QPR's Strong Draw at Bristol City - Reports and Comments

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QPR's draw at Bristol City leaves the club in 9th place with 7 points from 10 games: Two wins, a draw, a loss (plus two Carling Cup victories). Photos from Bristol City vs QPR

QPR Official Site - IAIN DOWIE - AN IMPORTANT POINT'
Manager Iain Dowie was pleased to pick up a point at 'a difficult place to come' as QPR recorded their first draw of the season at Bristol City.
Speaking to www.qpr.co.uk, Dowie reflected on an impressive display from the Hoops. He said: "I thought we shaded it in the first half.
"I know it's only a point but it's an important point. It was two good football sides and they'll cause you problems but other than Dele Adebola's header we were fairly comfortable."
The gaffer picked out goalscorer Dexter Blackstock for special praise after the striker recovered from illness to make the starting line-up.
"Dexter has been on his deathbed all week but he did very well and worked very hard up top on his own."
The main talking point however, was the sending off of Emmanuel Ledesma, a decision that left Dowie bemused.
"I don't know why he got booked in the first half.
"He throws the ball to the man; the man lets it go and its Ledesma's fault. I'll be having a look at the video."
Some of the decisions further baffled our gaffer but he was quick to praise what was an encouraging performance.
"There were a lot of yellow cards flying about, not too many for us. Look how many challenges went in on Dexter.
"But I don't want to detract from what was a resilient performance." QPR


Bristol City Offical Site - GARY PLEASED AFTER A MONTH
Gary Johnson says he is pleased with City's start to the season as the campaign enters its first two-week international break.
This afternoon's 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers means the club have yet to win at home, but two away victories leave City in fourth place with eight points from four matches.
Gary told Bristol City World: "All in all eight points in four games is a good return.
"If we were winning our two home games and drawing our two away games then we would all be really pleased but it's been the other way round.
"Unfortunately, we've drawn two home games but there have been parts of both those games that I have been really pleased with."
City were denied three points by a late Radek Cerny save from a bullet Dele Adebola header as ten-man QPR stubbornly held out after the second-half dismissal of Argentine Emmanuel Ledesma.
Asked if he felt it was a good point earned, Gary added: "When a team goes down to ten men, no. But when you are playing ten men they will sit nine behind the ball and keep one up front.
"They proved difficult to break down and let us play in the first two thirds of the field and made sure they defended as best they could. Dele did get the header in but it was a great save by the keeper.
"They decided they didn't want to go out and win the game and it was up to us to try and win it. In doing that we had lots of play on the edge and inside the box and when we did get through their keeper made good saves.
"It wasn't a case of us missing chances we just weren't creating enough chances. "People may wonder why we didn't bring Steve Brooker on but we felt it we needed to open the game out a bit and bringing Ivan Sproule on created more opportunities - two or three times he got in and he was very unlucky.
"I thought it was a good football match actually. I thought they looked a good team, and we looked a good team."
The game turned on the second-half dismissal of Ledesma for a second yellow card, the latter earned for a late tackle on Jamie McAllister, who had been stretchered off with an ankle injury at Crewe just four days previously.
The duo had already clashed in the first half after the Argentine was booked for throwing the ball away. The opposition bench claimed that City left-back McAllister had let the ball go deliberately in a bid to get the player cautioned.
Gary commented: "I thought they were moaning a bit. Macca let the ball go but the lad showed a sign of aggression. Whether Macca catches the ball or not doesn't really matter.
"As far as the tackle was concerned it was on the other side of the pitch so I couldn't see it properly but once he got called over we knew the lad was in trouble. It was a tackle that caused Macca a problem because he doesn't come off easily. It was the same ankle that took a knock at Crewe but he has two weeks to recover... Bristol City


