Dowie Makes it Four Wins Out of Five - Reports and Comments on QPR 4 Carlisle 0

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That's four wins out of five for Ian Dowie's QPR as Emmanuel Ledesma scored a second half hatrick.

QPR Official Site - QPR 4 Carlisle 0
Attendance: 8021

A scintillating hat-trick from midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma capped off a stunning 4-0 victory over League One side Carlisle United.

Rangers left the field to a standing ovation, richly deserved after a performance that blew away the Cumbrian outfit with four goals of the highest quality.

Almost forgotten amidst Ledesma's remarkable achievement, was the opening goal from Damion Stewart before the midfielder grabbed the limelight with both hands and took away the match ball.

After returning to winning ways with a delightful performance at Loftus Road on Saturday, Manager Iain Dowie made three changes to the side that faced Doncaster Rovers. Martin Rowlands returned to the starting line-up where he was joined by Matthew Connolly replacing Fitz Hall, missing with a groin injury, and Samuel Di Carmine making his first start in an R's shirt, in for the ill Dexter Blackstock.

Kaspars Gorkss returned to the subs bench alongside Adam Bolder and Hogan Ephraim, both hoping to make their first appearances of the season.

The visitors Carlisle surprisingly left out top scorers Danny Graham and Danny Carlton but did start with journeyman striker Michael Bridges.

The two forwards had to settle for the bench where they were joined by new signing, centre back Richard Keogh, who made his debut at the weekend.

A decent opening from the home side almost reaped an instant reward as Gavin Mahon volleyed spectacularly towards goal but his shot was well blocked by the Carlisle defence.

Rangers continued to press, and Ledesma, fresh from opening his account against Doncaster, went searching for another goal for his personal tally, as his shot from 20 yards stung the fingers of visiting keeper Ben Williams.

The Superhoops were dominating the opening stages, with Rowlands instrumental in one touch football that was pleasing on the eye. The Carlisle defence was holding firm however but could not get their forwards into the game.

Finally Radek Cerny had something to do as he got down low to his right as Simon Hackney burst into life down the left and tried to curl an effort around the Czech stopper at his near post.

Back came Rangers with Lee Cook opening up from 20 yards but his shot whistled over United's bar.

Stewart then played a wonderful ball over the top for Ledesma to run onto and the midfielder managed to squeeze a shot away under pressure from two defenders and force a good save out of Williams.

Damien Delaney was next to test the Carlisle goalkeeper as, after good build up play from Mahon and Cook released the Irishman on the left and his shot was again well saved by the overworked Williams.

The R's had turned the pressure up a notch and the League One side were struggling to contain the rampant Rowlands and his partners in crime, you guessed it, Daniel Parejo and Ledesma.

The returning skipper then beautifully picked out the onrushing Mahon who had burst into the Carlisle box but he could not guide his header goal-ward.

Seconds into the second half and Di Carmine was released in space but could only shoot across the Carlisle goal.

Then, at last, Rangers got the breakthrough they deserved. Ledesma's inswinging corner was powerfully headed into the top left corner by Stewart.

Di Carmine then tried again after escaping his marker but could only shoot straight at Williams. The Italian was getting closer.

Rangers doubled their lead after 55 minutes and it was that man Ledesma who spun his marker expertly before firing an unstoppable shot past Williams, in off the visitor's left hand post.

Cerny was growing roots during the second half but Marc Bridge-Wilkinson rudely interrupted him with a tame shot from the edge of the area that hardly tested our keeper.

Suddenly Rangers were three up just past the hour mark as Ledesma claimed his second goal of the evening after exchanging a neat one-two with Parejo and firing a low shot that easily beat Williams and nestled into the corner of the net.

To sour the night somewhat, Delaney was forced to withdraw from proceedings, suffering from illness, with the Latvian international Gorkss taking up a position next to Stewart at the back with Connolly taking over left back duties.

