Cardiff v QPR player ratings
Championship leaders Cardiff came from behind to beat QPR after Matt Smith’s early goal. Here’s how we rated each Rangers player in the 2-1 defeat against Neil Warnock’s side.
Alex Smithies: 7
Kept the score down, producing a number of second-half saves as Cardiff totally dominated after the interval.
Darnell Furlong: 7
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Did well. The highlight of his encouraging performance was a superb challenge on Junior Hoilett, after which the former QPR man moved to the opposite flank and had much more success.
Steven Caulker: 5
Playing against his former club, in his first league appearance since last October, Caulker struggled. His lack of sharpness was evident throughout and he played Nedum Onuoha into trouble to trigger the defensive aberration which led to Cardiff’s equaliser.
Nedum Onuoha: 5
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For the second away game running, Onuoha’s overall display was ok but one bad mistake led to a goal. Done no favours by Caulker’s pass, he still had an opportunity to deal with the situation but failed to do so and his woefully under-hit backpass led to Smithies’ clearance cannoning into the net off Hoilett.
Jake Bidwell: 6
Solid and dependable on the left. Or thoroughly average, depending on how you see it.
Josh Scowen: 7
Gave Rangers a boost by coming through a fitness test and continued his impressive form with another good showing in midfield. Worked hard throughout and used the ball well.
Massimo Luongo: 6
Symbolic of QPR’s performance, he started well and caused Cardiff some problems early on but then faded.
Josh Freeman: 7
Delivered the ball into the box for Smith to score and continually tried to make things happen.
Jamie Mackie: 7
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Unlucky not to score when his shot hit the post. Pressed well but offered little in an attacking sense in the second half before being taken off.
Matt Smith: 6
Took his goal – his second in as many games – well but offered very little after that, either as an attacking threat or in terms of pressing from the front, which is a key part of Rangers’ tactics.
Conor Washington: 5
Struggled to make things happen and his touch continually let him down. Willing to work but the quality just wasn’t there.
Idrissa Sylla: 6
Unable to make any real impact after coming on for the final half an hour. The same applied to Pawel Wszolek and Yeni Ngbakoto, who were later also brought on.
