QPR v Portsmouth player ratings
Paul Smyth, Rayan Kolli and Richard Kone all scored twice as QPR thrashed relegation-threatened Portsmouth 6-1 at Loftus Road. Here’s how we rated each Rangers player.
Joe Walsh: 6
Pushed away a first-half free-kick and produced other saves, but didn’t look convincing, as was summed up when he nervously fumbled Terry Devlin’s shot over the bar.
Amadou Mbengue: 7
A typically robust display from Mbengue, who was defensively solid and always keen to get forward.
Jimmy Dunne: 6
Barely tested by a side that offered little going forward. Was calm and assured at the back.
Ronnie Edwards: 6
Was also able to coast through the game – while being barracked by the away fans because of his association with Pompey’s rivals Southampton.
Rhys Norrington-Davies: 6
Another Rangers player who didn’t particularly shine, or need to, and did the basics well.
Harvey Vale: 7
Drifted in and out of the game, but still influenced it to a large degree. A clever attempted pass to Kolli in the build-up to the opening goal and a through-ball to set up Kone’s late sixth were the highlights of an impressive Vale display.
Isaac Hayden: 6
Did a solid enough job in midfield before going off in the early second half.
Kieran Morgan: 6
Not involved in Rangers’ best moments, but used the ball sensibly in midfield and worked hard off the ball as well.
Paul Smyth: 8
Scored with two great strikes and was always lively. A day he deserved for some workmanlike, sometimes thankless, displays this season. It was a great win for Rangers, but Smyth’s early contribution was the catalyst.
Rayan Kolli: 9
Strikes the ball so well – and showed it again with two emphatic finishes. The first was a fizzling low strike and the second a thumping, flamboyant finish after fine work on the right-hand side. Great stuff.
Richard Kone: 8
Not the best all-round performance, but he worked hard up front as always, was involved in some nice link-up play, and was rewarded for his efforts with two late goals – the first a penalty and the second a cracking finish.
Jonathan Varane: 6
Like Hayden, the player he replaced, Varane had an easy time of it in midfield, where Pompey were woeful.
Jake Clarke-Salter: 6
Came on as a substitute for another encouraging outing following his long lay-off.
