Preston v QPR player ratings
Struggling QPR are still without an away win this season after losing to Preston. Here’s how we rated each Rangers player in the 1-0 defeat at Deepdale.
Alex Smithies: 7
Produced a couple of saves which looked likely to earn Rangers a point until he was finally beaten late on.
Alex Baptiste: 7
Carrying a hamstring strain, he battled to be fit for the game and to stay on the pitch when he was struggling – only to then be sent off for a second bookable offence for some dissent after the final whistle. During the game itself, he produced a mixed display in which Jack Robinson bailed him out a couple of times before Baptiste returned the favour with a brilliant saving challenge to deny Callum Robinson.
Jack Robinson: 6
Put under plenty of pressure at the heart of the Rangers defence. The odd lapse aside, he had a decent game.
Jake Bidwell: 7
Defended very well, both on the left of a back three and when deployed as a left-back.
Pawel Wszolek: 7
Not much went his way going forward, but the Pole justified his place by getting through a phenomenal amount of work on the right, where he religiously tracked the dangerous Robinson.
Josh Scowen: 7
Rangers’ best player. Had a very tidy game in midfield and used the ball well. Went close with a first-half free-kick.
Massimo Luongo: 6
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Certainly worked hard, but was well short of his best in terms of his passing, giving the ball away a number of times.
Ilias Chair: 6
Struggled for much of his league debut, particularly after Rangers were reduced to 10 men. But he had more joy on the right after Matt Smith’s introduction – an encouraging spell for the youngster.
David Wheeler: 6
As willing to work on the left as Wszolek was on the right, but the less experienced Wheeler found the going tough. Did a solid job defensively though.
Jamie Mackie: 6
Rangers’ gameplan went out of the window once Mackie was red-carded for a challenge on Tom Clarke midway through the first half. The club plan to appeal.
Conor Washington: 6
Isolated up front until the introduction of Smith. Then started to affect the game and went close with a well-struck shot.
Matt Smith: 7
Did what he was brought on to do, giving Rangers an aerial presence which Preston struggled to cope with. The visitors, despite being down to 10 men, looked threatening before conceding the late goal.
