26/04 - 20:00
It was an entertaining, surprising and very controversial game that saw QPR share the spoils with high-flying Watford in a 1-1 draw in W12.
As a QPR fan, the absence of the immense Rob Dickie on the team sheet (due to injury), and the presence of Ismailia Sarr, Andre Gray and João Pedro on Watford’s, really had me worried, and my fears were somewhat confirmed two minutes in when Conor Masterson swung a leg at a set-piece delivery, completely missing, and allowing Wilmot to stab home. At this point, I am happy to admit that I was expecting a 3-0 or a 4-0, but I was delighted with our response.
Ilias Chair looked lively throughout, and that in turn allowed Bright Osayi-Samuel to really get into the game, and test Ken Sema, a winger playing as a left-back, and we got a lot of joy on that right-hand side. Chair himself squeezed in behind once and Dom Ball was unlucky not to convert his cutback, which Ben Foster saved well.
Lee Wallace’s lack of pace, however, did allow Ismaila Sarr in behind at the end of the first half, but Seny Dieng thwarted his effort well, bringing the Rs into the break with a reassuring response to the army setback, albeit a goal behind.
It was actually all three that combined in a flowing move down the left-hand side which allowed Ilias Chair to get enough space in the box to neatly slide the ball under Ben Foster, to complete a really nicely worked goal.
At that point, I would have definitely taken a draw, but more drama was to come. Dykes scored in stoppage time, but unfortunately the officials noticed it was with his left arm, despite his Maradona-esque effort to disguise it as a header. But the biggest talking point was when Chalobah blatantly hauled Yoann Barbet to the ground in the penalty area, but was bizarrely given the other way.
This was very frustrating but at the end of the day, a point against this star-studded Watford side is a very good point.
You can see when he’s on the ball that he has a level of quality that you rarely see in the championship, whether that be a pinpoint crossfield ball or a 20-yard effort at goal. It seems inevitable at this stage that he will make his way onto the team sheet more often, and potentially he will then begin to get himself some goals and assists. Definitely one to keep an eye on at QPR.
🔜 Ahead of #QPRRHM ...
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... take a look back at #QPRWAT from our 𝗔𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 📐 pic.twitter.com/NTP0vPpXO3
