QPR 2 Luton 2 - Further Reports

-
[The replay will be Tuesday January 16: 7:45 Kick off (at Luton!)Replay Info

Sunday People -Tony Stevens January 2007
SHABA-DA-BAIDOO FOR LATE GOAL HERO
QPR'S FACup dream was saved by teenage striker Shabazz Baidoo in a thrilling third-round tie at Loftus Road.
Rangers were looking for their first win in the competition since 2001, and went ahead through Dexter Blackstock after 32 minutes.
But the visitors, inspired by the highly-rated Rowan Vine, were in front on 46 minutes after goals each side of the break from Vine and strike partner Warren Feeney.
However, with just a quarter of an hour left, 18-year-old Baidoo bundled the ball home after a goalmouth scramble.
Luton players were left fuming by the goal and ran to referee Tony Bates appealing for a Baidoo handball - but the goal stood.
Rangers earlier had strong claims for a penalty turned down when Jimmy Smith was upended in the box by Steve Robinson. Bates showed no interest in the appeals but the hosts were dominant and a goal seemed inevitable.
After 32 minutes, Lee Cook whipped in a corner from the right which had to be tipped over the bar by Marlon Beresford. The resulting corner was met by an unmarked Blackstock from point-blank range to put QPR in-front.
It reminded the visitors they were in a Cup tie and they soon stepped up their game to be level by half-time. The Rangers defence had looked suspect on the rare occasions Luton ventured forward, and it was no different on the stroke of half-time when they were spectators to a neat passing move finished by Vine from the edge of the area.
The Hatters had turned down a bid from Cardiff for their top scorer during the week - and with finishing like that, they will do well to keep him.
The goal left Rangers shellshocked, and they found themselves behind just a minute after the break.
But this time there was little the hapless home defence could do as Ahmet Brkovic swung in an inchperfect cross from the right.
Feeney was brave to get to the ball before keeper Simon Royce for only his third goal of the season. Rangers desperately tried to get back on level terms, and Blackstock was unlucky to see his goal-bound header blocked on the line by Dean Morgan on 56 minutes. Boss John Gregory threw on both Baidoo and veteran striker Paul Furlong for the closing stages, and the gamble paid off as the youngster came up trumps to take the tie to a replay at Kenilworth Road.
QPR: Royce 6 - Kanyuka 5, Mancienne 6, Stewart 5, Bignot 5 - Ward 4 (Baidoo, 72mins), Lomas 5 (Bircham, 72mins), Smith 7, *COOK 8 - Jones 6 (Furlong, 65mins, 6), Blackstock 7.
LUTON: Beresford 5 - Barnett 7, Perrett 7, Coyne 8, Davis 7- Brkovic 8, Langley 8, Robinson 6, Morgan 7 - *VINE 9, Feeney 7. Ref: A Bates 6 People

SPORTING LIFE - DRAW HARD TO HANDLE FOR NEWELL
Luton manager Mike Newell was furious after his team's 2-2 draw at QPR in the FA Cup third round.
Shabazz Baidoo's controversial equaliser for Rangers forced a replay after Luton had dominated the second half.
Baidoo appeared to bundle the ball in with his hands but referee Tony Bates allowed the goal to stand after consulting his assistant.

Newell said: "It was handball. I don't know why the referee couldn't see it and his assistant couldn't see it, but everyone else in the ground could.
"We should have won that game. We should have put it beyond QPR with the 15-minute spell we had after half-time.
"It was a good performance but this is the FA Cup and what matters most is not the performance but getting to the next round.
"We should have won and didn't, but it's hard to swallow when you know that their goal was handball."
Newell admitted that the last thing that his injury-hit side need is a cup replay.
"We weren't looking for another game with the injuries we've got," he said.
"We're down to the bare bones at the moment so a replay really is not ideal."
Luton battled back after Dexter Blackstock headed Rangers ahead from Lee Cook's 32nd-minute corner.
Rowan Vine levelled with a right-footed effort on the stroke of half-time and a minute after the interval Warren Feeney headed home after Rangers keeper Simon Royce fumbled Ahmet Brkovic's cross.
But the home side were denied by Baidoo's 76th-minute goal, which even QPR manager John Gregory conceded should have been disallowed.
"It wasn't just one hand - the ball hit both of them," said Gregory.
"He put his arms up to protect himself from a clearance and the ball hit him and ended up in the net.
"After that, I think we should have gone on to win it with the pressure we had. But it was a game of mishaps and mistakes and the rain made things tough.
"We were firmly in control before Luton equalised but we went from a position of strength to being behind.
"What we need to do in the replay is try and replicate the way we played in the first 44 minutes."
Rangers have not won an FA Cup game since 2001 but Gregory is hopeful they can finally land a place in the fourth round.
He said: "The last time QPR won in the FA Cup was a replay against Luton, so let's hope history repeats itself.
"We're in the draw on Monday for the next round and that's all that matters. Let's hope we get a good draw and then win that match at their place." SPORTING LIFE

SUNDAY MIRROR - John Gubba - BAIDOO SO HANDY FOR RANGERS
SHABAZZ BAIDOO came off the bench to earn Rangers a replay with a fiercely-disputed equaliser 14 minutes from the end of a thrilling tie.
The Hatters thought the were heading for the fourth round when they fought back from Dexter Blackstock's opener to lead 2-1 with a goal apiece for Rowan Vine and Wayne Feeney.
But Mike Newell's men were left incensed when Baidoo bundled the ball home from point-blank range after an almighty scramble claiming he had used his hands to beat Marlon Beresford.
Referee Tony Bates consulted a linesman, but he allowed the goal to stand.
Rangers snatched a 32nd-minute lead just as the Hatters were starting to threaten after soaking up the early pressure.
Lee Cook's corner was turned over by Beresford. But from the winger's second attempt Blackstock got there first to head into the roof of the net.
But the Hatters hit back on the stroke of half-time with a slick equaliser.
Vine slotted home from 18 yards after Feeney's dummy allowed Ahmet Brkovic to provide the set up.
A minute after the break keeper Simon Royce failed to cut out another ball in from Brkovic and Feeney bundled Luton into the lead.
Blackstock stabbed over from point-blank range and then had a header cleared off the line.
But Rangers were rewarded minutes after manager John Gregory sent on substitutes Baidoo and Marc Bircham.
HOW THEY RATED
QPR
Royce 5, Kanyuka 6, Mancienne 6, Stewart 6, Bignot 6, Ward 6 (Baidoo 6), Lomas 6 (Bircham 6), Smith 7, Cook 7, Jones 6 (Furlong 5), Blackstock 7.
MANAGER Gregory 7
Luton Beresford 6, Barnett 6, Perrett 6, Coyne 6, Davis 7, BRKOVIC 8, Langley 6, Robinson 6, Morgan 7, Feeney 7, Vine 7.
MANAGER Newell 7
REFEREE A Bates 6
MAN OF THE MATCH AHMET BRKOVIC
Set up both Luton goals and was always a threat. Sunday Mirror