Jeff Smith, only just on as a substitute for Carlisle, almost made an instant impact as he pounced on a loose ball in the Ranger's box and his shot was destined for the bottom corner only for Cerny to dive full stretch to his right and turn it round the post.

Back came the R's again and intricate one touch football almost resulted in a fourth as Cook only narrowly missed the top corner with a strike from just inside the area.

There was life still in the visitors as Jeff Smith again tested Cerny with a curling, dipping free-kick that had the R's keeper scrambling across his goal-mouth.

But on the counter attack, the Hoops struck again with Ledesma claiming his third and Ranger's fourth. Quick passing and strong running in midfield fed the diminutive Argentine who repeated his earlier trick, this time receiving the return pass from Angelo Balanta, before bursting forward and clipping the ball over the advancing Williams to claim a remarkable hat-trick.

Ledesma wasn't happy with a mere three goals however and he sent a crashing long range shot high and wide.

And with that, the game was won and it was the home side that marched into Saturday's third round draw.
QPR: Cerny, Delaney (Gorkss 67), Stewart, Mahon (Bolder 67), Parejo, Rowlands, Ramage, Connolly, Cook Ledesma, Di Carmine (Balanta 67).
Subs: Camp, Alberti, Ephraim, Ainsworth.
Goals: Stewart (47), Ledesma (55) (62) (83)
Bookings: Delaney (64)
Carlisle United: Williams, Raven, Horwood, Bridge-Wilkinson, Livesey, Murphy, Thirlwell (J Smith 71), Taylor, Hackney, Bridges (G Smith 73), Madine.
Subs: Howarth, Graham, Carlton, Keogh, Campion.
Referee: Mr K Hill Attendance: 8,021 QPR Official Site


Carlisle Official Site
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Manager John Ward went for a new-look attack for this Carling Cup second-round tie at Loftus Road, with 18-year-old Gary Madine and the experienced Michael Bridges coming in for Carlton and Graham up front.

Cleveland Taylor was the only other change to the side that won three of its four opening games as he deputised for the suspended Scott Dobie.

United started well with some neat touches in the centre of the park, as Bridges got himself involved early to link the play. The ball eventually came to Madine, and his cross could only be headed in to the air by Parejo. Hackney went for a first time volley, 16-yards from goal, but it was on his right foot and it flew harmlessly over the bar.

Quick thinking at a throw in created a crossing opportunity for Ramage at the other end, and he drilled it hard across the face of the 18-yard box as Mahon stole some space. His volley was crisp, but Livesey was in the way as he blocked it for a corner.

Emmanuel Ledesma forced Williams in to a parried save in the 7th minute, when he went for the top corner from 30-yards out, but the keeper was equal to it, despite the fact that it was spinning wickedly in the air.

Peter Murphy was next to block as Rowlands exchanged passes, taking him on a run right through the middle of the Carlisle midfield. He went for his shot, 22-yards from goal, but the United central defender had tracked him and put himself in the way.

United started to settle as they broke through the 20 minute barrier, and the move of the game thus far was brought to a halt by the offside flag as Cleveland Taylor came in from the right and dictated things from midfield. His back heeled pass then released Hackney, but the assistant judged that he'd gone too early, and started to wave.

A quick free kick put Horwood in to the box in the 24th minute, and his far post cross was nodded back towards Bridges by Madine. It was an awkward bounce and the Carlisle striker's 8-yard header was never going to trouble Cerny.

Lee Cook tried one from distance as Rangers tried to impose themselves once more, with Livesey getting himself in the way this time, and Bridges sent one right at the keeper as the ball swung from end to end.

Ben Williams made a superb save in the 31st minute when Stewart sent a long pass towards the Carlisle area. Ledesma was on to it like a flash, and his hooked lob needed a touch to take it away for a corner. The big stopper was at full stretch again moments later when Delaney came in wide and angled a shot towards the far corner. Strong hands were enough to turn it away this time.

