news-engine

Queens Park Rangers were forced to settle for a point at The Valley despite dominating Charlton Athletic for long periods, with Julien Stéphan’s side once again unable to turn control of the ball into goals. There was plenty to like about the performance. QPR had 72% possession, controlled the midfield and spent much of the second half camped inside Charlton territory. Yet for all of the tidy football, Arthur Okonkwo was required to make only two saves across the 90 minutes. It was a familiar frustration, as Rangers controlled almost everything apart from the part of the game that ultimately matters. It was the home side who actually made the brighter start. Karlan Grant’s early effort was bravely blocked by Kealey Adamson’s head before Miles Leaburn was presented with a good opportunity from the resulting corner, only to head wide. Rangers responded well and gradually took control, pushing their full-backs high and establishing possession inside the Charlton half. Glen Kamara and Nicolas Madsen began dictating the midfield, while Harvey Vale was again heavily involved in QPR’s better attacking moments. Vale came close to breaking the deadlock when he curled an effort from just outside the area narrowly beyond the far post. It has not quite fallen for him in front of goal so far this season, having also struck the woodwork against Middlesbrough on Saturday, but he continues to get himself into dangerous positions and was one of Rangers’ brightest players again. The major talking point of the first half arrived shortly before the interval. Oliver Skipp produced an excellent pass to release Tyreece Campbell, who raced through and finished superbly beyond Pierce Charles, only for the assistant referee to raise his flag. Replays did little to settle the argument. It was an incredibly tight decision, with Campbell perhaps leaning marginally beyond the QPR defensive line as the ball was played. Unsurprisingly, Nathan Jones did not take it particularly well. The Charlton manager claimed afterwards that the decision had ‘cost us three points‘ before producing perhaps the post-match quote of the Championship season so far, complaining that the assistant had looked at him ‘like I have volleyed his cat.’ Given Jones’ willingness to embrace his role as football’s pantomime villain, it was an entertainingly predictable conclusion to such a tight decision. QPR created another promising opening before the break when Vale escaped Amari’i Bell down the right and crossed for Rumarn Burrell, whose clever flick was comfortably gathered by Okonkwo. More concerning was the sight of Tariq Lamptey leaving the field before half-time. Dennis Cirkin replaced him at left-back, although early indications suggest the decision may have been precautionary following contact to the leg on which Lamptey previously suffered his ACL injury, rather than a recurrence of anything more serious. Possession Without Penetration Rangers continued to dominate after the restart, but another injury quickly disrupted Stéphan’s plans. Jimmy Dunne was withdrawn and replaced by Jake Clarke-Salter, leaving QPR waiting anxiously for news on their captain. It would be premature to draw conclusions before the extent of either injury is known. However, after Chair and Richard Kone were both forced off against Middlesbrough four days earlier, four injury substitutions across two matches is hardly ideal. If either Lamptey or Dunne faces a significant spell out, questions around QPR’s persistent injury problems will inevitably resurface. For now, Saturday’s team news ahead of West Bromwich Albion should provide a clearer picture. Back on the pitch, QPR continued to control proceedings and should have taken the lead just after the hour. Paul Smyth deserves credit for pressing Tyler Bindon and winning possession around halfway before Vale released him into acres of space. The winger had time to set himself, but a couple of loose touches pushed him onto his weaker left foot and his eventual finish was too tame, allowing Okonkwo to save well with his legs. It proved the clearest chance of the game. For Smyth, it summed up a difficult evening. He completed none of his three attempted crosses and lost possession 11 times from only 32 touches. His pace, work rate and willingness to stay wide give QPR something different, but this was also an illustration of his limitations when Rangers dominate possession and require composure and technical quality against a settled defence. The one-on-one was exactly the sort of opportunity a Championship winger needs to convert, or at least work into a cleaner strike on his stronger right foot. That miss proved particularly painful for the 3,000-plus travelling Rangers supporters as clear opportunities remained scarce thereafter. Amadou Mbengue, introduced late on, produced one of QPR’s best moments with a powerful burst down the right before flashing an excellent delivery across the