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Player Ratings: Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Sports Mole rates the performances of both sets of players following Tottenham Hotspur's 2-1 London derby win over Queens Park Rangers.

Tottenham Hotspur edged out Queens Park Rangers 2-1 at Loftus Road this afternoon to keep their top-four hopes alive in the Premier League.

Harry Kane's double, which takes his personal tally up to 26 for the season in all competitions, had put the visitors in command at Loftus Road, before Sandro pulled one back 15 minutes from time against his former club.

The Hoops had two penalty shouts turned down, the strongest of which came shortly after they had found a route back into the game as Nabil Bentaleb appeared to handle the ball inside the area.

Charlie Austin and Christian Eriksen saw their respective efforts come back off the frame of the goal, also, in what was an entertaining London derby affair.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at how both sets of players performed across the 90 minutes of action.


QUEENS PARK RANGERS

Mauricio Isla of QPR is faced by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris of Spurs during the Barclays Premier League match between Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur at Loftus Road on March 7, 2015© Getty Images>

Goal

Rob Green: Became the first goalkeeper in the Premier League to reach a century of saves this season when he kept out Kane's effort from point-blank range early on. He followed that up with some more decent stops, although he was beaten a little too easily by his compatriot for both of Tottenham's goals. (7/10)

Defence

Nedum Onuoha: Picked up an horrific facial injury against Arsenal in his side's last outing, but he was deemed fit enough to play a full 90 minutes here. He produced a solid enough performance, too, keeping Spurs's threat to a bare minimum down the left-hand side. (6/10)

Steven Caulker: An underwhelming display against his former side, conceding possession needlessly on a couple of occasions while also giving away the free kick which led to Kane's opener. (5/10)

Rio Ferdinand: The glare of the sun caused him a lot of problems in the first half, but it was his lack of pace which was to blame for the second Spurs goal. No longer has the pace to play in a high line, and Kane thrived on that to race in on goal. (5/10)

Yun Suk-Young: Performed adequately on the whole in a back four which has now conceded more goals than any other in the top flight. Townsend's pace caused him problems in the opening 15 minutes or so, but he soon settled into the game. (6/10)

Midfield

Mauricio Isla: Back in the side this afternoon and played on the right of a midfield four. His work rate certainly was not lacking, but it is hard to remember him doing anything of note other than the first-half penalty shout when he went down under little contact from Lloris. (6/10)

Sandro: A real fan favourite at White Hart lane prior to his departure. While his goal was well taken from the edge of the box, he did not really impose himself on the game. (6/10)

Karl Henry: Likewise, the powerful midfielder failed to stop the opposition, who so often glided through the centre of the field. Did well to keep possession flowing at times, but that is pretty much where the positives end. (5/10)

Matt Phillips: Played on the left and had a few decent moments, the best of which came when he sent Austin through with his well-placed pass. Also fired a shot wide in the first half when QPR were on top. (6/10)

Attack

Bobby Zamora: A real force up front, although he too often had to drop deep to make something happen. The closest he came to finding a way through came with just 30 seconds on the clock when Lloris produced a fantastic stop to deny his looping header. Set up Sandro's consolation strike 15 minutes from time. (7/10)

Charlie Austin: There was to be no goal in front of England boss Roy Hodgson, who was watching on from the stands. That was not for the want of trying, however, as he came close to scoring on a number of occasions, striking the bar and seeing Lloris deny him with a number of top saves. Also showed his defensive capabilities by blocking Eriksen's shot off the line. (7/10)

Substitutes

Shaun Wright-Phillips: The forgotten man of this Hoops side is being given more game time under Chris Ramsey, but only just. Afforded 60 seconds here to make an impact, which was an impossible task. (5/10)

Junior Hoilett: Replaced Isla, and he certainly looked more lively than the Chilean as he cut inside and fired a shot a yard or so wide shortly after coming on. (6/10)

Reece Grego-Cox: It may not be a day to cherish for Rangers supporters, yet 18-year-old Grego-Cox will never forget the day that he ran out for his debut at this level. He had never previously been named in a Rangers squad, so even he may have been surprised to have come on for the final few minutes. (5/10)


TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Harry Kane of Spurs celebrates as he scores their second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur at Loftus Road on March 7, 2015© Getty Images

Goal

Hugo Lloris: Another strong performance from the Frenchman, who is now considered among the world's best when it comes to shot stopping. Denied Zamora in the early throes of the match as well as in the second half, while also keeping out Austin. Could do little about the Sandro strike which was well place out of his reach. (8/10)

Defence

Kyle Walker: One lapse of concentration aside when he attempted to head the ball back to his keeper, only to see Austin cut it out, this was a decent enough showing from the full-back, who performs steadily each week. (7/10)

Eric Dier: A few shaky moments, particularly when attempting to head away high balls, but it was a comfortable enough performance from the England Under-21 international. (7/10)

Jan Vertonghen: Loves pushing forward, finding himself through on goal in the first half only to miscontrol Kane's cross. At fault when Austin cut inside him on the half-hour mark for a strike that came back off the bar. (7/10)

Ben Davies: Replaced Danny Rose in what was his first Premier League start of 2015. Did not offer a great deal in attack, while he was also caught out a couple of times by Isla. (6/10)

Midfield

Ryan Mason: Kept things ticking over in the middle and produced another decent display in the heart of this Spurs team. Almost bagged a second goal in the space of a few days, too, when he diverted Walker's shot towards the back of the net, only for Green to push it away. (7/10)

Nabil Bentaleb: The hotly-disputed handball call aside, this was another assured performance from a player who is fast becoming one of his side's most important. (7/10)

Andros Townsend: The England international was Tottenham's best player in the opening quarter of the match, using his energydown the right and causing a few problems for the opposition defence. Set up Kane's opener with a lofted free kick, but soon faded and was replaced on 65 minutes. (7/10)

Christian Eriksen: Given far too much freedom in the second half, hitting the post and seeing a shot cleared away off the line inside the opening 15 minutes of the restart. Will be disappointed not to have made a way through, though. (6/10)

Nacer Chadli: Provided Kane with support by drifting inside from the flank, although never truly troubled the opposition. Probably should have been sacrificed in place of Townsend when Mauricio Pochettino opted to change things around a little. (6/10)

Attack

Harry Kane: Today's double makes it 26 goals for the season for Kane, who has now outscored every other player in the country across all competitions. Took both of his goals well, beating Green to the ball for the opener before rounding his fellow Englishman for the second. (8/10)

Substitutes

Erik Lamela: Played in the number 10 role for the final 10 minutes, although he failed to make a great deal of difference. Players elsewhere in the squad are better suited for the role at this moment in time. (5/10)

Mousa Dembele: Brought on with his side protecting a 2-1 lead, adding some steel and drive to the middle of the park for the final 30 minutes or so. (6/10)

Benjamin Stambouli: A late replacement who was introduced to break up QPR's growing momentum more than anything. (5/10)


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Harry Kane of Spurs celebrates as he scores their second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur at Loftus Road on March 7, 2015
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Match Analysis: Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
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