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Saturday, October 20, 2007

QPR Alone at the Bottom....Draw at Home to Ipswich

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1-1. Legwinski put Ipswich ahead after 53 minutes. Substitute Nygaard equalized after 73 minutes. Crowd of almost 14,000 at Loftus Road. League Table

Harford Comments - QPR Official Site - PRICELESS POINT?
Mick Harford believes the point gained against Ipswich Town could prove to be a priceless one come the business end of the season.
Rangers came from behind to grab a share of the spoils against the Tractor Boys, with second half substitute Marc Nygaard bagging the all-important leveller.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, Harford said: "Overall we're disappointed not to have won the game, but to come from behind so late on could prove to a priceless result at the end of the campaign.
"I thought we should have been one or two goals up at half-time, but we didn't start the second period at all well.
"You can't do much about the goal they scored. It was a wonderful strike.
"But we dug deep and got our reward with Marc's strike."
Harford reserved special praise for Nygaard, commenting: "Big (Jason) De Vos was winning everything in the air for them, so we mixed it up and Marc was a handful.
"He made a big impact and I'm delighted for him after his injury nightmares of late."
Harford added: "The spine of the side were excellent - Camp, Cranie, Leigertwood and Vine were exceptional.
"In all, it was a decent performance from the lads." QPR

Sporting Life - HARFORD UNSURE OVER FUTURE - By Andy Sims, PA Sport
Mick Harford is still in the dark over his future despite seeing his QPR side come from behind to earn a 1-1 draw in their Coca-Cola Championship clash with Ipswich.
Harford remains in caretaker charge of Rangers following John Gregory's sacking, but his full-time job prospects appeared to take a nosedive when Sylvain Legwinski smashed his second goal of the season for Ipswich.
But Harford's inspired substitution, replacing defender Michael Mancienne for striker Marc Nygaard, paid dividends when the Dane struck to secure a point for rock-bottom Rangers.
New owner Flavio Briatore, who is continuing the search for a new manager, was not in attendance due to more pressing matters in Brazil. The Italian will be hoping the climax to the Formula One season offers more excitement than a largely pedestrian affair at Loftus Road.
And although Nygaard's intervention may yet buy Harford some more time, the ex-England striker admitted he has no idea how long he will stay at the helm.
"I don't know. I said the same thing after the last game and after the game before, it's up to the powers that be," said Harford.
"I enjoy the role, I enjoy being in charge, preparing the team and what we're trying to do here."

Legwinski lit up what had been a dour affair with a goal of supreme quality eight minutes after the break, the French midfielder collecting Owen Garvan's throw and unleashing a superb dipping volley from 22 yards past Lee Camp.
But Nygaard notched his first goal of the season when he tucked away a loose ball in the 74th minute, and Harford felt his side could have gone on to secure all three points.
"In the first half I thought we were in control of the game and I said to the players at half-time that we just need a break in the final third," he added.
"Overall it was a very good performance and maybe we deserved more than a point.
"The players have all shown a great attitude and spirit since I've been in charge. At 1-0 down they could have caved in but they didn't. They came back into the game and could have nicked it."
For Ipswich, Billy Clarke and Jason De Vos were guilty of shocking misses as they went in search of victory.
Clarke somehow scuffed a shot across the six-yard box with the goal gaping, while skipper De Vos planted a header wide from all of two yards out.
Camp also kept Rangers in the game with a superb late save to deny Town substitute Danny Haynes, to leave manager Jim Magilton still looking for a first win on the road this term.
"Credit to QPR, they started well and they knocked us out of our rhythm," said Magilton.
"In the second half we took the game to them, upped the tempo and the quality and probably had enough chances to win it.
"At 1-0 up we should have enough experience in our team to see the game out but we didn't.
"The first away win remains pretty elusive, but if we keep playing like we did in the second half it won't be too far away." Sporting Life

Ipswich Official Site Match Report
Sylvain Legwinski put Town in front with a fantastic volley but Blues had to settle for a point after Marc Nygaard's equaliser.
Legwinski struck early in the second-half, scoring for a second successive away game after taking a throw from Owen Garvan and leaving Lee Camp grasping thin air with a wonder strike.
Billy Clarke had two great openings to extend Blues' lead before Nygaard kept his cool to steer the ball past Neil Alexander with just under 20 minutes left on the clock.
Town still could have taken the points with Jason De Vos and Danny Haynes failing to hit the target when in great positions.
Jim Magilton retained the same formation that earned a point at Burnley in Town's last away game with Legwinski coming into a five man midfield, Pablo Counago making way from the side that beat Preston.

