TWO goals from Ravel Morrison helped Queens Park Rangers ease past relegation candidates Yeovil Town on a sun-bathed afternoon in W12.
The West Ham United loanee tormented the Glovers in a vintage display – dancing around challenges before firing in off the post in the first, then rounding off proceedings with a neatly-placed finish.
Bobby Zamora’s revival entered full flow as he latched onto a well-weighted cross from Junior Hoilett, as Rangers limped over the line with injuries to Armand Traoré, Rob Green and Jermaine Jenas.
It was Morrison’s day again however with Harry Redknapp’s men looking to sure up a spot in the playoffs as the season enters the home straight.
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TEAM NEWS |
Harry Redknapp named one change from the side defeated by Brighton & Hove Albion with Aaron Hughes coming in for Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Bobby Zamora took up a place on the bench, in the midst of a striker crisis in W12.
Rob Green started behind a defence of Hughes, Richard Dunne, Nedum Onuoha and Clint Hill. The midfield trio comprised of Ravel Morrison, Jermaine Jenas and Joey Barton with Junior Hoilett and Armand Traoré playing off Will Keane.
Yeovil started with Marek Stech behind a back four of Matteo Lanzoni, Byron Webster, Shane Duffy and Jamie McAllister. Duane Holmes, Joe Edwards, Luke Ayling and Tom Lawrence comprised the midfield four with James Hayter partnering Ishmael Miller.
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KICK OFF: QUEENS PARK RANGERS v YEOVIL TOWN |
Rangers and Yeovil celebrated Alec Stock day in memory of one of the finest managers in the history of both clubs. The Glovers were certainly the side on the front foot in early offing with the hosts once again struggling with early tempo.
Tom Lawrence was the architect for the visiting side, tormenting the returning Aaron Hughes and seeing an early drive well save by Rob Green to his right. Former QPR loanee Ishmael Miller was also proving more than a handful leading the line.
Luke Ayling – shifting from defence to midfield owing to a late injury – saw his curling effort beat the upright as the home support gasped for breath in a typically stuttering opening to what was perceived a winnable encounter.
Rangers started to hit their straps with Ravel Morrison making some space down the left. His centre found Clint Hill who showed all the composure of the England opening batsman, with a swing and a miss – Barton’s resultant effort cannoned into a crowd of players and away to safety.
Will Keane was visibly struggling with his positional sense, with crosses being delivered and the Manchester United loanee never truly looking close to threatening. He did divert a Richard Dunne effort wide but struggling to truly threaten an inexperienced rearguard.
A useful effort from Morrison brought the best out of Stech when his volley from distance took a deflection. The ‘keeper matched the effort with Rangers now growing in confidence, but he could do nothing about the goal that opened the afternoon’s scoring.
Hoilett found RAVEL MORRISON down the right and the midfielder danced around a glut of defenders before firing an unstoppable drive beyond Stech and in off the left-hand upright with great composure and aplomb.
Yeovil rather surprisingly withdrew one of their major attacking threats in Duane Holmes, with Kevin Dawson coming on in his stead. Rangers meanwhile were forced to withdraw the flagging Armand Traoré with a hamstring complaint – Niko Kranjcar came on.
Hoilett was showing a greater degree of creativity on both flanks, drawing a poor block from McAllister who received a caution for his troubles. In truth it was a half played at walking pace after a frenetic opening – Rangers appeared in control but it was a game far from over.
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HALF TIME: QUEENS PARK RANGERS 1-0 YEOVIL TOWN |
Rangers started positively in the second half with Kranjcar at the forefront of an early spell of pressure. Two shots in close succession were ably fielded by Stech, who was set to have a busier half this time around.
Ten minutes into the half and Rob Green was fouled in a heavy challenge involving Ishmael Miller and Clint Hill. The ‘keeper came off the worst by a long chalk, nursing his mid-section and signalling he needed treatment.
It fell on deaf ears and Tom Lawrence saw an effort canon back off the bar with Green firmly rooted. After a couple of ill-advised passes back to the ‘keeper under pressure, eventually he got the ball out of play and was replaced by Brian Murphy.
Bobby Zamora entered the fray at the expense of the ineffectual Will Keane. He had an immediate impact on proceedings, knocking around an inexperienced Glovers back-line with his vast experience, immediately getting the crowd on-side.
Jermaine Jenas was a whisker away from a phenomenal second, taking a touch from a Kranjcar inside pass, the midfielder teed himself up before firing a volley that clipped the top of the bar, leaving Stech decidedly concerned.
Rangers did have their second a minute later. Persistent work down the right from a rejuvenated Hoilett saw his delicate chipped cross fall straight to the head of BOBBY ZAMORA who nodded home from close range to the adulation of the crowd and his team mates.
A confident QPR started to take the game to Yeovil with a greater degree of confidence and style, Ravel Morrison hitting his straps once more. With that in mind McAllister – on a yellow card – was withdrawn with Seth Ofori-Twumasi coming on in his stead.
Adam Morgan also replaced James Hayter for the visitors who had struggled to carve out an opportunity of note in a half dominated by the hosts. In a rare opportunity for the visitors Ofori-Twumasi set up Edwards who could only put the ball harmlessly over.
Hoilett could then only place right at Stech after more good work from Zamora. Jermaine Jenas then felt the after effects of reaching for the ball – holding his hamstring. He was sheer nuisance value from there on in and watched on as Rangers extended their advantage.
Kranjcar broke away at pace, passing the static Jenas in the centre circle. He made an excellent angle for a shot but selflessly rolled aside for RAVEL MORRISON – who curled home low beyond Stech, a truly composed finish.
Jenas walked off down the tunnel with his injury, leaving the hosts with ten men – but it mattered little as Rangers finally turned their opportunities into goals and took a positive step in their bid to secure a playoff spot.
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FINAL WHISTLE: QUEENS PARK RANGERS 3-0 YEOVIL TOWN |