Queens Park Rangers were blown away by West Bromwich Albion as they fell to a 7-1 defeat at the Hawthorns. Steve McClaren’s QPR essentially threw in the towel with ten minutes to go as the Baggies hit six second-half goals to earn a dominant victory.
QPR in Second Half Collapse
Rangers suffered their biggest defeat for more than 31 years as the loss at the hands of West Brom signals their worst-ever start to a season. Having gone in level at 1-1 at half-time, Rangers collapsed after the break, conceding six second-half goals.
The Baggies dominated throughout and took the lead through Matt Phillips’ strike. Rangers came back almost straight away as Joel Lynch converted against the run of play, taking the teams into the break.
But West Brom took control in the second half as Kieran Gibbs got his first Baggies goal and Jay Rodriguez scored two penalties, either side of Dwight Gayle’s first goal for the club. Phillips slotted home Hal Robson-Kanu’s knockdown for 6-1 before the Welsh forward went from provider to scorer as he latched on to a James Morrison pass.
Rangers have conceded seven goals in a game for the first time since defeat by the same 7-1 scoreline in May 1987 against Sheffield Wednesday. Steve McClaren has seen his QPR side ship ten goals in their first three league games, scoring just twice.
The result leaves them bottom of the Championship table without a point, but with plenty of time for the former England manager to turn fortunes around.
Seventh Heaven
The 7-1 result was the biggest win by a Championship side so far this season and West Brom’s biggest victory in more than three and a half years. The Baggies last scored seven when they beat non-league Gateshead 7-0 in the third round of the FA Cup in January 2015.
West Brom ruthlessly put away the goals with three of their seven coming in the final ten minutes, long after QPR had accepted their fate. And with Albion hitting seven just one week after notching four at Norwich, Albion are a team not short of goals.
Their four attacking players are already proving to be the most dangerous combination in the league. Jay Rodriguez and Dwight Gayle as a front two have already formed an exciting partnership with Gayle only recently arriving on loan from Newcastle.
The front two benefitting from the many chances created by Matt Phillips and 20-year-old Leicester loanee Harvey Barnes on the wings. With neither winger shy of a goal themselves, Darren Moore will be very excited by his attacking options.
Steve McClaren’s Verdict
“I’m shocked, I couldn’t believe the collapse, It’s unacceptable, we can’t have that. It’s unacceptable for the fans, it’s unacceptable for the club and now we have to react on Tuesday.
“After conceding the third goal it was too much of a collapse, too much of a shock for myself and it must have been for everyone else.
“Goals change games but we can’t react like that, I’ve never seen that, it’s unacceptable and we mustn’t let that happen again.
“For me I suppose it’s better to happen now than later on in the season where we can do something about it.
“I still think the squad needs strengthening. We’re working tirelessly behind the scenes now the loan market is open.
“You’ve seen today the fragility of the squad was exposed and we need to toughen the players up and get them help as well.” Steve McClaren on his side’s collapse.
Darren Moore’s Verdict
“At half-time, I was happy with the performance and I thought they (QPR) were hanging on. I told the boys to persevere and they did that.
“At the top end of the pitch, we have got players who have the skill and attributes to put the ball in the back of the net. I thought there was a ruthlessness about them.
“We are trying to move in the right direction and that can only be good for us as a football club, but there is still a lot of hard work ahead.” Darren Moore on his team’s victory.
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