After last week’s debacle at Coventry the idea of Nathan Jones and Charlie Kelman having a lovely day at Loftus Road didn’t bear thinking about – thankfully, Queens Park Rangers were working to a different script.

It may take a while, it may happen almost immediately, but this club gets you in the end.

Julien Stéphan has been QPR’d earlier than most. The shell-shocked French head coach forced to issue apologies to the travelling support after a 7-1 shellacking at Coventry City in just his fourth competitive game in charge. He made only one promise: that everything would change against Charlton Athletic. Outside the Crown & Sceptre a little after half nine the following Saturday, a queue was already forming for 10am doors and faith was in short supply. Three generations have gone blind here staring at the sun saying it’ll be different this time.

One of the more intriguing team selections of our time showed four switches, though crucially not in goal where Joe Walsh is being taught to swim by being heaved into a deep bit of the harbour and left to his own devices. Amadou Mbengue was back at centre back, where he was excellent against Preston and never picked since. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall made his debut at left back. Mixed fortunes for the three of the online world’s bête noires – Sam Field dropped, Nicolas Madsen recalled, and a start for Paul Smyth. Harvey Vale was back in an advanced midfield role, where he’d been excellent against Stevenage in pre-season and never picked since. Perhaps most crucially of all, Richard Kone was deemed ready to start a game in the centre forward position. On which more later. Much more.

After a 7-1 gob bumming you wonder how team and crowd will respond but the early signs were very promising. Paul Smyth was at his irritating best on both sides of the ball, like two mosquito bites close together, winning an early free kick under the camera gantry. Charlton wanted a free kick of their own soon after but if you get knocked over by Karamoko Dembele that’s on you and play on was waved through a one-two with Kone on the edge of the box from which the former Celtic junior probably should have scored. While we lamented that missed chance, Rangers took the lead in any case. Dembele’s line ball set Vale up for a cut back, Kone showed beautiful awareness with a Gary Penrice-style stepover, and Smyth swept in from the left to finish.

We’ve consistently stuck up for Smyth on LFW amidst fierce criticism of him elsewhere, but two goals and four assists last year are full back figures and we do need more from a winger – this a great start towards that. Charlton might have equalised on the quarter hour when a deep cross made Campbell look a shoo-in at the far post before Dunne’s powerful intervention, but this in turn set Smyth away on a lightning counter ended by a foul and a yellow card on the edge of the penalty box. Visiting keeper Kaminski, perhaps a little suspect for the opener, did the Tony Roberts trick of building a big wall then standing right behind it, then only just managed to keep out Madsen’s low strike from the dead ball.

There was, perhaps inevitably, a response from Nathan Jones’ side. Caught cold by QPR's new approach, he summoned the troops for a touchline conflab during an injury break and changed a tack of his own. QPR’s grip of proceedings started to slip from the midway point of the half.

Josh Edwards’ delicious, undefendable cross from the left was smashed onto the frame of the goa by Miles Leaburn when he should have scored. Liam Morrison had to get a foul in quick and accept the yellow card before Campbell crossed the threshold of the penalty box – QPR put up a half-man wall with Dembele standing there and were fortunate to scramble the delivery away. Campbell, incidentally, looked Charlton’s biggest threat to me, but then you look at their message boards and he’s getting savaged. They might say the same about Smyth. Internet – serious business.

Rangers, though, finished the first half well. They were able to get up the pitch and stay there with a centre forward capable of holding the ball up for them. When Kone did just that three from half time it set the stage for Madsen to arc a gorgeous, Wilkins-esque ball right down the middle of the pitch and over the final defender, but Smyth just couldn’t drag it under control to capitalise. An injury time free kick was nodded back by Dunne and met by Norrington-Davies with a header that bounced back into play off the post.

