Played
January 29, 2013 7:45 PM GMT
Loftus Road Stadium — London
Referee:‬ P. Dowd‎
Attendance:‬ 17894‎
 
   
 
 

Player Ratings: QPR 0-0 Manchester City

Julio Cesar was the hero but frustration for visitors, who fail to put pressure on rivals Manchester United, while the hosts show superb spirit to hold on for a vital point

By Tom McKeown

  • Julio César
    99
    3
    3.50

    Julio César

    Had couple of shaky moments with crosses early on, but redeemed himself with an absolutely stunning stop to deny Barry before the break. The save seemed to improve the goalkeeper's confidence as he looked more authoritative in his box, and made another fine save to deny Silva in the dying minutes.

  • Armand Traoré
    13
    11
    2.50

    Armand Traoré

    Saw very little of the ball in the first half, with much of the action down the Manchester City left - and QPR's right - wing. Had one foray forward early in the second half but was mostly required in a defensive capacity.

  • Clint Hill
    19
    6
    3.00

    Clint Hill

    Knew he was in for a tough night with the threat of Tevez and Aguero, but the aerial battle was a different story. Made several challenges to deny chances from City's crosses and worked hard to shut the hosts out.

  • Nedum Onuoha
    18
    9
    2.50

    Nedum Onuoha

    Aguero too often got in behind the full-back on QPR's right-hand side, and it was causing the hosts a lot of problems. Had a lot of help from Nelsen and Hill, however, and managed to keep City out.

  • Fabio Da Silva
    51
    15
    2.50

    Fabio Da Silva

    Largely anonymous in the opening period as City dominated possession, and lacked the effort shown by some of the other QPR players.

  • Ryan Nelsen
    72
    5
    4.00

    Ryan Nelsen Top of the Match

    Alongside Hill, made a couple of telling blocks in the first half, blocking crosses from Aguero and managing to keep the hosts in the game. The outbound Rs defender produced another stoic performance, putting his body on the line to shut out David Silva late on.

  • Shaun Derry
    11
    14
    2.50

    Shaun Derry

    Couldn't get near the ball for much of the first half, with City dominating, but showed grit and determination to help out the defence as the visitors pressed for a winner.

  • Adel Taarabt
    50
    6
    3.00

    Adel Taarabt

    Made a bright start for the hosts, looking for the ball at every opportunity, and missed a superb chance before half time as Hart saved well. As he so often does, Taarabt looked like QPR's best attacking option.

  • Esteban Granero
    22
    20
    2.00

    Esteban Granero

    Caught in possession a couple of times in the opening stages of the match, and his usually-accurate passing was well off the mark. Picked up a second-half yellow card after persistently committing fouls.

  • Stéphane M'Bia
    19
    9
    2.50

    Stéphane M'Bia

    Too often let Silva get in behind, giving the City man plenty of time and space on the ball, and his partnership with Derry was out-gunned by Barry and Milner. You couldn't fault the Rs man for effort though, as he often chased and harried City's midfielders.

  • Loïc Remy
    32
    7
    2.50

    Loïc Remy

    QPR's £8 million signing notched at West Ham on his debut, and in his first game at Loftus Road he hardly had a look-in early on, but had a good chance against the run of play, seeing a deflected effort roll wide.

Substitutions

  • Ji-Sung Park
    38
    8

    Ji-Sung Park

    Came on late for Granero but had no time to get involved.

  • Alejandro  Faurlin
    11
    10

    Alejandro Faurlin

    Came on in stoppage time for Mbia.

  • B. Zamora
    11
    7

    B. Zamora

    Late sub for Remy.

  • Joe Hart
    24
    14
    3.00

    Joe Hart

    Had absolutely nothing to do until he was called into action shortly before half time, standing firm as Adel Taarabt broke into the area and parrying the QPR man's effort away.

  • Pablo Zabaleta
    28
    13
    3.50

    Pablo Zabaleta

    City's most consistent performer nearly gave the visitors the lead with a header on to the crossbar and produced yet another fine performance. Set up a superb chance for Aguero in the second half with a deft header.

  • Joleon Lescott
    13
    16
    3.00

    Joleon Lescott

    Had the first real chance after getting on the end of Cesar's poor punch, but volleyed well over. Defensive duties were hardly required as City dominated.

  • Gael Clichy
    7
    22
    2.50

    Gael Clichy

    Had a slightly sloppy start, giving the ball straight to Mbia, but was saved by Milner. For large parts of the game was able to camp in QPR's half as the visitors dominated, and supported Aguero on the left flank very well.

  • James Milner
    7
    31
    2.50

    James Milner

    Made a superb challenge to shut out Mbia early on but wasted a chance to deliver a dangerous cross with a poor free kick. Regularly involved with City's attacks, supporting well in a deeper role alongside Barry, but still hit a couple of wayward passes.

  • Samir Nasri
    10
    61
    2.00

    Samir Nasri Flop of the Match

    The quietest of City's midfielders, Nasri struggled to make a telling impact on the game and gave the ball away a couple of times, with his only real contribution a shot wide of the post before the break. Replaced by Dzeko with half an hour remaining after a pretty ineffective performance.

  • Javi García
    13
    20
    3.00

    Javi García

    Playing in an unfamiliar role alongside Joleon Lescott at centre-back, but his first contribution was a belting 35-yard strike which fizzed just wide of the post. Not really needed in defence, like Lescott, as the visitors spent most of the match in QPR's half.

  • Gareth Barry
    14
    25
    3.00

    Gareth Barry

    Helped the visitors completely control the tempo of the match, dropping back to spread from deep while also supporting attacks, and nearly opened the scoring with a curling effort but for a fantastic save from Cesar. Picked up a booking for dissent in the second half as the visitors' frustration grew.

  • David Silva
    35
    17
    3.50

    David Silva

    City's playmaker often found space between midfield and defence, spreading the play well. Set up a great chance for Zabaleta with a pinpoint cross before seeing a great chance denied by Cesar late on.

  • Sergio Agüero
    17
    32
    3.00

    Sergio Agüero

    Often drifted into a wide position and found success, getting in behind QPR and causing all sorts of problems, but it left City without a real presence in the middle.

  • Carlos Tévez
    16
    38
    2.50

    Carlos Tévez

    Not as involved as Aguero and Silva but looked sharp, teeing up efforts for both Barry and Nasri, but was largely ineffective as the game went on and was replace by Jack Rodwell with just over 15 minutes left.

Substitutions

  • Scott  Sinclair
    20
    19

    Scott Sinclair

    Came on late for James Milner and proved to be a threat down the left, but couldn't help City win the game.

  • Jack Rodwell
    10
    26
    2.50

    Jack Rodwell

    Came on for Tevez with just over 15 minutes left but failed to make any real impact, with Silva acting as City's main threat.

  • Edin  Dzeko
    36
    14
    3.00

    Edin Dzeko

    Thrown on with half an hour remaining after City failed to show any presence up front, and set up a great chance for Silva, but was the one providing when he should have been on the end of it.

Results
 
Player Ratings
Tournament
Position
Ranking
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Manchester United
26 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
Liverpool
23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham
21 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa
19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City
19 0