SPORTING LIFE
Bristol City manager Gary Johnson announced the £140,000 signing of striker John Akinde from Ebbsfleet United after seeing his side struggle to create chances in a 1-1 draw against 10-man QPR.
The visitors had winger Emmanuel Ledesma sent off for a second yellow card early in the second half, but showed great resilience to hold out under heavy pressure.
Akinde watched from the stands and Johnson revealed the deal to sign the highly-rated 19-year-old will be completed on Monday.
"It's a big step for John from the Conference, but he is a big lad with bags of pace and we feel he has it in him to become a Championship player," said the City manager.
"He missed pre-season with a slight groin problem so he may need a little while to get fully match-fit. But I expect him to be challenging for a first-team place very soon."
On the game, Johnson said: "I would have preferred it if Rangers had kept 11 players on the field. After the sending-off they got nine men behind the ball and closed all the gaps.
"We had one great chance when Dele Adebola's header brought a fantastic save, but we probably didn't create enough decent opportunities."
Rangers boss Iain Dowie felt Ledesma was unlucky to pick up his first booking for throwing the ball away at the award of a throw-in.
"Their player deliberately jumped out of the way of the ball to make it look worse than it was," said Dowie.
"After that Emmanuel showed his inexperience with a silly tackle to get himself sent off.
"I thought our defending from then on was outstanding. We know we have quality players, but you also need resilience in the Championship.
"In that respect I'm more pleased with this point than our home victory over Doncaster. Bristol City are a very good side and will be up there challenging again."
Rangers took an 18th-minute lead through the determination of striker Dexter Blackstock, who held off Louis Carey and evaded a lunge from goalkeeper Adriano Basso before shooting home from close range while grounded.
The equaliser came seven minutes later when Brian Wilson retrieved a ball that looked to be going out of play and crossed from the left for Adebola to shoot home from six yards.
The other main talking point was the fantastic save by Rangers goalkeeper Radek Cerny two minutes from time when he somehow got down at the foot of a post to keep out Adebola's powerful header.
The striker held his head in disbelief, but City only had themselves to blame for not making their man advantage tell.
They dominated possession after Ledesma's dismissal but came up against a brick wall in a heavily-manned Rangers rearguard. Sporting Life


SUNDAY MIRROR/James Piercy - BRISTOL CITY 1-1 QPR
Qpr showed pluck and grit to hold out for a draw at fellow promotion hopefuls City.
They were forced to play most of the second half with 10 men following Emmanuel Ledesma's dismissal.
Argentine Ledesma arrived at Loftus Road in a hail of publicity and with rave reviews for his lavish skills, but showed the other side of his Latin American character to the annoyance of boss Iain Dowie.
The on-loan signing from Genoa had already picked up two yellow cards in his fledgling Championship career and added to that when he impetuously threw the ball away in the first half.
The legacy of that flash of temper returned to haunt him five minutes into the second when his late challenge on Jamie McAllister poleaxed the City defender and left referee David Deadman with little option but to show Ledesma a second yellow.
Dowie said: "I think the referee had a bit of a problem with that first booking - it was unbelievably harsh.
"I told Emmanuel at halftime not to get a red card and the tackle for his second booking was a bit silly.
"This will be a lesson for the young man. He needs to be a bit more disciplined."
Before his dismissal Ledesma had struggled to get into a game played at a ferocious pace despite the heat.
It was one of Rangers' lesser lights, Dexter Blackstock, who gave them the first-half lead.
Blackstock, a £500,000 signing from Southampton two years ago, has admitted he is under no illusions that Rangers' new-found wealth could put his place at risk.
But more performances like this will ensure his name is first on Dowie's team sheet, as he worked hard in a lone striker's role and provided a constant menace despite being out-numbered.
Blackstock's goal was bizarre but thoroughly deserved.
He chested down Peter Ramage's long diagonal ball and muscled his way past Louis Carey. City keeper Adriano Basso was out bravely to block at Blackstock's feet.
Butwhile the former England Under-21 striker tumbled to the ground, the ball broke kindly for him and he was able to hook it home while lying on his back.
But Rangers' lead lasted just two minutes as they were undone by some sloppy defending.
After clearing the initial danger they switched off as Brian Wilson retrieved a ball that looked to be going out of play and as Rangers defenders snoozed in the sun, his cross picked out Dele Adebola who sidefooted home from six yards.
After Ledesma's dismissal Rangers' gameplan was to hold on for a first away point of the season and they packed defenders behind the ball inviting City to break them down, a task they were unable to do as Damion Stewart and Matt Connolly dealt with all the crosses City worked in.
Gary Johnson's side, unbeaten in the Championship this season, almost snatched an undeserved late winner when Adebola's header produced a superb save from Radek Cerny.
Deadman did little for the FA's Respect the Ref campaign by flashing five yellow cards plus Ledesma's two, mostly for petty offences.
Bristol City: Basso 6 - Orr 6, Fontaine 5, Carey 5, McAllister 5 (Webster, 55mins, 6), Wilson 6 - Skuse 5 (Williams, 58mins, 5), *JOHNSON 7, McIndoe 6 - Adebola 6, Maynard 6.
Qpr: Cerny 6 - Ramage 6, Stewart 7, Connolly 6, Delaney 6 - Leigertwood 5, Mahon 5, Parejo 6 (Agyemang, 75mins), Cook 6 (Rowlands, 55mins, 6) - Ledesma 4, *BLACKSTOCK 8. Referee: D Deadman 5. Sunday Mirror


