It was a tale of two centrebacks.
Nedum Onuoha was called a Rolls Royce after his stellar performance against Leeds. Conversely, Steven Caulker was arrested after allegedly failing to take a breathalyser test after leaving a kebab shop in Windsor on the same weekend.
So it was up to Onuoha to drive the defensive display of the QPR backline which included the ever impressive Alex Smithies which left Holloway with a contented air as they parted from Elland Road with a nil-nil draw and their unbeaten run still intact.
The former Manchester City defender will make his 37th league appearance of the season on Saturday – while Caulker has not played for the Hoops since the end of October due to an injury and has found himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons this season.
I feel for the big fella who seemed to have the world at his feet when he broke onto the scene for Tottenham in 2012 and went on to earn a call-up to the England squad. But his career has nose-dived since that point despite a record-breaking transfer fee to Cardiff and a stint at Liverpool for Jürgen Klopp.
Let’s hope Caulker recovers his form and health and we see him back in a blue and white shirt very soon. But it won’t be against bottom-placed Rotherham who are the next to visit Loftus Road on Saturday.
Everyone will be expecting a thumping win for Rangers. Nothing is ever that easy in the Championship though.
It was Smith and Washington who continued to build their effective partnership up front at Leeds as the Hoops looked the likelier of the teams to take the three points had it not been for an inspired Rob Green.
The former QPR stopper was making his 600th league appearance and illustrated why he is still one of the most respected goalkeepers in the land.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
