QPR Forced to a Replay in the FA Cup

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QPR were held 2-2 at home to Luton
QPR took the lead through Blackstock in the 32nd minuted. Luton scored twice just before and just after the break. QPR equalized in the 76th minute through substitute Baidoo.
QPR Team:
Royce Bignot Mancienne Stewart Kanyuka Cook Smith Lomas Ward Blackstock Jones
Bench: Cole Rehman Bircham Furlong Baidoo


UPDATE: JOHN GREGORY OFFICIAL SITE
THE HAND OF SHAB
John Gregory was happy to admit Shabazz Baidoo's equaliser should never have stood after seeing his side draw 2-2 with Luton.
Speaking in the wake of the four goal thriller at Loftus Road, Gregory told www.qpr.co.uk: "I think he used both hands to be honest.
"We had a nailed-on penalty in the first half though, so it's probably levelled itself out over the course of the 90 minutes.
"It was an afternoon full of mistakes and mishaps, but we're in the hat for the fourth round on Monday.
"I suppose when we look at the way the game went and the conditions, I'm happy with a replay.''
Gregory bemoaned the way the R's ended the first half and started the second period though, commenting: "We're disappointed - we were totally in control for 40 odd minutes. I didn't have to get out of my seat and that's saying something.
"We were bossing the game and I was thinking it was just a matter of time before we got the second goal.
"Unfortunately we fell asleep either side of the break and suddenly we're chasing the game.
"Thankfully the lads kept battling and we got the all-important equaliser.''
The last time Rangers progressed to the fourth round stage was following a replay at Kenilworth Road in 2001. "Lets hope history repeats itself,'' said Gregory.
"It's a tough place to go but we've won there already this season so why can't we go there and do it again?'' QPR


Dunstable Today - Newell's Reaction
Newell bemoans 'handball' equaliser
Even Gregory admits QPR leveller illegal
Hatters boss Mike Newell was left fuming about the decision that allowed QPR a late leveller in the 2-2 third round FA Cup tie at Loftus Road.
Town had been 2-1 ahead thanks to goals either side of half-time from Rowan Vine and Warren Feeney after Dexter Blackstock's opener for the hosts.
But Rangers earned a replay with a controversial leveller from substitute Shabazz Baidoo 15 minutes from time despite the player appearing to convert with his hand.

A despondent Newell said: "It was handball. But the referee didn't see it so there's nothing you can do about it.

"I don't know how he didn't see it or the linesman didn't see it, but everyone else in the ground did."

Even Rangers manager John Gregory conceded: "I was totally convinced it was handball and I don't think it hit one hand I think it hit two.

"It hit both his hands and ended up in the back of the net.

"I don't know what happened before it. I know the goalkeeper made a good save and one or two of our lads said the ball hit one of the Luton players' hands.

"But then Shabazz put his hands up to protect himself from a clearance and it looked it hit both his hands and went in, but the referee gave it."

On the pattern of the game, Newell said: "We should have won the game, again.

"We should have put it beyond doubt with the spell we had 15 or 20 minutes after half-time.

"We should have had it wrapped up, but we didn't. When you concede, you concede, but it's hard to take when it's handball.

"It's the FA Cup and you're interested in performances, you just want to get through to the next round.

"We didn't want the extra game with the injuries we've got at the moment – we're down to the bare bones.

"But the bottom line is we're still in the cup and in the draw."

On the chances of 14-goal striker Rowan Vine being around for the replay after reported interest from Cardiff, Norwich and Sunderland, Newell said: "I'm hopeful, but I don't know.

"You'll have to ask the powers that be about that. You won't get any thoughts on that from me." Duntsable Today



QPR OFFICIAL SITE MATCH REPORT
Super-sub Shabazz Baidoo bagged a controversial late leveller to keep the R's FA Cup dreams alive.
Entering the fray as a second half substitute, the teenager forced a replay after scoring with his hand in the closing stages of a rain-soaked clash at Loftus Road.
In a Jimmy Smith inspired first half, Rangers took the lead.
Dexter Blackstock soared to the top of the R's goalscoring charts with his seventh goal of the season just after the half hour.
Arriving onto Lee Cook's perfectly flighted corner, the former Southampton ace made no mistake from inside the six-yard box, heading home with aplomb.
However, in a fixture which has a habit of producing drama either side of the half-time whistle, goals a minute before and a minute after the break gave Luton the initiative.
Rowan Vine ensured it was all square at the break, when he struck from 15-yards on the stroke of half-time.
After notching two goals in as many minutes in the Championship fixture at Kenilworth Road in mid-November, Luton produced an almost carbon copy performance when Warren Feeney capitalised on hesitancy in the R's back four to make it 2-1 a minute into the second period.

