Stoke

3.04

• 
  16

  0

  3.00

  Asmir Begovic

  The keeper was rarely tested in the opening half despite the visitors getting into some good positions.

• 
  6

  0

  2.50

  Geoff Cameron

  The full back had a busy afternoon dealing with the lively runs of Hoilett and Traore down the QPR left, he stuck to his task well but often found himself unable to stop his opponents dancing past him but they were unable to find a clinical final ball.

• 
  1

  0

  3.00

  Robert Huth

  He has an excellent partnership with Shawcross and they continued to work well together to deal with the QPR threat going forward. The runs of Cisse meant he needed to be alert at all times and he coped well with the movement of Taraabt.

• 
  5

  0

  3.50

  Ryan Shawcross

  Solid in the air and delivered some crunching tackles to deny Taraabt when the Moroccan posed a real threat. He leads by example and was a real inspiration for his side as they worked hard to keep the visitors at bay.

• 
  0

  0

  3.00

  Andy Wilkinson

  Had to pick up Cisse as he made runs out wide to make room for Taraabt and Hoilett and the Frenchman caused him a few problems but in general he coped well. He posed a threat going forward too as a support to Etherington against Bosingwa.

• 
  0

  1

  3.00

  Glenn Whelan

  The midfielder returned to the side after being on the bench against Norwich and he had a solid game. He got forward when he could and almost put his side ahead in the first half with a long-range effort that fizzed wide of goal.

• 
  3

  0

  3.50

  Steven N'Zonzi

  Starting to build up a good understanding with Adam and Whelan in the middle of the pitch and he is becoming more involved in Stoke’s attacking play. He almost created an opening goal for Crouch in the closing minutes of the first half but his low cross was not converted after some neat build up.

• 
  4

  0

  3.00

  Charlie Adam

  Was pretty anonymous in the opening half and gave very little to his side as he struggled against the strong QPR midfield. However he brought the game to life in the second half with his first goal for Stoke in the 53rd minute, he was in acres of space on the right hand side of the penalty area and blasted the ball beyond Cesar.

• 
  0

  0

  3.00

  Matthew Etherington

  Was the main outlet for the hosts in the game as they used his natural wing play to stretch the QPR defense. His crossing lacked quality at times which made things tough for Crouch and Walters to do anything with.

• 
  0

  0

  3.00

  Jonathan Walters

  Worked hard for the entire game, constant running and putting himself into challenges where there was always a danger of getting hurt. He moved more central in the second half which posed a new threat to QPR.

• 
  4

  0

  3.00

  Peter Crouch

  Had a tough time on his own upfront with very little to work with due to a lack of creativity in the midfield. His movement was very good and he found some good positions but the passes into him were not what he wanted. He had one great chance in the first half after good work.

Substitutions

• 
  0

  0

  Dean Whitehead

  Replaced Adam in the 76th minute and gave Stoke more solidity in the middle of the pitch.

• 
  2

  0

  3.00

  Michael Kightly

  Replaced Etherington in the 71st minute but didn't really get into the game.

• 
  1

  0

  Kenwyne Jones

  Replaced Crouch in the 75th minute and held the ball up well, he was also able to find his team mates well and ensure they kept possession well.

QPR

2.92

• 
  5

  0

  3.00

  Julio César

  He was rarely tested in the opening half as Stoke struggled to create any chances, but he handled crosses into his penalty area well and distributed the ball out well to give his side some momentum. He was busier in the second half as the hosts improved but there was nothing he could do about Adam’s volley in the 53rd minute which flashed past him.

• 
  3

  0

  3.00

  Armand Traoré

  He began very well with an excellent run down the left and cross right into Cisse but the striker miscued his shot. Defensively he was solid and handled the threat of Walters well with some close marking and well-timed challenges.

• 
  2

  1

  3.00

  Anton Ferdinand

  Solid at the back, he challenged for every header with Crouch and did well in that battle. He got himself into good positions to clear crosses into the penalty area and threw himself into challenges on numerous occasions to halt Stoke attacks.

• 
  2

  2

  3.00

  Ryan Nelsen

  Not as impressive as his central defensive partner Ferdinand but he worked well with him to deny Crouch any room. He had two half chances in Stoke’s penalty area but he was unable to test Begovic.

• 
  1

  1

  2.50

  José Bosingwa

  The experienced full back had a busy afternoon against Etherington and he found it hard to keep the winger quiet. He didn’t get close enough to him as he was worried about his pace and he was lucky the winger’s crosses didn’t cause more danger.

• 
  2

  1

  2.50

  Samba Diakité

  The tackling man of the QPR midfield, he tracked back well and won the ball but he also mistimed too many of his challenges which led to too many free kicks in dangerous positions.

• 
  13

  0

  4.00

  Adel Taarabt

  The best player for the visitors, he was confident in possession and positive with the ball at his feet at all times. He always went forwards with the ball but his final pass lacked quality. He had his side’s best chances but his shooting lacked accuracy and failed to really test Begovic.

• 
  4

  0

  3.00

  Esteban Granero

  Strolled through the game looking very comfortable with the ball at his feet and linked well with Taraabt on a number of occasions. However he was unable to really dominate the game in the middle of the pitch against Whelan and N'Zonzi.

• 
  2

  1

  3.00

  Alejandro Faurlin

  Spent his afternoon dealing with the runs of Adam and Nzonzi and generally did it well but he was unable to track the Scot for his goal. He worked the ball well with Diakite and Granero as the QPR midfield controlled parts of the game but he was unable to find a goal for his side.

• 
  3

  1

  2.00

  Djibril Cissé

  Missed a great early chance from a Traore cross, misjudging the flight of the ball and scuffing his shot. After that it was a frustrating afternoon for the striker who got very little out of Huth and Shawcross, and had little to work with from his midfielders.

• 
  5

  1

  3.00

  Junior Hoilett

  Very dangerous when running with the ball, he caused Cameron problems with his trickery and skill but was unable to find the assist for Cisse. He carried a threat throughout but Stoke’s defense was able to keep him at bay.

Substitutions

• 
  2

  2

  3.00

  B. Zamora

  Replaced Faurlin in the 79th minute but was unable to test Begovic.