Hoop Dreams - QPR FC

For the second successive game QPR dropped points at home after a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, both sides scoring what looked to be fairly-awarded penalties. This was still enough to place QPR in the play-off spots though and unlike the Leicester defeat, this was a game Rangers could and probably should have won.

Before briefly discussing the match events, a quick news update for the team. The London Informer website has a story on Adel Taarabt and his increasing understanding with Wayne Routledge: http://www.londoninformer.co.uk/london-sport/london-football/london-qpr/2009/11/05/being-in-wayne-s-world-keeps-taarabt-in-the-uk-113489-25093125/. Both have been two of the brightest features about QPR's attacking play this season and one of the reasons the club are scoring far more goals this season than last. The article also suggests Taarabt has a get-out clause in his current contract with Spurs if a Premiership club should come in for him (or a top European team). I don't think he's quite there yet and would be best placed to focus on making the most out of his loan move instead. Suffice to say, if Rangers don't get promoted, I don't think he will be with the club after May.

Teamtalk and Eurosport both indicate that Matt Connolly, one of QPR's best players last season, could soon be back in the side following his lengthy spell out with glandular fever: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/05112009/63/connolly-set-return.html. Club physio Paul Hunter said Connolly has started training again and could be back in the team after the international break, so in time for the game at Doncaster on November 21.

Lee Cook on the other hand won't return until Christmas at the earliest but he has finally started running again and the club will now look to step up his training. If he is fully-fit and injury-free for the second half of next season, he could be a very valuable option for Jim Magilton in the push for the play-offs.

To the game and the highlights and a match report are currently on the BBC website - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8328083.stm. - I don't know how long they keep the highlights up on there. It looked like the two sides of Taarabt were on display in this game - a tricky run to fairly win the penalty and a killer pass to Wayne Routledge whichthe latter should have done a lot better with. On the other hand, his decision-making remains questionable and it is hard to see why he didn't tee up Ben Watson in the second half for a golden opportunity. The issue of his selfishness on the ball is getting a bit tired and his goals and assists this season show his value to the team, but the frustrations will remain if QPR consistently drop points at home.

Magilton was rightly happy with the number of chances his side created and the fact that opposing manager Neil Warnock so highly praised his own keeper shows the vital role he played in earning a point for the away side. Warnock went as far as saying he doesn't believe any keepers in the Premiership are playing as well as Julian Speroni at the moment. Without seeing him week in, week out I can't judge but he pulled off some fantastic saves in this game.

I'll have more on the Sheffield Wednesday game tomorrow which the club will desperately want to get some kind of result in to keep up the pressure on the top-placed teams and hold off any winter blip in their form. After that it will be the international break which will most likely be welcomed at Loftus Road to get some players back to fitness. Till then...