QPR's Loss to Sheffield United - Match Reports

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QPR Official Site - Ian Dowie's Comments - A MAD 12 MINUTES

Iain Dowie bemoaned his side's slow start at Bramall Lane this afternoon, which saw Sheffield United beat the R's 3-0.
Dowie's men were two down after 12 minutes, and Dowie told www.qpr.co.uk: "It was 12 minutes of madness, and we gave ourselves a mountain to climb.
"We let ourselves down and we let the fans down."
Billy Sharp grabbed a hat-trick, with his first resulting from a long throw and his third from a corner, and Dowie said: "We were caught out defensively from two set pieces, which is bizarre.
"We knew what they were going to do - we had it up on the wall in the dressing room - but they caught us out, and that disappoints me.
"We're amongst the largest teams in the Championship in terms of our size, which makes it more frustrating to concede from set pieces. We need to work on it.
"We've got to get out of the traps quicker, win that first header, win that first tackle and build from there."
The R's boss was more encouraged by his side's performance after the break, when they managed to get beyond the Blades' rear-guard and test goalkeeper Paddy Kenny.
"In the second half I thought we played better," he added. "We forced Kenny into a couple of saves and hit the post as well.
"But the fact is that when you have to chase a game like we had to, you're going to be open at the back."
New-boys Emmanuel Ledesma and Daniel Parejo did their best to get the visitors back into the match, but to no avail, and Dowie acknowledged: "They're going to take time to get used to the system we play, but they have already shown what quality players they are."
"The expectation surrounding the Club is something we're going to have to cope with.
"Come Christmas time I want people to talk about us as promotion candidates. We want to make the dream come true, but it is going to take a lot of hard work." QPR


Sheffield United Official Site

Billy Sharp netted his first hat-trick for the club as an impressive United brushed Queens Park Rangers aside at Bramall Lane.

The Blade's finishing was too sharp for the visitors as Kevin Blackwell's side opened their points tally in the Coca-Cola Championship.

There were a number of fine performances - including Sun Jihai - as United bounced back from the previous week's disappointment.

Despite the midweek Carling Cup win, United reverted back to the squad that went close to snatching a point at Birmingham City on the opening day. For the encounter with QPR, the first home Championship encounter of the season, boss Blackwell named the same starting XI and substitutes. The visitors included former Blade Leigertwood as well as midfielder Parejo, who is on loan from Real Madrid.

The sun was out and there were smiling faces as early as the third minute when United captured the lead, with two of the new boys involved. From Halford's huge throw, Henderson added a decisive flick and SHARP managed to adjust his body to beat Cerny with a diving header.

United won a couple of corners in the opening ten minutes and were clearly on top in the early exchanges. The difference between the sides was evident when the home side added a second with 13 minutes gone. Speed robbed Leigertwood and immediately released a ball down the right channel for SHARP, who looked suspiciously offside, but the striker kept his cool and rolled home, beyond the helpless Cerny.

The Blades were dominating and came close to a third when Naysmith won possession but from Sharp's lay-off there was no-one to test Cerny. Soon after, Henderson rose to meet Sun's cross but the goalkeeper saved.

In a couple of rare QPR attacks, Parejo's shot was charged down by Quinn and Leigertwood fired well over, but United's progressed was hampered when Morgan needed to be helped from the field with a head injury after an accidental clash. Ehiogu was the captain's replacement.

In the last five minutes of the half United regained control. Sharp went close to claiming a hat-trick but shot wide after Quinn challenged with Connolly.

On 44 minutes, from Sun's cross, Speed and Henderson were involved aerially before Tonge had two shots on goal. His first, with his left foot, hit Sharp and the second, with his right, was saved by Cerny.

Three minutes of injury-time was added, due to Morgan's injury, and there was warm round of applause for United's performance as the teams disappeared for their half-time cuppa.

United began the second like they had done the first - winning two early corners, from the second of which the lead was extended and the goalscorer predictable. Tonge delivered from the left, Cerny missed out and after Ehiogu battled with three defenders, SHARP was given the room to poke home for his first Blades hat-trick. Understandably on top of the world, the Unitedite kissed his badge in front of the Kop.

Just after the hour Sharp went close to a fourth but, from Henderson's header inside, the hat-trick hero saw his volley pushed away by Cerny.

Rangers fans must have been wondering why they had made the trip north, although they were almost celebrating a goal on 64 minutes. After fancy footwork, Ledesma's shot came back off the post directly to Blackstock but with the striker poised, Ehiogu wrapped his long legs around to make a last-ditch tackle.

Kenny saved with his feet to keep out Blackstock, who got the better of Kilgallon, and from the resulting corner Hall headed on to the roof of the net from Ledesma's delivery.

The Blades goalkeeper then scrambled across his goal to keep out a Parejo free-kick and to give credit to the visitors they continued to look positive, despite the three-goal deficit.
For United, Tonge mis-timed a left-footer and Henderson's shot was blocked by the legs of Hall after Gorkss was brushed aside.

As the game entered the final ten minutes, Kenny had to be alert to race across his goal to push another Parejo free-kick away and the goalkeeper then set up an attack, bowling out to Cotterill to use his pace but, following a cross, Quinn's shot was straight Cerny.

