Stoke City see off QPR thanks to Jonathan Walters hat-trick
Stoke 3 - 1 QPRJonathan Walters 21
Jonathan Walters 34
Jonathan Walters 90 +1:35
Niko Kranjcar 36
Stoke's Jonathan Walters scores the first goal against QPR in the Premier League match
Jonathan Walters may not have the flair of Bojan Krkic but the Republic of Ireland international appears ready to ensure his absence will not be felt by Stoke City.
Mark Hughes was upset by the season-ending injury on Monday to the man who has quickly become his talisman. However his side’s response against Queens Park Rangers was as positive as he could have wished with Walters scoring twice in the first half and then completing a hat-trick in injury time.
Harry Redknapp is a veteran of transfer deadline day but you get the impression he will have to be constantly on his phone on Monday to help the west Londoners avoid the drop.
Rangers’ defence was ripped apart in the first half and they were architects of their own downfall. Mauricio Isla’s poor 21st-minute pass was cut out by Stephen Ireland, who beat Karl Henry to the ball, and Walters ran on to beat Robert Green.
Victor Moses’ 25-yard free-kick went agonisingly over while Ireland and Marko Arnautovic both missed good chances to add to the hosts’ advantage.
But Stoke were 2-0 up on 34 minutes courtesy of a delightful move between Ireland and Walters. There were two one-twos with Walters charging on to beat Green with a composed finish.
Rangers were to pull one back almost immediately two minutes later as Leroy Fer’s ball was crossed in by Joey Barton. Charlie Austin’s shot then ricocheted straight to Niko Kranjcar who could not miss.
Stoke were hindered by injury to their captain, Ryan Shawcross, who pulled up attempting to catch Fer in that move. But that loss did not appear to impact them with Victor Moses just missing the target from Walters’ lay-off and Phil Bardsley’s free-kick just going over either side of half-time.
Rangers nearly levelled in spectacular fashion after the break with Eduardo Vargas’s acrobatic effort from Fer’s free-kick well kept out by Asmir Begovic.
Stoke should have had a third as Peter Crouch, on as a substitute, shot just wide from Ireland’s cross and the Republic of Ireland midfielder then went off to a standing ovation.
Rangers maintained their fight with Joey Barton seeing a 30-yard free-kick come back off the crossbar. Begovic then needed to be at his best to keep out another free-kick from Fer as the visitors ensured they at least had spirit about them.
But the contest was ended in injury time as Walters reacted quickest to Barton’s attempted clearance to head his tenth goal of the season past Green.
Redknapp desperately needs to bring in further quality at both ends of the field if his side are to remain in the Premier League for another season.
Guardian