QPR Draw 2-2 at Bristol City - Ben Sahar Has Appendix Removed

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UPDATE 9:00 PM

QPR drew 2-2 at Bristol City...With Ben Sahar missing with appendicitis, which will put him out for the next few weeks...


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - JOHN GREGORY'S ASSESSMENT NEVER SAY DIE

John Gregory praised the R's never-say-die attitude after seeing his side come from behind twice at Ashton Gate.

Goals from Dexter Blackstock and Damion Stewart quickly cancelled out the Robins' earlier strikes in an entertaining opening-day affair.

"First and foremost it was a very good football match. I have to say when the fixtures came out, this was the last place I wanted to come on day one," said Gregory.

"Spurs have learnt to their cost today how tough it is to go to a newly-promoted side on the first day of the new campaign.

"Having said that, our players were first-class and a draw was the very least we deserved."

Gregory also reserved special praise for the R's fans, commenting: "The following from West London was remarkable and I'd have been gutted if we'd left here with nothing to show for our efforts.

"You can never write QPR off. The spirit, determination, courage and desire of this squad is first-class.

"With no disrespect to our supporters, our most vocal fans were probably sat on the bench today.

"Danny Cullip and Marcus Bignot did my team-talk for me and that sums up the never-say-die spirit we have instilled here.

Gregory summarised: "We should have won the game by three clear goals but overall I am delighted with the start we have made to the new season.
QPR

SPORTING LIFE - Johnson & Gregory's Comments JOHNSON: THAT TECHS THE BISCUIT
By Ben Rumsby, PA Sport

Bristol City boss Gary Johnson compared the thrilling 2-2 draw with QPR in the Championship to a computer game.

A pulsating match saw two goals in the dying seconds as promoted City twice threw away the lead to finish with a point from their first game in the second tier of English football since 1999.

"I am a Championship manager but you mustn't treat it like the actual computer game, 'Championship Manager'," Johnson said after the 2-2 draw at Ashton Gate.

"There was a lot of Championship Manager for a little while there."

He added: "They had their chances, we had ours. It could have been 4-4, maybe.

"Sometimes people have to enjoy those great games."

Rangers twice equalised within moments of going behind, their second coming from Damien Stewart, who headed home substitute Mark Nygaard's nod down from Martin Rowlands' free-kick.

That came after substitute Scott Murray's screamer looked to have earned City victory.

Johnson's son Lee gave the promoted Robins the lead in the first half but Dexter Blackstock levelled almost immediately for Rangers, who could have won the match many times over after the break thanks to a virtuoso performance from Rangers midfielder Rowlands.

"It's the highs a lows of the Championship," Johnson said.

"It was a fantastic goal - Scotty's - just at the right time.

"Unfortunately, we gave a free-kick away and weren't good enough to clear it. That's when teams are at their most dangerous, when you've just scored.

"That's what happens sometimes and you have to give credit to the opposition.

"I thought our lads gave it a really good shot. I was proud of them. I know we don't want to be drawing games at home but for the first game of the season, that was a good result."

Goalkeeper Adrian Basso was injured challenging Blackstock for Rangers' first equaliser and was replaced at half-time by Stephen Henderson, who made his debut at 19.

Johnson said: "I think he may have done ligaments in his ribcage."

The game's other major talking point will be the referee's decision to keep his cards in his pocket when City's star summer signing Lee Trundle lashed out at Stewart.

Johnson said: "He's old enough and ugly enough to know what he needs to do - we don't want any petulance.

"I felt they were coming over the top with him and shoving him. I felt we could've had some more free-kicks."

Rangers boss John Gregory praised his side's character but insisted Rowland's performance deserved better.
"Martin Rowlands really should have gone away with the match ball today," Gregory said of the player who twice hit the woodwork and forced a great save out of Henderson.

"He played very well. He couldn't have really done much better than he did.

"When Scotty scored, I thought that was probably going to be the end of the scoring. But you don't write off this bunch of lads.

