Reports and Comments on QPR's Draw Against Sheffield Wednesday

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QPR 0 Sheffield Wednesday 0

Championship Bottom Six
Colchester17 17
C Palace 17 17
Blackpool 16 16
QPR 16 16
Preston 17 15
Norwich 17 12

Sporting Life - LAWS HAILS GRANT By Andy Sims, PA Sport
Sheffield Wednesday manager Brian Laws saluted an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Lee Grant after his side shared the points in a hugely entertaining goalless draw with QPR.
In a week when English goalkeeping has been under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, Grant and Rangers counterpart Lee Camp were in superb form as both sides poured forward.
"It was a magnificent performance from Lee Grant," said Laws.
"In fact both goalkeepers did well. Lee has given some encouragement to everyone by showing just what a good goalkeeper he can be."
Grant pulled off point-blank stops from Scott Sinclair and Rowan Vine, and another stunning full-length save from Chelsea youngster Sinclair kept Wednesday in the game after the break.
As well as Grant's heroics the woodwork - four times - ensured the points were shared in a pulsating Coca-Cola Championship clash.
Akpo Sodje rattled the crossbar for Wednesday while Sinclair and Mikele Leigertwood hit the woodwork for Rangers in the first half.
And although Rangers bossed the second period, Wednesday's Burton O'Brien came closest to breaking the deadlock when his shot cannoned off the crossbar.
"It was one of the most entertaining 0-0 games I've ever seen," added Laws.
"It was end to end and you couldn't have asked for more from either team. We were on top in the first half and QPR were better in the second. I think it would have been a crying shame if one team had lost.
"QPR are on the up, it's a difficult place, a tight ground and a small pitch. They'll be nowhere near the bottom at the end of the season."
Wednesday are now unbeaten in five games, in stark contrast to their horrific start to the season when they lost their first six.
Chairman Dave Allen kept faith with Laws then, although he has since lost patience with the boardroom discontent and resigned this week.
Laws is solely focused on events on the pitch, however, and added: "We had a bad start but now we want to dissolve those memories.
"But we also need to remember how easily it can change if we're not prepared to work hard for each other."
Rangers manager Luigi De Canio cannot have seen too many 0-0 draws packed with so much goalmouth action during his days in Italy.
The west Londoners remain in the bottom three but De Canio is confident they will climb the table sooner rather than later.
"All that was missing was a goal. When the goals come the table will look different," he said
"I'm happy that the work we are doing in training is working. The boys are happier and the fans are happier. It was a far better game than a 0-0 draw.
"Lee Camp is a very good goalkeeper, but I thought the Sheffield Wednesday keeper had more chances to show what he could do today." Sporting Life

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - WE DESERVED MORE'
Gigi De Canio believes Rangers were 'desperately unlucky' not to register maximum points against in-form Sheffield Wednesday at Loftus Road.
The R's were denied by the woodwork on three occasions and saw Owls goalkeeper Lee Grant produce a string of fantastic saves as Rangers turned the screw in the second half.
"We deserved to win the game," De Canio told www.qpr.co.uk.
"With the exception of the first 10-15 minutes, we created chance after chance until the final whistle.
"I like my teams to play attacking football and it's my job to teach the players that style of play."
De Canio continued: "Obviously we need to start winning games, but I couldn't really ask anything more of the players today.
"We showed again that regardless of our league position, we can match our opponents and we out-played Sheffield for long periods.
"Grant was the difference, as was (Julian) Speroni against Crystal Palace a few weeks ago - but hopefully we won't come up against goalkeepers of their calibre every week.
"The positives far outweigh the negatives though and I'm happy with the direction we are heading in." QPR


SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY - Laws Praises Grant's Heroics
Wednesday manager, Brian Laws was satisfied to come away from Queens Park Rangers with a point on Saturday after a pulsating 0-0 draw at Loftus Road.