It's difficult not to improve on a 5-0 half time deficit but QPR had been really quite decent and the reason for that was pretty clear – they’d decided it might be an idea to play in the opposition half of the field more than their own. The goal kick routine, bar a couple of occasions which nearly resulted in disaster, was ditched entirely. Walsh went hard, direct, and long. This didn’t always work – balls sailed into touch, headers were lost, Jimmy Dunne flicked onto nobody – but the key difference here is when this doesn’t work you’ve turned the ball over 80 yards from goal, when the ‘game model’ doesn’t work you’ve given the ball to Brandon Thomas-Asante on your penalty spot. It took three months and 17 games for Rangers to wise up to themselves, stop wanking in front of the mirror, and get pragmatic in 2024/25. If Coventry means that’s happened in August this time, with only three games burned off, then perhaps it was worth going through that trauma last week.

Sadly, after one of his best performances in a long while, Smyth didn’t make it back for the second half. That didn’t matter in an of itself because Rayan Kolli came on and gave a similarly industrious performance in and out of possession. Kolli’s done himself no harm at all this week - showing terrific maturity in both his reaction to the away end a week ago and his hard running performance here. He headed over with QPR’s first attack after the restart when a second goal would have been manna from heaven.

Sadly, though, a Charlton equaliser wasn’t long in coming. Like Christmas Day at Katie Price’s gaff, this was a disaster of many fathers – Liam Morrison struggling with the giant Leaburn, Jimmy Dunne giving the ball away, Campbell allowed to cross too easily, Rob Apter left unmarked, and Walsh static as the ball bounced gently past everybody and into the far corner of the net. Pissflaps.

Now Rangers had a repeat of their opening day game with Preston on their hands. Against a clearly limited opponent they’d started well, all rhythm and tempo, and scored a nice goal early. They’d finished the first half in reasonable nick and done the same to begin the second only to get sucker punched by the sort of #LoveSundayLeague goal people use to gain Instagram clout. Having apparently cured their fascination with trying to win the game by completing more passes than the opponent in their own penalty box, something Gary Neville rightly described as a “disease” in his Super Sunday coverage today, QPR now faced another of their demons – fitness.

Against PNE the R’s simply didn’t have the legs in them to come back and push for a win. They ended up rather clinging to a point at home to a poor side. The last half hour at Watford; the second half at Plymouth; the whole game at Coventry; the injuries to Chair, Larkeche, Poku and others; the repeated cramps of Karamoko Dembele – I don’t know what this team have been doing all summer but it has looked well short so far.

Charlton, by their own manager’s admission caught out by QPR’s more direct approach initially, now smelt blood from a wounded animal. Campbell surely would have been awarded a penalty had he gone down under heavy fire from Mbengue just before the hour, but stayed upright long enough to get a shot away which Walsh repelled at the near post. Mbengue then gave the ball away and clattered through the recipient for a yellow card.

Mbengue had wowed the crowd in the first half with a barnstorming 60 yard run down the left flank. Cheerful, but capable of great violence, it was time to take the former Reading man’s brain out and give it a rinse under the cold tap for a while. Instead, he was left to hack into returning substitute Charlie Kelman right on the line of the School End box. An inch to the left and it would have been a spot kick, but that wasn’t the lucky escape here. Referee Andrew Kitchen failed to issue a second yellow. Extraordinarily generous. A red card all day long. We’ve described this referee as “home orientated” in our last two dates with him on the road and, while a controversial late penalty awarded against Birmingham at St Andrew’s on night one proves that’s bollocks, this would certainly be evidence for the defence in any libel case. Nice to be on the right end of that for once, but I’d be fuming if I was Charlton. It puts me in the uncomfortable position of agreeing with Nathan Jones, but then it’s been an uncomfortable week of LFW all round.

Walsh was fortunate to be able to claim at feet when the one attempt at the sodding goalkick routine all afternoon blew up in their face (STOP IT) and with Kelman waddling around off the bench the script felt written. Call the ambulance.

But not for me. Two differences to the Preston game here. The first was Kone. Not particularly quick, still a bit heavy perhaps, but I loved watching this guy on Saturday. Physical, hard working, desperate to be involved. His positioning on the pitch, and of his sizeable frame, were effective throughout. He knew where to be, and what to do when he got there. This is how you play lone striker. This is Heidar Helguson ball. He made bad balls into good ones all day long. He was an absolute pain in the arse for both centre backs. Defenders have been able to take the piss here for years. Andre Gray was the last bloke we had who even made ten goals in a season. This was very welcome indeed.

