MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 07:20:50| >> :120:9963:9963:

Match Analysis: Derby 1-0 Queens Park Rangers

Sports Mole analyses Derby County's victory in the Championship over Queens Park Rangers.

Fourth-placed Derby County closed to within a point of the Championship's automatic promotion places by defeating third-placed Queens Park Rangers on Monday night.

The one and only goal came in the 20th minute when Robert Green's punch could only reach John Eustace, who looped a header into the far corner past Gary O'Neil on the line.

QPR saw plenty of the ball after the break but couldn't do enough to break Derby down, missing out on the chance to move back into second place.

Below, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the action.

Match statistics

Derby
Shots: 9
On target: 2
Possession: 43%
Corners: 10
Fouls: 17

QPR
Shots: 10
On target: 3
Possession: 57%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 14

Was the result fair?

It was a bitty game and not a great spectacle but Derby did deserve the points. They were the better side in the first half and deservedly led before seeing out the result resiliently after the break.

Derby's performance

The Rams hadn't beaten a top-six side before tonight but went about it in the right manner. QPR like to have the ball and play patiently but Derby didn't let them, hounding down the ball when they didn't have it. They didn't create loads of chances themselves but did enough to deserve victory. The performance of his defence is what will please Steve McClaren most. QPR have so much talent but they couldn't get the better of Derby's dogged centre-back duo of Richard Keogh and Jake Buxton.

QPR's performance

A disappointing display from Harry Redknapp's side, who managed to earn just one point from the key games against Burnley and Derby. Tonight they looked short of ideas up front and let in one goal that would cost them. They were angry when O'Neil was challenged by Chris Martin on the line for the goal, but it was a fair jump by a player who was bigger and stronger than O'Neil. Joey Barton had one of those games where you noticed his tackles a lot more than anything else.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Richard Keogh: It could have gone to either Keogh or Buxton but we're giving it to captain Keogh for his dominant performance in the air.

Biggest gaffe

There wasn't a standout gaffe but as it led to the only goal, we're singling out Green for his halfhearted punch that Eustace headed into the net.

Referee performance

It was a fiery contest but Michael Naylor handled it quite well. He could have pointed to the spot when Clint Hill hauled over Jake Buxton, but there are challenges like that at plenty of set pieces and it would have been surprising if he had awarded a penalty.

What next?

Derby: Next up for the Rams is a match against the Owls of Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

QPR: Rangers, meanwhile, host Reading, one of the sides that they were relegated from the Premier League with last season.

ID:136930: cacheID:136930:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5273:
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
QPR manager Harry Redknapp on the touchline during his team's match against Burnley on October 26, 2013
Read Next:
Live Commentary: Derby 1-0 QPR - as it happened
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd20135228111742
2Leeds UnitedLeeds20125336142241
3Burnley2010822471738
4Sunderland20107329151437
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn1910452317634
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2071122314932
7Middlesbrough209473425931
8Watford199462725231
9Swansea CitySwansea207672119227
10Norwich CityNorwich206863530526
11Bristol City206862525026
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds207582329-626
13Millwall196762017325
14Derby CountyDerby216692626024
15Preston North EndPreston2041062026-622
16Luton TownLuton2064102335-1222
17Coventry CityCoventry205692529-421
18Stoke CityStoke205692126-521
19Queens Park RangersQPR204972026-621
20Oxford UnitedOxford Utd194692030-1018
21Portsmouth193882134-1317
22Cardiff CityCardiff1945101730-1317
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth1945101940-2117
24Hull City2037101828-1016


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!