The game saw both sides hit the frame of the goal twice but Owls goalkeeper Lee Grant was in fine form to pull off a string of excellent saves to keep the scores level, particularly in the second half.
"That was a marvellous performance by Lee Grant today. I thought both keepers did well," Laws said. "It was a performance which gives encouragement to everybody and shows what a good goalkeeper Lee Grant can be.
"That was one of the most entertaining 0-0 games I have ever seen. It was end to end, both teams are on the up, both teams wanted to win the game and we could not ask for any more. It was a great game to watch and I am sure the supporters enjoyed it.
"I thought we were by far the better team in the first half and QPR were the better team in the second half but I thought there were a lot of good points to come from the game. I think it would have been a crying shame if either team had won because they both deserved a point," the Owls boss insisted.
With the resignation of club chairman, Dave Allen, on the eve of the trip to Queens Park Rangers, Laws stressed that it was vital for everybody to pull together and get behind the players as Wednesday go into the home fixture against in-form Barnsley on Tuesday evening at Hillsborough.
"The result keeps our run going and leads us into a local derby game against Barnsley on Tuesday evening. Hopefully we will have a huge gate because you have seen that our supporters are magnificent again today, from start to finish. We need to drive forward and focus on everything we do on the pitch."
Asked how he was dealing with Allen's resignation, Laws said: "We can't make those decisions because they are out of our hands so we have to refocus and move on. The most important thing is that we all pull in the right direction.
"There is going to be a lot of talk and a lot of things happening off the field, the directors will be meeting to discuss a way forward and we are there to support the board and the players. We have to focus on what the players can affect and that is what happens on the pitch." Sheffield Wednesday


QPR OFFICIAL SITE
Quite how this match finished goalless will remain a mystery for a long time to come.
Following on from the draw at Crystal Palace prior to the international break, Rangers yet again dominated a Championship fixture, but were left with only a point to show for their efforts.
Missed chances, fantastic saves and the intervention of the woodwork on no less than four separate occasions turned a potential goal-fest into a stalemate.

Akpo Sodje headed against the bar in the opening exchanges, before Rangers rattled the woodwork twice in as many minutes before the break.

Scott Sinclair fired an effort off the post, before Mikele Leigertwood's header bounced back off the bar, with the Owls defence all at sea.

The theme continued in the second period, with Burton O'Brien smashing a stunning effort off the stanchion, while at the other end, Sinclair was denied on no fewer than three occasions by the outstanding Grant.

The Rangers starting XI showed two changes from the 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace a fortnight ago.

Luigi De Canio handed a home debut to Derby County loanee Bob Malcolm, while Dexter Blackstock returned form a seven week injury absence to partner Rowan Vine in attack.

Owls boss Brian Laws opted for the front-pairing of Sodje and Marcus Tudgay, for a Wednesday side unbeaten in six matches.

On a bitterly cold afternoon in W12, it was the industrious visitors who created the first chance on seven minutes.

Yoann Folly's near post corner kick was glanced on by Sodje, who saw his effort bounce off the underside of the crossbar.

Damion Stewart was in the right place at the right time to clear the danger, as Rangers escaped unpunished.

The one-way traffic continued, with Tudgay seeing his goal-bound effort deflected wide, as the Owls set up camp in the Rangers half.

Wednesday's pressure was relentless, with the lively Sodje racing on to Frankie Simek's 13th minute through ball, rounding Malcolm, only to fire straight into the arms of the grateful Lee Camp.

Play quickly switched to the other end, with Vine sending Sinclair clean through.

Lee Grant darted from his line to meet the Chelsea loanee head on and it proved to be the right decision, as the teenager fired straight into his midriff.

Buoyed by that opportunity, Rangers were on the attack again moments later.

Martin Rowlands' neat reverse pass found Vine, who took one to set before slotting past Grant. The Birmingham front-man wheeled away to celebrate, only to see the referee's assistant flag for offside.