The drama was relentless and when Baidoo leapt off the bench to notch his second goal of the season, a replay at Kenilworth Road loomed large.

There was still time for both sides to clinch victory, but on the balance of play, a draw - and a replay - was probably a fair result.

Rangers welcomed back Smith to the starting XI, with Kevin Gallen making way.

Marc Bircham returned to the R's bench, alongside Jake Cole, Zesh Rehman, Baidoo and Paul Furlong.

R's old boy Richard Langley passed a late fitness test to retain his place in the Luton side, but the Hatters were minus the services of Pompey loanee Dean Kiely.

Buoyed by their 1-0 win against high-flying Colchester last time out, the R's come out of the traps at a exhilarating rate.

After missing out against the U's, Smith was keen to stamp his authority on proceedings early on and when Cook fed him the ball 25-yards from goal, the Chelsea loanee wasted no time in getting his shot away, only to fire over.

Nicky Ward fired another warning shot to Marlon Beresford when he let fly on nine minutes, but yet again the effort lacked direction.

Smith was clearly relishing his midfield battle and when Rangers were awarded a free-kick a minute later, Beresford did fantastically well to smother his shot as it zipped up off the greasy Loftus Road surface.

With the rain continuing to fall at a consistent rate, Rangers were denied what appeared to be a blatant spot-kick on 17 minutes.

After seeing his initial shot blocked by Chris Coyne, Smith took a second bite at the cherry, only to have his legs taken away from him by Steve Robinson.

Smith and his fellow team-mates were incensed at Mr Bates' decision and they had every right to be.

Luton were second best all over the park and when Feeney forced Simon Royce into a regulation save midway through the half, it was very much against the run of play.

Undeterred, the Hatters grew in stature as the half wore on, with Ahmet Brkovic seeing his snap shot deflected a yard or so wide on 27 minutes.

Play quickly switched to the other end, with Beresford on hand to tip over Cook's inswinging corner in the 31st minute.

Luton clearly didn't heed the warning though and when Cook flighted the resultant corner to the front post, Blackstock stole a march on his marker to head home his seventh goal of the season from inside the six-yard box.

Luton made amends on the strike of half-time, after Michael Mancienne unsuccessfully attempted to intercept Feeney's pass.

Brkovic capitalised on the loose ball and when he slid in Vine, the striker took one touch to set before firing past Royce for his 14th goal of the campaign.

The 1-1 half-time scoreline was harsh on Rangers, who had dominated for long periods, only to lack that killer instinct in the final third.

Although the rain eased on the resumption, there was no let up in the action - and it was Luton who came out the traps firing on all cylinders.

Brkovic's teasing cross from the right deceived Royce as it spun off the surface and Feeney was the fortunate recipient, as the ball bounced up, hit him on the chest and cannoned into the empty net.

The R's should have been on terms two minutes later, but Blackstock squandered a golden chance from the edge of the six-yard box, firing high and wide from Smith's miscued drive.

Blackstock was being gifted the freedom of the final third and when he rose to meet Cook's outswinging corner, Dean Morgan somehow cleared the ball to safety from under his own crossbar.

After seeing his side throw away a comfortable 1-0 lead, gaffer John Gregory was dealt another blow in the 63rd minute, when Ray Jones was forced from the fray with a knock.

Furlong entered the fray at his expense and the evergreen striker made a decent impact, firing a volley on target, which Beresford did well to hold on to at the first attempt.

Sensing the R's required fresh legs on a boggy surface, Gregory made a double change with 20 minutes on the clock, introducing Baidoo and Bircham, at the expense of Ward and the hardworking Steve Lomas.

Baidoo's impact was quite sensational - the kind of super-sub heroics this competition has a habit of producing. Moments after the teenager required treatment for a knock, Rangers won a corner.

Cook's delivery was sublime yet again and after Stewart's header was cleared off the line, following a goal-mouth scramble, Baidoo pounced - albeit via the aid of his hand - to put Rangers on terms.

To a man, the Luton side were in uproar, but after having strong appeals for a stone-wall spot-kick waved away in the first half, the R's deserved a lucky break - and they certainly got it courtesy of Mr Bates and his assistant Mr Williams.

To their credit, both sides went in search of a winner in the closing stages, but the all-important fifth goal remained elusive.

