QPR suffered their first league defeat of the season, 3-1 at home to Watford, thanks to a brace from Danny Graham. The result was a hammer blow for the R's, who were 90 minutes away from equalling an all-time club record of 20 games. Watford, just outside the play-off places going into the game, had already dispatched Millwall, Bristol City and Norwich on the road, and added another victim to their tally with a hugely impressive display at Loftus Road. Despite an early chance for ex-Hornets striker Heidar Helguson, who was given far too much space and time to get a shot away which was tipped over the bar by Scott Loach, Watford quickly began to dominate proceedings. Rangers were outclassed throughout the game in midfield, Alejandro Faurlin and Shaun Derry nowhere to be seen as Watford unleashed a series of attacks through midfield, wingers Will Buckley and Don Cowie enjoying continual success down the flanks against the R's staid, disorganised defence. Paddy Kenny was perhaps the only player deserving of any sort of reprieve, having been almost abandoned by QPR's previously rock-solid defence time and time again. Poor refereeing played its part; Graham's second goal, enough to add salt to the already gaping wounds of the home crowd, was dubious to say the least, and Warnock was quick to affirm his disappointment with the officials: "He's half a yard offside, a major decision". Yet the R's boss was rather more accepting of his side's faults, continuing: "But credit to Watford. They broke well and made our centre halves look like amateurs."The build-up to the game, screened live on BBC2, was certainly full of the type of warnings the home side really ought to have heeded, reminding the viewers that this time last year Watford derailed QPR's challenge and turned a successful run of results into a lengthy blip with a 3-1 win. Whilst few expect QPR to falter as spectacularly as they did a year ago, dropping from the play-off places to just outside the relegation zone, and there will be no repeat of the arguments which saw midfielder Akos Buzsaky allegedly head-butted and manager Jim Magilton forced to leave the club, the result may yet be significant for the rest of the R's season. The pundits in the BBC studio had all agreed that QPR were the unquestioned favourites, and identified a home victory as the only likely result, yet Watford came to West London knowing exactly what they had to do to prevent Rangers playing and establishing control early on. Taarabt was nullified by Watford midfielder John Eustace, who achieved a feat Cardiff were unable to at Loftus Road a fortnight ago, and prevent the mercurial playmaker dictating the play. Graham's opener came after just 26 minutes, during which time Watford had firmly established their dominance. From an Andrew Taylor cross, Graham converted his ninth league goal of the season, having been left entirely unmarked in the first example of lax defending by the home side. Jordan Mutch doubled the visitor's advantage four minutes later, his looping cross evading both Martin Taylor and defender Matthew Connolly as they challenged for the ball, before evading a flat-footed Kenny.
The R's were punished further when, having failed to clear their lines, Graham punished the home side, firing past the stranded home 'keeper. Tommy Smith pulled a goal back for Rangers late on from a good Jamie Mackie lay-off, but in reality the game was over at 3-0, the controversial third too much to recover from on a night where the visitors were always in control. In reality Watford could have extended their lead, Kenny saving well from Graham on a number of occasions, and Derry heading Mutch's effort off the line. Mackie and Hill were also denied by the up-and-coming Scott Loach, whilst the home supporters were incensed after Mackie's reasonable penalty appeal was turned down, following a tangle with Martin Taylor. Hornets boss Malky Mackay enthused after the game: "I was delighted with the way we played against a team I think will be promoted personally." Despite this result, and the obvious potential for Rangers' form to dip, they still remain four points clear at the summit of the Championship table with a game in hand, following Cardiff's disappointing 1-0 defeat away to underperforming Middlesbrough. Watford, meanwhile, sit in eighth, three points outside the play-offs going into the busy Christmas period. Despite all the negatives, there was one bit of good news for QPR manager Neil Warnock; thanks to the premature end of his side's unbeaten run, the sight of the Yorkshireman freezing in shorts on the touchline will disappear; at least until the start of the R's next unbeaten run.
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