Source: Northern_Echo
Middlesbrough 0 Queens Park Rangers 3
Middlesbrough 0 Queens Park Rangers 3[LNB] WHEN the travelling fans chanted we're going to Liverpool, you're going to Hartlepool', the taunt was designed to bring a laugh to the Riverside Stadium crowd rather than based on fact.[LNB] But the prospect of playing at Victoria Park next season is a problem still threatening Middlesbrough, even though there has undoubtedly been an improvement in fortunes since Tony Mowbray took over.[LNB] While Boro stay five points clear of the Championship's relegation zone, three defeats in their last four matches means the fight to avoid playing in League One with their North Sea neighbours is far from won.[LNB] If it had not been for the failings of the sides below them, with the exception of fourth from bottom Crystal Palace who are just a point from the Teesside outfit, Middlesbrough would be in an even more perilous state.[LNB] But while the recovery under Mowbray has stuttered, the ongoing problems at Preston, Sheffield United and Scunthorpe have meant the alarm bells are yet to seriously ring inside the Riverside.[LNB] For half an hour against league leaders Queens Park Rangers, Middlesbrough were a match for them. Scott McDonald had wasted the best chance of that period inside the first 60 seconds, while Neil Warnock's side had failed to threaten.[LNB] But then, largely through a few lapses in concentration among the home team's back five, the sort of attacking verve which has caused many Championship defences problems this season gradually became apparent.[LNB] Heidar Helguson's double, one in each half, and Adel Taarabt's penalty 22 minutes from time secured a comfortable victory for QPR that reestablished a five-point lead at the top of the table for the men from Loftus Road.[LNB] If only Middlesbrough had such concerns. "Our main priority is to keep this team in the league, said midfielder Nicky Bailey, operating as the team's captain in the absence of Matthew Bates and Barry Robson.[LNB] The sooner we do that, the better. It's not through lack of trying. We've just got to keep going, We're more than capable of challenging nearer the top but it's too late to do that so we've just got to concentrate on staying in this division.[LNB] "When the top teams are here you've got to raise your game, otherwise they'll pick you apart. We didn't raise our game enough and they picked us apart."[LNB] Improvements against fifth-placed Nottingham Forest, another team with dangerous attacking talents, tomorrow night need to be made, otherwise Middlesbrough will suffer a third home defeat in a row.[LNB] It was always going be a difficult period for Middlesbrough, but to keep ahead of the bottom three they will need to ensure they don't follow up defeats to Swansea and QPR with more against other promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest and Reading in the next five days.[LNB] Under Warnock, QPR have become perfectly suited to the Championship. They might not have too many players capable of stepping up to the Premier League, but they are full of those who will get them there.[LNB] Warnock, who has won promotion to the top-flight on five other occasions, has his team very organised and solid defensively, while he has four players further forward expected to unlock defences.[LNB] Wayne Routledge, Taarabt and Akos Buzsaky would regularly change positions, leaving Helguson to pose a menace to the heart of the defence. Middlesbrough didn't have that.[LNB] And once Taarabt had lobbed on to the roof of Jason Steele's net after some hesitancy between the goalkeeper, Seb Hines and Bailey, QPR took control.[LNB] The first goal arrived four minutes before half-time. Alejandro Faurlin's perfect 30 yard pass was brought down by Taarabt inside the box. The skilful Moroccan took a touch, turned inside Hines before rolling to Helguson.[LNB] The Icelandic striker was given too much space by Andrew Davies, who could only help the forward's shot beyond Steele to give the visitors the lead they had not looked like getting.[LNB] After the restart, Middlesbrough failed to deal with QPR and just after the hour they had a second.[LNB] This time Routledge, on loan from Newcastle, darted beyond Tony McMahon, teased an exceptional cross in to the six yard box for Helguson to nod down his 12th of the season beyond Steele.[LNB] Mowbray tried to change things by bringing on his own Moroccan, but all Merouane Zemmama could do this week seven days after changing the game at Millwall was concede a penalty.[LNB] After Zemmama had clumsily tripped Taarabt, the former Tottenham man refused to give the ball to Helguson for a chance of his hat-trick and converted the penalty himself.[LNB] After that Middlesbrough had a couple of long range free-kicks, but QPR had already won a game that illustrated to the Middlesbrough squad what improvements need to be made ahead of next season.[LNB] Bailey said: "It's just the way we've been going all season, we've not been able to get momentum, but we haven't lost like that for a little while.[LNB] "QPR know how to win games, they had a few good attacking players and they capitalised.[LNB] It's OK when you win a few games but we've not been winning enough, we're not going on long enough runs, where we go on five or six in a row. If you want to do well in this league you've got to do that. We haven't.[LNB] Matchfacts Goals: 0-1: Helguson (41, allowed to turn and shoot before watching his effort deflect off Davies on loop in); 0-2: Helguson (61, perfectly placed to head Routledge's perfect centre beyond Steele) 0-3: Taarabt pen (68, picked himself up after foul by Zemmama to fire in the third) Bookings: Faurlin (14, foul); Hall (45, foul); Robson (72, unsporting behaviour) Referee: Keith Stroud (Gillingham) - had a decent game and he had little choice but to award a penalty when Zemmama went down in the box. 7 Attendance: 16, 972 Entertainment: **[LNB] MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): 5 Steele: Made a couple of decent saves but looks short of the confidence he showed earlier in the season; 5 McMahon: Pushed forward well in the first half, but was left bemused by Routledge's pace for Helguson's second 4 Hines: Found it hard to deal with QPR's attacking quartet, even if he won his share of headers 4 Davies: Will be annoyed to have given Helguson too much space for the opener, which deflected off him 5 Bennett: Going forward he showed occasional promise, defensively found it tough; 5 Emnes: After a bright start he soon faded and had little influence on things before he was replaced 7 BAILEY: After a slow start to life on Teesside, the midfielder has become one of Mowbray's key performers 5 Arca: Short of his creative eye which Mowbray has been looking for during his time in charge 5 Taylor: Was forced to do more defending than attacking down the left side 4 Lita: Unable to pose the sort of threat which led to QPR interest in the January transfer window 4 McDonald: Wasted a great chance inside 60 seconds to put Boro one up[LNB] Subs: Zemmama (for Emnes 59): Stupid challenge after his introduction to concede a penalty. 4 Robson (for Arca 59): Tried to pick the play up but a defeat was already on the cards. 5 Haas (for Davies 82) (not used): Ripley (gk), Boyd, Grounds, Smallwood.[LNB] QPR (4-4-2): Kenny 6; Orr 7 (Connolly 78), Hall 7, Shittu 7, Hill 7; Routledge 7, Derry 6, Faurlin 7, TAARABT 8; Buzsaky 6 (Ephraim 70, 5), Helguson 7 (Hulse 84). Gorkss, Connolly, Vaagan-Moen, Cerny (gk), Miller.[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH ADEL Taarabt showed why QPR are sitting pretty at the top of the pile.[LNB]
