Barnsley v QPR player ratings
Luke Freeman’s late equaliser rescued a point for QPR at Oakwell. Here’s how we rated each Rangers player in the 1-1 draw.
Alex Smithies: 8
Heroic stuff from Smithies yet again. His excellent second-half saves to deny Adam Hammill and Ike Ugbo proved to be crucial.
Steven Caulker: 6
Clearly lacking sharpness, his touch let him down a few times on his return to the side but his overall showing drew praise from boss Ian Holloway.
Holloway on Caulker: “I’m really pleased with Steve tonight. It’s a magnificent 60 minutes he’s given us. He looked a class act and hopefully he might be ready for Friday as well. It was impressive.” Alex Baptiste: 7
Struggled in the air at times but also won a fair number of challenges both with his head and on the ground. Competed and organised well. Is proving to be a decent signing.
Jack Robinson: 6
A steady display, the highlight of which was a cracking challenge to thwart Hammill in the first half. A second-half lapse led to Ugbo’s chance, however.
Pawel Wszolek: 5
The Polish wide-man had a poor game. Having headed straight at the keeper early on, he squandered a great chance when he sliced a shot wide in the second half. He was also repeatedly sloppy in possession.
Josh Scowen: 7
Performed well against his former club, producing another tigrish display in midfield. He also went close with a second-half header.
Massimo Luongo: 7
Had some problems in the first half but grew into the game and held his own in an often fierce midfield battle.
Luke Freeman: 8
Worked hard, always looked to create and his set-piece delivery looked like being Rangers’ best route to an equaliser before he took the bull by the horns and levelled with a cracking strike with three minutes remaining.
Jake Bidwell: 7
Did well on the left side, where he defended tidily and contributed in attack, creating one chance for Wszolek and later volleying over with his less-favoured right foot.
Bright Osayi-Samuel: 6
Given his first start, the recent signing endured a tough 45 minutes before being replaced at the interval. He showed a willingness to track back but was unable to make an impact going forward and was caught out of position on a number of occasions.
Jamie Mackie: 7
Isolated during a frustrating first half, it was a different story in the early stages of the second as he combined well with substitute Conor Washington and also set up Wszolek, who should have scored.
Conor Washington: 7
His barren run in front of goal continues but he certainly made a positive impact after coming on, pressuring Barnsley’s defenders and getting involved in some good link-up play.
Matt Smith: 6
Gave Rangers an aerial presence after being introduced and was denied by a good save after being set up by fellow substitute Kazenga LuaLua.
Kazenga LuaLua: 7
Gave the ball away cheaply soon after coming on but then had some joy, creating a chance for Smith and generally unsettling the home defence during his lively 15-minute cameo.