The Times/Barney Cullum - Ten-man QPR give defensive masterclass
Bristol City 1 QPR 1: City laid siege to the QPR goal in a bid to get the winner but goalkeeper Radek Cerny was in fine form
Emmanuel Ledesma, sent off six minutes into the second half yesterday, can count himself fortunate that he’d built up plenty of credit this season prior to yesterday’s draw at Ashton Gate. Sharing the spoils with last season’s playoff finalists could be interpreted as a valuable point accrued, but had the Argentine stayed on the pitch Queens Park Rangers may well have taken all three points.
Ledesma scored a hat-trick against Carlisle in the Carling Cup on Tuesday and the 20-year-old playmaker was a class apart again in the first-half, running rings around Bristol City’s defenders. The Genoa loanee was booked for dissent just before half-time when challenging a throw-in decision and again after a crude lunge on Jamie McAllister on 52 minutes. Perhaps it was a product of over-exuberance in the week in which the QPR club shop celebrated his undoubted talent by printing 500 Ledesma T-shirts. “It was a lesson for Emmanuel,” said manager Iain Dowie, “But the referee gave himself a problem with the first booking, which I felt was very harsh.”
QPR had played the better football prior to the red card, taking the lead in the 18th minute when Mikele Leigertwood split City’s defence with a hopeful through-ball that Dexter Blackwood made significant with his acceleration. The former England Under-21 international saw his first attempt blocked by Adriano Basso. The Brazilian goalkeeper should have cleared the danger but allowed Dexter Blackstock a second chance. Falling onto his backside, the forward managed to hook the ball over his own shoulder and score at the second opportunity.
Dele Adebola, who tormented Coventry in Bristol City’s rout at the Ricoh Arena last week, was City’s best player again yesterday and was in the right place at the right time to equalise for the Robins against the run of play seven minutes later, firing home from a diagonally flighted cross from left winger Brian Wilson.
Dowie’s side continued playing the more attractive football with the skilful Lee Cook and the occasionally inspired Real Madrid loanee Daniel Parejo pulling the strings. The two almost combined to give Rangers the lead just before the break but Cook’s delicate effort was saved smartly by Basso.
The dismissal altered QPR’s priorities and City boss Gary Johnson claimed it might even have hindered his own side’s chances of collecting maximum points. “With the benefit of hindsight I’d have rathered Ledesma hadn’t have been sent off,” Johnson said, “If he’d stayed on QPR would have continued to try and win the game.”
City’s attempts at a winner were restricted to one firm low header from Adebola that Radek Cerny saved expertly. Johnson will hope that new striker John Akinte, who will complete his £140,000 transfer from Ebbsfleet tomorrow, will give City more options up front.
Star man: Matt Connolly (QPR)
Yellow cards: Bristol City: Orr, Sproule. QPR: Cook, Rowlands, Blackstock, Ledesma.
Red Card: QPR: Ledesma
Referee: D Deadman Attendance: 17,543
Bristol City: Basso 6, Orr 6, Fontaine 6, Carey 7, McAllister 5 (Webster 55min, 5), Wilson 6 (Sproule 77min), Skuse 5 (Williams 56min, 7), Johnson 6, McIndoe 7, Maynard 5, Adebola 7
QPR: Cerny 7, Ramage 6, Stewart 6, Connolly 7, Delaney 7, Parejo 7 (Agyemang 76min), Leigertwood 6, Mahon 5, Cook 7 (Rowlands 54min, 6), Blackstock 7, Ledesma 7.
The Times


