It was a close-run thing between Alex Smithies and Tjaronn Chery for QPR player of the season - so far.
The keeper wins it from the midfielder by a nose, but Chery features later in another best-of category.
Notwithstanding the fact Smithies has saved almost as many penalties in his career as he’s conceded, 18-17 is the enviable score, the gloveman had the herculean task of stepping into the goalmouth vacated by ex-England keeper Rob Green at Loftus Road in January.
There has been nothing but approval for the replacement in contrast to a number of others in Hoops – both at the back end of last season and this.
Smithies contends penalty takers don’t spend as much as time studying keepers as the number ones do the kickers – and he’s the better for it.
He denied the talented Tom Cairney at Fulham on November 1, and then did a number on Sone Aluko in the final minute that saw the ex-Hull player hit the post.
Rs should have lost but Smithies at 12 yards and from open play proved the difference.
Rangers and Smithies have kept four clean sheets out of 16 Championship games: no mean feat in a middling campaign that has already resulted in manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink being shown the exit minutes after the 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
