QPR Crush Bristol City and Move to Nine Points of Playoff Spot - Reports and Comments

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League Table

Updated: Post-Match Comments

QPR OFFICIAL SITE

PROFESSIONAL DISPLAY
Posted on: Sat 02 Feb 2008

Performance Manager Joe Dunbar was full of praise for the players after witnessing them comfortably overcome high-flying Bristol City 3-0.

Dunbar took charge of First Team affairs after Luigi De Canio was forced to return to Italy following a family bereavement, and he told www.qpr.co.uk: "It has been a difficult day, and when something like this happens it shows you that there is more to life than football.
"Luigi has returned to Italy, and our thoughts are with him and his family, first and foremost.
"The team was already picked, he told me who he wanted to start and how he wanted them to play.
"We don't know how long he will be away for, it will be as long as he needs."
A brace from Patrick Agyemang and a stunning Akos Buzsaky strike sealed the triumph, and Dunbar added: "The way the players responded when that opening whistle went was fantastic. They got on with their jobs and did the Club proud.
"Performance-wise, we were quite pleased. We were strong from the off.
"The thing about this division is that anyone can beat anyone. We've shown that today.
"It was nice to see the lads start so positively after Tuesday's poor performance. This match gave us a quick opportunity to set the record straight, and we didn't waste it.
"I think we have turned a corner in recent weeks but, let's be blunt, we are in a fortunate position as we have had significant investment.
"Cardiff was poor, but we can't change what happened there. We're over that now, and I'd much rather look forward because there's an exciting future for this Football Club." QPR

SPORTING LIFE - QPR UNSURE OF DE CANIO'S RETURN
QPR are unsure when boss Luigi De Canio will return to Loftus Road following the death of his father.
De Canio dashed back to Italy to be with his family on the morning of Rangers' 3-0 victory over Bristol City and his stand-in, performance manager Joe Dunbar, said: "Luigi will take as long as it takes and as long as he needs.
"First and foremost our thoughts are with him and I was proud of the players, they put on a very professional performance.
"Luigi left at noon and he had already told me the starting XI he wanted to play. I wasn't QPR's manager today, I was just filling a gap and I had very little to do."
Patrick Agyemang continued his superb form since joining Rangers at the beginning of January, scoring twice in the first half to set up his side's impressive victory.
His first strike saw Rowan Vine split the Robins defence with an inch-perfect through ball and Agyemang coolly rolled his shot past Adriano Basso and into the bottom corner.
Akos Buszaky made number two, collecting the ball on the edge of the area and crossing for Agyemang to slot home from close range for his fifth in four Coca-Cola Championship games for the R's.
City only managed shots from Jamie McAllister and Nick Carle in response before Buszaky sealed the home side's victory with a ferocious volley.
New striker Dele Adebola saw two shots come back off the woodwork in quick succession as promotion-chasing City at last threatened a comeback but that was the nearest they came to a reply.
"We were all quite pleased with the performance," Dunbar added. "We played very well from the off.
"There were long periods when City didn't get the ball and I don't think we dropped our tempo even when we were 3-0 up.
"The thing about this division is anyone can beat anyone and we have showed that today. After such an abysmal performance in our defeat at Cardiff in midweek, it was nice to come here and be very positive from the start - hopefully we can go on a good run now."
City boss Gary Johnson was left to rue his side's woeful display and admitted: "It was a very poor performance.
"We started off poorly and got progressively worse. We were second best and that is why we got beaten so comprehensively.
"The boys tried hard but our quality was poor and we got what we deserved."
But City will remain among the pacesetters at the top of the Championship and Johnson is still confident about their promotion hopes.
He added: "There were not a lot of positives from the day but we must try to forget about it and move on.
"We have recovered from setbacks before and we will again. We mustn't dwell on it for too long, we have a big game against Southampton next week." Sporting Life

BRISTOL CITY OFFICIAL SITE - WE WERE SECOND BEST - GARY
Gary Johnson admitted his side had been very much second best as they slipped to a 3-0 defeat at QPR.
The City manager saw a first-half brace from Patrick Agyemang and a 63rd minute screamer from Akos Buzsaky comdemn his charges to another defeat on the road.
And afterwards he told Bristol City World: "Not a lot went right. We were definitely second best.
"We didn't turn up early enough, we didn't make our tackles and eleven individuals started very poorly.
"We never really got into the game because of individuals on the day playing badly. All we can hope is that they don't play that poorly again as a team of individuals.
"We were a little bit all over the place and if you start like that, it's likely to be a bad day. It began like that and didn't really get any better.
"That got in too many times and their movement up front left us with a mountain to climb really.
"It's a good day for the doom and gloom merchants and they'll come up with some things. We need to get back to the training ground and work on some things to come out stronger next time."
Lee Trundle was absent due to an abcess in his mouth, allowing Dele Adebola the chance to make his debut up front.
Gary added: "I've told Dele that we're not as bad as he's seen today.
"He hit the post and it was one of those days because even the rebound was saved.
"It wasn't a day where he was going to win it on his own. It was a new team for him and he needed his team-mates to perform."
City hope to have Louis Carey available again for their next match at home to Sheffield Wednesday. Bristol City