"They've got a lot of energy, a lot of courage and a lot of desire to to well this year."

He added: "We had to show a lot of character going behind twice, totally against the run of play on both occasions.

"This was a fixture I didn't really want first game of the season.

"You try and avoid the clubs that have just been promoted, particularly Bristol City.

"So my boys really did fantastically well today."

"At times we outplayed Bristol City and had it not been for one or two very good saves by the goalkeeper in the second half - which kept Bristol City in the game - we should have won by two or possibly three clear goals." Sporting Life

QPR Official Site - SAHAR SIDELINED
R's loanee Ben Sahar is currently undergoing an appendix operation.
The Chelsea front-man complained of stomach pains last night and was ruled out of today's opening-day fixture after feeling unwell this morning.
Sahar was taken to a hospital in Bristol and is likely to be ruled out for 4-5 weeks.
"It's a blow, but his health is the most important thing,'' John Gregory told www.qpr.co.uk.
"He's got his Mum and Dad with him and he'll be fine.
"He's got lots of matches and a great future ahead of him and I'm looking forward to welcoming him back on the training ground in the not too distant future." QPR

QPR Official Site - Bristol City 2 QPR 2
Damion Stewart's last-gasp equaliser gave Rangers a deserved share of the spoils at Ashton Gate.

The Jamaican international defender pounced in the dying seconds, as Rangers came from behind twice to kick off their Championship campaign with a point.

Moments earlier, Scott Murray appeared to have handed the Championship newcomers all three points, when he curled home a 90th minute stunner.

In truth, a point was the least the R's deserved, with the woodwork twice denying the outstanding Martin Rowlands in a second half dominated by the visitors.

Man of the match Rowlands hit the post and the bar and had two stunning efforts saved by Stephen Henderson.

Earlier, John Gregory's men came from behind to draw level at the break.

Lee Johnson cashed in on a poor defensive clearance from John Curtis to open the scoring on 32 minutes, but the lead lasted less than two minutes.

Dexter Blackstock opened his account for the new campaign, when he nipped in behind a static Robins' rearguard and lobbed the advancing Adriano Basso.

Gregory handed debuts to new signings John Curtis and Danny Nardiello at Ashton Gate.

Lee Camp and Michael Mancienne also started, but there was no place in the 16 for in-form front-man Ben Sahar, who was ruled out due to illness.

Lee Trundle led the line for the Robins, hot on the heels of his £1million move from Swansea City.

Kicking towards the 1,900-plus Rangers fans in the Wedlock Stand in the first half, the R's were under pressure from the first whistle.

Mancienne's sliced clearance forced Camp to gather under his own crossbar as early as the first minute, before Enoch Showunmi headed straight at the R's number one moments later.

The pressure was relentless and after Brian Wilson's cut-back was hacked to safety by Mancienne, Camp was grateful to see Marvin Elliott's 25-yard blockbuster fade inches wide of his right hand post.

Rangers' first opportunity arrived in the 12th minute, when Nardiello's deft chip landed a yard or so over the bar.

Former Millwall midfielder Elliott was proving a constant thorn in the R's side and when he arrived bang on cue to meet Michael McIndoe's cross a minute later, Camp was again grateful to see the ball finish the wrong side of the post.

But it was Rowlands who went closest to opening the scoring midway through an end-to-end first half.

The midfielder's 30-yard free-kick seemed destined for the top corner, only for Adriano Basso to pull off a stunning finger tip save.

Yet it was the Robins who eventually opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, courtesy of their Manager's son!

Curtis conceded possession all too easily in the R's half and when the ball found it's way to Johnson, he let fly.

Camp seemed in a decent position to save the centre-midfielder's powerful 25-yard drive, but the ball squirmed through his grasp and trickled over the line.

It was a soft goal to concede from a Rangers point of view, but the lead lasted just 88 seconds.

Blackstock seized on Curtis' innocuous looking through ball and having beat Basso to the loose ball, his deft chip looped over the stranded Robins keeper and into an empty net.