At the start of the second half Kone absolutely bodied Lloyd Jones on the edge of the Loft End box. Wallop. Get that into you. No reason for it all, wholly unjustified, totally gratuitous, and wonderful. Jones was sent flying back onto his arse and landed around the penalty spot. Winded and wondering what had hit him, he angrily pointed at Kone, who just laughed at him. Yeh, course. What of it? Get used to it. Don’t make me put you on your arse again.

Yes please. More like this, Richard.

The second is Stéphan had legs he could introduce from the sideline. Some birds aren’t meant to be caged, their feathers are all too bright. Koki Saito came on from the bench with half an hour left and swung the game for his team.

There was plenty to be said for Rumarn Burrell’s industry as a sub as well, charging around preventing counter attacks and bothering the man in possession, but the sparkle and motion was all Saito’s. One run through the heart of the Charlton defence brought a shot straight at Kaminski. The next electrified the whole crowd and won the game.

Charlton might have been away themselves but for Esquerdinha’s own super sub act on halfway. That tackle allowed Saito to collect and drive between the tired, cumbersome pair of Jones and Coventry. Having reached the penalty area in double quick time, he widened the angle slightly around a leaden footed opponent, then bobbled an improvised finish past the stricken Kaminski and into the far corner of the net.

Kitchen added six minutes to the end of the game, but Nathan Jones wasted much of that himself. I’m not sure what two subs in the 92nd minute are going to do for your chances, nor removing your giant target man Leaburn just as you’re about to stick a long free kick in the box, but then I’m not sure I’d be wearing a t-shirt that tight at this stage either. Jones has now lost six times to QPR, more than any other side, and his changes only succeeded in adding enough time to the added time for Morrison to win a crucial defensive header, Esquerdinha to clear downfield, Burrell to get a brilliant, brave flick to the ball, and Kone to stretch away on the Loft End goal.

Conor Washington would have missed with yards to spare. Macauley Bonne would have been offside. Jordan Hugill would have endangered the Upper Loft. Lyndon Dykes would have come with a death toll. Matt Smith would have been caught long before the penalty area honed into view. Tomer Hemed would have pulled up lame. Idrissa Sylla would have fallen over at least twice. Andrew Gray would have been on sabbatical. Fuck only knows what Seb Polter would have done. It’s been a while since we had a centre forward you’d trust in these situations. Kone’s performance to this point had me positively serene. Keeper drawn, finish executed, three fucking one and thank you very much indeed. That’s what a striker looks like, and that’s the difference it makes having one. Enjoy him while he’s here kids, we’ve got a live one.

It is very much baby steps. Charlton were many, many degrees of poor and yet for a good chunk of the second half looked like they would win the game. But to come back from that dismal nonsense last week with a win showed great character. It was always going to be fraught – Joe Walsh intervening in one row between Morrison and Varane, sub Isaac Hayden and Jimmy Dunne quickly embroiled in another after his introduction – but this was as close to a must win game as you’ll ever get in August and QPR found a way to drag it over the line to the immense credit of everybody involved.

Great stats spotting from @HoopsDreams_QPR. The R's last five victories have all been in games when we had less possession than the opponent (Charlton 44%, Sunderland 42%, Preston 44%, Oxford 48% and Derby 49%). The last eight games we've had more of the ball have brought just two points. The game model doesn't suit our players, or this division. If that Coventry debacle wakes us up to ourselves, makes us more pragmatic, more direct, more competitive, then it might have been worth going through that. This was the first time I thought we looked like a Championship team this season. Not perfect by any means, but competitive – while missing key players, and clearly lacking match fitness.

Much work to do, but points posted, breath taken, lines drawn, an international break ahead to start correcting things and… whisper it quietly… a proper centre forward back in QPR colours at long last.

QPR, celebrating in a certain way. Again.

