Ten Man QPR Draw at Bristol City - Early Reports

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QPR took the lead through Blackstock; saw an equalizer; 1-1 at Half-Time...Saw Ledesma sentoff in the second half...Final score 1-1

Table:
Wolves 4 10
Preston 4 10
Birmingham 4 10
Bristol C 4 8
Sheff Utd 4 7
Reading 4 7
Swansea 4 7
QPR 4 7
Updated Table

REPORTS

Bristol City Official Site
Dele Adebola earned City a point against ten man Queens Park Rangers in a hotly-contested Coca-Cola Championship match at Ashton Gate.

Dexter Blackstock had given the visitors an 18th minute lead when he lashed in from close range - but Adebola responded with a six-yard finish of his own seven minutes later.

Two cautions saw Emmanuel Ledesma dismissed early in the second half but City were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage, although Adebola almost snatched victory with a guided header that was well saved.

City felt they were denied a penalty inside two minutes when Bradley Orr was manhandled by Matt Connolly as the two challenged to connect with Lee Johnson's corner kick. However, referee Darren Deadman waved away home appeals and QPR were off the hook.

On-loan Real Madrid starlet Daniel Parejo fired a low shot wide moments later, but they had to wait until 18 minutes for the opener.

Michael McIndoe was robbed in midfield by Mikele Leigertwood and the central midfielder lifted a floated ball into the box for Blackstock. The striker beat Louis Carey to the ball and from a grounded position hooked in despite pressure from Liam Fontaine and Adriano Basso.

But City were level within seven minutes as Brian Wilson's left-wing cross was missed by Connolly in the middle and Adebola was on hand to stab in from a couple of yards.

After such a frenetic start, the game quietened after City's equalising goal.

A flashpoint on 43 minutes livened things up once more though - with Ledesma throwing the ball down in anger after a throw-in decision went against him and Deadman issued a yellow card. However, the QPR bench were furious with Jamie McAllister, who they claimed allowed the ball beyond him to get their winger cautioned.

The next clear-cut chance came in first half stoppage time as Blackstock's right-wing cross was stabbed towards goal by Lee Cook and brilliantly saved with one hand by a diving Basso.

Also in added on time a McIndoe free kick was well worked to pick out Maynard unmarked, but the striker's low shot was blocked on its path towards goal.

The players entered the tunnel at the interval with plenty of heated discussions continuing with McAllister, assistant boss Keith Millen and the QPR coaching staff.

And it didn't stop because five minutes after half-time McAllister was clattered late when crossing the ball by Ledesma - earning the on-loan Genoa man a second caution and subsequent red card.

Both sides made changes in the wake of the dismissal. McAllister - who had been doubtful before the game - limped off and Cole Skuse also looked to be injured when withdrawn. Andy Webster and Gavin Williams entered the fray. For QPR, Cook was withdrawn for Martin Rowlands to come on.

Wilson saw a shot blocked and Williams went on a mazy run before testing Cerny with a low shot. Then McIndoe took aim from 30 yards and also warmed the gloves of QPR's Czech keeper.

The R's were content to run down the clock, notably with Cerny wasting time again and again.

Adebola thought he had won it at the death when his headed attempt from Williams' cross was angling towards the bottom corner only for Cerny to keep it out with a fine one-handed save. Bristol City


QPR Official Site
QPR battled to a well-earned point against Bristol City despite having Emmanuel Ledesma controversially sent off.

With the Robins pouring forward in search of the win, the R's backline held their ground to earn the Hoops their first away point of the season.

Rangers started with the same formation that worked so well against Doncaster Rovers and Carlisle United with Dexter Blackstock returning after illness to spearhead the attack.

Elsewhere, Mikele Leigertwood also returned at the expense of Martin Rowlands who dropped to the bench where he was joined by Patrick Agyemang who was hoping for his first appearance of the season after overcoming injury.

Finally, Damien Delaney recovered from the illness that forced him off midweek against Carlisle to retain his left back berth.

Bristol City's line-up boasted new striker Nicky Maynard partnering Dele Adebola up front, with fellow new signings Gavin Williams and Andy Webster taking up position on the bench.

With the large visiting support in full voice, a near capacity Ashton Gate witnessed a lively start as Emmanuel Ledesma was fed down the right and crossed for Daniel Parejo who could only send his volleyed effort wide.

A lull in the tempo suddenly saw the game's opening goal. Leigertwood robbed Michael McIndoe in midfield and played a lofted cross field pass to Blackstock, who only just managed to gather the ball ahead of Louis Carey and, after shrugging aside both Carey and the retreating Liam Fontaine, hooked out a leg to send the ball nestling into the Robins' net.

Just as suddenly as the Ranger's goal, Bristol City equalised. Brian Wilson collected a loose ball down the left and sent in a curling delivery which found the head of Adebola who made no mistake from five yards.

With the game settling into a quiet stalemate, a brief spark of excitement arose when Blackstock escaped down the right and crossed for Lee Cook who had wandered in from the left wing but he could only poke a shot towards goal that was easily dealt with by Adriano Basso.

The second half opened with the worst possible start as Ledesma, already harshly booked in the first half for apparently throwing the ball away petulantly, saw red for a late tackle on Jamie McAllister leaving Manager Iain Dowie with a reshuffle in order. On came Martin Rowlands for Cook.

City were enjoying the lion's share of possession but the plucky Ranger's defence were holding firm.

In a bid to get the R's back into the game, Dowie brought on Agyemang with 15 minutes to go for the striker's first showing of the season.

With the Robins continuing their relentless pressure, Gavin Williams from crossed from the right and Adebola arrowed a header into the bottom left corner only for Radek Cerny to somehow keep it out with a magnificent save.

It was to prove the last real chance for either side as Rangers held on to seal an unlikely point.

Bristol City: Basso, Orr, Fontaine, Carey, McAllister (Webster 54), Wilson (Sproule 78), Skuse (Williams 56), Johnson, McIndoe, Adebola, Maynard.
Subs: Brooker, Weale.
Bookings: Orr (37), Sproule (86)
Goals: Adebola (24)
QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Connolly, Delaney, Ledesma, Leigertwood, Mahon, Cook (Rowlands 54), Parejo (Agyemang 75), Blackstock.
Subs: Camp, Gorkss, Balanta.
Bookings: Ledesma (43), Cook (45), Rowlands (59), Blackstock (90)
Sendings Off: Ledesma (50)
Goals: Blackstock (18)
Referee: D. Deadman
Attendance: 17, 543 (1,526 QPR fans) QPR