What is wrong with Dack? Nothing imo! Scored the goal didn't he?
Simple fact of the matter is that he is being singled out for tight marking and a little bit of 'special attention' from the opposition. Yesterday the fool with the whistle handed cards out like confetti but ignored the most cynical and dangerous tackle from the back which went right through Dack and happened right under his nose. Dack being given such special attention is also freeing up other players. We all know that Dack is short of pace and that his first touch could be better (might be of comfort to some that those are two 'must have' talents for anyone looking to life in the Prem) but he is still the fulcrum and the 'out ball' of choice for his teammates because of the way he holds the ball up and gains precious seconds for the midfield and defence to find forward positions.
On to the match. 15 minutes into this game I had the ref marked down as an incompetent and nothing subsequently happened to change my opinion. I must say that I hope we never see this chap in the middle for future matches. I've never seen so many good tackles penalised in one match as an entertaining and free flowing spectacle became a distant prospect! The original 'never kicked a ball in his life' official who quite simply doesn't understand the game. I simply cannot fathom his thoughts on what a good football match should be about. We didn't come to watch you blowing your whistle for 90 mins you plonker! 15 matches this season with him awarding 6 or more yellows in half a dozen of them. Spare a thought at this stage for Brentford v Nottm Forest on the 1/9/18 when he brandished his yellow card no fewer that 12 times!!! A statistic in itself which means the EFL should take away his whistle and replace it with a flag for at least the rest of the season.
https://www.soccerbase.com/referees/referee.sd?referee_id=1668&season_id=151
This table might put his ineptitude into even starker contrast compared to his peers....
https://www.soccerbase.com/referees/home.sd?comp_id=2
Does no one at the top table ever look at these things?
So onto the match. I must say my fear of QPR's recent form was never borne out. Quite honestly they must have been a real disappointment for their travelling fans. How they have had such a good run I cannot fathom. My only crib was that we should have won by at least 3 clear goals to justify the match. 0-0 moving to 1-0 on 87 mins obviously never really allowing us to relax fully. I believe we would have won more convincingly too if only Danny Graham had put his shooting boots on... or more particularly struck the ball earlier with his left foot instead of crossing his body onto his right foot and tipping the %age into the gk's favour. I mustn't crib DG really because his conversion rate is normally pretty good.
Leutwiler.... 6 Never really tested and never really looked totally comfortable either. I'm sure he's not a better reaction keeper than Raya but on the plus side he is much less hesitant in deciding in the words of the Clash "should I stay or should I go". Also his kicking whilst never attaining the quality of Paul Robinson comfortably exceeded Raya's 60 degree lob wedge boot.
Bennett... 6 Not his best match and his passing was decidedly off but as usual he gave 100% effort.
Lenihan ... 7 PJ's MoM. He got his head on everything all afternoon but his distribution will never ever approach the quality of his usual centre half companion. Continually lumping high balls in the vague direction of DG is one thing and especially with the 6ft 3" and 14 stone Leistner in attendance but to continue once Dg had been replaced by 5ft 7" Armstrong is at best and to be kind just a bit 'Irish'.
Williams... 7. Post match pub MoM. I have a feeling this is his best position rather than left back. Again he doesn't have the distribution skills to displace Mulgrew when he is fit again.
Bell ...7 My personal MoM but by a whisker. I've said in the past that he does one good thing and follows it up with a simple goof but yesterday he hardly put a foot wrong.... until a moment of carelessness in the last 5 mins. Looks to be gaining in confidence and forming a good partnership with Armstrong. A pen a strong pen shout and an assist in the last few matches bears testament to his pace and ability when overlapping. The pace of these two must give opponents nightmares.
Reed... 7 Still not sure why last weeks MoM playing in the middle was stuck out wide again where he is nowhere near as influential. Our best option imo is to play Reed in his central role for either Smallwood or Evans and shove Palmer out wide or put Rothwell on the left and bring Armstrong across to the right. I guess we'll just have to go with TM's decisions cos he hasn't given us much to complain about this season has he?
Smallwood... 7 Best of the midfield pair yesterday and put a real shift in.
Evans.... 5 Poor match by his recent standards. Seemed out of touch and 'distant' all afternoon. He might just have cemented Reeds place in the middle v Rotherham.
Armstrong... 6 Usual burst of pace troubling the right back early doors but faded as the match wore on.
Dack..... 6 Stop start performance but he is our leading scorer and stepped up to the plate admirably to convert the penalty. Penalties are easy at 3-0 up but at 0-0 in the last few minutes become completely different gravy, Bradley Dack didn't show any nerves as he slammed the ball home.
Graham.... 4 A rare off day. No idea why but yesterday nothing worked for him. It happens.
Subs
Palmer... 6 Didn't offer much but bringing him on for Evans on 63 mins did reduce our on field yellow card count and did create more of an attacking threat.
Rothwell... 6 On for the ineffective Graham on 74 minutes. Good reasoning to try and test the pace of QPR's central defenders against the pace of Armstrong but long balls from defence onto little Adam's head simply won't work.
Brereton...7 Replaced Armstrong and was moved over to the right. Looks clumsy but did provide a difference on that side and got the penalty.
Mowbray... 7 Limited the threat of in-form QPR and maybe continuing with old firm Smallwood and Evans in midfield rather than going with the more offensive skills of Harrison Reed was designed to protect our patched up defence. Whatever the reasoning it's another 3 points on his cv as we continue to trade toe to toe punches with rivals beyond our financial status.
Referee Bankes 2. (he did give the penalty I suppose) Clueless. Given his record how has this chap got to Championship level? It's a disgrace if he is allowed to continue.
