QPR - Derby draw shows it is starting to come together

So it is starting to come together for QPR and I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say we should have won the game.

The worj Mark Hughes has done over the summer is slowly starting to show. There is a great mix of youth and experience; it’s the making of any good side.

The atmosphere was very special as I expected and both sets of fans were in full voice. From where I sat I didn’t see what happened with ‘the handshake’ and of course there was special attention paid to John Terry and Ashley Cole by our supporters.

Just like last season every touch that Chelsea made was booed roundly in the first few minutes. Both sides started slowly; the last thing you want to do in a local derby is make a mistake.

It was quite clear the defence were a lot happier with Julio Cesar between the sticks; he made a couple of great saves in the first half and as debuts go it was a very good one with a well deserved clean sheet.

Anton Ferdinand was obviously under the spotlight and I personally think he had one of the best games he’s had in a hooped shirt. Ryan Nelsen beside him was as solid as a rock; it was £82 million pounds worth of talent against a centre back pairing that cost around £5 million. The latter having by far the better game.

The game was mainly played in the middle of the park and it was nice to see some good old fashioned tough tackling. I have to say the referee kept great control of the game.

QPR lost two players to injury in the first half; Fabio and Andrew Johnson. AJ was having a very good game finding loads of space. Luckily for the hoops we had a great replacement in Jamie Mackie.

The second half QPR played more attacking football and could have won it if we’d taken one of our chances; we certainly had enough chances to kill the Champions of Europe off.

The way the side is coming together I’m confident we’ll finish at the very least in mid-table if not higher.

image: © Tom Cuppens