QPR Hit Bottom: Another Loss With De Canio at a Loss

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QPR Official Site: QPR 1 Crystal Palace 2

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QPR OFFICIAL SITE - DESPERATELY DISAPPOINTING
Luigi De Canio was at a loss to explain Rangers' disappointing second half display in the 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.
"It's a really negative moment for us all," he told www.qpr.co.uk.
"It seems that the slightest mistakes are costing us dear at the moment and that is very disappointing.
"We didn't concentrate on two set-pieces and that has cost us tonight."
The 2-1 reverse and wins for Norwich City and Preston North End saw Rangers slump to the foot of the Championship table.
De Canio said: "I'm very concerned with the league position and I'm very upset tonight.
"I hoped that we could win in front of our fans after two home defeats, but we didn't and that is disappointing.
"We showed good quality in the first half, but we need to show that over 90 minutes if we are to get out of the situation we are in." QPR

QPR Official SIte - MATCH REPORT
Two goals in two second half minutes from the visitors condemned Rangers to a 2-1 defeat in W12.

Clint Hill and R's nemesis Clinton Morrison struck midway through the half, to send the Hoops to the foot of the Championship table.

Earlier, Damion Stewart gave Rangers the initiative with his second goal of the campaign, heading home Akos Buzsaky's tenth minute corner.

But in truth, Palace were good value for their victory in the second half, as Rangers' poor form continued.

Luigi De Canio welcomed Zesh Rehman back to the starting XI at the expense of Adam Bolder.

Seventeen year-old striker Angelo Balanta was named amongst the R's substitutes for the first time, after impressing for the Reserves six days ago.

Palace boss Neil Warnock made a solitary change of his own too, bringing in Danny Butterfield, at the expense of the suspended Matt Lawrence.

After Franck Songo'o's saw his first minute effort easily gathered at his near post by Lee Camp, Rangers took a tenth minute lead.

Buzsaky's out-swinging corner was flighted to the edge of the six-yard box and Stewart rose unchallenged to head past the exposed Palace custodian Julian Speroni.

Palace skipper Mark Hudson nearly levelled matter two minutes later though, heading a yard over the bar after Rangers were caught sleeping at the back.

But it was the hosts who could've been two ahead on the quarter hour, when Rowlands played a long ball into the path of Ben Sahar.

With Hudson back-pedalling, Sahar looked up and spotted the on-rushing Rowan Vine, who saw his first time effort clawed to safety by Speroni.

The Palace stopper - whose goalkeeping heroics denied Rangers all three points in SE25 three weeks ago - was in inspired form again moments later, making a superb double save to deny Scott Sinclair and then Vine, as the R's forced the initiative.

It was fast becoming the Julian Speroni show yet again, as the Argentinean pulled off yet another fine point-blank save to thwart Sahar midway through the half.

Ben Watson's teasing right footed free-kick flew inches wide of Camp's left hand post on the half hour, before the same player was again denied by the R's number one, this time from a direct 20-yard set-piece.

Palace made a change at the break, with Lee Hills replacing Jose Fonte - resulting in a defensive reshuffle at the heart of the Eagles defence.

It was referee Alan Wiley who took centre stage at the start of the second period though, as he made one poor decision after another, to the disgust of the Rangers faithful.

Watson's deliveries had caused Rangers problems all evening and it was the Palace midfielder who created their equaliser in the 65th minute.

Stewart was harshly penalised for a foul on Scowcroft and Hill applied the all-important touch to Watson's centre, prodding the ball past Camp from eight yards.

Buoyed by their goal, Palace marched into a 2-1 lead 60 seconds later, as Morrison notched from close range after Hudson's header rebounded off the bar.

The Eagles were at their free-flowing best by now and after substitute Sean Scannell left Chris Barker for dead with a run from deep inside his own half, Lee Hills headed over with the goal at his mercy.

In a last throw of the dice, De Canio threw on teenager Balanta and Bolder, but it mattered little, as Rangers - despite the late dismissal of Palace gaffer Warnock for his involvement in a touchline skirmish - suffered more home heartache.