Links >>> Ratings and Reports >>> Photo Gallery >>> Message Board Match Thread

QPR: Walsh 5; Dunne 6, Morrison 6, Mbengue 6, Norrington-Davies 6 (Esquerdinha 68, 6); Varane 6 (Hayden 81, -), Madsen 6, Vale 7 (Burrell 68, 7); Dembele 5 (Saito 59, 8), Kone 8, Smyth 7 (Kolli 46, 6)

Subs not used: Cook, Field, Morgan, Nardi

Goals: Smyth 8 (assisted Vale), Saito 84 (assisted Esquerdinha), Kone 90+7 (assisted Burrell)

Yellow Cards: Morrison 38 (foul), Mbengue 65 (foul)

Charlton: Kaminski 5; Ramsay 5, Jones 5, Bell 5; Apter 6 (Kelman 68, 5), Coventry 6 (Rankin-Costello 90+2, -), Docherty 6 (Olaofe 87, -) Edwards 6; Carey 5 (Knibbs 68, 6), Campbell 6; Leaburn 6 (Fullah 90+2, -)

Subs not used: Gillesphey, Burke, Maynard-Brewer, Mwamba

Goals: Apter 54 (assisted Campbell)

Yellow Cards: Coventry 17 (foul), Edwards 58 (foul)

QPR Star Man – Richard Kone 8 Obviously Saito’s impact from the bench was the gamebreaker but I thought it made such a difference to us having a proper, aggressive, threatening centre forward up there for the first time in literally years. Watching a QPR player go through on goal and being totally relaxed that he was just going to put it away was a new experience, but there were all sorts of other little bits I liked about this performance – the step over for Smyth’s goal one of a number of clever link ups with team mates, and the absolute bodying of the Charlton centre back right at the start of the second half in particular.

Referee – Andrew Kitchen (Durham) 5 Have described him as “distinctly home orientated” in our last two encounters with him and, had I been stood in the Charlton end watching Mbengue let off with that challenge on Kelman without a booking, I suspect I’d be saying much the same here. After five QPR appointments without a win, nice to be on the right side of that just when we really needed it.

Attendance 16,875 (1,800 Charlton approx.) I wondered how the crowd would be here. It feels like this is a support base living on its very last nerve. Paul Smyth won an early free kick under the camera gantry and within two passes it was back with Walsh, then two passes later still Charlton were on the attack. If we’d kept going like that I dread to think. But QPR, by and large, played forwards in this game. Nicolas Madsen was hard to mark because he competed, he tackled (!!), and he played some lovely creative balls forwards. With a pass completion record of 26/40 a third of his attempts went to Charlton players, but he played forwards and the reaction from the crowd was much more positive because of it. Naturally, not all of that came off, you're going to give more ball away taking more risk, but he didn’t play safe, he didn’t hide. None of them did. There was far less of the backwards and sideways. And the crowd responded in kind, backing the players and giving it big “come on you R’s” even in tough moments when it felt like the game was slipping away. It's not difficult this game, certainly not as difficult as we've been making it look. This week’s been a trauma, but fingers crossed it’s put a line through a few ideals and game models, put a line under some standards and what is and isn’t acceptable, and given the head coach, players, fans and higher ups a recipe for how we can succeed this season.

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Pictures - Ian Randall Photography

