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Match Analysis: Chelsea 0-1 Queens Park Rangers

Match Analysis: Chelsea 0-1 QPR
© PA Photos
Sports Mole casts its eye over arguably the shock of the season as QPR down Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea were this evening stunned by rockbottom West London neighbours Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League.

Rafael Benitez had gone into the match in a seemingly confident mood as he rested the playmaking duo of Juan Mata and Eden Hazard against a QPR side who hadn't won away from home all season.

However, a tepid match at Stamford Bridge was won by former Blue Shaun Wright-Phillips's fizzing low strike in the 78th minute.

Below, Sports Mole pores over arguably the shock of the season in the top flight.

Match statistics:

Chelsea:
Shots 23
On target 11
Possession 58%
Corners 14
Fouls 12

QPR:
Shots 8
On target 5
Possession 42%
Corners 2
Fouls 8

Was the result fair?

It's hard not to applaud QPR for their resilience at the back over the whole 90 minutes but neither side really deserved the three points in what was a drab game to begin 2013 for both sides. If you had to pick one team then, yes, QPR deserved the points because of how well they restricted their much-loftier opponents. Also, the hosts should have been reduced to 10 men in just the fourth minute when Marko Marin, earning a rare start, hideously went in studs-up on Stephane M'Bia but only saw yellow.

Chelsea's performance

Dear me. The Blues went into this game on a run of four straight wins in the league but it certainly didn't show against the bottom side. Blunt throughout, Benitez's side missed the creativeness of Mata and Hazard from the start while Fernando Torres had one of those nights that will make Chelsea fans feel glad that Demba Ba is on his way.

QPR's performance

Plucky. Rangers were unfortunate not to face a 10-man Chelsea for 86 minutes when Marin was excused for his lunge but they somehow claimed all three points. The visitors' backline afforded Chelsea very few clear-cut chances and took one of their half-openings when Wright-Phillips guided his shot from 20 yards into the far corner.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Adel Taarabt: The Moroccan may have plenty of critics, and rightly so for his inconsistency and overly flamboyant style on occasions, but tonight QPR's number 10 was superb. He didn't have that many chances to showcase his skills but was at times mesmeric in possession. His assist for the goal was sublime as he sidefooted a first-time volley perfectly into the path of Wright-Phillips to score.

Biggest gaffe

Is given to Victor Moses for his glaring miss from five yards in the 49th minute. Marin did superbly to get to the byline and square for the winger but he couldn't get enough on his prod goalwards and the ball bounced to safety.

Referee performance

Lee Mason had a good 85 minutes but unfortunately made a huge mistake in the fourth minute. He must have shied away from sending Marin off as it was so early on in the game. The German's tackle was reckless and should have definitely resulted in red.

What next?

Chelsea: A weekend away from the Premier League as the FA Cup third round takes place. Chelsea begin their defence of the title at Southampton on Saturday.

QPR: QPR, meanwhile, host West Brom on the same day.

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QPR's Shaun Wright-Phillips drives a shot into the bottom corner to open the scoring against Chelsea on January 2, 2013
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