The Brazilian stopper required lengthy treatment after the collision, which came as a welcome relief to both teams in the baking mid-afternoon sun.

Buoyed by their goal - and a vast intake of fluids during the aforementioned break - Rangers were immediately back on the offensive.

Nardiello fed the advanced Zesh Rehman in a right wing position, but Basso did well to gather on the edge of his six-yard box, with Blackstock poised to pounce.

The lively Trundle fired a brief warning shot when he fired into the side netting on 41 minutes, before Rehman's attempted clearance ricocheted off Mancienne and flew inches over the bar.

Rangers ended the half on top though, with the visitors having vocal appeals for a spot-kick turned down on the stroke of half-time.

Louis Carey appeared to handle the ball on the edge of his six-yard box, but despite vocal appeals from the players in Blue and White Hoops, referee Mr Stroud waved away the appeals.

Nardiello was booked for voicing his concerns as the teams left the pitch, much to the angst of Gregory and Mick Harford, who continued their remonstrations with the officials.

The Robins were forced into a double change at the break.

Clearly still feeling the effects of Blackstock's challenge on him in the lead up to the R's opening goal, Basso was replaced by Stephen Henderson, while Liam Fortune replaced no-nonsense defender Tamas Vasko.

Camp atoned for his earlier error in the 49th minute, when he worked wonders to claw Trundle's cross-cum-shot out from under his own bar.

Play soon switched to the other end, with Rowlands cutting in from the left flank and firing a vicious right footed strike off the foot of Henderson's right hand post.

Gregory made his first substitution of the new campaign on 59 minutes.

West Ham United loanee Hogan Ephraim entered the fray for his debut as a replacement for Nardiello, just 24 hours after his one month loan move from Upton Park to W12.

His partnership with Blackstock lasted just a matter of minutes though, with the R's goalscorer forced from the fray with a thigh injury.

Rangers grew in stature as the half progressed and after a neat passing move from right to left, Ephraim's flick put in Rowlands, who fired inches wide from the edge of the penalty box, with Henderson seemingly beaten all ends up.

Rowlands was switched to the right flank by Gregory soon after, but it made little difference, as he continued to lead the Robins defence a merry dance.

Cutting in again, his trademark left foot curler bounced down off the underside of the bar, before being hacked cleared for a corner.

The resultant set-piece was fumbled by Henderson and when the ball fell to Rehman, only a last-gasp block denied the R's right-back from the edge of the six-yard box.

The Martin Rowlands show continued, but after leaving three in his wake with a fantastic piece of skill, Henderson came to the hosts' rescue, diving full stretch at the midfielder's feet, to deny him the goal his performance undoubtedly deserved.

The best of the drama on a rip-rawing afternoon was saved until the very last though.

Murray appeared to have won it for the hosts when he curled in a stunning effort in the 90th minute, but Rangers responded - and how!

When all seemed lost, that man Rowlands played provider, flighting an expert free-kick to the back post.

Marc Nygaard nodded the ball back across goal and with the Robins defence all at sea, Stewart applied the simplest of finishing touches from five yards.

The fifth goal both sets of supporters craved proved to be beyond both sides in the final seconds, thanks in part to Camp, who dived full length to tip Elliott's 15-yard drive wide.

Bristol City: Basso (Henderson 46), Orr, Vasko (Fontaine 46), Carey, McAllister, Wilson, Johnson, Elliott, McIndoe, Trundle (Murray 79), Showunmi.

Subs: Jevons, Russell.

Scorers: Johnson 32, Murray 90

QPR: Camp, Rehman, Stewart, Mancienne, Curtis, Rowlands, Bolder, Bailey, Moore, Blackstock (Nygaard 69), Nardiello (Ephraim 59).

Subs: Bignot, Cullip, Cole.

Scorers: Blackstock 33, Stewart 92

Bookings: Rowlands 23, Nardiello 45, Stewart 69

Referee: K P Stroud

Attendance: 18,228 (1,944)

QPR

BRISTOL EVENING POST - CITY DENIED OPENING DAY VICTORY

Two goals in the dying moments ensured it was honours even at 2-2 in the opening Coca-Cola Championship clash between Bristol City and QPR at Ashton Gate.

