Manchester United vs QPR: Score, Grades and Reaction from Premier League Game
The team sheet featured a few new names, the scoresheet saw a few new faces, and the home side even lined up in an unfamiliar formation, but it all added up to a vintage afternoon at Old Trafford.
Angel Di Maria scored on his home debut and Ander Herrera netted his first goal for his new club as Manchester United romped to an impressive 4-0 victory at home to Queens Park Rangers on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League. Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata scored the other goals for United, who won for the first time this season to give Louis van Gaal his first competitive victory with the club.
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The win will go some way toward restoring pride at Old Trafford, where United lost seven times last season. The Red Devils lost their first home match this season as well, falling to Swansea City on opening day, but Sunday's result suggests van Gaal's side will be an enthralling proposition in the attacking third this term.
Not that United faced the toughest resistance they will see this season. QPR, who handed debuts to Sandro and Niko Kranjcar, were abject throughout, spurning the few chances they managed to create. As The Associated Press' Rob Harris noted via Twitter, pundits will need more time to truly assess the new United:
With the win, Manchester United moved up to ninth place with five points from their first four league matches. QPR are 14th with three points.
For all the excitement surrounding Old Trafford at full-time, one could almost forget how dour the mood was around Manchester United, the 20-time English champions, as recently as two weeks ago. United spent more than any other English club in a transfer window (per BBC Sport), but the Red Devils headed into the recent international break having collected just three points from their matches against Swansea City, Sunderland and Burnley.
But supporters had reason to feel optimistic that the club could improve on last season's disappointing seventh-place finish. Di Maria impressed on his debut at Burnley, while multiple more star names were set for debuts against QPR. Among that lot were midfielder Daley Blind and defender Marcos Rojo, who made the starting XI, and on-loan striker Radamel Falcao, who entered the match in the second half after being named among the substitutes.
Their presence seemed to produce a sense of optimism around Old Trafford from the first whistle, and United began the match brightly as if in response. Deployed in a 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield, United instantly appeared more fluid than their recent performances in van Gaal's 3-5-2 formation.
Juan Mata sent United's first warning in the eighth minute, shooting over the bar following fine work on the right by Rafael and Herrera. Old Trafford wouldn't have to wait much longer, however, as United took the lead 16 minutes later.
Di Maria was the scorer, converting from a 24th-minute set piece, though perhaps not in the manner he would have expected. The Argentine curled his free-kick from the right side into the box, where it flew over every player in a crowded box. But with QPR goalkeeper Robert Green reacting late, the ball bounced into the net at the far post for the opening goal.
United shouted for a penalty in the 27th minute as Herrera went to ground in the QPR box under Clint Hill's challenge. Referee Phil Dowd waved play on, though replays showed Hill had made contact.
Five minutes later, the home side had a nervous moment at the other end after goalkeeper David De Gea raced out of his box in an attempt to clear a long pass over the top. De Gea failed to make contact with his kick, though, and the ball fell to Matthew Phillips. With the net unguarded, the QPR man seemed destined to equalise, but Jonny Evans moved quickly to make a crucial block.
Four minutes later, United doubled their lead. Di Maria was the catalyst again, steaming down the left flank before slipping a pass to Rooney. Rooney then teed up Herrera along the edge of the box, and Herrera guided his first-time shot into the bottom corner at the far post.
Leading 2-0, United were starting to purr in the final third. And one minute before half-time, Rooney grabbed his side's third. Mata and Herrera combined on the left side of the box, the latter playing the final pass to Rooney, who set himself up with a touch before finishing from a tight angle. It was Rooney's second league goal of the season and 175th of his career, tying him with Thierry Henry for third most in Premier League history.
By half-time, then, United were running rampant against a QPR side that had created little of note in the first 45 minutes. But within moments of the restart, the visitors nearly pulled a goal back. Half-time substitute Armand Traore carved out the chance in the 48th minute with a strong run down the left flank, squaring for Kranjcar along the edge of the box. Kranjcar hit the target with his first-time shot, but De Gea saved with his right foot to preserve the clean sheet.
It turned out to be a momentary blip, however, as United netted their fourth goal 10 minutes later. Di Maria proved influential again, driving a cross-shot to the back post from the left flank. Unmarked in the box, Mata had time to settle himself with a touch before lifting his finish past Green to make it 4-0.
Robin van Persie saw his volley saved in the 65th minute as United continued to attack. Falcao's arrival followed in the 67th minute, the Colombian replacing Mata to join van Persie in the forward line. Rooney dropped back to the playmaker role previously filled by Mata.
Falcao nearly marked his debut with a goal in the 84th minute, latching onto the rebound after Blind's long-distance shot was saved. But the Colombian poked straight at Green, who smothered the danger.
It failed to make any difference in the end, though, as United had already provided an ominous demonstration of their new attacking firepower.
Grades
| David De Gea | 6.3 | 6.6 |
| Rafael | 7.0 | 7.6 |
| Jonny Evans | 7.7 | 8.4 |
| Tyler Blackett | 6.8 | 6.9 |
| Marcos Rojo | 7.2 | 7.7 |
| Ander Herrera | 8.9 | 9.9 |
| Daley Blind | 6.5 | 7.8 |
| Angel Di Maria | 8.0 | 8.9 |
| Juan Mata | 6.6 | 7.7 |
| Wayne Rooney | 8.1 | 8.5 |
| Robin van Persie | 6.7 | 7.3 |
| Radamel Falcao (for Mata, 67') | N/A | 6.2 |
| Antonio Valencia (for Rafael, 67') | N/A | 6.2 |
| Adnan Januzaj (for Di Maria, 82') | N/A | 6.1 |
| Robert Green | 5.2 | 5.9 |
| Mauricio Isla | 5.6 | 5.6 |
| Rio Ferdinand | 6.1 | 5.9 |
| Steven Caulker | 5.7 | 6.5 |
| Clint Hill | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Junior Hoilett | 6.2 | 6.1 |
| Leroy Fer | 6.1 | 6.3 |
| Sandro | 6.5 | 6.6 |
| Niko Kranjcar | 5.9 | 6.0 |
| Matthew Phillips | 6.0 | 6.1 |
| Charlie Austin | 5.9 | 5.9 |
| Armand Traore (for Hill, 45') | N/A | 6.5 |
| Eduardo Vargas (for Austin, 59') | N/A | 6.1 |
| Karl Henry (for Sandro, 74') | N/A | 6.1 |
Post-Match Reaction
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, via Tom Rostance and Mike Henson of BBC Sport:
"This is special because it is also the birthday of my wife. I have already given her a present but she said the biggest present shall be the victory. We give it to her.
I think we can do much better. I said let's make a new start. All the new players are playing.
We have very intelligent players. The most important thing is not the system but the philosophy. Tyler Blackett is a little bit lucky because a lot of central defenders are injured. He made a very good performance but there are also other defenders still to come.
"
QPR manager Harry Redknapp, via Rostance and Henson:
"A few minutes before half time we were 1-0 down and still bang in the game. To come in at 3-0 down, when our keeper has not had a shot to save..... If you have ever played in a team 3-0 down at half time it is very difficult. You have to make sure you don't get beat by six or seven.
A difficult day, I expected it and we got one.
"