SPORTING LIFE - QPR 3 Bristol City 0
QPR cantered to a comfortable win over high-flying Bristol City as they took another step away from the Championship relegation zone.
Patrick Agyemang scored twice and Akos Buzsaky hammered home a stunning long-range effort as Rangers completely outplayed an off-colour City.
Robins boss Gary Johnson made just one change to the side that beat Blackpool 1-0 in midweek, with Dele Adebola coming in up front for a debut in place of Lee Trundle.
QPR, who had performance manager Joe Dunbar in charge with first-team coach Luigi De Canio absent due to a family bereavement, made three changes after the midweek loss to Cardiff, drafting in Zesh Rehman, Michael Mancienne and Hogan Ephraim.
The home side had the better of the opening stages and forced three corners in quick succession which were easily cleared by the City backline.
But it was not long before they had the lead as the attacking duo of Rowan Vine and Agyemang combined to score the opener after 18 minutes.
The two January signings exchanged passes to set Agyemang free and he slotted home from 12 yards to register his third goal since joining from Preston.
And he was to get his fourth 15 minutes later as Rangers enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure.
QPR had been all over City since taking the lead and when top scorer Buzsaky's shot was deflected into Agyemang's path he made no mistake from close range.
It was impossible to tell that it was Bristol City aiming for promotion and Rangers fighting relegation as the home side continued to dominate the closing stages of the half and Agyemang could have had a hat-trick but he put a shot wide from 12 yards.
City had a good chance to get themselves back into it early in the second half as January signing Nick Carle supplied a cross to the back post.
Jamie McCombe rose highest and should have scored but he could only put his header wide.
McCombe was then called into action at the other end as he blocked a shot from Vine before Adebola saw his first action of note as a City player as he was booked for a foul on Damien Delaney.
The second half had been a lacklustre affair but it was brought to life by something special from Buzsaky in the 63rd minute as the midfielder notched his seventh goal for Rangers in spectacular style.
The Hungarian moved down the right and played the ball to Agyemang who chested it back into his path for him to rifle a sweet shot home from 25 yards and end the match as a contest.
But City were not ready to give up yet and Lee Johnson saw an impressive free-kick from the edge of the box tipped over the bar by Lee Camp.
Ivan Sproule was brought on by Johnson to try to supply his side with an attacking edge and it nearly paid dividends as he hit the post with a shot from 20 yards, but it all proved too little, too late. Sporting Life

QPR Official Site - QPR 3 Bristol City 0
Rangers bounced back in emphatic fashion against high-flying Bristol City, as Patrick Agyemang's scintillating form continued with a deadly double.

The former Preston North End front-man - currently enjoying the richest goalscoring form of his career - bagged a first half brace, before Akos Buzsaky put the icing on the cake for the hosts with yet another stunning contender for goal of the season.

The 3-0 victory - Rangers' fourth win in a row at Loftus Road - put the ghost of the R's display at Ninian Park firmly to rest, as Championship front-runners Bristol City were out-classed and out-fought in every department.

The Rangers starting XI showed three changes to the side that lost 3-1 to Cardiff City four days earlier, with Michael Mancienne, Zesh Rehman and Hogan Ephraim all returning.

Fitz Hall missed out owing to a groin injury, while Matthew Connolly and Mikele Leigertwood dropped to the bench.

Visiting boss Gary Johnson handed new signing Dele Adebola his Robins debut following his transfer from Coventry City.

On a freezing afternoon in West London, Rangers started the brighter, with Martin Rowlands seeing his first minute effort deflected wide by the outstretched leg of Jamie McAllister.

Three corner kicks followed in quick succession for the R's, as Rowan Vine - playing in his favoured front role alongside free-scoring Agyemang- thrashed a fearsome strike across goal, which just evaded Damion Stewart.

Agyemang's pace and power was causing City all sorts of problems at the back and when the in-form front-man robbed McAllister and pulled the ball back for Buzsaky, Adriano Basso dived low to his right to easily save the midfielder's weak 12-yard effort.

At the other end, McAllister nearly atoned for his earlier error, thrashing a speculative 25-yard half-volley a yard over the crossbar.

But it was the R's who deservedly opened the scoring in the 18th minute, when Agyemang enhanced his ever-growing reputation with a sublime finish.

Strike-partner Vine provided the assist, threading a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of the prolific front-man, who took one touch to set himself before firing a precise right footed drive in off the far post.

