Lions mauled by hungry Hoops- Reserves report

Last updated : 17 December 2003 By Mark O' Haire
QPR's first team experienced players turned on the style in the second half of a fiercely competitive match watched by Ian Holloway and Dennis Wise.

Matty Rose continued his comeback with a midfield start, and Kevin McLeod was given a full 90 minutes' match practice in his usual left side position.

The first half was dominated by an energetic, skilful young Millwall side with Rangers limited to just a few breakaways. Furlong picked up a yellow card for kicking the ball into the net after he had committed a foul and the referee had already blown the whistle.

Millwall would have been at least 2-0 up in the first half but for poor finishing. They were passing through our midfield almost at will, with aerial weakness shown by Wes Daly in the first and last 10 minutes of the half.

Rangers managed two long shots before taking the lead against the run of play just before half time with their one quality move of the half.

Sabin broke down the right wing before playing the ball in to McLeod on the left hand side of the penalty area. A one-touch lay-off by the Scouser, and Furlong rifled a low left-foot shot inside the far post from 18 yards.

The second half was a totally different story. McLeod and Sabin tucked in more from their wide positions, and the midfield now looked more solid. Rangers were hardly out of the Millwall half for the second 45.

From a free kick awarded centrally just outside the penalty area, McLeod stepped up and curled a beautiful left-foot shot into the top corner past the goalkeeper's outstretched right hand.

Shots now rained in on the Millwall keeper with Pacquette, Furlong and McLeod again going very close. McLeod sealed the win when he picked up the ball in the inside left channel and turned his marker in and out before blasting a rising drive high into the net.

Chris Day didn't have a lot to do but did it well. Wes Daly had a good game apart from those two spells and once he had moved into midfield with trialist Jack Perry coming on at right back after Giles Coke was subbed, Wes came into his own as an attacking force. He and Millwall's Samba were both booked after Wes committed the foul and the two players squared up to each other. Furlong and McLeod showed their first team class, with good performances also from Rose and Edghill.

In the end a well-deserved win which just hadn't looked on the cards after half an hour.

QPR
4-4-2
Day, Daly, Johnson, Ifura, Edghill, Sabin, Rose, Coke (Perry), McLeod, Furlong, Pacquette
Subs not used: Cole, Smee, Lodge, Mills

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