What a difference a week can make. With the lacklustre and passive performance last week, the only way was up. And today The Reds proved this with a much improved and impressive performance.
There have been high expectations this year at Loftus Road with high investment producing lower than anticipated results. This has resulted in the termination of Ian Dowie's contract and the appointment of the Portuguese legend Paulo Sousa in November 2008. The R's still continue to flirt with the play off places, without really daring to move in for the kill.
Barnsley faced QPR on the opening day of the 08/09 season and were unlucky to come away with no points, when at least one, and possibly all three, would have been deserved. There were to be no regrets or disappointments from today's game.
Forced into changes due to the suspensions of Darren Moore and Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Simon Davey opted to bring Dennis Souza back into the centre half position to partner Stephen Foster and he gave Adam Hammill his first Oakwell start on the left of the midfield. Rob Kozluk was also recalled to the team at left back, in place of Marciano Van Homoet. Andranik, Anderson and Hugo Colace completed the midfield line up, with Daniel Bogdanovic and Michael Mifsud up front.
Barnsley started the game in a much more positive frame of mind than the previous week and we were clearly in for a different display than that of the game against Charlton. Barnsley played with more width, which was definitely needed and the opening exchanges showed plenty of enterprise from both sides, with no real clear-cut chances.
On 10 minutes, Anderson fed a ball through to Mifsud, but his shot on the turn was high and wide. The game continued with both sides looking for the opening goal. Barnsley continued to play in a confident, passionate and committed manner. On 14 minutes, Kozluk had the ball on half way and fed it forward to Colace. He in turn fed it to Bogdanovic on the edge of the QPR area, who cleverly flicked it first time to Mifsud, who was upended and a free kick was awarded right on the 18 yard line. Colace stepped up, only to smash the free kick straight into the QPR wall.
Wayne Routledge was causing Kozzy several problems on the right wing with his pace and trickery, and when Routledge put a neat cross in, Dexter Blackstock could only tap a tame shot towards Heinz Muller. But it was Barnsley who got the opener on 26 minutes. Souza headed to Colace who quickly spotted Mifsud on the left and fed him the ball. Mifsud sent in a magnificent cross that was met with a glancing header by Maltese strike partner Bogdanovic and he secured the second goal of his Barnsley career.
The lead lasted a matter of nine minutes, coincidentally, the same amount of time it takes for me to order and eat a Chicken Balti Pie at half time. Anyway, QPR broke down the left wing and Bobby Hassell slipped and missed his challenge and with no one closing down Matteo Alberti, he crossed to Damien Delaney who headed past Muller.
With two minutes to go to half time, and the impending Balti Pie order, Barnsley managed to score their second of the afternoon. A Hassell free kick was lofted into the QPR box and Damien Stewart could only clear as far as Anderson on the right hand edge of the box. He slammed his first shot in that was blocked by Kaspars Gorkss, but following up, powered his second shot into the back of the net, and Oakwell went mad.
The game could have seen a sending off just before half time but the linesman and referee, Rob Shoebridge, missed Stewarts deliberate elbow on Anderson and with nothing more than a free kick, the game continued.
The second half started with Barnsley pushing and pushing to seal the three points. Andranik, Anderson and Hammill were bossing the midfield and were fantastic in their pursuits forward. Colace played in the holding role, seemingly omnipotent to any attack by QPR.
The defence held firm with all the back four looking assured and controlling anything that was thrown at them. Up front, Mifsud and Bogdanovic chased all the balls put through to them, looking to seal all three points.
With 25 minutes left, coincidentally, the time it takes for me to the read the Oakwell Review, Davey opted to substitute Bogdanovic with Jon Macken and continue the forward push in front of the 11,614 spectators. With seven minutes left, Devaney came on for the impressive Hammill, who along with Bogdanovic, rightfully received a standing ovation for his efforts. The whole Barnsley team demonstrated character and a strong togetherness as they continued to impress and withstand a small and late flurry of QPR pressure, and held on to all three points.
If Barnsley can continue with this level of performance and passion, safety in the Championship is guaranteed.