QPR managed to secure a spot in the second round of the Carabao Cup after a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium. Despite the win, individual player performances were mixed on the night.
Joe Walsh received a rating of 7, with his only blemish being the mistake that led to Cambridge’s goal. However, he redeemed himself with crucial saves during the match. Jimmy Dunne was given a rating of 6, as he had some shaky moments but managed to handle the pressure. Jake Clarke-Salter, who was named captain for the game, received a rating of 7 for his composed performance at the back.
Liam Morrison’s rating of 5 reflected his decent ball-playing skills but also highlighted some errors he made during the game. Kenneth Paal also received a rating of 5 for struggling against Cambridge’s pace on the wings. Elijah Dixon-Bonner, despite his involvement in the build-up to QPR’s goal, received a rating of 5 for missing a chance to score and losing possession too often in midfield.
Jonathan Varane’s debut was challenging, as reflected in his rating of 5. Paul Smyth and Alfie Lloyd both received ratings of 7 for their contributions to the team. Lucas Andersen was rated 6 for his performance in central midfield, while Michael Frey stood out with a rating of 8 for scoring a crucial goal.
Sam Field and Hevverton Santos, who were both substitutes, received ratings of 5 for their lacklustre performances after coming on to the field. Overall, QPR showed resilience to secure the win, but there were areas that needed improvement in individual performances to ensure a smoother performance in future games.
Despite the victory, manager Marti Cifuentes highlighted the need for improvement and praised the performance of young talent Alfie Lloyd. This win serves as a stepping stone for QPR in the Carabao Cup, but there is still work to be done to iron out inconsistencies in player performances for upcoming matches.
