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An injury time own goal by Richard Dunne cancelled out a second half penalty by Barry Bannan to end yet another game in stalemate, but a win would have been thoroughly undeserved.
The first half is not worth talking about. It was as bad as anything I’ve seen from Villa in recent years and, let’s face it, we’ve seen some poor stuff lately. QPR bossed two thirds of the possession and managed to outpass us almost 2:1.
The second half was a big improvement; almost as if the real players had finally turned up to replace their imposters. The shape and movement improved, the passing and possession followed. There were even a few signs of quality in there, if you can believe such a thing.
However, it took a gift of a penalty from referee Michael Oliver to set up the chance to break the deadlock. Gabby was adjudged to have been dragged back by Armand Traore. Barry Bannan slotted in at the bottom corner to record his first Premier League goal after a slight stutter step in the run up failed to fool Patrick Kenny.
Despite adding half of the Villa side to his notebook, it was Traore who picked up a second yellow from referee Oliver and an early exit as the clock ticked past the 90th minute following a reckless tackle on Marc Albrighton. Surely we could hold out against 10 men for the five added minutes?
Nope.
Alan Hutton skinned once again, a testing ball sent in to the near post, Richard Dunne unfortunately ended up sending it into his own net. Not much he could have done about it, he’ll need to be alert to such possibilities as long as Hutton is waving players in on that side.
Bottom line; a point flatters us despite an improved second half. But with three points in our hands with minutes to go and a man advantage, this is clearly two points dropped.
We had to suffer the ignominy of the home crowd singing “boring, boring Villa” during this one. The travelling fans were quick to point out that it was “one nil to the boring team” after we took the lead which drew the retort of “one nil to the referee” from the home fans.
It all ended with “you’re not singing any more”.
Quite.
Still unbeaten in the league though. Anyone know any catchy songs about that?
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4 Comments to “QPR 1 Aston Villa 1: Another day, another draw”
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Two points dropped indeed.
But we wouldn’t have deserved all 3 in the first place, hence it was a fair result overall.
We created very little again and that will be a recurring theme (have I said that before on here? I forget).
Whatever, we looked massively improved in the second half and I was somewhat encouraged for once.
And contrary to most people’s opinions, I thought Ireland showed signs that he does indeed want it.
Go on Stevie, I’m on your side for a while.
i have to admit, part of me is more annoyed by a game of two halves like this than if they’d just been poor throughout. they showed they were the better side during the second half, why couldn’t they have played like that during the first half?
there was a comment in the newcastle post that asked what people expected from the visitors as newcastle were coming off the back of a poor performance at QPR and would obviously have a point to prove. when can we extend that logic to villa?
this is now the fourth game running that i’m left thinking that they ought to be going into the next game with a point to prove.
next time for sure.
There is a rumour going round that tough talking was had at HT.
But no-one’s sure who exactly was doing the talking.
It makes sense to me, given the way the game went, that big feck got it wrong from the off and was er, shall we say, corrected.
Pure speculation though on my part and probably rubbish.
but not impossible.
perhaps one or two players were inhibited during the first half and were encouraged (or demanded to) shed the shackles.
perhaps. who knows.