Town boss Paul Jewell felt his side were the better team in the first half at QPR but failed to test home keeper Paddy Kenny enough and gave away poor second half goals. Goals from Clint Hill and Heidar Helguson saw the league leaders to a 2-0 win at Loftus Road

Jewell said: “I thought in the first half we were by far the better team. It was a bit similar to Saturday, a lot of good football but just lacking that killer instinct.

“I can’t fault the players’ effort, it was terrific, but we’re just lacking that little bit in both boxes, that desire. Certainly going forward - do we want to score enough goals? Do we want it badly enough when it goes in the box, because there are plenty of balls going in the box.”

The Blues boss says he wants his side to be coming to places like Loftus Road believing that they can win: “I’m not here to make up the numbers. I want us to be able to come to the league leaders and be able to beat them.

“We’ve had an indifferent season so far. Since I’ve been here the players have shown really good desire. I’m not questioning the desire but I’m just thinking that when it really matters have we got enough people who are going to go that extra yard to get a cut eye or one in the teeth to score a goal?

“And at the other end I’m disappointed in the manner of the goals, especially the first one, which changed the game.”

Jewell says he’s finding out more about his players with every match: “I learn about them every day and the results will tell you that we’ve got 14 points out of eight games, which isn’t bad form.

“We’ve lost to the league leaders here, but we want a mentality at the club where we want to be the league leaders, that’s our eventual goal.

“We don’t want to come here and think ‘We only got beaten 1-0 or 2-0’. We don’t want that, we don’t want that mentality, we want a winning mentality.

“The players’ efforts are not in question, and at times tonight we played some lovely football tonight, passed the ball really well. The only thing is we don’t work the goalkeeper enough.”

QPR boss Neil Warnock felt his side improved as the evening wore on: “I thought we were a lot better in the second half. I didn’t think we were bad after the first 15 minutes.

“They’ve nothing to lose really, nothing to play for, nothing to lose and they’ve had some great results and you could see the confidence they’ve got.

“I was pleased that even though we were under the cosh in that first 15 minutes they didn’t really test the goalkeeper and that was their best period.

“After that we sorted it out, we asked Wayne Routledge to do a certain job for us and he worked for the team and I’m really pleased with him.

“I thought in the second half when we got together at half-time we sorted it out and were on the front foot and largely dominated the second half. I thought we were a lot better really and got the goals.”

Photo: Action Images

tractorblue99 added 23:22 - Feb 22 Not to dissapointed about this result. Lets bounce back against pompey on saturday COYB.
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RetroBlue added 23:40 - Feb 22 Im not too worried about tonights result either tbh. PJ will effectiveky be assessing the "problem" areas to correct overe the summer and I have far more confidence in him being able to attract the right players , than RK. I am expecting another CB and another striker to come in over the summer. I wonder if we might go back in for PNE's , St Ledger ?
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mickshrimpton added 23:52 - Feb 22 First game I've seen live for a long while (apart from the Chelsea 7-0 which doesn't count). Agree with what Jewell says, we were comfortable for 60 minutes and easily on a par with QPR. But we seemed to run out of belief (maybe because we weren't creating chances) and stopped playing through midfield. Back 4 looked OK, Edwards a bit shaky but recovered well. Missed Healy when he went off, midfield a bit lightweight without him. Bullard played too deep. It's all very well wanting the ball all the time but if that means collecting it on the edge of your own area all the time then our best player isn't hurting the opposition. Scotland can't play the lone striker role. He may be a goal scorer but the ball bounced off him too easily and he didn't cause two big but slow centre halves enough problems. But I don't think we're far off and a couple more signings should see us up there next season.

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Garv added 00:21 - Feb 23 Interesting point about Bullard mickshrimpton, I probably agree but then he is the best at that job of picking it up deep and if he didn't, no one would - apart from garvan if we still had him. Re Scotland, poor again for me, I know he was pretty isolated but he he's constantly being eased off the ball, and too easily in my opinion. Is he unfit (can't see how he can be?) or is he just lazy because you rarely seeing him properly chasing something down, and we can all see how slow he is. Start priskin Saturday is my solution, and possibly with Connor with him. I reckon now we've lost a game Jewell will start playing his 442 that he's said he want to play, give peters a go on the wing or drury (not sure how he is on the wing though, quite slow?). Anyway 2-0 was harsh for me, as the headline says we were better first half but just needed to carve out a real chance, always difficult with two bruisers at the back like they had. Once their first came you could always see another coming, routledge and taarabt are different class and we contained them well for 70 minutes but were always dangerous. Ah well, reverse result on Saturday I think! Up the town!

