QPR boss Michael Beale believes Sunderland's front pairing of Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms will be 'a handful' for Championship teams. The duo were both on the scoresheet in the Black Cats' 2-2 draw against Rangers at the Stadium of Light yesterday, just as they were in the 3-2 win at Bristol City last weekend.
On-loan Everton striker Simms scored twice on his debut against Bristol and added another on his home debut, while Stewart scored the winner at Ashton Gate and the opener against QPR. "Alex [Neil] will have been pleased with his team, I thought they were direct into the two centre-forwards and you can see what a handful they are going to be," said Beale.
"They were for Bristol City last weekend and they were again for us. I think a lot of teams will come here and struggle, so it's a really big point for us.
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"It's onwards and upwards. It was a crazy game, credit to Alex and Sunderland, you can see why they have such a good record of late.
"They're aggressive, they go for you, they attack and it's entertaining."
Sunderland were leading 2-0 at half-time and looked on course for victory until QPR scored twice in the final five minutes to snatch a point. First Ilias Chair curled a free-kick into the top corner, before goalkeeper Seny Dieng came forward for an injury-time corner and stunned the Stadium of Light as he headed the equaliser.
Not content with that, Dieng then made an excellent save to deny Stewart before Elliot Embleton's follow-up shot was deflected onto the underside of the crossbar and bounced down on the wrong side of the line, from Sunderland's point of view. Beale said: "Well, on the amount of openings we created, I thought I was going to be sat here talking about our lack of quality in the final pass and shot.
"First half: Albert Adomah and Lyndon Dykes chances at the far post, Jimmy Dunne. We go in 2-0 down.
"We had some honest words at half time, came out in the second half and played on the front foot. We lived a little bit dangerously but Ilias produces a little bit of quality and then we have a massive moment when [substitute Sinclair] Armstrong runs through and I thought that was the chance gone.
"Thankfully Seny had other plans, at both ends of the pitch. He scores a great goal, and then makes a great save."
Beale continued: "In terms of the first half, it's the same story for us I want to be super positive because it's a really positive point for us when you look at the players we are missing through injury.
"And Sunderland are on the up, and it is great to see them on the up again. But we're dropping too deep [defensively]. We spoke about it all week, holding the line, not dropping.
"We do it for both goals and it needs to stop. I'm bringing on Tyler [Roberts] where I'm allowed to because you see his quality.
"If that's a half-fit Tyler Roberts, we are very fortunate to have him here. I'm looking forward to watching him play with some of our lads who were injured yesterday."
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