AFTER SUFFERING DEFEAT to Southampton last time out, Manchester United were desperate to return to winning ways this afternoon when they faced QPR.
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Hello and welcome to The42′s live coverage of this afternoon’s Premier League clash between Queens Park Rangers and Manchester United. Both of these sides need the points for different reasons and reports during the week suggested R’s boss Harry Redknapp could face the axe should his side fail to deliver today.
Kick-off at Loftus Road is 3pm.
Hot off the press, here is the Man United team for today’s game. With Robin van Persie sidelined through injury, there is a recall for Radamel Falcao while Marcos Rojo comes in to replace Jonny Evans.
As for the hosts, there is no place for former Red Devil Rio Ferdinand, who must settle for a seat on the bench. Instead, Harry Redknapp has opted for Richard Dunne and Nedum Onuoha at the heart of the defence.
There is no shortage of attacking threat in the QPR side with Vargas, Fer, Zamora and Austin all capable of causing United’s leaky rearguard problems.
QPR have not beaten United since 1992 but the hosts will fancy their chances of causing an upset today. As always, we’d love to hear your predictions and your thoughts on today’s team news.
What do you make of Evans being dropped and, once again, Ander Herrera being left out by Louis van Gaal? Use the comments section below or tweet @The42_ie
United suffered their first defeat in 11 games in all competitions against Southampton last week and failed to have a shot on target in a Premier League game at Old Trafford for first time since 2009.
With Arsenal breathing down their necks and the competition for those Champions League spaces high, today’s visit to London represents a important game for van Gaal and his side.
That said, United have lost just one of their last 19 league visits to the capital.
We’ve just heard news that there is an alteration to that original United team sheet. Jonny Evans is now starting with Chris Smalling dropping to the bench. We’re not sure if that was an error on the team sheet or if van Gaal has sprung a late change. Interesting development nonetheless.
We’ll keep you up-to-date with all the other 3pm kick-offs right here as the afternoon progresses. There is no Steven Gerrard for Liverpool as they face Aston Villa while Chelsea are in Wales to face Swansea City. Meanwhile, Jermain Defoe makes his Sunderland debut at White Hart Lane against his former employers Tottenham.
Just a couple of minutes to go until kick-off at Loftus Road. While we’re waiting for the action to begin, why don’t you browse through our things to look out for during the Premier League weekend.
The atmosphere is building at Loftus Road. Here’s LVG arriving a little earlier.
Teams are out and we’re all set for kick-off.
United, playing in their traditional red shirts, are playing from left to right in this first period. It’s a perfect afternoon for football, albeit a little cold.
Nothing much to report from the opening exchanges. United have lined up with three at the back with Michael Carrick and Daley Blind providing protection in the holding roles. The pitch isn’t the best at Loftus Road and looks quite patchy in places.
For the first time, United get the ball down on the surface and go wide to try and stretch the QPR rearguard. Antonio Valencia has space to run at Clint Hill and after isolating the defender, the Ecuador’s cross rebounds back off him before trickling out for a goal-kick.
It’s fairly congested in the midfield area, as you might expect.
CLOSE! Juan Mata finds a pocket of space before delivering a beautiful cross for Falcao at the back stick. The striker controls but fires straight at Rob Green from close range. From the resulting corner, United keep the pressure on but Falcao can’t get any contact on the set-piece, taken bizarrely by Phil Jones.
United are just starting to turn the screw with Angel di Maria dropping off as he tries to get involved in proceedings. The visitors are enjoying the majority of the possession but QPR look dangerous going forward with Austin spearheading their attack.
Antonio Valencia takes an age to take a throw-in on the near touchline and as the crowd urge the referee to penalise the winger, Neil Swarbrick then gives the hosts a throw-in as Valencia is deemed to have committed a foul throw.
Then, a cross from the left finds its way to Vargas but his glancing effort was always going over.
QPR are just beginning to find their feet. Evans gifts possession to Zamora on halfway and he looks instantly to link-up with his strike partner Austin but De Gea is equal to it as he parries Austin’s strike.
It’s been a scrappy start.
Rooney is pleading for a penalty as the United captain is blocked off by Joey Barton as he looked to get on the end of Phil Jones’ cross. Replays suggest Rooney had a case but his appeals were waved away by the referee.
It’s all very pedestrian from United, particularly in the final third, as they look to break the deadlock. Di Maria and Mata are finding space between the lines but they’re not doing a whole lot to worry the hosts.
After a period of United possession, QPR break through Austin and after squaring Evans up, his thumping volley is tipped over by de Gea.
United ran out 4-0 winners in the reverse fixture in September but QPR are a different proposition on home soil and that’s clear for all to see after the opening thirty minutes here.
Redknapp’s side are making it extremely difficult for their visitors to find any sort of fluency and when United do go forward, there is a line of white and blue striped shirts.
United are content to keep possession but they’re not going anywhere. It’s all very unproductive at the minute and once Rooney or Mata try and force something, it breaks down. The travelling fans are chanting “attack, attack” as they look to encourage their side.
