QPR's Draw at Coventry - Reports and Comments

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QPR after their 0-0 draw, moved up to 45 points from 36 games: 9 points away from a relegation spot; 10 points away from a playoff spot. So in all likelihood, QPR will be playing in the Championship again, next season Table

UPDATE 11:45 am

The Times/Nick Szczepanik - Coventry cannot break Lee Camp resistance
Coventry 0 QPR 0
Lee Camp was man of the match for Queens Park Rangers
Chris Coleman, the Coventry City manager, said this week that he did not care how his team won, as long as they took three points. But although he was frustrated by missing a chance to move six points clear of the bottom three of the Coca-Cola Championship at the Ricoh Arena last night, Coleman was pleased with his team’s domination of an improving Queens Park Rangers side, who would have moved into the top half of the table if they had won.
“We are in the relegation dogfight and the only way we’re going to be OK is if we approach games as we did tonight,” Coleman said. “Our performance in the first 45 minutes belonged at the other end of the league. That’s what we’ve got to produce week in, week out. It’s another cup final at home [to Norwich City] on Saturday.”
Coleman was critical of his team’s final pass, but when it was delivered correctly City found Lee Camp, the QPR goalkeeper, in inspired form. Camp thwarted Michael Mifsud, Leon Best and Jay Tabb as Coventry swarmed around his goal in the first half and QPR’s rearguard was overworked again after the interval. It was hard to believe that the West London side had beaten Stoke City 3-0 on Sunday.
It would have been even worse for Coventry had not Dexter Blackstock, a substitute, missed the chance that would have broken home hearts three minutes from time. “I’m disappointed, but it’s down to Coventry that we couldn’t play as we wanted,” Luigi De Canio, the QPR manager, said.
Coventry City (4-4-1-1): A Marshall — I Osbourne, E Ward, S Dann, D Fox — M Mifsud, M Doyle, S Hughes, J Tabb (sub: J Gray, 75min) — K Thornton — L Best. Substitutes not used: D Konstantopoulos, M Hall, W Andrews, R Simpson. Booked: Best.
Queens Park Rangers (4-2-3-1): L Camp — M Mancienne, F Hall, M Connolly, D Delaney — M Rowlands (sub: G Ainsworth,90), M Leigertwood — R Vine, A Buzsaky, H Ephraim — P Agyemang (sub: D Blackstock, 86). Substitutes not used: M Pickens, C Barker, D Stewart. Booked: Connolly, Buzsaky. The Times

QPR Official Site - De Canio Comments - A CASE FOR THE DEFENCE
Luigi De Canio praised the contribution of Lee Camp and his fellow defenders, as the R's ground out a gritty point against Coventry City.
Camp was in fine form, twice making top-class saves in the first period, as Rangers were forced to defend in numbers for the majority of the match at The Ricoh Arena.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, De Canio said: "I'm happy with point, because Coventry made it very difficult for us.
"They were very strong in the middle areas and made it hard for us to play how we wanted.
"They were strong and aggressive, but we matched them and the players worked tirelessly.
"I was pleased with the effort and performance of the back four and Lee Camp.
"They are playing very well at the moment as a unit, which is why I continue to pick those individuals.
"Camp had a very good game. He has often been a spectator in recent matches, so it was about time he earned his wage!"
De Canio reserved special praise for the 1,100-plus Rangers fans who made the trip up to the Midlands from London, commenting: "They were fantastic, as they have been since I arrived here.
"They make me proud to be the Manager of this Football Club." QPR

MIRROR/James Nursey - QPR get Flav-our for the fast lane
Rangers keeper Lee Camp last night urged the club's new co-owner Flavio Briatore to reward the team with an outing to the Monaco Grand Prix if they stay up.
Italian billionaire Briatore has already splashed out on new £3,000 gold-plated Techno watches for the club's squad to thank them for their efforts pulling away from the drop zone.
Luigi De Canio's side inched nearer safety in front of Briatore after Camp's heroics helped earn this point to keep them 15th in the Championship.
And Camp, 23, is now hoping Briatore, the Renault Formula One team principal, who bought Rangers with F1 overlord Bernie Ecclestone last August, will let them sample life in the fast lane once survival is assured.
"Who knows what Flavio will do if we stay up," smiled Camp. "He is a colourful character and if we could get to watch the F1 at Monaco or in America it would be a treat.
"The target is to be safe and build from there. It was nice to keep a clean sheet and I am happy I got in the way of a few shots.
"It was a good way to follow Sunday's win over Stoke.
"Defensively we have tightened up a little bit which is always a good building block."
Qpr were poor in the first half and were fortunate not to trail when Elliott Ward blasted over in the ninth minute from Leon Best's low right-footed cross.
Rangers didn't threaten until just after the break when Akos Buzsaky hammered in a dipping shot from distance which flew just over the bar. Mirror

QPR OFFICIAL SITE -
Lee Camp was in inspirational form, as Rangers extended their mini unbeaten run to four Championship matches with a creditable point against Coventry City.

