Cardiff played well, but the R's barely played at all. The defense was
ineffective, the midfield non-existent and the attackers simply didn't
receive any service. It was a bizarre starting eleven that John
Gregory named, notably for the inclusion of Zesh Rehman at right back,
even though the previous season proved Zesh to be shaky at best at
Championship level.
Simply, there were no positives from this game.
This is what The Mirror thought:
QPR 0-2 Cardiff City
Birthday Boy Paul Parry showed Cardiff's new stellar recruits Robbie
Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank that they won't be gifted a starting
place.
Parry, who turned 27 yesterday, swopped his normal midfield habitat
for a striking role. And he kicked off his celebrations by making the
first goal and scoring the second to seal a well-deserved win against
hapless Rangers.
Parry's first league start of the season left boss David Jones
promising to make top billers Robbie and Jimmy wait their turn.
"It's not my position - the boss asked me on Friday if I was willing
to play there and I jumped at the chance," said Parry after Cardiff
had picked up their first league win of the season.
"I think I did pretty well, I felt right at home but overall I'm just
happy to be on the team sheet." He may also have made Wales boss John
Toshack choke on his cornflakes after the decision to overlook him for
Wednesday's friendly against Bulgaria.
First Parry cleverly flicked on a Trevor Sinclair corner for Steve
MacLean to sweep the ball home in the 29th minute, then he bulleted in
a 56th minute header.
But Parry isn't convinced he'll quickly add to his six caps. "Toshack
seems to have his squad settled, so I am just going to have to
concentrate on Cardiff City and hope to fight my way back in," he
added.
Unless QPR are quickly rescued from the financial precipice by
Renault's Formula One boss Flavio Briatore, John Gregory's men could
be facing a fight of their own ... to stay in the Championship.
Billionaire Briatore is in takeover talks which could wipe out the
club's £17million debt along with the threat of administration.
There is also talk of a further £100m investment.
But defender Michael Mancienne - on a season's loan from Chelsea -
insists there is already enough quality in the Rangers team to avoid
another hairraising flirtation with relegation.
"We'll bounce back from this," said Mancienne, whose disappointment
was tempered by his call-up for the England Under-21 squad to face
Romania tomorrow.
"It was just one of those games. We'll do well this season.
"Coming here isn't a step back for me, it was a step forward. I
certainly see myself as a Premiership player in the future."
England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce was at Loftus Road and the
19-year-old added: "It was an aim of mine to get a call-up but it's
come earlier than expected.
"If I get the chance I'm sure I can do a job for England."
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