QPR: Camp, Barker, Stewart, Buzsaky (Bolder 86), Rowlands (Nygaard 72), Sahar (Balanta 84), Malcolm, Vine, Rehman, Leigertwood, Sinclair.

Subs: Cole, Ainsworth.

Scorers: Stewart 10

Bookings: Rowlands 49, Rehman 78, Camp 91

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Hill, Hudson, Scowcroft, Morrison, Watson, Soares (Fletcher 73), Butterfield, Fonte (Hills 46), Songo'o (Scannell 60), Derry.

Subs: Freedman, Martin.

Scorers: Hill 65, Morrison 67

Bookings: Butterfield 46

Referee: Mr A G Wiley

Attendance: QPR

CRYSTAL PALACE OFFICIAL SITE
This fixture has come around quickly since the two teams last met and played out a score draw over at Selhurst courtesy of a late Clinton Morrison equaliser.

Neil Warnock makes just one change to his starting line up which is enforced as Matt Lawrence is suspended due to cautions picked up this season so Danny Butterfield comes in at right back. The bench sees two products of the academy as both Lee Hills and Sean Scannell are named amongst the substitutes.

After a bright start from Palace but without giving any trouble to Lee Camp in the Rs goal it was the home side who had the early advantage, Palace would be disappointed to concede once again from a corner and it was a close range header that broke the deadlock. Akos Buzsaky put the ball over and Damion Stewart made no mistake heading home past Julian Speroni in the tenth minute,

Straight away at the other end Palace kept the pressure on and Mark Hudson was unfortunate not to see his powerful header from the edge of the box find the target as it went just inches wide.

The Palace side were thankful to their on form keeper for two really good saves. Rowan Vine found Ben Sahar but his shot was well saved by Speroni and then saved again from close range to deny Scott Sinclair as Luigi De Canio's side seemed full of confidence after getting the lead.

The visitors were calling for offside as Sahar had crept in behind but his shot was punched away by Speroni when it seemed easier to score just after the 20 minute mark of an end to end london derby.

On the half hour a free kick from just inside the Rangers half was floated over into the box by Ben Watson but no one could get on the end of it and the ball just ran wide of Camp's left hand post as Palace were relieved to get a chance at the other end after spending a lot of the early encounters in their own half.

Five minutes before the break Watson showed his touch from set pieces as he curled a free kick from just outside the box goalwards but Camp managed to get across to scramble the ball clear.

Stewart's header seperate the two sides as Alan Wiley blows the half time whistle to bring proceedings to a close on a typical london derby which is full of pace and passion.

The break saw a change from the Palace bench as young left back Lee Hills was introduced to the action at the expense of Jose Fonte so Clint Hill went across to the centre of defence.

Palace attacking this half towards their large away support who have packed the two tier stand behind the goal hoping to see their side continue the unbeaten run.

Warnock took just 15 minutes of the half before making another change and that saw 17 year old Scannell make his league debut as he replaced on loan Franck Songo'o.

Palace were within four minutes back on level terms when Hill managed to get on the end of one of Watson's free kicks as he played the ball over from just outside the box with Camp having no chance as the defender stole in to slot the ball over him and into the corner of the net.

The visitors soon completed the turn around when a Watson corner found Mark Hudson at the near post and his header bounced down off the bar and there was Clinton Morrison to convert the loose ball to give Palace the lead.

Marc Nygard was introduced by De Canio on 72 minutes as the home side were now chasing the game after being in control at the start of the half whilst Warnock brought on Carl Fletcher for Tom Soares.

Scannell showed his pace down the right as he beat his man down the wing and his perfect cross was met by Lee Hills but he headed over with Camp to beat.

The game was really being played at a fast pace and has become very open with opportunities sure to fall to both sides in the closing ten minutes. The home side were not quite the threat that they were at the end of the first half but in difficult windy conditions the Palace defence had to concentrate hard to ensure they held the lead.

Neil Warnock was dismissed to the stand after Wiley consulted with his fourth official about something that had been said in the dugout area. He had to watch the four minutes of added time from the stands but his side held out and came from behind to go seven matches unbeaten and Morrison once again continues his fine run of goalscoring with six in five games now his proud record. CRystal Palace