Rangers twice equalised within moments of going behind, their second coming from Damien Stewart after Scott Murray's shot looked to have earned City a breathtaking victory in their first game in English football's second tier since 1999.

City boss Gary Johnson's son Lee gave the promoted Robins the lead in the first half, but Dexter Blackstock levelled almost immediately for Rangers, who could have won the match many times over after the break thanks to a virtuoso performance from midfielder Martin Rowlands.

A pulsating game's other major talking point will be the referee deciding to keep his cards in his pocket when City's star summer signing, Lee Trundle, lashed out at Stewart.

Trundle was among four City debutants, starting alongside fellow newcomers Marvin Elliott, Michael McIndoe and the on-loan Tamas Vasko.

John Curtis and Danny Nardiello made their bows for a Rangers side looking to improve on last season's miserable away form.

City bossed the early exchanges and Enoch Showunmi beat a poor offside trap to meet a lofted ball, but the forward's tame header was straight at Lee Camp.

It was not long before new strike partner Trundle got in on the act as the #1million man completely deceived his marker to drag a Bradley Orr ball into his path before unselfishly squaring for Showunmi.

Rangers thought they had cleared the danger, but Elliott followed up with a first-time 30-yard drive which flashed narrowly wide.

The midfielder was proving a real goalscoring threat, his header from McIndoe's cross only narrowly over.

Neither goalkeeper had been forced into a significant save, but that changed midway through the half when Rowlands' magnificent free-kick was clawed round the post by Adrian Basso.

The City stopper almost embarrassed himself from the subsequent corner, however. His flap allowed Zesh Rehman to hook the ball goalward, but Basso recovered to claim.

It took further errors for the deadlock to be broken, left-back Curtis giving the ball away 25 yards out, allowing Johnson to take aim.

Camp managed to get a firm hand on the midfielder's strike, but it had just enough pace to squirm in off the post.

Barely a minute later Rangers were level, Curtis' long pass setting up a race between Blackstock and Basso. The striker took ball first and keeper second and the goal rightly stood.

That added insult to injury for Basso, who needed three minutes' treatment before the game resumed.

Brian Wilson drove narrowly wide and Michael Mancienne almost put through his own net as the half ended on a high.

Basso failed to recover from his knock and was one of two City substitutions at the interval, allowing Stephen Henderson to make his debut, while Vasko was withdrawn for Liam Fontaine.

As in the first half, City began the second with greater purpose than the visitors.

Trundle's teasing cross caused havoc in the Rangers area, but Camp kept his head to claw the ball to safety.

Minutes later Trundle completely lost it when he ran into the back of Stewart and kicked out at the defender.

The incident was right in front of the referee, but he chose to award only a free-kick.

Rangers almost netted with their next attack, Rowlands cutting inside and firing a shot that deflected off City skipper Louis Carey and rebounded off the post.

Nardiello's afternoon ended an hour in, new loan signing Hogan Ephraim replacing him in attack.

Johnson then drove over left-footed, while Trundle's delicious chip landed on the roof of the net as City probed for a second goal.

Blackstock was withdrawn for Marc Nygaard, sparking Rangers' best spell of the game, as some excellent build-up play ended with the dangerous Rowlands rifling a shot inches wide.

The midfielder was hitting the ball sweetly, and he rattled the City woodwork again when his angled drive crashed off the underside of the crossbar.

With time running out, Murray replaced Trundle. He had already been upstaged by Rowlands, who finished by tricking his way into the City box before forcing a great one-on-one save by Henderson.

Murray then unleashed an unstoppable 30-yard strike into the top corner.

But while City fans were still celebrating, Rowlands' free-kick was nodded across goal by Nygaard and Stewart headed home.

And there was still time for Elliott to force a spectacular save from Camp.

We'll have more action and reaction from the game on Monday. Bristol Evening Post