[Statesideowl]

Exactly. I know you're shooting for an avg possible points there, Kev.
I just don't see as man points as you do, especially as we're fizzling out. Partly due to lack of strength in depth, and woeful displays on the rise. I'm seeing 20pts, finishing on 74. Which is still an improvement on the last seasons 60pts. Roughly where Wolves finished but missed out on the playoffs by GD.
We should never give up the playoff dream. But I do think DC & CC need to start planning for a serious promotion campaign next season. I hope to god that we're currently running the thumb over players around Europe especially. We have a handful of players that need to go. With the teams coming down from the EPL, and the teams already here along side us that will miss out on promotion, next years Championship is going to be a tough one..

I suppose it depends on whether we want the quick fix or gradual climb. We could go up and get battered every week and come down nice and rich. But, what fun will that be as a season ticket holder to watch?
We could invest in every aspect of the club, steadily climb on a solid foundation, then be playing to cement a place in the EPL instead of scrapping out an almost guaranteed relegation battle

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Painful Result

Well it was painful for me in more than one way last night. Was on a tight schedule after a CT Scan in Shrewsbury at 3.45 which meant getting away just before 5.00 and still needing to eat. Grabbed food on the way but still in pain from the four cannulas that had fallen out during the scans and still a little woozy from the drugs. Finally pulled up at 7.30 & set off walking towards ground when my legs gave way beneath me as I crossed the road and I ended up in a heap in front of a car. Fortunately several fans helped me back on my feet & Young Padawan was able to get me to the ground just in time for kick off. Thank you to all those who assisted me.

McGeady for FF was the unsurprising only change.

We started brightly and had two early chance to score. Lee should have scored from close range then he was asleep when Smithies dropped the ball at his feet after the ball skied under the cross bar. Nuhiu also had two presentable chances in one on ones with the keeper but he scuffed the shots, one being saved & the other going wide.

We totally dominated the first half but just lacked that spark with Bannan having a quieter day and FF's magic missing.

We should have buried the match when Hooper was brought down & we were awarded the penalty. Hooper intended to take it but Nuhiu chased him down & took the ball off him. The result was inevitable. Although he had scored his four previous penalties, none had been convincing with the keepers getting hands on three of them.

Nuhiu pushed it weakly to the keeper's left - an easy save & the momentum of the match (and the season?) moved away from us. QPR scored a fortunate goal after a mix up between Lees & Sasso but then we came roaring back.

Nuhiu, who had been pretty lifeless for much of the game, woke up as if to correct his error, Joao entered the fray and Pudil produced a string of enterprising runs down the left. From one of these, we equalised. A brilliantly weighted cross by Pudil meant Nuhiu just had to guide the ball home, which he did adroitly.

After that, it was a question of could we get a winner. Joao had a couple of flashing headers, one inches wide & one straight at the keeper, Sasso bulleted a header past the post while Lee was unlucky not to win a penalty after having his heels clipped after he burst into the box.

Westwood - 6 - nothing to do
Hunt - 6 - bright going forward but gives ball away too much
Lees - 6 - solid
Sasso - 6 - brilliant at times but has to cut out mistakes
Pudil - 7 - great attacking option
Wallace - 6 - bright early but faded
Lee - 6 - missed opportunities
Bannan - 6 - below par for him
McGeady - 6 - a bit too ponderous
Hooper - 6 - bright but no opportunities
Nuhiu - 6 - cost us match but part redeemed himself
............................................................
Joao - 6 - looking more like the player we need

Stat Attack:

Goals: 1 - Nuhiu

Assists: 1 - Pudil

Touches: 69 - Pudil, 68 - Bannan, 64 - Lee, 62 - Lees, 60 - Sasso, 54 - Westwood, 52 - Wallace, 51 - Nuhiu, 50 - Hunt, 48 - McGeady, 37 - Hooper, 16 - Joao

Tackles: 4 - Pudil, Lee, 3 - McGeady, 2 - Sasso, 1 - Hunt, Hooper, Joao

Interceptions: 4 - Lees, 2 - Sasso, Hunt,

Clearances: 4 - Lees, Pudil, 3 - Sasso, 2 - Hunt, 1 - McGeady, Nuhiu, Joao

Attempts: 4 - Nuhiu, 3 - Lee, Joao, 2 - Sasso, Wallace, McGeady, 1 - Bannan

Attempts On Target: 3 - Nuhiu, 2 - Joao, 1 - Bannan, Lee

Key Passes: 5 - Wallace, 3 - Hooper, 2 - Lee, 1 - Hunt, Pudil, Bannan, McGeady

Dribbles: 2 - Nuhiu, 1 - Hunt, Wallace, Bannan, Hooper

Dispossessed: 3 - Nuhiu, 2 - McGeady, 1 - Hunt, Bannan, Hooper

Bad Control: 5 - Nuhiu, 2 - Pudil, Bannan, McGeady, Joao, 1 - Hunt, Wallace, Hooper

Crosses (Accurate in brackets): 10 - McGeady (0), 9 - Wallace (3), 5 - Pudil (1), 4 - Bannan (0), 2 - Hunt (1), Lee (1),

Passing Accuracy (Total Passes in Brackets):

Hooper - 88% (33)
Lee - 84% (51)
Sasso - 82% (50)
McGeady - 81% (27)
Joao - 78% (9)
Bannan - 76% (59)
Hunt - 76% (38)
Wallace - 76% (37)
Pudil - 73% (52)
Lees - 68% (53)
Westwood - 64% (39)
Nuhiu - 58% (33)

Without FF and Bannan functioning below his best, we just lacked that spark up front although we generally played well. Nuhiu gives the ball away far too often but in fairness he did better after QPR scored and partly redeemed himself for the penalty miss. McGeady is nice on the eye but takes too long to get the ball anywhere and all his crosses found a QPR defender. He is getting better but for now is better for 20 minutes from the bench. After a barren spell, Joao is starting to look sharper again and our season could hinge on whether he can produce during the next ten weeks.

FF's red card cost us a point on Saturday and anther two here because he would have taken the penalty had he played as he could pull rank on Nuhiu whereas Nuhiu pulled rank on Hooper. It was clearly a case of Nuhiu wanting a goal rather than letting better equipped players take the penalty. Don't get me wrong, players miss penalties but every penalty Nuhiu has taken has only just gone in so the save was inevitable. Hooper is on fire and Wallace is a proven penalty taker. Winning the match should have been more important than inflating Nuhiu's ego.

Overall, we played pretty well and moved the ball about nicely. Unfortunately despite 17 attempts on goal, none fell to Hooper as QPR concentrated on blocking his sight of goal. Cannot help thinking that had FF played, this would have been a comfortable three or four goal win.

Sorry to hear you had a rough night, MS. I commend you for soldiering on! It's always nice to know you're among family in the Blue & Whites.