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QPR 3 - 0 Swansea
Report - Dai Smith, Match Pictures - Andrew Thomas
A dash to London for this midweek League Cup game seemed like a good idea at the time, but my time may well have been better spent watching the Olympics on telly.
About 800 Jacks (out of a crowd of 4800) also made the trip, which made for impressive midweek support in this competition.
Swans lined up with three of the back four playing out of their preferred position.
Gueret
Tate - Monk - Austin - Ricketts
Forbes - Britton - O'Leary - Robinson
Nugent - Trundle
The Swans held their own in the opening exchanges without looking very comfortable. QPR dominated most of the possession but our defence held firm. The nearest chance fell to Cureton who volleyed wide from 20 yards.
On about 40 minutes when you felt that the Swans may have got to the interval with the scores level - Cureton scored his first goal of the season, reacting quickest when Padula curled a free-kick into the area and he hammered the ball home low from close range.
The Swans came out purposefully after the break and created a number of chances .. Forbes forced QPR keeper Day into a fine save when he drilled in a left-foot effort from 25 yards, Sam Ricketts went close from similar distance. Also a Trundle free-kick was blocked by Marcus Bean. But that I'm afraid was our entire attacking effort for the whole game!
Swans target Terrell Forbes went close to doubling the lead heading Rowlands' cross inches over the crossbar and Gueret was forced into another smart save from a Padula's drive.
Rowlands sewed the game up for QPR when he finished well from a Kevin Gallen's cross in the 75th minute.
A harsh penalty and sending off for Austin followed when two players were contesting a ball at the edge of the area. Fortunately the penalty was put over the bar to the delight of the travelling fans. The chant “He took it just like Beckham, He took it just like Beckham, Ha Ha Ha” rang around the ground.
Unfortunately any smiles were short lived when Gallen ensured a comfortable win in time added on when Marcus Bignot's pass was lobbed over Gueret from 25 yards.
Comments
Gueret 6 - Did ok, couple of nice saves no chance with goals
Ricketts 7 - Tidy enough game
Tate 7 - Another good game at right back caught for pace and position once or twice
Monk 8 - Accomplished performance
Austin 6 - Reasonable game at centre back but poor distribution
Robinson 4 - Very poor - only meaningful contribution was kicking a player up in the air and getting a booking.
O'Leary 6 - Tried hard, but out classed
Britton 6 - Tried hard but didn't see much of the ball tonight
Forbes 5.5 - 4 first half, 7 second half
Trundle 5 - Ineffective today.
Nugent 8 - My MOM today, full of energy – Well done Nuge
Subs
Maylett 6 - Full of running when he came on, but didn't see much of ball
Fisken 6 - Did ok
Overall Comments: Beaten by a better side, but frankly my whole evening was soured by some of the barracking of players. It would not have been so bad if it was directed at the players who were under performing on the night (Favourites Trundle and Robinson) but it seems that some of the fan favourites are immune from any criticism no matter how badly they play…….. and any scapegoat will do! (Ricketts and O'Leary were the unlucky two this evening.
Anti-Jackett and player chanting at the end of the match was disgraceful.
 Stats supplied by Soccernet.com
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