Qpr (a); The ACN Review

Random Star Performer
I hate to admit it, being his harshest critic, but maybe Ivo Pinto on this occasion. There’s something somewhat refreshing about a player being so obviously stung by a spell on the sidelines. It demonstrates that they do actually care about these things at a time when there is scant evidence of such from his colleagues. Pinto has been rightfully embarrassed by being usurped by Harrison Reed who, despite not actually being a right-back, would probably still be playing there if he were a bit taller. The good thing is that Pinto has returned with a newfound vigour. The bad thing is that it’s never been vigour that he has lacked in the first place, it’s quality and common sense. I’m not convinced that he’s really winning this pitch war, but he’s won a battle or two over this weekend, bless him.

Moment of the match
Wes bringing the ball down in his own penalty area and shortly after the ball was in the opposition’s net. Just for a few minutes we were reminded of the days when this happened all the time and all was well with the world. I say a few minutes, it was actually a minute and a half.

Biggest Positive
Slim pickings here I’m afraid. Whether you believe that the club is heading irretrievably down the swanny or if you think that we are merely at a difficult stage of necessary revolution, there seems to be an increasing sense that the end of the season can’t come soon enough for everyone’s sake. So it’s another game down and only six to go. Sorry.

Farke Watch
In as much as you can “watch” anything through the Meccano at Loftus Road, it has to go down as a pretty bad day at the office for Farke. Being so comprehensively turned over by the Bristolian peaky blinder is not usually a waypoint on the road to greatness. Farke’s apparent reluctance to make changes in a game that was so obviously going wrong was peculiar, and when he did make a change, merely exchanging his left backs was very much moving the deckchairs on the titanic. The first chants imploring him to “sort it out” were heard and he will probably now be more aware than ever that he has a lot of work on his hands.

Monday Moan
Let’s be honest. It could be pretty much anything, so let’s try a new one. Farke’s apparent reluctance and inability to use his bench effectively is quite rightly being scrutinised. Against Fulham he waited until the last fifteen minutes to make changes, by which time the game was lost. Against QPR he never really changed anything. What doesn’t help is that the only people apparently less ready to do so are the subs themselves. Prior to gracing us with his presence against Fulham, Oliveira went through more costume changes than Madonna, and Wes faffed about with his boots for so long he must have been nearly due a second testimonial by the time he was actually ready. Similarly, against QPR, Lewis chose to wait until Husband was already making his way off before he bolted down the tunnel one last time. Clearly, Farke is the man with the most questions to answer here, but what doesn’t help is him looking at his bench and seeing a bunch of guys who either haven’t managed to dress themselves or who didn’t go for a wee at breaktime.

Atmosphere rating
We’ve consistently crossed swords with QPR for many a year, so Loftus Road is familiar territory for many. A comparatively straightforward journey from Liverpool Street and a decent offering of local boozers means that we are always well-represented there and 1800 plus on this occasion was a creditable turnout. For all its faults, the away end at Loftus Road lends itself to decent acoustics. It’s just a shame that they were largely vitriolic by the end.

Summary
I think that even the hardiest City fan would recognise that our season has been increasingly “over” for some time. Depending on where you stand, what is left of the season is somewhere along the continuum that ranges from an embarrassing waste of time to an inadvertent opportunity to blood next seasons austere new world. But this weekend’s pair of defeats has suggested us that even the unremarkable teams in this division are pulling away from us. If we are back amongst the mediocre, then there can be few more apt locations to mark our arrival than Loftus Road.