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Karlosfandangal added 00:40 - Feb 23 mickshrimpton Have to agree with the point about the back 4 look ok, I know Delaney and McAuley are out of contract at the end of the season but if Jewell could replace them I would not be too disappointed if they did leave. I think over the pass 2 seasons we have looked poor at the back, we have never really had a left back or right back. Wright, Roseinor,Peters,Edwards, Thatcher,Kennedy, Eastman,O,Dea etc. Delaney and McAuley are ok players but we are still letting in goals and now feel that we need to replace with a better pairring as Brown and Smith could do just as good a job and would be just a good as cover. I felt tonight we needed to score because at 0-0 i always felt we would let one in as we never keep many clean sheets, if we had scored feel we would have got a draw. If we do keep the back four we badly need a goalscorer as we will need to score 2 to win. However saying all that its so much better to see town playing some good football and how much better are we under Jewell, if he had been with us from the start of the season we would have been up in the play off by now, the future is looking very bright for the blues

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bluecrossy added 00:47 - Feb 23 We need a new striker. Neither Scotland or Priskin look capable of scoring 20+ goals a season. Fair play to both of them as they have been playing as a lone striker for most games but i dont think that role suits either of them. I like the formation we are playing as i feel it is bringing out the best of Connor but we cannot just rely on him. We need more goals, simple as that. Definitely deserved a draw tonight.

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Garv added 01:30 - Feb 23 Can't agree with you regarding brown and smith karlos!
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tractorboynathan added 07:46 - Feb 23 To out pass qpr in the first half is outstanding! The fact we looked a better team (exclude the shots) shows how far we have come! I'm not disapointed with this result- as next season we will go for it! Looks like were gonna be buying a quick striker in the summer- someone in the mould of earnshaw. Onwards and upwards! Coyb!
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Calmingwind added 08:06 - Feb 23 mac and del boy are huge players for us at the back they were throwing themselves at everything yesterday and have been for some time if an error happens at the back generally its from another position. fulop should of been more desisive for the first goal and the 2nd i think was a switch off from kennedy if i remeber. edward has done ok from an attacking postion at right back but hes still not my ideal player in the positon - mind you thats not his fault hes done good i think considering and having our full backs getting forward was a problem we had under keane. PJ knows we need a RB but hes making the best he can with what hes got. i thought 2-0 was a bit harsh on us last night but again disapointingly so we concede in the last 15 minutes of the game... tired legs and minds? i was generally heartened by the result really we stifled them brilliantly 1st half and showed just what we can do when we play well. i think we will bounce back on sat. PJ will be able to pick them up from this - what rankles with me is that warnock has another 3 points, and i hate that guy!!

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DiamondGezzer added 08:17 - Feb 23 Really thought throughout the first half, that at least a draw was on the cards. Alas, it wasn't to be. Still roll on Saturday. tractorboynathan; Agree, to outpass QPR early on was outstanding, shame Scotland couldn't have sorted out his scoring boots during that same period.
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bluelady added 08:26 - Feb 23 dont agree about the full back comments, they were both outstanding and in particular Delanney. First goal was Kennedy switching off. The two boys in the centre are left to cover for Edwards who drives forward so leaves us exposed and Kennedy who is a great player but getting a little slow now. As for the deep midfield role, perhaps Hyam will get his chance on saturday to enable Bullard to drive on? To be honest for me shows how much we struggle to score when Norris isnt in the team, we really need to sign him up. Drury struggled with the pace last night, cant believe im saying it but missed Healey!!! We desperately need a decent striker, desperately....

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StowTractorBoy added 08:51 - Feb 23 Cannot agree with comments re McAuley and Delaney as we will find it difficult to better them. I think we should look at our goalkeeper - the bloke cost us a lot of money but has cost us several goals this season last night being one of them. At the time I said he was a waste of money and I stand by that. I know Murphy got injured but he did not need replacing especially for the amount of money we paid. Can't be too disappointed overall as I'm sure PJ knows what he wants just need to get over the line this season and give it a real go next.

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LostBumpkin added 09:01 - Feb 23 Why spend so money on Drury if he's not going to play?
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blueherts added 09:02 - Feb 23 First half we bossed them across the park and that is when we need to punish teams - Couple of times I wished it was CW down the middle and not JS !! We are progressing and this was the benchmark - not outplayed at all but the sadly regular lapse at the back cost us .Thought Healy was a loss when he went off and meant Bullard played too deep - miss Chuck in the middle - maybe time for young Luke , on Satday Support was great and what a shabby old ground - Premier League it is not but - think they will be up there next season

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corshamblue added 09:10 - Feb 23 Can't agree that letting your CB's go is ok when you've not had a RB all season! Sometimes the reasoning on here doesn't make sense. Macca has been our best player for a number of seasons, repeatedly states he wants to stay and does a captains job if he has the arm band or not - watch him marshall the back 4 and encourage those around him. Why spend oodles of dosh replacing him, give him a decent contract and he'll stay. Team is starting to look strong. A decent RB and experienced Striker would be perfect starting point.