England manager Roy Hodgson is in attendance this afternoon but there hasn’t been a whole lot for him to keep him entertained. Although, he has to be impressed by Austin who has caused United’s defence no end of problems.
Is this a bit of sarcasm from United’s official Twitter account? Evans, again, hasn’t instilled too much confidence.
As Juan Mata follows Barton into the book for a deliberate foul, the United fans have a message for their manager, it seems.
The first-half was typified in that one move. United find space in the QPR half but when there seems to be an opportunity, Rooney inexcusably gives the ball away.
Half-time! And the referee blows his whistle for the interval. It’s been far from entertaining and there has been little to right home about. United fans are far from happy and their anger is more than justified after another abject display.
Louis van Gaal will need to rally his troops at the break while the hosts will hope to pick up where they left off when the action resumes.
United fans, what have you made of that first-half?
We’re back underway at Loftus Road. Van Gaal has made a change with Mata making way for Felliani while Richard Dunne has been forced off through injury with Steven Caulker coming on.
Fellaini has immediately added a bit of steel to United’s engine room and has made an instant impression. As is often the case, however, the Belgian is slightly overzealous and concedes a free-kick in a dangerous position.
From the resulting kick, Leroy Fer climbs highest but mistimes his jump and can’t keep his header on target. Was a good chance given what has gone before in this game.
Just a quick update on the day’s other games:
- Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool
- Burnley 2-2 Crystal Palace
- Leicester 0-0 Stoke
- Swansea 0-4 Chelsea
- Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland
BRILLIANT SAVE! United continue to huff and puff but Green is forced to make a brilliant point-blank save to deny Falcao after di Maria’s cross.
Meanwhile…
GOAL! Fellaini! The substitute strikes to break the deadlock and give the visitors the lead. Valencia’s cut back finds the Belgian and he rifles in from twelve yards.
That was much better from United and it paid dividends. For the first time, they attacked with purpose and pace and QPR were caught cold. The arrival of Wilson has meant di Maria has dropped back into the role Mata was occupying in the first-half and he looks a different player.
Here’s that goal from Fellaini which has put United in front:
https://vine.co/v/OjnLTQe57zT
Valencia now has to do some defensive work as QPR look to hit back. Fer does well to get to the byline but Valencia is there to clear before Marcos Roja goes into the book for a foul on Zamora.
QPR are making their second change with Adel Taarabt replacing Fer. He made a return to the side last week at Burnley and now the Moroccan has an opportunity to make an impression.
The hosts have responded to going behind well and they’re causing United some problems. The red shirts are dropping deeper as QPR look to find Zamora and let Austin feed off the scraps.
Fellaini has scored twice in his last three substitute appearances in the Premier League.
United’s are nearly the architects of their own downfall again. Two red shirts go for the same ball and all of a sudden it’s three against two in QPR’s favour but the chance is spurned by Vargas.
OH DEAR! What a miss from Falcao! That should have been game, set and match but somehow the Colombian fluffs his lines. Daley Blind’s brilliantly executed pass sets Wilson away down the right and when the cross comes from the youngster, Falcao can’t apply the finish with the goal at his mercy.
Perhaps that was a bit harsh as Caulker, in fact, got the slightest of touches to just change the direction of the ball and take it away from Falcao. Moments later, it’s nearly a carbon copy as Wilson breaks down the right and again his cross just evades the diving Falcao.
Final change for the R’s as Kranjcar is on for Zamora. If they can apply any sort of pressure on this United defence in the final ten minutes, they will create chances for themselves.
United are just looking to take the sting out of any potential QPR rally. They’ve kept possession deep in Rangers territory for the last few minutes and it nearly results in an opening for di Maria but that avenue is quickly shut by Caulker.
Is time running out for Redknapp? Reports during the week suggested the owners were losing patience and if their side failed to deliver today, the axe may fall on the manager. They haven’t won a game since 20 December.
Falcao is very nearly played in by di Maria but Green is quickly off his line to mop up. At the other end, QPR are desperately trying to mount something of a late onslaught on United’s goal but they’re struggling to keep hold of possession to feed Austin and co.
CHANCE! Barton’s cross picks out Isla but de Gea is out to smother his effort. The corner is eventually cleared by Rooney as we enter stoppage time.
Again de Gea is there. Vargas and Isla play a neat one-two but the former’s cross is straight into the arms of the goalkeeper. United are holding on a bit here.
Caulker has been deployed as an auxiliary striker as they throw the kitchen sink at the visitors. The crowd are desperately trying to urge their side on. United are defending firmly though.
GOAL! Wilson wraps it up as United break and despite being thwarted initially by Green, the striker follows it up to poke home to score his first league goal of the season.
Van Gaal brings Herrera on for di Maria, who receives a standing ovation from the travelling support.
Full-time That’s it! United leave with the points despite not being at their best. They jump back above Southampton into third place with the Saints playing in the day’s late kick-off, away at Newcastle.
That’s all from me but make sure you stay tuned for all the reports and reaction from this afternoon’s Premier League games.