The R's number one was unbeatable at The Ricoh Arena, as the visitor's battled their way to a valuable draw.

In a one-sided first half, Camp saved twice from Leon Best and once from Jay Tabb, as Chris Coleman's side orchestrated proceedings.

Rangers, to their credit, improved after the break, and went closest to breaking the deadlock, when Akos Buzsaky fired onto the roof of the net.

Buoyed by Sunday's comfortable 3-0 victory against Championship front-runners Stoke City, Luigi De Canio named an unchanged side for the trip to The Ricoh Arena.

There was a solitary change on the bench however, where Chris Barker came in for Manchester United loanee Kieran Lee.

City boss Coleman recalled Michael Doyle and Stephen Hughes from suspension and concussion respectively, in his fourth match in charge of the Sky Blues.

After a tepid start, Coventry wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead in the eighth minute, when Elliott Ward fired over from eight yards following impressive wing play from Leon Best.

City were first to every loose ball and when Michael Mifsud broke clear a minute later, he squandered yet another decent chance, firing into the side netting from an acute angle.

Sensing the hosts were on top, De Canio instructed his players to switch to a 4-5-1 formation, with Rowan Vine dropping into a wide midfield berth.

It made little difference though, as Best fizzed a volley into the turf, which fortunately for Camp, sailed on to the top of his net instead of in it.

Rangers improved as the half wore on, but all too often the killer pass evaded them and it was City who continued to create chances.

Having blatantly tripped Matthew Connolly in the build up, Best raced through unchallenged in the 33rd minute, only to be denied by a first class save from Camp, who darted from his line to save at the attacker's feet.

Doyle was the next to sting the palms of the R's custodian, after he let fly from the edge of the 18-yard box, before the Rangers number one was forced into action yet again on the stroke of half-time, this time saving with his feet to deny Jay Tabb.

The second period started in a similar vein, with Coventry enjoying the lion's share of possession.

Undeterred, it was Rangers who fashioned the first effort of the half in the 50th minute, when Buzsaky fired an audacious 25-yard half-volley inches over the bar.

Damien Delaney, who was given a difficult evening by livewire Mifsud, tried his luck from distance three minutes later, but this time the ball faded a yard wide of Andy Marshall's right hand post.

Coventry had seemingly run out of ideas; while at the other end, Marshall was forced into his first save of the entire match in the 73rd minute, when he dived low to his left to deny Buzsaky.

Coventry City: Marshall, Fox, Ward, Hughes, Doyle, Osbourne, Mifsud, Tabb (Gray 76), Best, Dann, Thornton.

Subs: Konstantopoulos, Hall, Andrews, Simpson.

Scorers:

Bookings: Best 62

Red Cards:

QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mancienne, Buzsaky, Rowlands (Ainsworth 91), Connolly, Agyemang (Blackstock 86), Ephraim, Vine, Hall, Leigertwood.

Subs: Barker, Stewart, Pickens.

Scorers:

Bookings: Connolly 54, Buzsaky 69 Match Report

Coventry Evening Telegraph/Andy Turner - Coventry City shut out by QPR Mar 6 2008

COVENTRY manager Chris Coleman demanded more of the same from his side - despite a frustrating night at the Ricoh Arena.

The Sky Blues were held to a goalless draw by Queens Park Rangers but their first-half performance against the Londoners was arguably their strongest since Coleman took over.

On a night when former striker Gary McSheffrey watched from the stands, the only thing missing was goals.

"It was both an improvement and a frustrating night at the same time, said Coleman.

"If we produce more performances like that between now and the end of the season then we will get the points we need but more performances like Scunthorpe will mean it is a very long and worrying end to the season.

"We were playing against a side that had won against one of the top teams in the division while we haven't won many games recently but we created a number of chances.

"We need to see what kind of reaction when we take on Norwich at the weekend - it is another cup final for us and we must take something from it."

And the City manager said that he would continue to hold two training sessions a day if he felt it would benefit the players.

"It's not a punishment, I promise," he said. "But we haven't got much time to change things.

"So we are trying to get as much across as possible in a short space of time.

"We had a little chat after the Scunthorpe game and then results on Tuesday night meant we were fourth from bottom.


"Up until then, we had just been flirting with it but that brought it home. It's a relegation battle and I knew that from the day I came in.

"We just have to approach every game - home and away - as we did last night."

Coleman also revealed that midfielder Jay Tabb is 50/50 for the weekend fixture against Norwich after picking up a calf injury last night.

"I've been impressed with him," said the Coventry manager.

"He's exactly the sort of player you want when you are in the position we are in."

Coleman added: "If we produce more performances like that between now and the end of the season then we will get the points we need but more performances like Scunthorpe will mean it is a very long and worrying end to the season.

"We were playing against a side that had won against one of the top teams in the division while we haven't won many games recently but we created a number of chances.

"We need to see what kind of reaction when we take on Norwich at the weekend - it is another cup final for us and we must take something from it."

And the City manager said that he would continue to hold two training sessions a day if he felt it would benefit the players. Coventry Evening Telegraph