Sharp was given a standing ovation when he was replaced with seven minutes remaining and replacement Webber had a chance to add a fourth following a Quinn run but his shot was across the goal.

A linesman's flag prevented Henderson opening his account in the closing stages and QPR's miserable day was wrapped up in the 90th minute when Ledesma fired six foot wide of Kenny's goal. Sheffield United Official Site


QPR Official Site
QPR's fairytale start to the season came to a shuddering halt with a 3-0 defeat at a noisy Bramall Lane.

Ex-Scunthorpe striker Billy Sharp did the damage with a marvellous hat-trick, as Iain Dowie's side failed to use the momentum gained from last weekend.

Rangers were outfoxed and outclassed, as they failed to tough it out with the physical Blades, who had a two-goal lead inside 12 minutes.

Sharp made it three early in the second period, and although the R's continued to huff and puff, their early downfall cost them.

With success in the Carling Cup still fresh in the minds, Iain Dowie recalled top scorer Fitz Hall to the starting XI in place of Damion Stewart, who dropped to the bench, where he was joined by fellow returnee Gavin Mahon.

Angelo Balanta, impressive against Swindon in midweek, kept his place alongside Dexter Blackstock in attack, whilst Matthew Connolly retained the right back berth ahead of Peter Ramage.

QPR again looked to Daniel Parejo and Emmanuel Ledesma for creativity, with both hoping to score their first goals in Rangers' colours.

Sheffield United included new signings Greg Halford, Darius Henderson and Sun Jihai, with fellow new-boy Matt Spring on the bench.

And it was Henderson who made an instant impact on the game as his flick on from a Halford long throw found fellow striker Sharp, who dived to head home after two minutes. Once again, Rangers had conceded early.

United continued to press and Halford's volley was well blocked by Parejo moments later.

With United pressing further, Gary Speed robbed Mikele Leigertwood in midfield and clipped a superb lofted through ball for Sharp to race onto and coolly slot beyond Radek Cerny in the Rangers net.

The Blades were dominating, with the Hoops failing to get a hold in the game.

Halford was lucky to stay on the pitch moments later as he lunged with two feet off the ground right into R's skipper Damien Delaney, who reacted with a shove. Despite the severity of the tackle, Halford received only a yellow card, a fate Delaney shared.

United almost made it three moments later as Jihai crossed from the right for Henderson, who could only head weakly into Radek Cerny's hands.

Rangers finally recorded a shot after 35 minutes, as Leigertwood ghosted past Speed and unloaded a 25 yarder that sailed high and wide. Hardly what the travelling support wanted to see.

Finally the R's put together a move of note as Ledesma was only stopped from opening his account by a superb last ditch tackle from Jihai, after good build up play from the Argentine and Blackstock.

Michael Tonge nearly extended the Blades' lead minutes before half time, as - after his original shot was blocked - with the goal at his mercy, he was only denied a goal by a superb full stretch save from the recovering Cerny.

And with that, referee Laws mercifully blew for half time.

The second period began with Angelo Balanta making way for Italian Samuel Di Carmine to make his Championship debut in a Rangers shirt.

But even his introduction couldn't inspire the Hoops as, in the 50th minute, Sharp completed his hat-trick as he swept home from two-yards out after Cerny fumbled Michael Tonge's corner.

A brief flicker of light quickly faded as Lee Cook crossed from the left and Blackstock rose highest but could only send his header over, his only reward, a heavy landing amongst the advertising boards.

Minutes later, Cerny partially made up for his earlier error with a smart stop to deny Sharp a fourth, but Rangers were hardly making their increased possession count.

Suddenly, Rangers could've and should've had a goal. Ledesma exchanged a one-two with Di Carmine and his curling shot came back off the post, straight to the feet of Blackstock. The striker tried to shape to shoot, but was foiled by a superb recovering tackle from Ugo Ehiogu.

Rangers threatened again as Connolly crossed from the right; Blackstock escaped his marker, but Paddy Kenny rushed out to smother his shot. From the resultant corner, Hall looped a header onto the top of the net.

As Rangers came to life it was Parejo's turn next, as his 25 yard free-kick foiled everyone but Kenny, who saved well. Cook was next to get in on the act, but his long range strike was comfortably saved by the Blades custodian.

Parejo tried his luck again with a free-kick minutes later, but again Kenny was up to it as he punched away the curling effort.

Leigertwood was guilty of wasting another good chance moments later, as he swept inside the United box, only to blaze his left-foot strike high over the goal.

Sheffield United: Kenny, Halford (Cotterill 65), Naysmith, Morgan (Ehiogu 33), Kilgallon, Henderson, Jihai, Speed, Tonge, Sharp (Webber 84), Quinn.

Subs: Stead, Spring.

Goals: Sharp (2), (12), (50)

Bookings: Halford (19)

Red Cards:

QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Hall, Leigertwood, Parejo, Blackstock, Gorkss, Connolly, Cook (Alberti 80), Balanta (Di Carmine 46), Ledesma.

Subs: Camp, Stewart, Mahon.

Goals:

Bookings: Delaney (19)

Red Cards:

Referee: Mr G Laws

Attendance: 25273 QPR