QPR: Royce, Bignot, Mancienne, Stewart, Kanyuka, Cook, Smith, Lomas (Bircham 71), Ward (Baidoo 71), Blackstock, Jones (Furlong 63).
Subs: Cole, Rehman.
Scorers: Blackstock 31, Baidoo 75
Luton Town: Beresford, Davis, Coyne, Perrett, Robinson, Vine, Feeney, Morgan, Langley, Brkovic, Barnett.
Subs: Brill, O'Leary, Boyd, Keane, Holmes.
Scorers: Vine 44, Feeney 46
Bookings: Barnett 82, Langley 90
Referee: Mr A Bates QPR

LUTON OFFICIAL SITE
A controversial strike from Shabazz Baidoo means Luton and QPR will have to do it all again in ten days time at Kenilworth Road after they couldn't be separated in an entertaining FA Cup Third Round encounter at Loftus Road.

The Rangers substitute hit home the equalising goal in the second half to cancel out strikes from Warren Feeney and Rowan Vine.

However, Luton were left fuming as the striker looked as if he had handled the ball in the build up to the goal.

Despite strong protests from Luton players, referee Anthony Bates allowed the goal to stand, despite consulting with his assistant.

Ranger took a first half lead when Dexter Blackstock nodded home from close range to convert Cook's corner.

Luton were back on level terms just before the interval through Rowan Vine's 14th goal of the season, with Warren Feeney striking home from close range immediately after the restart.

With Portsmouth refusing permission for Dean Kiely to play in the FA Cup, Marlon Beresford returned to the starting line-up.

The absence of Carlos Edwards, following his transfer to Sunderland, meant Ahmet Brkovic kept his place on the right side of midfield.

Kevin Foley's absence meant Leon Barnett was forced into the right back slot as Chris Coyne returned to partner Russell Perrett in the centre of Luton's defence.

QPR made one change from the side that beat Colchester on Bank Holiday Monday as Jimmy Smith replaced striker Kevin Gallen.

QPR made a bright start and almost took the lead in the fourth minute when Jimmy Smith cracked a fierce drive from the edge of the area that sailed over the Luton crossbar.

The home side continued to insert pressure on the Luton defence and Rangers fans thought they should have had a penalty on 17 minutes when Smith was sent tumbling to the ground after a rash challenge from Steve Robinson.

Despite strong protests from the Rangers players, referee Anthony Bates waved away the appeals as Luton breathed a huge sigh of relief.

The torrential downpours were making playing conditions difficult as Luton struggled to stamp their authority on the game.

It wasn't until the 21st minute that the visitors managed a worthwhile opportunity as Feeney collected a short pass from Vine to fire a 22 yard shot straight into the arms of QPR goalkeeper Simon Royce.

However it was QPR that looked the more likely side to score and when they broke the deadlock on 32 minutes, it was little surprise, although the nature of the goal would have certainly infuriated Hatters boss Mike Newell.

It was Cook's corner that caused confusion in the Hatters defence which saw Blackstock nip in at the front post to nod home from close range.

The game was soon drifting into half time as QPR continued to sustain the pressure. However, the half took a twist just seconds before the interval as the Hatters got themselves back on level terms.

Some neat build up play from the visitors, involving Feeney and Richard Langley, eventually saw Ahmet Brkovic slip a neat ball to Vine, who calmly side footed an well executed shot from the edge of the area the nestled kindly into the corner of the net.

AT HALF TIME: QPR 1 V 1 LUTON

Luton made the perfect start to the second half when they got themselves in front just 48 seconds after the restart. Brkovic's optimistic cross from the right was pushed by Royce into the path of Feeney, who bundled the ball into the empty net.

Rangers almost responded immediately when on 49 minutes, Beresford failed to claim a long kick up field. As the Luton defence failed to clear the danger, Cook sent over a cross from the left which was turned over the crossbar by Blackstock, as the former Southampton striker failed to direct his effort into an empty net.

Luton had Dean Morgan to thank on 55 minutes when the midfielder cleared Blackstock's towering header off the line after Cook had delivered a pinpoint corner.

The Hatters continued to surge forward as Feeney almost grabbed his second of the game on 62 minutes when the striker fired narrowly over the crossbar from the edge of the Rangers penalty area.

On 68 minutes, Feeney came close again as the visitors continued to enjoy the majority of possession. The Northern Ireland international raced onto Langley's through ball, but his first time shot from an acute angle was blocked by Damion Stewart.

A double substitution from QPR boss John Gregory almost had an immediate impact when Cook found space down the left flank to fiercely hit a low drive the flew straight into the arms of Beresford.

Controversy surrounded Rangers' equaliser as they bundled the ball into the net on 76 minutes. A Cook corner wasn't dealt with by the visitors' defence as Baidoo managed to scramble to ball over the line from close range.