Provider nearly turned goalscorer eight minutes later, as Vine played a fortuitous one-two off a City defender, before drilling a left foot strike inches wide from the edge of the penalty box.

City improved as the half wore on, with Nick Carle curling a right footed effort wide from 25-yards.

That rare foray into QPR territory seemed to reignite Rangers' efforts and Agyemang made it two 60 seconds later.

Buzsaky's cross-shot from an acute angle was only palmed out by Basso and the onrushing Agyemang made no mistake from close range, firing in his fifth goal in four outings.

Buoyed by their second goal, Rangers went in search of a third before the break, with Buzsaky going close with a 25-yard screamer that skimmed off the top of the crossbar in the 40th minute.

Alarmed by his side's second rate performance in the first half, Johnson introduced Liam Fontaine at the expense of Tamas Vasko at the break.

The change very nearly paid dividends three minutes later, only for Jamie McCombe to somehow plant his free header wide from a well-worked free-kick.

The miss proved critical, as Buzsaky made it three in the 64th minute, playing a neat one-two with Agyemang, before letting fly with an unstoppable left footed volley that flew past the startled Basso.

Camp had to be on red-alert 60 seconds later, diving full stretch to his right to tip Michael McIndoe's goal-bound free-kick to safety, before Adebola twice struck the foot of the post in a matter of seconds, as the Robins enjoyed their best spell of the match.

It was Rangers who finished in the ascendancy though, with Buzsaky and Vine each calling Basso into action as the clock ticked down.

QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mahon, Stewart, Mancienne, Buzsaky, Rowlands, Agyemang, Ephraim (Lee 75), Vine (Leigertwood 88), Rehman (Connolly 75).
Subs: Crowther, Blackstock.
Scorers: Agyemang 18 & 32, Buzsaky 63
Bookings: Rowlands 65, Vine 77
Bristol City: Basso, Orr, McAllister, McCombe, Carle (Sproule 66), McIndoe, Vasko (Fontaine 46), Elliott, Johnson (Noble 80), Byfield, Adebola.
Subs: Weale, Skuse.
Bookings: Adebola 57, Fontaine 62
Referee: Mr D Deadman Attendance: 16, 502 QPR


BRISTOL CITY OFFICIAL SITE - QPR 3-0 Bristol City
City suffered defeat at Loftus Road as January transfer window signings Patrick Agyemang and Akos Buzsaky earned QPR a 3-0 victory.
Agyemany, who joined from Preston, grabbed a first half brace and Buzsaky - who Rangers signed from Plymouth - completed the scoring with a stunning volley.

City had their chances, but a mix of luck and bad placement left them pointless for the second time on a trip to London in the space of three weeks.

City had to weather an early storm and in a bizarre third-minute moment Marvin Elliott's high looping clearance bounced behind off his own crossbar.

At the other end Michael McIndoe found the net on six minutes, but the assistant referee ruled him in an offside position from Elliott's precise inside pass.

Back on the attack, Agyemang robbed Jamie McAllister and teed up Rowan Vine on the edge of the box. However, the former Birmingham striker scuffed his effort, leaving Adriano Basso with an easy save to make.

McAllister flashed a shot wide at the other end before QPR broke away on a swift counter attack to claim an 18th minute lead.

Vine turned the ball inside to Agyemang, who went charging through the middle and finished coolly with a low shot beyond Basso.

Vine's presence on the right was proving troublesome and the livewire attacker almost doubled the home side's advantage on 27 minutes with a low, bouncing shot which skipped just past Basso's left-hand post.

An injury to QPR keeper Lee Camp, which required treatment, provided manager Gary Johnson with a chance to liven up the team in a pitchside teamtalk on the half-hour.

And City looked to have responded when Nick Carle fired a low shot that flashed beyond the far post moments later.

However, Agyemang soon had the home side two in front. Buzsaky was afforded too much space down the right and his cross was deflected into the path of the goalscorer by McAllister's outstretched leg. Agyemang was never going to miss from six yards and it handed City a major uphill struggle.

Vasko headed wide from a Lee Johnson corner kick before the break, when the Hungarian defender was replaced by Liam Fontaine.

City saw a glorious chance go begging six minutes after half-time when a well-worked free kick saw Carle cross for an unmarked Jamie McCombe at the back post. The defender nodded the ball back across goal and wide of the far post.

But with 63 minutes on the clock QPR well and truly killed off any chance of a City fightback. Buzsaky played a neat one-two with Agyemang, before stabbing a left-foot volley into the far corner.

City still had chances as Adebola steamed into the box and struck a low shot against the far post. As the ball bounced back towards him, Adebola fired in a rebound attempts towards the opposite corner where Camp saved well with his legs.

Johnson headed a cross from substitute Ivan Sproule straight at camp, and then Damion Stewart did brilliantly to block a McIndoe shot with time ticking away. Bristol City