Additional QPR-Watford Match Reports

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OBSERVER - Jason Thomas
".....Watford, the Championship leaders, also had to settle for a draw after being ahead at QPR. The point - QPR's first of the season at home - will have been particularly welcome for their manager John Gregory. QPR, who had Mikele Leigertwood sent off near the end, certainly showed the 'strength of character' which Gregory had said he was looking for. None more so than their goalkeeper Leo Camp, their best player. Obsever

Sunday Mirror - Football: Shadow over Gregory can't faze Rangers
Mike Allen At Loftus Road 23/09/2007
John GREGORY's job as Rangers boss hung by a thread last night as his side earned a battling draw with Championship leaders Watford at Loftus Road.
Rangers are the only team in the League without a win this season and he will not have been encouraged by the appearance of ex-Ranger Martin Allen and former
Watford and Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli in the directors' box. Rangers were hampered by the second half dismissal of Mikele Leigertwood, but did little else wrong and were given a standing ovation off the pitch after Stefan Moore cancelled out Adam Johnson's goal, but it may be too little too late for Gregory.
Rangers have not always provided the sort of application they showed yesterday which would persuade new owners Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone that Gregory is the man to fulfil their ambitious plans to return Premiership football to Loftus Road.
A defiant Gregory said: "I am extremely proud of the players, they were outstanding. "I worry more for the players than me.
There's pressure on them to perform, I'm just the manager, although it has been a little unsettling for them.
"Anyone not connected with the club has no idea what the players went through when Ray Jones died a couple of weeks ago.
"They have had to overcome it and refocus on the job, which has taken time."
Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd offered Gregory his support and said: "A few days ago Jose Mourinho wasn't a very good manager, but now he's God because he's gone. So if you are a manager the best thing is to be out of work because you get nice things written about you."
Lee Williamson, Danny Shittu and Tommy Smith all went close for Watford before the break and Dexter Blackstock and Gareth Ainsworth missed glorious opportunities for Rangers as both teams drew a blank despite decent approach play....
HOW THEY RATED Qpr Camp 8; Cullip 6, D Stewart 7, Timoska 6, Barker 6; Ainsworth 6 (Moore 7), Bolder 6, Leigertwood 6, Rowlands; Nardiello 6 (Ephraim 7), Blackstock 5.
Manager Gregory 7
Watford Poom 6; Doyley 6, Shittu 6, DeMerit 6 (Mariappa 6), J Stewart 6; Smith 6 (McAnuff 6), Mahon 7, Williamson 6, Johnson 7; King 6, Henderson 7 (Ellington 6).
Manager Boothroyd 7
Referee K Hill 7
MAN OF THE MATCH Lee Camp Late saves may have saved his manager's job
Sunday Mirror

WATFORD OBSERVER
A BELOW-PAR Watford had to settle for a point after being held to a 1-1 draw at Queens Park Rangers this afternoon (Saturday).
After a very lively opening in which both sides could, and perhaps should, have scored, the Hornets made the breakthrough minutes after the restart when on-loan Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson headed home a Tommy Smith cross.
However, Watford were unable to build on this goal and were pegged back when substitute Stefan Moore capitalised from close range after a Dexter Blackstock header had rebounded off the bar.
The visitors were handed the numerical advantage with nine minutes left when Mikele Leigertwood was dismissed for a second yellow card, but they were unable to find a way through Rangers' stubborn rearguard..... Watford Observer

The PEOPLE -MOORE TIME FOR GREGORY - By Jack Steggles
Stefan Moore came off the bench to grab the goal that could keep Rangers boss John Gregory in his job just a little longer.
With Rangers still seeking their first win this season, the presence of Martin Allen and Gianluca Vialli in the directors' box must worry Gregory.
But the players showed they are still behind their manager with a battling display against the top dogs....
Qpr: *CAMP 8 - Timoska 7, Cullip 7, D Stewart 6, Barker 6 - Ainsworth 5 (Moore, 45mins, 7), Boulder 6, Leigertwood 5, Rowlands 5 - Nardiello 6 (Ephraim, 40mins, 5), Blackstock 6.
Watford: Poom 6 - Doyley 6, Shittu 6, DeMerit 7 (Mariappa, 45mins, 6), J Stewart 6 - Smith 6 (McAnuff, 73mins), Mahon 6, Williamson 6, *JOHNSON 8 - King 7, Henderson 6 (Ellington, 73mins). Ref: K Hill 6. People

Telegraph QPR (0) 1 Watford (0) 1 - (By Andrew Warshaw)
If John Gregory is on his way out of Queen Park Rangers, after a year as manager, he could not have asked much more from his struggling team yesterday, writes Andrew Warshaw.
A goal behind early in the second half, Rangers scored a deserved equaliser against the Championship pacesetters, picking up their first home point of the season despite playing the last 10 minutes a man short after Mikele Leigertword was sent off for a second book able offence.
Rumours that Gregory is on the verge of being ousted by QPR's new regime of Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone were fuelled by the appearance of no fewer than four prospective candidates in the directors' box.
They included former Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli and Martin Allen, most recently of Leicester.
But Gregory refused to be drawn on his future preferring to dwell on the way his team have recovered from the recent death of team-mate Ray Jones, tragically killed in a car accident.
"Those not connected with this club cannot appreciate what the players have been through," said Gregory. "It hit everyone in the dressing room so badly and they have had to refocus on their job. I can't worry about all the speculation, it's been more unsettling for the players."
Dexter Blackstock missed two first-half sitters for Rangers but in a thoroughly open game Watford were just as profligate until Adam Johnson, on loan from Middlesbrough, couldn't miss.
Just as Rangers were in danger of losing their way, Blackstock's looping header came back off the bar and substitute Stefan Moore netted the rebound.Telegraph

See Also Earlier QPR-Watford Match Reports and Comments