Our verdict on Queens Park Rangers' defeat at Norwich City
Performance rounds up the season
It has not been a good season and this was not a good performance to finish it on.
Norwich could have been 3-0 up in the opening five minutes and it was no surprise when they did eventually take the lead.
Alex Smithies had to be at his best, as he has so often this season, a couple of times before the break as well.
But it was the manner that Rangers laid down after that break which was so disappointing.
Murphy's and Pritchard's goals were both strikes at the second time of asking, when no QPR players properly reacted.
Then Hoolahan's second was basically walked into the net, as the defence waved Norwich through for a fourth.
There's plenty of work to do over the summer and if Holloway's mind was not made up about some players before the game, it certainly will be now.
Washington's thankless task
It's hard to say anyone but Smithies deserved praise for their performances at Carrow Road, but Washington deserves some credit.
He worked his socks off upfront and, especially in the second half when he was on his own, it was a thankless task for much of the afternoon.
A neat turn and touch tested John Ruddy early on and was one of Rangers' best opportunities.
He broke forward on the right and put in a dangerous cross, but Matt Smith had peeled to the back post and it was cut out by the Norwich defence.
When the fourth official's board went up with his number on, he looked dejected. A slow walk off spoke volumes for his thoughts on the situation.
Whilst the midfield was overrun and the defence all at sea, Washington's endeavour was there for all to see. He looked thoroughly fed up with the season and will be looking forward to, hopefully, having more support when next season starts.
Formation confusion
The midfield were not helped by Rangers' confusing formation in the first half. Doughty was dropping deep, level with the two centre-backs to start with and the full-backs pushed high up the pitch.
Then when the Canaries had the ball, it was more of a 4-4-2, before it changed again at the break.
That confusion does not help the players.
Norwich's players found it easy to find space in between the lines and out wide, while the Canaries' defence, which has been porous for much of the season, marshalled Rangers' front-line easily.
A set formation and system would only benefit the Hoops and Holloway, even if it's not in his nature, would have benefited from consistency over recent months, even if the players changed.
Norwich have underachieved
When the Canaries have Hoolahan and Pritchard on form they are one of the most dangerous attacking sides in the division.
Alongside Newcastle and Fulham they have scored more goals than anyone else in the divison and it has to be classed as a failure that they failed to make the play-offs – at least.
Josh Murphy on the wing is an exciting talent too, he almost scored one of the goals of the season with a dipping shot from the edge of the area early on.
For much of the first 30 minutes he had James Perch on toast and was the Canaries' main outlet.
But when he was quieter after the break, they had other players step up to the mark.
Hoolahan was imperious in the middle of the park; dictating play, playing the key pass and getting on the end of the two moves for a brace.
And Pritchard again looks back to the form he showed for Brentford two years ago. He's a clever player, not in a dissimilar ilk to Hoolahan, and will be one of the key men for them going forward.