six-yard box. Burrell threw himself towards it but was inches away from making the contact required. By that stage, virtually the entire QPR outfield side was stationed inside the Charlton half. Rangers moved the ball neatly around the penalty area but repeatedly lacked the incisive pass or individual piece of brilliance needed to break through a compact defence. Seventeen-year-old Leon Scarlett provided some welcome energy from the bench and looked bright in only his second senior competitive appearance, while Justin Obikwu finally made his QPR debut following his January arrival. Obikwu was used in a slightly unfamiliar role from the left, perhaps illustrating the compromises Stéphan is having to make during a demanding period of four matches in 11 days. Koki Saito and Kwame Poku were rested entirely, while Chair and Kone remain unavailable. With another game at West Brom arriving on Saturday, managing minutes is understandable, even if it left Rangers short of proven match-winners in the final third. Chair’s Absence Felt Perhaps the biggest takeaway was how much QPR missed Chair. Kamara and Madsen were excellent at the base of midfield, repeatedly recycling possession and allowing Rangers to sustain attacks. Vale was lively between the lines and Adamson produced another encouraging display at right-back despite facing a difficult opponent in Campbell, who remains Charlton’s outstanding attacking threat. However, dominating possession is different from creating chances. Burrell and Alfie Lloyd both offer running power, pressing and movement in behind, while Smyth is most dangerous when given space to attack. Against a Charlton side happy to retreat into shape and concede the ball, those strengths were naturally diminished. What Rangers lacked was somebody capable of receiving possession in a crowded area, beating a player or producing the disguised final pass that changes the picture of an attack. Stéphan acknowledged as much afterwards, praising his side’s control but admitting they did not create enough in the final 20 metres and highlighting the need for players capable of winning one-on-one situations. It also continues an increasingly curious trend under the Frenchman. Despite the emphasis Stéphan has placed on controlling matches with the ball, QPR are still yet to win a game under him in which they have had more possession than their opponents. Seventy-two per cent at The Valley ultimately counted for little without the cutting edge to accompany it. There is also the increasingly strange situation surrounding Rayan Kolli. The forward was among the travelling support at The Valley rather than Stéphan’s squad, and watching Rangers dominate without finding a goal only emphasised how useful a natural finisher could be right now. Kolli has seemingly fallen out of the first-team picture, but with QPR short of goals and attacking options, it would be hugely beneficial if whatever issues exist between the player, manager and hierarchy could be resolved. At his best, his movement and finishing offer something this side currently lacks, and Rangers can hardly afford to leave potentially useful attacking quality on the sidelines. Another Strong Defensive Display Charlton deserve credit for ensuring that was the case. Jones’ side were disciplined and increasingly content to protect their point as the game wore on, with Lloyd Jones again a commanding presence at centre-back. Conor Coventry and Oliver Skipp worked tirelessly in midfield without offering much adventure, while Campbell provided almost all of their genuine attacking spark. The hosts did occasionally threaten on the counter. Joe Rankin-Costello saw an effort blocked by Mbengue’s shoulder, while Micah Mbick produced an excellent carry before trying to release Grant. Cirkin’s tug on the forward’s shirt was just subtle enough to escape punishment, much to the predictable fury of Jones on the touchline. For QPR, another clean sheet is nevertheless significant. Ronnie Edwards was composed again, Charles had relatively little to do and the defence remained secure despite losing Dunne and Lamptey during the game. Ultimately, Rangers were the better side without quite doing enough to deserve all three points. Seventy-two per cent possession reflects their control, but two shots on target better illustrates the lack of penetration that prevented that dominance becoming victory. Eleven points from six games still represents an excellent start and leaves QPR fourth in the Championship. There is no reason for frustration at The Valley to become concern, particularly given the injuries and congested schedule, but finding ways to turn territorial dominance into clear chances is the obvious next step. Saturday brings another difficult examination away at West Brom. After consecutive games without scoring, Rangers will hope the attacking fluency that characterised their excellent start to the season can return at The Hawthorns.