Hoop Dreams - QPR FC

QPR started a new era at Loftus Road with a surprise win over promotion-chasers West Brom which did their hopes of staying in the Championship no harm.

They absolutely raced off the blocks here and it was clear that their new manager, Neil Warnock, had made an instant impact on his players.

West Brom admittedly looked pretty lethargic in the opening minutes but there was a definite swagger to Rangers play. Kaspar Gorkss and Matt Connolly had overcome whatever knocks had put their selections in doubt, with the latter player at right-back and Damion Stewart partnering the Latvian in the middle of the back four, with Matt Hill on the left.

Mikele Leigertwood and Alejandro Faurlin played the holding roles in midfield with Warnock going for Hogan Ephraim on the left wing and Adel Taarabt on the right. That left Tamas Priskin in a pair of bright yellow boots to partner Jay Simpson up front.

Anyone who had seen Priksin's brief previous appearances for Rangers would have questioned if he had the ability to pull off such a cocky choice of footwear but in the first half, Priskin was very lively, at one point nonchalantly flicking the ball onto Adel Taarabt who was brought down by Youssuf Mulumbu in the middle of the park.

Rangers were 1-0 up after just twelve minutes, though there was a touch of luck to the goal. Taarabt did well to find space down the right touch line and curled a low cross into the box with Jay Simpson ready to sniff out a goal. It was comfortably within Scott Carson's reach but he somehow managed to fumble it away. In the melee, it landed to Simpson for probably his easiest goal of the season.

The second goal was pure class though. After a brief flurry of passes in the middle of the park,  Faurlin smartly worked it across the field to Matt Connolly who somehow was completely unmarked and in acres of space on the edge of the box. Connolly's reaction was calmness personified though, especially for someone who plies their trade in defence. He quickly controlled the ball and then tucked it under Scott Carson who was quickly advancing in his direction.

West Brom were very poor up until that point but as the half neared its conclusion they began to hold a greater degree of the possession. With ten minutes remaining in the half, Jerome Thomas flashed a pinpoint cross into the R's box and Chris Brunt placed a header high over Carl Ikeme. It showed that however much he may have fired up the team, Warnock hadn't corrected team's defensive lapses in concentration just yet, this being their 22nd game without a clean sheet.

They failed to maintain their pressure on the QPR goal following the break though and once again it was the home side who looked more dangerous.

With close to an hour played, Warnock made his first substitution, replacing the quiet Ephraim with Akos Buzsaky and it paid dividends just five minutes later. Rangers won a free-kick in a very unpromising position, around 40 yards out and near the managers' dug-outs.

A bevy of players were ready in  the box for Buzsaky to pump the ball in which he did, whipping a high, curling ball straight into the area. Somehow it evaded everyone, including Carson, whose positioning looked questionable, bounced up and hit the top end of the right post. From there, it came down and trickled into the net. It was a truly bizarre and slightly fortuitous goal and it completely knocked the stuffing out of the visitors.

West Brom continued to keep the ball whilst rarely threatening the Rangers net and in fairness, the Hoops could have added to the score line before the end to truly embarrass their opponents. Both Simpson and late substitute Rowan Vine had excellent chances, particularly Simpson who was threw on goal, but they both panicked with poor finishes.

The confidence throughout the Rangers side today though was apparent and a massive change from some of the fearful performances at Loftus Road since the new year. It also lifts them away from the relegation trouble, though the new boss is unlikely to be resting on his laurels just yet.