Brad Rial was at Loftus Road to watch Hull City open their Premier League account with three points in a tenacious 1-0 win against QPR. Who stood out and what indicators are their for the season ahead?Chester faultless in defence
There will come a day when the rest of the footballing world sits up and realises just how good a player James Chester is. And should the City man continue to put in the kind of performance that he did against QPR yesterday, that day won't be too far away.
In a game where most eyes were on another, more high-profile ex-Manchester United centre back in Rio Ferdinand, it was Chester that came out on top. He put in a typically faultless display.
There is an understated brilliance to the way Chester goes about his defending. During the first half yesterday, an inch-perfect tackle on Loic Remy exemplified this.
With the QPR man in full speed and running towards the box, he attempted to knock it past Chester, but he was having none of it. He read what the Frenchman was going to do and stuck out a right boot to cleanly take the ball and suck all momentum out of the Rangers attack. Of course, this is nothing new; Chester's been doing that since he arrived at the Tigers back in 2011.
Aside from being his usual calming presence at the back, Chester also scored the only goal of the game with a well-taken header. Ferdinand could and maybe should have done better but take nothing away from the finish.Handball in the box - sort it out refs
The only incident that threatened to take the shine off Chester's performance was his giving away of a second half penalty. To say that the award of the spot-kick was soft is an understatement.
Yes, Allan McGregor saved the penalty so City weren't dealt the ultimate punishment. But on another day, Charlie Austin converts and City find themselves with one point instead of three.
There needs to be some clarity when it comes to the definition of "deliberate handball". Unless a player intentionally sticks an arm out to deny a goal (like Luis Suarez did at the 2010 World Cup) can any handball really be deemed deliberate?
The vast majority of handballs that are penalised are 100% accidental and that was definitely the case with Chester yesterday. There was no movement of the arm towards the ball whatsoever and it was a very harsh decision. It was a natural stance for Chester and quite what he was expected to do with his arms I don't know.
McGregor ensured that justice was done and he must now be the only goalkeeper to save penalties on consecutive opening weekends after also denying Frank Lampard last August.Quinn the game-changer
Perhaps the turning point in yesterday's game was the introduction of Stephen Quinn shortly before half-time. Prior to the Irishman coming on, City looked very poor in possession – a criticism you wouldn't normally be able to level at them.
Quinn (below) changed the course of the game. It would be an exaggeration to say that he ran the show but his ball retention was something that City lacked in the early stages.![quinn]()
It baffles me that people don't think Quinn is Premier League quality. He is a vastly underrated player and if (as has been mooted) he moves on to pastures new it would be a big loss.
He proved last season that he does deserve to play in the Premier League with an excellent performance on the biggest stage of all in the FA Cup final at Wembley. What more does he have to do to prove himself?
Quinn never lets a game pass him by and constantly buzzes around the field, demanding the ball. Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore are the midfielders who usually receive all the plaudits but yesterday Quinn was the standout performer in the City engine room.
Of course, City's strength in depth in the centre of the park means that it will be tough to nail down a regular starting berth. But Quinn's performance yesterday will certainly have given Steve Bruce plenty of food for thought.Jelavic and Ince starved of real opportunities
With the recent departure of Shane Long and Yannick Sagbo's suspension, Steve Bruce didn't have much choice when it came to who started up front. Sone Aluko was the unlucky one as Nikica Jelavic and Tom Ince got the nod.
Both were starved of real opportunities – particularly in the first half – and it was a frustrating afternoon for the pair. Jelavic put himself about but, in truth, missed the off-the-ball running of Long. ![ince]()
Ince (above) showed glimpses of quality and really should have opened his City account in the second half. After being put through on goal by Quinn, he spurned a fantastic opportunity from six yards out.
It was the kind of chance that he put away so often at Blackpool and if he could have his time over again I'm sure he would opt to dink it over the onrushing Rob Green. If Ince can continue to get himself in similar positions then it won't be long before the goals start flowing.Robertson looks the real deal
One of the many positives from yesterday's game was the brilliant performance of Andrew Robertson. The 20-year-old didn't look at all overawed on his debut and – though it is still very early days – he seems to possess all of the attributes needed to become a top-class left-back.
Robertson (below) played with an exuberance that was refreshing to see. He wasn't afraid to bomb on and when he did get into the final third, his end product was very good indeed. ![robertson]()
Like Elmohamady on the right, Robertson gave City a genuine width that, for example, Liam Rosenior doesn't quite offer. He linked up very well with fellow Scot Robert Snodgrass and then Stephen Quinn, and he looked defensively assured too. Were it not for his goal-line clearance in the first-half, City would've found themselves behind.
Sure, his enthusiasm will at times see him caught out defensively but that is to be expected. He is still very young and the more he plays at this level, the more he will learn.
Though it would be foolish to jump to too many conclusions after just ninety minutes in a City shirt, Robertson looks like the real deal. Steve Bruce may just have unearthed a gem.
It baffles me that people don't think Quinn is Premier League quality. He is a vastly underrated player and if (as has been mooted) he moves on to pastures new it would be a big loss.
He proved last season that he does deserve to play in the Premier League with an excellent performance on the biggest stage of all in the FA Cup final at Wembley. What more does he have to do to prove himself?
Quinn never lets a game pass him by and constantly buzzes around the field, demanding the ball. Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore are the midfielders who usually receive all the plaudits but yesterday Quinn was the standout performer in the City engine room.
Of course, City's strength in depth in the centre of the park means that it will be tough to nail down a regular starting berth. But Quinn's performance yesterday will certainly have given Steve Bruce plenty of food for thought.Jelavic and Ince starved of real opportunities
With the recent departure of Shane Long and Yannick Sagbo's suspension, Steve Bruce didn't have much choice when it came to who started up front. Sone Aluko was the unlucky one as Nikica Jelavic and Tom Ince got the nod.
Both were starved of real opportunities – particularly in the first half – and it was a frustrating afternoon for the pair. Jelavic put himself about but, in truth, missed the off-the-ball running of Long. 
Ince (above) showed glimpses of quality and really should have opened his City account in the second half. After being put through on goal by Quinn, he spurned a fantastic opportunity from six yards out.
It was the kind of chance that he put away so often at Blackpool and if he could have his time over again I'm sure he would opt to dink it over the onrushing Rob Green. If Ince can continue to get himself in similar positions then it won't be long before the goals start flowing.Robertson looks the real deal
One of the many positives from yesterday's game was the brilliant performance of Andrew Robertson. The 20-year-old didn't look at all overawed on his debut and – though it is still very early days – he seems to possess all of the attributes needed to become a top-class left-back.
Robertson (below) played with an exuberance that was refreshing to see. He wasn't afraid to bomb on and when he did get into the final third, his end product was very good indeed. 
Like Elmohamady on the right, Robertson gave City a genuine width that, for example, Liam Rosenior doesn't quite offer. He linked up very well with fellow Scot Robert Snodgrass and then Stephen Quinn, and he looked defensively assured too. Were it not for his goal-line clearance in the first-half, City would've found themselves behind.
Sure, his enthusiasm will at times see him caught out defensively but that is to be expected. He is still very young and the more he plays at this level, the more he will learn.
Though it would be foolish to jump to too many conclusions after just ninety minutes in a City shirt, Robertson looks like the real deal. Steve Bruce may just have unearthed a gem.