Dave McIntyre/BBC 606 A decent point - and a fine save
1-1 and a decent result for QPR given the second-half sending-off of Emmanuel Ledesma and the fact that they always looked vulnerable defensively.
Iain Dowie was right when he said afterwards that Ledesma needed to be more careful after picking up what seemed a very harsh first booking.
Radek Cerny had his best moment for the club so far when he produced a great save near the end to keep out Dele Adebola’s header.
Cerny spoke afterwards about the save and the lukewarm reception he’s had at Rangers because of Lee Camp’s popularity. More on that next week.
Do you think the save will help establish Cerny as the fans' choice?
It was certainly a good stop (although Camp has produced many similar and better saves for Rangers) and secured a deserved draw.
Dexter Blackstock’s goal put Rangers ahead but Adebola capitalised on yet more shoddy defending to equalise.
Ledesma’s dismissal for a second bookable offence made the second half difficult for Rangers, although City lacked a cutting edge.
There were several good performances for Rangers, with Blackstock scoring again and working tirelessly up front, Cerny’s save securing the point, Leigertwood covering loads of ground and Parejo rolling up his sleeves to good effect after the sending off.
Blackstock deserves a lot of credit for a really hardworking performance on such a hot day having felt unwell all week. He almost didn’t appear for the second half.
But my man of the man was Damien Delaney, who I thought played very well at left-back. As always I’d be interested to read your views.
And I did laugh at City manager Gary Johnson’s response when he was asked if striker John Akinde’s presence in the stands wearing a City tracksuit means he has been signed from Ebbsfleet United.
“No, it means he’s nicked one of our tracksuits,” Johnson replied. BBC606


Bristol Evening Post Bristol City 1 QPR 1
Thrashed 3-0 at Sheffield United on their only previous Championship away day, Queens Park Rangers were under pressure to show their class on the road.
They began as though they meant business, dictating the tempo of the game and winning the midfield battle.
Argentina whizz kid Emmanuel Ledesma almost put the visitors in front on eight minutes, forcing his way in front of City captain Louis Carey to meet Daniel Parejo's cross with a first-time shot which flashed just wide.
Rangers went ahead 10 minutes later. Damion Stewart's lofted through-ball was chested down by Dexter Blackstock, who beat of challenges from Carey, Liam Fontaine and Adriano Basso to hook the ball in from eight yards.
City needed a response, and it came in the 25th minute. Brian Wilson did well to keep the ball in play and sent over a pinpoint cross which eluded Gavin Mahon and presented Dele Adebola with the opportunity to volley home his second goal of the season from close range.
After the break, Rangers were reduced to 10 men on 51 minutes, Ledesma lunging at Jamie McAllister on the touchline to earn a second yellow card.
Injured in the incident, McAllister made way for centre-back Andy Webster with Fontaine switching to left back.
Thereafter, City dominated possession without being able to break down QPR, who sought to protect their point.
Nicky Maynard volleyed over, Adebola was off target with a snap snot and Michael McIndoe’s effort from long range was saved by Radek Cerny.
Johnson brought on midfielder Gavin Williams and winger Ivan Sproule in search of a winner and City nearly grabbed victory three minutes from time when Cerny made a great save to keep out Abebola's header. Bristol Evening Post


- See Also: Two Clubs' Official Site Match Reports