QPR 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 2

BY AYODELE ODUMADE AT LOFTUS ROAD

Manchester United beat Queens Park Rangers to further heap more pressure on Harry Redknapp’s side, which has not won any of their away games so far. United responded to the stinging criticism from last week when they did not have a single shot on target in their loss at home to Southampton.

Radamel Falcao was restored to the United starting line up probably due to the injury to Robin Van Persie.

With five minutes of the game gone Juan Mata’s pass was intercepted by Bobby Zamora, who spotted David De Gea off his line and shot just after the half way line but he failed to hit the target.

In the 12^th minute Juan Mata played a pass from the left to Radamel Falcao in the box but his shot was saved by Rob Green who spread himself and as well as the rebound, which also fell to Falcao.

Just after the quarter of an hour mark, Charlie Austin had a shot but it was saved magnificently by De Gea.  De Gea has to be the best legacy, which Sir Alex Ferguson left for the club on his retirement a couple of years ago. 

On the half hour mark, Austin had another chance. He volleyed from distance but once again De Gea was up to the tasked as he leaned backwards and parried the ball out for a corner. The game remained scoreless at the break.

Six minutes after the break, QPR were awarded a free kick, which Joey Barton floated into the United box but Leroy Fir rose above the United defence but his header was wide.

With 55 minutes on the clock, Di Maria crossed the ball into the QPR box and Falcao headed the ball but Green dived to his left and saved it.  Just before the hour mark, United broke the deadlock. Wayne Rooney played the ball to to Marouane Fellaini on the right and he controlled it and passed it to Antonio Valencia who then got down the right wing and crossed the ball to Fellaini, who had not stopped running and got into the box and he met the cross with an unstoppable shot, which flew into Green’s net.

United should have put the game to bed with a quarter of an hour to go. James Wilson broke down the right hand side and sped into the United box. He then crossed the ball to Falcao who seemed destined to score. However he somehow fluffed his lines and mishit his shot from just a few yards out.

Right on the 90^th minute, Mauricio Isla had a chance to draw the hoops level with a shot from close range but De Gea closed the angle down and saved the shot.  In added time Wilson picked up the ball and drove for the QPR goal. He hit a shot, which was saved by Green however he made no mistake from the rebound as he calmly slotted it in to seal a much needed win for Manchester United.

United controlled the game in the second half and did just about enough to win the game. However there will be sterner tests ahead for them in the quest to return to the Champions league next season.

The disappointed Redknapp said: “ I thought we worked hard. At half time we were in the game. The second goal was okay as we were looking for an equaliser. I thought it was one of our best performances.  Charlie Austin has done ever so well. His attitude is first class. Richard Dunne did his groin in and that was a big loss for us. We are difficult to play against here. The first goal was always going to be very more important.”

The delighted Louis Van Gaal said: “We played the way Queens Park Rangers wanted us to in the first half- in the air.  In the second half we changed the shape and that helped us. When you win everybody is happy and everybody is comfortable. We were the better team last week against Southampton but we did not create any chances. The question is always are you effective enough?”