Billy Clarke, who was lively throughout the first-half, had the first opening of the game, his header from Alan Lee's cross comfortably dealt with by Rangers' 'keeper Lee Camp.

Clarke showed great skill to open up the home defence, leaving Michael Mancienne in his slipstream as he set up Tommy Miller but the midfielder's first touch let him down and the chance was gone.

Rowan Vine then threatened for Rangers, beating three players before shooting just wide of Neil Alexander's goal.

Martin Rowlands the tested Alexander while Gareth Ainsworth's effort from 35 yards was a little more ambitious.

Damion Stewart cleared from Clarke as Lee tried to feed him on the left before Town were forced into a change just past the half hour, Miller limping off with Gary Roberts replacing him.

Rangers, who enjoyed the majority of play in the opening half, went close again through Mikele Leigertwood, whose effort went across goal and wide after excellent play by Mancienne.

Rowlands could and perhaps should have done better 10 minutes before the break, shooting at Alexander from a good position but it was Town who finished the half the stronger. Roberts shot wide after Lee had knocked on an Alexander clearance, Clarke then crowded out in the box.

Roberts was caught between shooting and crossing when in a good position in the first minutes of the second-half, then David Wright and Jon Walters linked up well before Leigertwood cleared.

The breakthrough came eight minutes after the break, Legwinski taking a throw from Owen Garvan and leaving Camp with no chance with a terrific volley.

Rangers' caretaker boss Mick Harford responded with an attacking substitution, defender Mancienne, who was carrying a knock, replaced by Nygaard.

The striker was immediately in the action, heading over after Garvan had lost possession in the middle of the park.

Clarke was inches away from making it two soon after, Walters and Roberts combining to set up the Republic of Ireland U21 international who failed to get a clean strike on goal from six yards out.

QPR made a second change with Stefan Moore replacing Ainsworth just past the hour but it was Town who looked the more likely to add to the scoreline, Clarke denied again by Stewart's clearance.

Against the run of play though, Rangers levelled on 73 minutes, Vine involved in the move with the ball deflected into the path of Nygaard who made no mistake with a clean finish.

Vine was booked a foul on Legwinski as the game opened up. Lee had the ball taken off his foot by Martin Cranie and from the resultant corner, Jason De Vos missed a gilt edged chance with a close range header.

Clarke almost converted Wright's cross as Town continue to threaten a second, Legwinski looping an effort over the bar.

Danny Haynes replaced Clarke on 80 minutes, Blues then having an anxious moment when Adam Bolder went down in the box but referee Swarbrick was on the right spot to correctly wave away Rangers' penalty appeals.

Counago was Town's third change with five minutes left on the clock as the points remained there for the taking for both sides.

Vine pulled a volley wide from inside the Town box but Haynes had the best chance to win the game, his header palmed away by Camp with Garvan going down in the box as he chased the rebound but no penalty given.

QPR: Camp, Mancienne (Nygaard 54), Stewart, Cranie, Barker, Ainsworth (Moore 65), Bolder, Leigertwood, Rowlands, Ephraim, Vine. Subs not used: Jarrett, Cole, Bignot. Booked: Vine.

Town: Alexander, Wright, De Vos, Wilnis, Harding, Walters, Garvan, Legwinski, T.Miller (Roberts 32), Clarke (Haynes 80), Lee (Counago 85). Subs not used: Supple, Bruce.

Att: 13, 946 Ipswich - Ipswich

QPR Official Site - Match Report
Second half substitute Marc Nygaard came off the bench to salvage a point for the R's against mid-table Ipswich Town.

The Danish striker, returning after a two month lay-off with a calf injury, bagged his first goal of the season in the 72nd minute at a sun drenched Loftus Road.

Earlier, Sylvan Legwinski put the Tractor Boys in front, when he smashed an unstoppable volley past Lee Camp from fully 22-yards.

After Nygaard made it 1-1, Rangers went in search of winner.

Adam Bolder saw his vocal appeals for a spot-kick turned down, while the hardworking Rowan Vine pulled a volley inches wide of Neil Alexander's right hand post, as the R's finished on top.

R's Caretaker Manager Mick Harford welcomed Michael Mancienne back to the starting XI for the visit of Jim Magilton's men.

