MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 08:27:54| >> :120:15633:15633:
[monks data]
QPR logo
Championship | Gameweek 10
Sep 28, 2021 at 7.45pm UK
Loftus Road
Birmingham logo

QPR
2 - 0
Birmingham

Chair (34', 64')
Dozzell (54')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Sunjic (86')

QPR boss Mark Warburton talks up Ilias Chair's progression

QPR boss Mark Warburton talks up Ilias Chair's progression
© Reuters
The midfielder scored twice against Birmingham.

QPR manager Mark Warburton declared that Ilias Chair is getting "better and better" after his brace secured a 2-0 win over Birmingham.

Rangers have long had high hopes for the Morocco international, who was signed in 2017 and dons the club's number 10 shirt previously worn by greats Rodney Marsh and Stan Bowles, and more recently Ebere Eze.

"What you can't be in that position is predictable. You can't be a one-trick pony where you drop a shoulder and go," Warburton said.

"Opposing players would pick up on that. Players will study you and see what you do.

"He's recognising that – recognising where he can get on the ball, where he can half-turn and hurt the opposition.

"Then it's about trusting your technique and honing that technique, which he does every day when he trains.

"I'm pleased for him. He's got international football, so a lot on his plate to deal with, but I think you're seeing a player get better and better."

Rangers lost their previous three Championship matches and have been defensively vulnerable, but this time they stood firm – albeit with help from an appalling early miss by Tahith Chong.

Warburton admitted: "It was good to keep a clean sheet. Teams will look at us and say 'They'll score one or two but they're vulnerable'. We can't be vulnerable.

"It was almost like they expected us to score but were going to give it a go themselves and see if they could expose us.

"We stood up against a physical approach and dealt with that. We looked more solid and more cohesive."

Birmingham boss Lee Bowyer bemoaned the miss by Chong when the match was goalless.

Troy Deeney nodded Jeremie Bela's cross back towards the on-loan Manchester United youngster, who misdirected his header into the arms of keeper Seny Dieng. It was the Blues' only effort on target.

Rangers had another let-off before taking the lead when Deeney was unable to get to Ivan Sunjic's low cross.

"We had two massive opportunities to score and then they get the goal," said Bowyer.

"We started really brightly and caused them problems, asked questions of them and didn't take the chances when they came.

"The only difference on the night was Chair, who was clinical in front of goal and caused us problems. But I think if we score one of those two chances then it is a different game.

"We have to be more clinical in front of goal. It's another chance we've missed from inside the six-yard box.

"It concerns me because we work hard at finishing. To have one on target – that's been our problem.

"That stat is not good enough. We had opportunities and asked questions of a good team – and we were away from home.

"Before their second goal we were also causing them problems. Then we switched off at the back and they scored again."

ID:465895:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4468:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info

Click here for more stories about Mark Warburton

Click here for more stories about Birmingham City

Game History

How you voted: QPR vs Birmingham

Queens Park Rangers
49.3%
Draw
31.3%
Birmingham City
19.4%
67
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
West Bromwich Albion manager Valerien Ismael pictured on September 14, 2021
Read Next:
Tuesday's Championship predictions including Cardiff City vs. West Brom
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Wycombe WanderersWycombe18124239211840
2Wrexham19124328111740
3Birmingham CityBirmingham17123232161639
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield18112528161235
5Stockport CountyStockport1996431191233
6Reading189453025531
7Bolton WanderersBolton179352827130
8Barnsley197662725227
9Lincoln CityLincoln197662423127
10Mansfield TownMansfield177372222024
11Exeter CityExeter187381619-324
12Charlton AthleticCharlton186571819-123
13Blackpool186572631-523
14Stevenage176471316-322
15Peterborough UnitedPeterborough186393332121
16Leyton Orient186391920-121
17Northampton TownNorthampton195682126-521
18Bristol Rovers186391726-921
19Wigan AthleticWigan185581516-120
20Rotherham UnitedRotherham175571620-420
21Crawley TownCrawley185491728-1119
22Cambridge UnitedCambridge1844101829-1116
23Burton Albion1825111630-1411
24Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury1832131835-1711


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!