ozexile added 22:39 - Aug 31 Great report Clive. I'm certainly no Luddite concerning tactics. But it was on lovely to see us turn Charlton round and be competitive in their half. The championship is a tough tough league. But you can certainly help yourselves by doing the basics right.
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cyprusmel added 05:43 - Sep 1 The one thing about Paul Smyth is that he always gives you 100% plus, he may be limited in some aspects but you cannot, should not, doubt his commitment to QPR.
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Phildo added 07:14 - Sep 1 Very enjoyable scratchy championship game. My Charlton mate came and thought we were impressive and also informed me that Campbells full name is : Tyreece Anthony Tupac Shakur Campbell Which tickled me.
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flynnbo added 07:53 - Sep 1 Nothing short of genius to see River Cottage referenced in a match report!
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sexton added 08:57 - Sep 1 Who's the guy sitting next to JS, in charge of the laptop?
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hopekillsyou added 09:28 - Sep 1 Maddens best game for us? He was good….well maybe not for ALL ofvthe time but most of the time. Played some good passes. Almost scored with a well taken free kick ( very un QPR.. ).His “ drifting out” periods are becoming shorter and less frequent and he appears to …care…more as to what’s happening around him. Maybe it’s the hair-growth-on-face ( beard?)…
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HastingsRanger added 09:59 - Sep 1 Thanks, Clive. A much needed confidence booster for the R's. A number of sometimes vilified players contributed here. Smyth as always 100% and really a nuisance to their backs. If Madsen keeps improving his physical presence on the pitch, he could become quite a player for us. His footwork and vision is already good. Walsh did command his area and can kick and hopefully will grow into the role. A few shaky moments .... that cursed goal kick routine naturally and still not sure about the goal. Whilst Mbengue's movement forward is great, he needs to watch getting caught goal side. As you say, lucky to stay on the pitch. And Burrell seems a really under the radar sound acquisition. Nice to see Saito back and Kone will enjoy his role too. A little worried about the on pitch spats ..... as long as it is because they care, rather than a dressing room divide. Now two weeks to prepare for the start of the season! This might be more fun after all.

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Brighton_R added 10:22 - Sep 1 Great to have you back, Clive. Please don't let the twitter kids get to you. You're an essential part of what it is to support QPR. Kone does indeed look the real deal. I was particularly taken with the fact he played almost the entire game with one leg of his shorts rolled up, allowing us a teasing glimpse of his bulging, silky thigh muscle. Was this due to an injury - or is it 'a look'? Either way, like your writing, I'm very much here for it.

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Rangersboy66 added 10:34 - Sep 1 Enjoyable read after the utter dirge of the previous week. I want to be upbeat (and appreciate people have been put to a firing squad for less on the Optimistic QPR Supporters Forum)...but the fitness thing is really bothering me. Last year our coach was phoning it from the other side of the world and this year feels like the fitness staff have been having another great holiday as they certainly havent been wringing every last drop out of our squad?

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Neilj added 11:40 - Sep 1 Can we acknowledge Walsh's throw to Dembele that led to the move for the goal. Kone looks intelligent striker and playing for the team. A lot of players wouldn't have done that dummy for Smyth's goal: they'd have shot wide
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sinceApril66 added 12:32 - Sep 1 Seemed on a knife’s edge for a while and, thankfully, eventually lots to celebrate: your writing, Clive, which feels crucial right now… especially appreciate its rawness; Saito was wonderful… from the goal to his wholehearted spirit and consistent effectiveness; Madsen, competing better, is brilliantly reminiscent of Wilkins in his accuracy of forward passing; Esquerdinha looks potentially excellent; Vale’s range of skill and determination and Mbengue’s speed and drive to win the ball… And, right now, wouldn’t giving Nardi a go make sense..? (And I’ve almost succeeded in not saying how hard we should try to add Ronnie!)

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Marshy added 13:01 - Sep 1 Thank goodness we abandoned the playing out from the back. Playing it long may not be the prettiest style of football, but we just haven’t got the players to execute precise passing particularly with Walsh in goal. Yet at times against Charlton some of our play was exhilarating, but also infuriating as well. In the end though it didn’t mater as we scored 3 great goals and got 3 points. Notable mentions to Saito, Kone and Smith who were all great. Even Madsen was quite good as well. On paper it now looks like we have a very decent squad with some excellent signings. Only time will tell, but I’m starting to feel just a little more confident that we might just have a decent season once everyone’s up to speed.

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kennoo added 20:30 - Sep 2 Watching Kone, I can't help thinking Les Ferdinand .
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kennoo added 20:37 - Sep 2 And, please god, if we never play out from the back again, I for one will celebrate,'cause it's so fecking BORING!
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WhitstableHoop added 15:01 - Sep 3 I'm glad I wasn't the only one who noticed Gary Neville's 'disease' comment last Sunday. Green shoots of recovery at last. But not getting carried away, we've all been here so many times before,
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