The Chelsea loanee, returning from a six-week lay-off with a back / hamstring injury, replaced Ben Sahar in the only change to the side that won 1-0 against Norwich City ten days ago.

Ipswich boss Magilton made a solitary change too, with Sylvan Legwinski replacing Pablo Counago, who dropped to the bench.

Lone front-man Alan Lee's movement was causing Rangers problems early on and when his third minute cross was met on the run by Billy Clarke, Lee Camp was perfectly positioned to gather the midfielder's goal-bound effort with ease.

The R's responded in kind though, with livewire Hogan Ephraim's right sided cross narrowly evading the on-rushing Martin Rowlands at the far post.

Mikele Leigertwood created the next opportunity in the ninth minute, sending a looping cross to the far post, which Gareth Ainsworth headed straight into the arms of Neil Alexander.

Vine was proving a constant menace to the Ipswich back four and when he left three Town players in his wake with a mesmerising run, Alexander scrambled full stretch across his goal, as the R's striker's powerful 22-yard drive flashed inches wide of his left hand post.

Shots from distance seemed to be the order of the day in the first period, with Ainsworth and Rowlands each trying their luck from range as the half approached its midway point.

Leigertwood was impressive breaking from the centre of the park and when Mancienne sent him clean through down the right flank, his cross-come-shot squirmed wide of the far post.

Seconds later, Vine played provider for Rowlands, who took one touch to cut back inside on his right foot, before drilling a low 12-yard effort, which Alexander grasped, albeit at the second attempt.

In an end-to-end passage of play, Town substitute Gary Roberts, who just moments earlier replaced knee injury victim Tommy Miller, sent a low enticing drive across goal, which the onrushing Lee just failed to connect with.

As the sun continued to beat down on Loftus Road, it was the Tractor Boys who began the second half on the front foot.

In the 50th minute, Martin Cranie was in the right place at the right time to boot Billy Clarke's shot off the line, after the attacking midfielder met Jon Walters' back post cross.

Rangers failed to heed the warning though and they paid the ultimate price moments later.

There appeared to be little danger on when the ball fell at the feet of the midfielder 22-yards from goal, but he duly let fly, sending an unstoppable volley into the roof of the net, which gave Camp absolutely no chance.

With Mancienne struggling after a prolonged spell on the sidelines, Harford introduced Nygaard to the fray in the 55th minute.

The Dane's presence ruffled a few feathers in the Ipswich back four, and when he arrived onto meet Ainsworth's 60th minute cross, his header flew three yards over.

At the other end, Clarke nudged Lee's pull-back from the by-line inches wide of Camp's left hand post, as Rangers gifted the attacker the freedom of the six-yard box.

Undeterred, the R's were on terms in the 72nd minute, thanks to that man Nygaard.

Rowlands' delightful through ball split the Ipswich back four in two and the Danish front-man arrived bang on cue to send a fearsome 12-yard strike past the startled Alexander.

After Cranie's last-ditch tackle denied Lee a free shot on goal, Ipswich should have been ahead again four minutes later, only for the otherwise outstanding De Vos to inexplicably head wide from the edge of the six-yard box, with the goal at his mercy.

From their very next attack, Lee was denied again, this time by Rowlands, who cleared his header off the line, after Camp failed to deal with yet another Ipswich set-piece.

Rangers had vocal appeals for a penalty waved away eight minutes from time, when Adam Bolder appeared to be dragged to ground after playing a neat one-two with Vine.

Referee Mr Swarbrick had a fantastic view of the incident, only to discard the R's skippers' vocal appeals.

With the R's faithful in full voice, Ephraim fizzed a ball into the path of Vine, whose volley on the turn flew inches wide of the far post, with Alexander rooted to the spot.

Despite finishing in the ascendancy, Rangers were indebted to Camp for keeping them on terms in the dying stages, when he dived full stretch to tip Danny Haynes' downward header to safety. QPR
Sporting Life Match Report


QPR: Camp, Barker, Stewart, Mancienne, Bolder, Ainsworth, Rowlands, Ephraim, Vine, Leigertwood, Cranie.
Subs: Cole, Bignot, Jarrett, Moore, Nygaard.

Ipswich Town: Alexander, Wilnis, De Vos, Garvan, Legwinski, Miller, Lee, Walters, Wright, Harding, Clarke.
Subs: Supple, Bruce, Counago, Haynes, Roberts.