The Cumbrians were by no means second best, and they had a good shout for a penalty in the 36th minute when Hackney received a cheeky pass from Bridges. His cross was heading for Madine until Parejo appeared to block it with his arm, but Mr Hill showed no interest and waved play on.

A quick break looked promising on 40 minutes when Hackney jinked his way in to the home half, and he fed Bridges in to the area with a slide rule pass. On his left foot, and pushed slightly wide, he went for the first time shot and was disappointed as it screwed well wide of the target.

If United felt aggrieved at not being given anything from their first penalty appeal, they were incensed when they got nothing from the second when Gary Madine was literally hauled to the floor as he tried to get on the end of a Taylor cross, deep in to time added on. All eyes shifted to the Referee, and it was amazement all round as he ignored the appeals and waved play on.

Half Time: QPR 0 - 0 United

Rangers started brightly with a quick break as Ledesma robbed possession from Horwood. Di Carmine ran on, but he was closer to the corner flag than the goal with his dragged and scuffed shot.

United were undone in the 48th minute as Ledesma used his pace to carve a path in to the box and force a corner. That was sent to the near post, and Damion Stewart beat Williams to the ball, getting enough on it to glance it in to the back of the net.

Di Carmine went close 60 seconds later when he ran 20-yards with the ball before shooting through the bodies in front of him in a bid to sneak it in to the near post area. Williams did well to drop on it and gather it at the second attempt.

The home side were lifted by the goal and Ledesma scored a wonderful individual effort, to extend the lead, on 55 minutes when he turned Murphy, 18-yards out, and stroked it in to the bottom corner, via the woodwork.

Bridge-Wilkinson reminded Rangers that Carlisle still had a part to play on 61 minutes when he sent a first time volley right at Cerny, from distance.

The tie was all but closed on 63 minutes when a neat passage of interplay put the dangerous Ledesma in to a clear shooting position. With Williams exposed he had bottom left or right to choose from, and he finished it clinically, finding the corner of the net with aplomb.

Jeff Smith almost made an immediate impact when he came on for Hackney in the 72nd minute and immediately got himself in to the opposition box. His initial volley from a Raven cross was blocked, but he spun to try and guide it in to the bottom corner from the rebound, only to find that Cerny was equal to his shot as he pushed it around the post for a corner.

Lee Cook was a whisker away from making it four for the Rangers when he stayed forward from a corner, and took the pass from Balanta. It was nothing more than a toe poke, but it had power and speed, and it was just millimetres wide of the target.

Jeff Smith tried to catch Cerny unawares with a 25-yard free kick in the 75th minute, but the keeper did enough to get across and protect his near post.

Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma wrapped up a stunning individual display in the 84th minute when he skipped through challenges and exchanged before casually lofting the ball in to the back of the net to the appreciation of the Loftus Road crowd.

Ledesma was flying, and he decided to stay greedy on 90 minutes with a cheeky 23-yard shot that flew just over the bar.

That was the last action of what had been an entertaining encounter, with the difference between the sides a scinitillating second half display from an in form striker." Carlisle


POST MATCH COMMENTS - Tim Flowers/QPR Official Site SIMPLY FOUR-SOME!
Tim Flowers waxed lyrical, as Rangers eased in to the third round of the Carling Cup.
A hat-trick from Emmanuel Ledesma and a Damion Stewart header capped a scintillating second half display, after the Cumbrians more than held their own for the first 45 minutes.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, the R's Assistant Manager said: "At half time we told the lads to pass the ball a lot quicker.
"We weren't quite on top of our game, but the players stepped up a gear or two in the second period and the result was a scintillating display."
Argentine Ledesma was the undoubted star of the show, but Flowers was keen to praise others too.
"Ledesma will get all the plaudits for his hat-trick, but I'm just as pleased with the defensive display," he said.
"That's two clean sheets on the bounce now and we're progressing very nicely in all areas of the pitch.
"When we go ahead we're very dangerous.
"We took a lot of confidence from scoring early in the second half. We were in our rhythm then and the lads looked first class." QPR