QPR 2-1 Newcastle - Match Report

Desperate. That word describes Newcastle United's situation perfectly right now - because they look like a side who are hurtling down the precipice with no hope of escape. They may finally have ended their five-and-a-half-game away-goal drought but John Carver's men have still not won a game since February 28th - with the Magpies succumbing to their ninth defeat in their last 10 matches. Despite taking the lead against already-relegated Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road after 24 minutes thanks to Emmanuel Riviere's first-ever Premier League goal, Newcastle's ineptitude in defence meant that they were 2-1 down by the 61st minute - having been ahead at half-time. A header from Matt Phillips that goalkeeper Tim Krul should have done better with and probably should have saved brought QPR level, and then a 30-yard wonder strike from Leroy Fer condemned the Magpies to yet another defeat. Hull City may yet go down, but Newcastle could quite easily drop instead.

Following this embarrassing result against a side who were humbled 6-0 at Manchester City last weekend, who have conceded a Premier League-high 68 goals, and who had already been demoted to the Championship with two games remaining, Carver surely knows he has no chance of being made Magpies head coach on a permanent basis. The Magpies may yet survive - with Hull's 2-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur ensuring they remained two points behind Newcastle and still in 18th place - but it would not be due to their own successes, it would be because of the Tigers' deficiencies. And yet it all started so well for the Toon Army in west London, with Riviere scoring his first-ever Premier League goal at the 22nd attempt.

Tim Krul's long, lofted ball was missed by the QPR defence - with Steven Caulker being caught completely out of position - and that allowed Riviere to guide the ball into the back of the net (albeit it via his opposite shin). For the first time in the Premier League, Riviere was able to show off his trademark back-flip celebration - but unfortunately it wasn't worth the wait, as it didn't prove to be a winning strike. Attempts from Ryan Taylor, Ayoze Perez and Moussa Sissoko went close but the Magpies could not extend their slender lead before half-time, even though QPR keeper Rob Green was replaced by Alex McCarthy in the 34th minute due to injury. Come the second-half, everything changed and the game was turned completely on its head. Newcastle went into the break 1-0 up, but just 16 minutes after the re-start they were 2-1 down. First, in the 54th minute, QPR counter-attacked quickly through Charlie Austin on the right-hand side. He then whipped the ball into the far corner, where Phillips rose unopposed to head towards goal. Even though it was straight at Tim Krul, the Dutch stopper was unable to prevent the ball going into the back of the net.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Austin then had his right-footed shot saved expertly by Krul - but the Magpies keeper was beaten again just after the hour mark. Fer, in the middle of the pitch, picked the ball up and unleashed an absolutely unstoppable shot from more than 30 yards that arrowed into the top-left-hand corner. It may have been a piece of individual brilliance, but Newcastle should have been out of sight long before that - and instead they paid a price. Paul Dummett had the opportunity to put Newcastle back level almost immediately, but the centre-back failed to hit the target - instead smashing it over. And, in truth, that was as close as the Magpies came to getting back into the game. Newcastle were woeful for the final 30 minutes, and even the introduction of Papiss Cisse, Rolando Aarons and Sammy Ameobi off the bench failed to give Carver's men any spark.

In fact, Newcastle got worse as the game went on - and in the last 20 minutes they looked like a side resigned to their fate. Apart from a Cisse shot that was blocked with three minutes remaining, the Magpies never looked like equalising and grabbing a vital point. Do the Magpies believe they are heading for the Championship? On this evidence they do - and on this evidence they most-certainly deserve to go down. If Newcastle cannot beat an already-relegated QPR, then it is hard to see them beating anyone. West Ham United travel to St James' Park for the last game of the season, and Newcastle need to win in order to guarantee survival - or they will need to rely on other results. You can bet your bottom dollar that Sam Allardyce would love nothing more than to relegate the Magpies... Newcastle United couldn't beat QPR on Saturday - and, in truth, it looks like they can't beat anyone right now. CLICK HERE to read the individual player ratings from QPR 2-1 Newcastle United.

Queens Park Rangers: Green (McCarthy 34), Onuoha, Dunne, Caulker (Suk-Young), Hill, Phillips, Barton, Henry, Hoilett (Grego-Cox 45), Fer, Austin Subs not used: Wright-Phillips, Doughty, Furlong, Comley Goals: Phillips (54), Fer (61) Booking: Barton Newcastle United: Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini, Dummett, Gutierrez, Taylor (Aarons 64), Colback, Perez, Sissoko, Cabella (Ameobi 73), Riviere (Cisse 63) Subs not used: Anita, Gouffran, Abeid, Woodman Goal: Riviere (24) For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCultureNUFC on Twitter and Facebook.