QPR player ratings - 'Crucial' 8/10 but 'passenger' 3 in inelegant Oxford United victory

Any signs of a QPR side buoyed by last weekend’s win over Norwich City were soon forgotten in what was a diabolical first half of Championship football against Oxford United at Loftus Road on Wednesday night.

Both sides lacked any sort of impetus in a casual 45 minutes that sucked any atmosphere out of the 14,400 onlookers under the lights in West London. After the break, the only was was up, and Marti Cifuentes got exactly that.

Youngster Rayan Kolli got his head on a cross to knock back into the path of Sam Field, who prodded the ball over the line after 53 minutes. The midfielder was at it again with a brace 15 minutes later, curling in from the edge of the box after some nice work in the final third by Koki Saito.

It would have been surprising to see the visitors mount a comeback and there was next to no sign of that happening as QPR picked up a fourth clean sheet on the bounce. Here’s how the R’s players rated.

GK - Paul Nardi, 8

Hard to mark the shot-stopper down as he had so little to do. Forced into an early save with a shot deflected from distance, but would have been expected to stop that. Collected well from a corner later on.

LB - Harrison Ashby, 3

It’s just not clicking for the Newcastle United loanee. The full-back appears either too eager and rushes his pass, or too cautious and loses momentum. Some real moments to forget tonight.

CB - Liam Morrison, 7

One of the better QPR players tonight, one recovery in the second half lifting the stadium. Was the culprit of one hair-raising moment as the ball squirmed through his legs and towards the QPR goal, but nothing came of that. Solid.

CB - Steve Cook, 7

Pretty robust at the back and will be content with that clean sheet. There’s something to be liked about his partnership with Morrison.

RB - Jimmy Dunne, 5

Not himself really tonight. Got the better of Przemyslaw Placheta physically early and kept the winger quiet but some clumsy footwork saw him knock the ball out of play needlessly a couple of times.

CM - Jonathan Varane, 3

Blasted a shot well over the bar shortly after half time. A bit of a passenger.

CM - Sam Field, 8

The midfielder’s overall performance tonight won’t matter because those two goals are so crucial for QPR. Two confident finishes, the game was crying out for someone to grab it by the scruff of the neck and - in those moments - Field did that.

CM - Nicolas Madsen, 3

The moment he hoofed an unambitious cross into the box following a free kick was the minute the tempo of this game switched. The game was there for the taking and he didn’t really help do that before limping off with an injury.

LW - Koki Saito, 7

Struggled for influence in the first half but did draw a foul from Cameron Brannagan, which saw him booked early. Found the sort of enthusiasm QPR had been lacking in the second half when winning the ball high up before laying on Field’s second goal.

ST - Rayan Kolli, 7

The only QPR player who looked to have any sort of energy in the first half. Lacks the physicality a little in this league despite his height and perhaps isn’t cut out to be a target man. That said, the leap to head the ball down to Sam Field for the goal was superb. One of few who can hold his head high tonight.

RW - Paul Smyth, 5

Looked frustrated at his side’s performance in the first half but can’t be complimented for doing too much to change anything. Hit a couple of failed crosses after the break but eventually got it right and that dangerous ball led to the goal.

SUB - Alfie Lloyd, 7

Had clearly been watching this game dying to just run at Oxford United and did that, but missed the obvious pass a couple of times.

SUB - Lucas Andersen, 6

Decent little cameo as he injected some energy.

SUB - Morgan Fox, 7

A couple of sharp interventions at the back when brought into the action.

SUB - Kieran Morgan, 6

Had little chance to impact the game but did put in some hard yards.

SUB - Ilias Chair, 6

One or two moments of influence but only came on to help see out the victory, rather than inspire a turnaround.