Derby

It was on the cards for the last ten minutes. Derby have not been marking up. Great goal by Andre Gray though. Weren’t we linked with him?
 
QPR play Stoke and West Brom play Coventry though!

Not that I think it's a realistic proposal, but Fulham play Bournemouth too.

We're closing that gap if we can put in a winning performance on Saturday.
 
Another goal, assist and MOTM performance from Chris Willock from my notebook....His rep is growing nearly as fast as mine 👍👍🔥🔥
 
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Attendance: 20003 Referee: Jeremy Simpson

QPR came from behind to beat Derby County 2-1 on a dramatic Monday night at Pride Park.

The hosts led at half-time through Tom Lawrence’s excellent strike but the game was turned on its head following the interval.
Chris Willock’s third goal in four games levelled matters before Andre Gray came off the bench to seal all three points in the 90th minute.
After Ilias Chair had hit the post the ball fell to Gray who set himself up before unleashing an incredible volley into the top corner.
The travelling R’s fans were ecstatic as were Gray’s team-mates.

This was a performance of grit and determination from start to finish.

Warburton named the same starting XI for the third fixture running following impressive wins over Luton Town and Huddersfield Town.
While his team selection has been limited in recent weeks owing to injuries, Warburton was able to name Moses Odubajo and Andre Gray on the bench at Pride Park after their recent layoffs.

It meant Rangers lined up with Seny Dieng between the posts behind a familiar back three of Yoann Barbet, Jimmy Dunne and Rob Dickie.

Lee Wallace operated on the left wing with Albert Adomah on the right, while Stefan Johansen and Andre Dozzell continued their partnership in the middle of the park.

Ilias Chair and Chris Willock played behind lone forward Charlie Austin.

Derby’s challenges off the pitch have been well documented but on the grass they have produced some excellent recent results.
The Rams have only lost three of their last ten fixtures and came into this fixture after picking up four points against the top two – Fulham and Bournemouth – from their last two outings.

A 3-2 win against Bournemouth was followed up with a hard-fought draw at Craven Cottage, meaning Wayne Rooney’s side went into this fixture in confident mood despite the stark reality of a 21-point deduction which sees them routed to the foot of the Championship table.
It was certainly the hosts who started the stronger and QPR had to work hard to stem an early flow of pressure.

But just as Rangers seemed to be settling into the game they found themselves behind. In the tenth minute, Graeme Shinnie had time to pick his pass and he played a perfectly-weighted ball for Tom Lawrence who took a couple of touches before slamming into the top corner from 18 yards.

This visitors reacted well to the early setback, however, and started to get their passing game going. Chair, Willock and Adomah were getting on the ball more and more, and were causing a real threat. However, after 30 minutes, Rams stopper Kelle Roos hadn’t been tested to the level Warburton would have wanted.

On 37 minutes Austin headed over from Chair’s freekick while Lawrence had a chance to double his tally for the afternoon on the stroke of half-time but could only scuff his shot wide.

After the break, Derby again started the half strongly but it took just five minutes for the R’s to draw level.
Austin was freed down the left by Johansen and he played a brilliant centre onto the boot of Willock at the far post who clinically guided the ball beyond the motionless Roos.

Moments later Wallace was forced off through injury to be replaced by Odubajo.

Rangers built on the goal and were now looking a real threat as they dominated possession and began to pin the hosts in their own half.
Derby also had their spells and looked dangerous with the lively Lawrence causing the R’s problems.
It had developed into a really open affair with neither side having any interest in settling for a point.

Chair came so close to giving Rangers the lead on 72 minutes when Willock picked him out with a brilliant ball to the far post, but the R’s No.10 could only head over after making a lung-busting run to get on the end of the delivery.

With 15 minutes remaining Austin was replaced by Gray, and the Watford loanee nearly released Chair moments after coming on, but the Moroccan was unable to get his shot away before the chance was smothered.

Gray then released Willock who saw his shot from a tight angle pushed over by Roos.

But as the clock ticked down, Gray had one last moment – and what a moment. As the clock hit 90 minutes, Gray hit the back of the net with a sensational volley to move the R’s to third in the table.

What a performance. What a night.
 
Qpr could go up with fulham ...and that would mean chelsea, brentford, fulham and qpr in the premiership all from west london. One day half the premiership could conceivably be london clubs alone if charlton and millwall joined them
 
UTB70 said:
Qpr could go up with fulham ...and that would mean chelsea, brentford, fulham and qpr in the premiership all from west london. One day half the premiership could conceivably be london clubs alone if charlton and millwall joined them
Click to expand...
And if Fulham, Charlton, QPR & Millwall don't join them and Crystal Palace & Brentford get relegated there'll only be 4.
 
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