U's Give Mick Some Stick...

Colchester 4-2 QPR

There have been plenty of changes since my last report from Sunday's 5-1 defeat at the Hawthorns. But sadly, the only thing that didn't change was a bad result as Colchester registered their first home win and Rangers remain winless.

Obviously, one of the changes was the Manager as Mick Harford took up the position for his first and possibly last game in charge. Most teams after changing their manager, suddenly turn into AC Milan in their next game and record a handsome victory, but that certainly doesn't apply when it's QPR.

Just myself and PK made the trip, which despite accounting for the lottery that is the M25, was again, an absolute breeze and we arrived in plenty of time to enjoy a burger and a couple of beers before kick off. With the new signings and the hope that the players would want to prove themselves to any prospective new boss, we were in good spirits, as were the surprisingly healthy Rangers following. We also saw Stuart Pearce in a petrol station on route to the game which got us thinking, along with many others that could this be the new Rangers Manager?

Those who have been to Layer Road, will no doubt agree that with respect, it isn't the most luxurious of stadiums. But I couldn't help being a bit disappointed with the view from my £23 seat, that ultimately led us to the terraces for the second half.



Onto the game and a mixture of bad luck and yet more diabolical defending saw Rangers condemned to another heavy defeat. Rangers were all square on 29 minutes when Hogan Ephraim slid in to cancel out Mikele Leigertwood's unfortunate own goal. But Colchester were back in front within a minute when Kemal Izzet headed in Danny Granville's cross unchallenged and Mark Yeates made it 3-1 with a heavily deflected free-kick.

Rowan Vine scored on his debut to give us some brief hope, but Clive Platt headed home, again, unchallenged on 61 minutes to make the result safe for the home side.



QPR: Camp, Barker, Cullip, Bolder, Blackstock, Ainsworth (Moore 86), Rowlands, Jarrett (Sahar 74), Ephraim, Vine, Leigertwood. Subs: Cole, Bignot, Stewart.

Lofty's Man of the Match - Hogan Ephraim, why oh why didn't JG pick him from the start more often!?

Despite the disappointment, this wasn't actually as bad as Sunday and at times, we played some pretty decent football, albeit in short spells. Hogan Ephraim had a decent game and Rowan Vine certainly looks like a class act. But yet again, the defence was a shambles and although we were perhaps unlucky with two of the goals, we also gifted them two and this just can't continue, whoever is in the back four!?