Khadra’s inconsistent brilliance hands Rovers a vital win in promotion push

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Reda Khadra could have easily been the scapegoat if Blackburn Rovers had failed to beat Queens Park Rangers in a crucial Championship promotion clash.

The German missed two golden one-on-one opportunities in the first half, however, it was his vicious free-kick in the 77th minute which gave Tony Mowbray’s side a vital three points.

Rovers had gone five games without a goal before Khadra’s thunderbolt and with the injury to top goalscorer, Ben Brereton Diaz, it pointed to the signs that the Ewood Park side might slide out of play-offs.

Mowbray had made a rallying call to his squad for someone to step up and fill the void of their prolific Chilean striker and it was the tricky winger that did just that.

In the post-match press conference, the Rovers boss was quick to heap praise on Khadra but warned of consistency if he wants to make it in the Premier League.

“What a threat [Reda] Khedra is to anybody and yet we can sit here and criticise him for missing chances?

“Maybe because if he wants to play in the Premier League for Brighton [& Hove Albion], he’s probably got to take those chances.

“You sit there and watch him as I sit there and watch him and think, wow, I would not like to play against him.

“He’s so tricky, he’s so fast and powerful, he’s got a rocket in his right foot, and yet chances came, and chances were missed, and that’s maybe just a growth area for him.”

The game itself was a tale of missed chances, with Mowbray alluding to the fact that he thought his team should have been a couple of goals up at the break.

Khadra may be the match-winning hero, but the Brighton and Hove Albion loanee was very much culpable for Rovers’ sloppy play in front of goal.

Another loanee from the Seagulls, Jan Paul van Hecke, has impressed in a Blackburn shirt this season.

The tall Dutch centre-back is a Rolls Royce of a defender and he showed his quality on the ball in the 16th minute to spray a perfect diagonal pass into the path of his fellow Brighton loanee.

However, as was the case in the previous games this month, Khadra could not find the final touch to beat Sieng Dieng.

Tyrhys Dolan also performed excellently against QPR, playing a false nine role.

The former Preston North End forward may be short in stature, but his movement and energy make him a real nuisance for defenders.

Dolan’s intelligent play on the half-hour mark saw him send Khadra through, but the former Borussia Dortmund II man’s touch took him wide of the goal and he could not apply a finish.

Khadra’s lack of a left foot could be what holds back his progression, with both chances coming on his weaker side.

If he wants to move up a league and gain starts, then his left side will need to be worked on during training.

End product is so important and can often define a player’s career as he was caught lacking at times.

He displayed phenomenal pace and drive to beat Moses Odubajo, who is no slouch, on numerous occasions, but even when Sam Gallagher and Dolan were two on one in the box, Khadra could not find them.

Yet the German was a continuous threat for Rovers and his curling effort in the second half produced a fantastic save from Scottish goalkeeper David Marshall.

The 77th minute was to be the moment Khadra sent Ewood Park into delirium.

A free-kick to the left of the QPR box seemed to signal a good crossing opportunity, but Rovers’ skilful winger had other ideas and struck a stunning shot, which Marshall simply failed to deal with to the despair of the away support.

Rovers had further chances to finish off their opponents, but ultimately, it was Khadra’s moment of magic that put Mowbray’s hopes of promotion back on track.

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