The R's were well on top by now and Vine brought the best out of Grant with a fearsome 25-yard strike after linking up well with Blackstock; before Buzsaky sent a dipping volley inches over the crossbar.

Akos Buzsaky continued to impress in the heart of the R's midfield and when Blackstock teed the Hungarian up on the edge of the box, the new darling of the Loftus Road terraces jinked one way and then the other, evading challenge after challenge, before seeing his shot diverted wide.

Buzsaky played provider on the stroke of half-time, spraying an audacious pass into the path of Sinclair, who bore down on goal before smashing a fearsome right footed drive off foot of the post.

From the resultant corner kick, Leigertwood's looping header bounced back off the crossbar, before being hacked to safety by the desperate Wednesday defence.

The attacking nature of the match continued on the resumption, with O'Brien stinging the palms of Camp, before Vine's searching cross was deflected wide via the outstretched leg of Richard Hinds.

Vine went close again in the 50th minute, running from deep inside his own half before exchanging passes with Sinclair.

Grant was again in the right place to save his effort though, this time tipping the ball round his right hand post for a corner.

Remarkably, Wednesday struck the woodwork again on the hour.

Gifted time and space out wide, O'Brien - after being set up by Tudgay - unleashed a powerful curling effort, which had Camp beaten all ends up. Thankfully for the hosts, the frame of the goal again denied the visitors.

Chris Barker's roaming run and cross found Sinclair on the edge of the six-yard box in the 65th minute, but yet again Grant was there to deny the R's, flinging himself full stretch to his right.

The Sinclair versus Grant battle continued apace as the clock ticked down, with the latter pulling off his best save of the match 17 minutes from time, as the tricky winger fired low and hard to the goalkeeper's right.

QPR: Camp, Barker, Stewart, Mancienne, Blackstock (Nygaard 82), Buzsaky, Rowlands, Malcolm (Timoska 65), Vine, Leigertwood, Sinclair.

Subs: Cole, Bolder, Ainsworth.

Bookings: Malcolm 15

Sheffield Wednesday: Grant, Hinds, Tudgay, O'Brien, Watson, Simek, J Johnson (Small 80), M Johnson, Sodje (Burton 57), Folly, Spurr.

Subs: Lunt, Esajas, Beevers.

Bookings: Small 88

Referee: Mr R J Beeby

Attendance: 15, 241 QPR

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY OFFICIAL SITE
The only thing missing was goals at Loftus Road as QPR and Wednesday fought out a thrilling Championship encounter.

Both sides rattled the woodwork twice and came close on numerous other occasions but amazingly the game finished without either side having registered.

Brian Laws made one change to the side that thumped Southampton before the last international break. Glenn Whelan failed to shake off the hip injury picked up on Republic of Ireland 'B' duty so Frenchman Yoann Folly slotted into the engine room.

After a purposeful start from the visitors, during which Rangers struggled to get the ball out of their own half, SWFC almost took the lead with six minutes on the clock. Folly swung over a peach of a corner and Akpo Sodje lost his marker to smack a header against the crossbar. Three more flag kicks followed in as many minutes as the Owls took a form grip on the early throes of the game.

Marcus Tudgay came close with a snapshot that was deflected wide for yet another corner before Burton O'Brien shot high and wide from 25 yards.

Tudgay asked a lot of Sodje with an overhit feed down the right flank but the latter showed Chris Barker a clean pair of heels to fire in an angled drive gratefully gobbled up by Lee Camp.

Rangers showed intent of their own on the 15-minute mark when Dexter Blackstock burst through on goal and looked to be heading for a one-on-one with Lee Grant. But the danger was thwarted by Jermaine Johnson, who sprinted back to aid the Owls defence with a crucial clearance at the last.

The hosts had the ball in the back of the net two minutes later but the QPR fans' celebrations were short-lived as Rowan Vine's low shot was ruled out for offside.

