim and Jamie Mackie.
And what will worry Rangers rivals is that of Neil Warnock’s two new strikers, Rob Hulse was unfit and Tommy Smith came on after the scoring was done.
Strachan said: “We feel quite shell-shocked by what happened. We seemed to have a problem dealing with going behind.”
Warnock commented: “I felt we could do more in certain areas. Move the ball quickly and vary it better. We mixed it up very well in the second half.”
After overseeing six promotions during his nomadic managerial existence Warnock knows what it takes. He added: “We played some good football, but we didn’t roll over either. If we can be in the top two come the international break next month then I’ll be delighted.”
Although Paddy Kenny was the first keeper called in to action when he scrambled to save Tarmo Kink’s shot, it was the Rs who looked the more likely to break the deadlock.
Ephraim twice tested Boro keeper Jason Steele to the limit in the first half, and Adel Taarabt forced a good save from him too before the second-half goal-rush settled it.
Just two minutes after the break Taarabt crossed and Helguson was felled by Barry Robson, back in a Boro shirt after his outing for Scotland. Helguson netted from the spot.
The second was not long coming, Ephraim brilliantly finishing Taarabt’s dangerous ball into the box.
And then Mackie spun to score after a goalmouth scramble, his fourth of the season following his arrival from Plymouth.
Rangers nearly added a fourth when Ephraim curled a shot against the bar from 20 yards. This morning they sit top of the league, unbeaten and having scored 14 goals and conceded two.
