Flashback One Year: Blackstock's QPR Debut and Garry Waddock's Final League Victory

-
One year ago today: August 12, 2006: Dexter Blackstock made his league debut as QPR defeated Southend 2-0. This was Garry Waddock's final league victory before departing a few weeks later (and QPR's first league victory since February 2006).

QPR's team for that game: P Jones, Rose, Rehman, Stewart, Milanese, Ainsworth, Rowlands (Lomas 54min, ), Ward, Cook, R Jones (Gallen 74min,) Blackstock
Subs: Cole, Kanyuka, Baidoo.

The Sunday Times August 13, 2006
QPR 2 Southend 0: Shrimpers caught cold by classy Rangers
Brian Glanville at Loftus Road

WITH Ray Jones and Dexter Blackstock combining in attack for QPR as though they had been playing together for years, rather than for the first time, Rangers dominated and only a defiant exhibition by Darryl Flahavan prevented a rout.
It was expected that all eyes would be on 22-year-old Southend striker Freddy Eastwood, a comparatively late developer signed from non-league Grays Athletic. He has been impressive in his first couple of games this season for the promoted Shrimpers, enabling Southend to look as if they might well survive in this division provided they are able to keep him.

As it transpired, the first half was very much QPR’s and a period in which we saw little or nothing of the much-heralded Eastwood.

Jones and Blackstock combined swiftly and shrewdly, Gareth Ainsworth showed pace and power on the right flank, while Nick Ward was a force in central midfield. In the event, Southend would owe a lot to Flahavan.

In the 11th minute, a combination between Jones and Blackstock led to a strong drive turned over the top by Flahavan. There was something of a hiatus until, in the 23rd minute, QPR began to find the target again, and frequently. When Blackstock found Lee Cook on the left, the sequel was a left-footed shot which had Flahavan jumping high to take it. Just a minute later, a fierce, long-range effort from Ainsworth was turned behind by the busy Southend keeper.

A goal surely had to come and, in due course, it did in the 31st minute, shortly after Flahavan took a left-footed strike from Ward. But, when Cook touched a free kick to Rowlands just outside the box, even Flahavan could do nothing about his searing right-footed shot.

And still we were waiting in vain to see something of Eastwood, hardly perhaps a fair test for him, given the pressure put upon his team by the lively and coherent QPR attack.

Flahavan dived desperately but successfully at the feet of Jones. But on 41 minutes, there was a double disaster for himself and his team when Blackstock crossed from the right, Jones soared to beat Flahavan to the ball in the air and Ward on the far post had only to knock it over the line for QPR’s second. In the process, Flahavan took a knock on the side of his head and left the field clutching a towel to the wound.

STAR MAN: Dexter Blackstock (QPR)

Player ratings. QPR: P Jones 6, Rose 6, Rehman 6, Stewart 6, Milanese 6, Ainsworth 7, Rowlands 7 (Lomas 54min, 6), Ward 7, Cook 7, R Jones 8 (Gallen 74min, 6) Blackstock 8 - Subs: Cole, Kanyuka, Baidoo.

Southend: Flahavan 8 (Collis 42min, 7), Francis 6, Prior 6, Barrett 6, Hammell 6, Campbell-Ryce 6, Maher 7, Guttridge 7, Gower 7, Eastwood 6, Bradbury 6 (Paynter 71min, 6)

Scorers: QPR: Rowlands 31, Ward 41

MATCH REPORT Compilations of QPR 2 Southend 0

Match reports I

Match Reports - II

Match Reports - III