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LollITFC added 09:26 - Feb 23 Lack a cutting edge up front, Priskin & Scotland on their way me thinks ....
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muhrensleftfoot added 09:27 - Feb 23 The problem here is not the defence - although it might be soon if we lose McAuley & Delaney in the summer. The problem is that Scotland isn't really suited to playing up front on his own, although his goals for games ratio isn't too bad. Also Priskin may be mobile & skilful, but he just doesn't score enough goals for a centre forward.
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MyBlueHeaven added 09:35 - Feb 23 re Jewell's point about not creating clear chances, that's a legacy from Keane. Hardly an attacking force were we? So, given PJ is using the same players they just don't have the mentality for that killer instinct in and around the penalty area. Would say Wickham is the expection there, but there's only so much a 17 year old playing out wide, and often very deep, can do. As for defenders, agree with a few posts here MacAuley and Delaney are not all that. Delaney's distribution is poor and they ge caught out of position too often. I think some people confuse headed clearances and last-ditch tackles with good defening. Was at the game last night and was disappointed with the second half in that we seemed to be happy with a draw - even we more than held our own in the first half. Scotlandcan not play up front on his own - poor control, not physical enough and was slow of mind as well of feet. Bullard was great (again) but we can't have him trying to be everywhere on the pitch creating things. I think we'll play out the season with more good games than bad, and end up 9th/10th or so. But all the while PJ is formulating his system for next season.

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TimmyH added 09:41 - Feb 23 Disappointed in the result! but some how expected it, like what the manager is saying though and I agree we'll win more games than what we'll lose for the rest of the season and end up in the top half but a play-off spot is out of reach IMO. I reckon he'll but hunting around for a goal scorer before long!
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suffolkpoker added 09:44 - Feb 23 I remember watching the game at home, and being out played and classed all afternoon. By all accounts on the radio ipswich had a real go and matched qpr for long periods of the game. I cant wait for the transfer market to reopen, we have got someone who knows what they are doing. I feel we need a striker, and hopefully sign the players to play a 442 for next season.

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bedsitfc added 09:52 - Feb 23 We need some strikers ie craig m-s, billy sharpe maybe a punt on the chesterfield lad aswell. We may have lost last night but from what i have heard (as didn't go) we shouldn't be too down hearted as we did very well against a team that will be fine in the premier league next year.
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DeliasFannyWarts added 10:24 - Feb 23 Well at least we are now in a position were we can afford to lose the odd game. Unlike our time under the management of RK.
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mickshrimpton added 10:30 - Feb 23 It's pace we need up front as much as a natural goalscorer. I only live down the road from QPR (part of the reason I was released from childcare duties to see my first game in ages) and had a few beers with a couple of mates who are QPR season ticket holders before the game. They were really worried about their back 4 saying it was slow and square but we never exploited that, never got behind them or made them turn. Maybe that's down to playing one up front. Playing up to JS with his back to goal just let their big defenders knock him off the ball. At half time I thought we could push on and win it and I think next season Jewell would probably have switched to 442 and had a real go. Maybe he doesn't quite trust the team enough to do that yet. Agree with all those supporting McAuley and Delaney - thought they were both excellent. Yes Delaney's distribution isn't great but his main job is to defend and he does that well.

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BlueBoots added 10:36 - Feb 23 A view from the other end of Loftus Road last night (sat with the home fans behind the opposite goal!) Fulop: Pulled off a couple of world-class saves towards the end; no idea how he managed to keep one particular shot out - he was running the opposite way and had to readjust in mid-air. Bit unfortunate for both goals. Back 4: All played well, but Macca was awesome - he arrived a couple of times from out of nowhere to block a couple of QPR shots in the second half (Enjoyed the baffled look on Shittu's face when Macca blocked his!). Unlike most it seems, I'd have no problem with Edwards seeing out his career with us as a right-back; he's still learning the role, and given a run there for the rest of season and a good pre-season, he'll be spot on for next season. Midfield: I think we might be ready to go to a 4 now - Leadbitter & Bullard both ran the midfield for most of the game yesterday, and could probably have done so without Healy (had a quiet game before he was subbed) or Drury (looked off the pace yesterday - had the chance to receive easy balls in dangerous areas a few times and miscontrolled, or took a poor first touch). Kept the ball better (in spells) than I've seen us do for a VERY long time - was nice to hear a few "Ole's" ringing out from the opposite end :^D Front 3: Martin & Wickham both carried the ball well, but didn't often kick on into areas of the pitch where they could hurt QPR. Scotland didn't have a great game, but to be fair to him many of the balls played into him weren't the best and he was a bit isolated (the midfield 3 and widemen rarely got up to support him quick enough) Changes for Saturday? Play Wickham through the middle; he showed last night that he's confident enough now to pick up the ball and go past people - let him do that 20 yards further up the pitch. I think to play 4-3-3 against the better teams, we really need Norris in there to get forward and support the frontman; if he's still injured, go to 4-4-2 with Peters in for Healy, and either Scotland / Priskin with Wickham.

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rogie_dog added 10:40 - Feb 23 Did anyone else think Civelli looked like he could make things happen when he came on last night? One particular through ball to Priskin down the left channel where Priskin was offside (again!) and another in injury time to whom I don't recall. I might be tempted to give him a go from the start and move Wickham up front as the lone striker. As far as Scotland is concerned its clear to me that if he gets the ball to his feet he looks capable of making things happen, anything above waist height and you can forget it. As we don't seem capable of doing that on a regular enough basis I would drop him. I thought Bullard, Delaney and Kennedy were outstanding last night as were the Chicken Balti Pies.

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