However, Luton were left fuming as Baidoo seemingly used his arm to guide the ball beyond the reach of Beresford as Hatters players surrounded Bates.

Rangers went in search of a winner and it nearly came from Paul Furlong on 85 minutes when the striker fired an acute angle shot inches wide of the target.

Langley tried his luck with an ambitious 25 yard free kick in stoppage time, but it failed to hit the target, as both teams found themselves in the hat for the fourth round draw, a result which probably does neither team much good. Luton

Dunstable Today -Luton and QPR will meet again
Goals within a minute either side of half-time couldn't quite see Luton through the third round of the FA Cup at QPR.
Rowan Vine's 14th of the season in the final minute of the first-half and Warren Feeney's third of the campaign a minute after the interval had seen Town go 2-1 up after Dexter Blackstock's opener for the hosts.

But home substitute Shabazz Baidoo's controversial equaliser – which Hatters claimed he put in with his hand – ensured honours ended even at a rain-swept Loftus Road.

The draw means both sides will now face each other again in a replay at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday, January 16.

Hatters made three changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Cardiff on New Year's Day as Chris Coyne, Steve Robinson and Marlon Beresford came in for the departed Carlos Edwards, suspended David Bell and on loan stopper Dean Kiely, whose parent club Portsmouth denied permission for their man to play.

Rangers meanwhile made one change to the team that beat Colchester 1-0 five days ago with Chelsea loan midfielder Jimmy Smith replacing Kevin Gallen.

The hosts also included ex-Hatters loanee, goalkeeper Simon Royce in their 11.

After the game survived an early pitch inspection, QPR started the better amid driving rain in West London.

Smith and Nick Ward both hit long range efforts off-target within the first nine minutes before Smith tested Beresford with a low 20-yard free-kick in the 11th minute after former Rangers midfielder Richard Langley had fouled Lee Cook.

Cook was next to have a pop himself two minutes later, but his 20-yarder after Ray Jones' pass flew well wide.

Luton only had a wild 14th minute, 30-yard free-kick from Dean Morgan that flew high and wide to show for their efforts early on.

It was QPR who continued to dominate and they were denied what looked like a stonewall penalty in the 17th minute when Robinson caught Smith from behind in the area as the youngster shaped to shoot, but referee Tony Bates ignored the home side's appeals.

Hatters gradually began to work their way back into the match and after Feeney bounced a 25-yard effort at Royce in the 22nd minute, Ahmet Brkovic saw his 18-yard shot deflect wide off Damion Stewart five minutes later after Leon Barnett's cross from the right was half-cleared.

As the rain continued to fall, conditions deteriorated, holding up the ball in areas of the pitch and turning the clash into a scrappy affair.

It was the hosts who coped the better with the weather though as they took the lead in the 32nd minute.

The Hoops' first corner of the afternoon forced Beresford to react smartly and push Cook's inswinging strike over the bar, but from the second flag kick Blackstock arrived at the front post to thump home a header from close range.

Town looked like trooping in a goal down at the interval, but seconds before the break Vine hauled Luton back on level terms by lashing home right-footed from just inside the penalty area after Brkovic layed the ball off following Feeney's clever dummy.

Just 48 seconds after the half-time restart Luton went 2-1 up as Vine found Brkovic on the right flank and the Croat turned provider again sending in a teasing cross that bounced up off Royce into Feeney before the ball flew into the unguarded net.

Four minutes later Hatters almost got another as Morgan's cross-shot free-kick from wide on the left flashed just past the far post, evading the lurking Russell Perrett.

Rangers responded immediately as Beresford flapped at a deep ball into the penalty area allowing Smith to rasp in a shot that flew into the path of Blackstock, who could only prod over the bar from six yards on the stretch.

With the rain relenting the action increased and Morgan had to be alive to clear off the line in the 56th minute from Blackstock's 15-yard goalbound header after Cook's corner.

Luton settled and with Langley impressing against his former employers, Town pushed on and came close again when Langley himself fed Feeney in the area, but the striker delayed his shot allowing Stewart to block.

QPR were restricted to long range efforts from substitute Paul Furlong and Cook that Beresford comfortably gathered despite the wet conditions.

But they found an equaliser in the 75th minute from another substitute after an almighty scramble in the penalty area.

Cook's corner caused pandemonium as Langley first blocked one attempt before Beresford somehow kept out the follow up amid a host of bodies only for the ball to bounce up for Baidoo who converted from close range with more than a hint of handball.

The goal was only given after a delay while official Bates consulted his assistant before pointing to the centre circle. Dunstable Today