Having seen Wednesday fail to capitalise on their early domination, Rangers grew more and more into the contest. Martin Rowlands whipped a cross across goal that Grant was relieved to see fizz away from the danger zone and Vine's vicious drive from distance forced the Owls keeper into a fine fingertip save.

Vine was felled on the edge of the area on 33 minutes but Rowlands' curling effort failed to trouble Grant. At the other end, Sodje almost sent Jermaine Johnson scampering clear with a throughball that just lacked the required pace.

Akos Buzsaky cut inside the penalty area and eyed an opening but Tommy Spurr deflected the Hungarian's effort wide for a corner. A minute later, Scott Sinclair forced a block tackle from Frank Simek in a mirror image move across the field.

Sinclair tormented Simek with a jinking run that ended with the on-loan winger striking the foot of the post and incredibly, Rangers hit the woodwork again moments later when Grant failed to collect Rowlands' corner and Blackstock nodded onto the bar.

Players and fans alike were grateful for the half time breather and the only shock was that somehow, the opening period had finished goalless.

The second half continued where the first left off and Jermaine Johnson forced a corner inside the first minute, Camp tipping his angled cross-shot safely over the crossbar.

Undaunted, Rangers raced upfield and after combining well with Sinclair, dangerman Vine struck a powerful shot that Grant saved acrobatically diving to his right.

Wednesday were first to make a change, bringing on Deon Burton in place of Sodje close to the hour. But it was sidekick Tudgay who proved influential in carving the next chance for the Owls, finding O'Brien in space down the right for the Scot to move inside and curl a beauty that thudded against Camp's crossbar.

Next it was QPR's' turn to threaten as Barker fed Sinclair in the Wednesday box. But Grant came to the rescue, parrying the Chelsea man's effort to safety from close range.
The Owls custodian then denied Blackstock with the save of the match, springing across his goal to keep out the striker's strong shot following an intelligent pass from Vine.
The end-to-end nature of the game continued and Tudgay brushed the wrong side of the net after breaking free inside the left of the penalty area.
With eight minutes to go, Sinclair outpaced substitute Wade Small to advance menacingly on Grant but his prodded effort cleared the Owls bar.
A late goal would have proved harsh on Wednesday - the same could be said of Rangers too - and as referee Beeby called time on a thoroughly entertaining capital encounter, both sides had proved worthy of a point. Sheffield Wednesday

YORKSHIRE POST
An INSPIRED performance from Wednesday goalkeeper Lee Grant ensured the points were shared in a pulsating Coca-Cola Championship clash.
Akpo Sodje rattled the crossbar for Wednesday while Scott Sinclair and Mikele Leigertwood hit the woodwork for Rangers in the first half.
And although Rangers bossed the second period, Wednesday's Burton O'Brien came closest to breaking the deadlock when his shot cannoned off the crossbar.
The hosts soon took control and squandered a glorious chance to take the lead in the 14th minute when Rowan Vine's pass put Sinclair one-on-one with Grant, the Owls keeper saving his low shot.

Moments later Vine had the ball in the net, but his celebrations were thwarted by a linesman's flag, before Martin Rowlandsfizzed the ball across the six-yard box with no-one able to apply the finishing touch.

Grant then tipped over a rasping drive from Vine and Akos Buzsaky volleyed wide with Rangers by now well on top.

Buzsaky conjured up a superb piece of skill in the 37th minute, dancing into the Wednesday area and leaving Steve Watson for dead before his shot was blocked by O'Brien.

But on the hour mark it was Wednesday who came agonisingly close once more, when O'Brien was left in acres of space on the left to send a curling shot past Camp and onto the crossbar.

At the other end, Chris Barker crossed for Sinclair, only for Grant to come to the Owls rescue again with a superb block.

Rowlands and Buszaky sent late free-kicks over Grant's crossbar as Wednesday held on for a point. Yorkshire Post