Blackstock Happy on His Own...QPR Reserves Held by Charlton

-
Eurosport - Dexter happy with lone role
Dexter Blackstock insists he is happy to play the solitary striker role this term if it helps QPR gain promotion from the Championship.The former Derby and Southampton frontman has ploughed a lone furrow up front to good effect at times this season, allowing the likes of Emmanuel Ledesma, Daniel Parejo and Lee Cook to get forward from midfield.
"It's a hard shift on your own but if I can do two players' jobs then we'll have a spare man in midfield to get on the ball and dictate the game," said Blackstock.
"You do it for the team. If we can win games while I'm playing up front on my own then so be it.
"I get great support from Lee Cook, Emmanuel Ledesma and Daniel Parejo so at times there are three of us up front - it's not like I'm isolated." Eurosport


QPR Official Site - QPR Reserves 1 Charlton Reserves 1 - "HOGAN SENDS TIMELY REMINDER

Hogan Ephraim gave Iain Dowie a timely reminder of what he's capable of, as QPR Reserves were held to a 1-1 draw by Charlton Athletic in their maiden Football Combination Invitation Cup tie of the new campaign.

Returning to action following a shin injury, Ephraim notched the R's equaliser at Loftus Road, as Gareth Ainsworth's start to managerial life with the second string began with a competitive draw against the Addicks.

Darren Ambrose gave Charlton the lead early in the second half, but - inspired by the introduction of the fit-again Akos Buzsaky - Rangers stepped up a level, with Ephraim pulling the hosts level with a well-taken goal on the hour.

In a free flowing opening, Samuel Di Carmine went closest to breaking the deadlock as early as the seventh minute.

A looping ball out of defence totally deceived Linvoy Primus, who having made a hash of his attempted clearance, allowed the Italian to fire a shot on target, which Robert Elliott tipped wide at full stretch.

Charlton's first effort arrived eight minutes later, following some neat link-up play involving Ambrose.

His threaded pass found Svetoslav Todorov, who miscued his effort wide of Reece Crowther's right hand upright.

Gareth Ainsworth sent a stinging drive over midway through the half, before Stuart Fleetwood fired inches past the post at the other end moments later.

Angelo Balanta was oozing class for the R's and when he shimmied past Primus in the 29th minute, only a superb last ditch tackle prevented the Rangers winger from putting the hosts in front.

Patrick Agyemang was the next to try his luck, leaving three defenders trailing in his wake with a terrific turn of pace, only to see low drive tipped to safety by Elliott.

Having orchestrated proceedings for much of the half, it was Rangers who ended the first period in the ascendancy, with Di Carmine poking the ball on target on the stroke of half-time, following a mazy run and dribble from Ephraim.

The 500-plus crowd gave Buzsaky - returning from a long term ankle injury - a rousing ovation as he entered the fray upon the resumption, but it was Charlton who were soon celebrating.

Ambrose was the beneficiary as Rangers failed to clear their lines, poking the ball past the exposed Crowther from six yards out.

Undeterred, Rangers went straight back on the attack, with Ephraim curling the ball high and wide from the edge of the 18-yard box.

Ephraim wasn't to be denied the goal his second half display deserved though, as the R's drew levelon the hour.

Fine interplay involving Matteo Alberti and Di Carmine eventually resulted in Adam Bolder spraying the ball out wide to the former West Ham winger.

Faced one on one with Sam Long, Ephraim mesmerised the young full-back, jinking one way and then the other before curling the ball into the far corner of the net.

Buoyed by their equaliser, Rangers continued to pose the greater attacking threat.

Di Carmine fired wide after Balanta shrugged off Primus with ease, before Buzsaky's stinging drive flew over from distance.

It was all one-way traffic as the clock ticked down. Elliott denied Ephraim with a stunning save in the 70th minute, before the impressive Balanta skewed the ball wide from eight yards out after Alberti played provider from the right wing.

Buzsaky nearly marked his return with a goal five minutes from time, but the overworked Elliott stood strong once again, tipping the ball to safety.

QPR Res: Crowther, Ainsworth, Ilesanmi, Bolder, Harris, Oastler, Alberti, Ephraim, Agyemang (Buzsaky 46), Di Carmine, Balanta.

Subs: Bulmer, Arthur, Maguire, Rose.

Charlton Athletic Res: Elliott, Solly (Long 46), Clark, Wright, Primus, Sinfield, Ambrose, Shelvey, Fleetwood, Todorov, Yussuf (Tuma 65).

Subs: Christie, Jensen, Tuma, Godfrey. QPR


Charlton Official Site - All square at the Loft
Darren Ambrose was on target and completed the full 90 minutes as Charlton reserves drew 1-1 at Queens Park Rangers in Group B of the new Football Combination Invitation Cup on Tuesday afternoon.

The Addicks, who included Linvoy Primus in their starting XI at Loftus Road, took the lead through Ambrose just after the break but were forced to settle for a point when former West Ham United youngster Hogan Ephraim levelled on the hour mark.

The paperwork on Primus' loan switch from Portsmouth is still being completed as discussions continue over the length of the move. Click here for more details.

But the 34-year-old turned out for the second string against the R's, adding experience to a young backline of Chris Solly, Taylor Sinfield and Jack Clark, with Rob Elliot in goal.

Darren Ambrose was on target and completed the full 90 minutes as Charlton reserves drew 1-1 at Queens Park Rangers in Group B of the new Football Combination Invitation Cup on Tuesday afternoonAmbrose was named on the right side of a midfield which included Josh Wright, Jonjo Shelvey and Rashid Yussuff.

And Svetoslav Todorov also got close to a full game under his belt as he continues his recuperation from a knee ligament injury, the Bulgarian starting up front alongside Stuart Fleetwood.

After some bright early play by both sides, Rangers almost broke the deadlock in the seventh minute when Samuel Di Carmine took advantage of a mistake by Primus but saw his shot tipped wide by Elliot.

Charlton's first effort arrived eight minutes later when Ambrose teed up Todorov, only for the striker to miscue his effort wide of Reece Crowther's right-hand post.

Fleetwood fired inches wide midway through the first half, before Patrick Agyemang was denied by another good stop by Elliot.

The Addicks went in front shortly after the restart when Ambrose poked home from close range after the Rangers defence had failed to clear a cross from second-half substitute Sam Long, who had replaced the injured Solly at the break.

But the hosts pulled level on the hour mark when Ephraim cut in from the left and curled the ball past Elliot, despite the close attentions of Long.

Elliot did brilliantly to deny Ephraim and Akos Buzsaky as Rangers searched for the winner but the Addicks held on to seal a point from their opening Group B clash.

Along with QPR, Charlton will also face Watford, Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace in Group B. After the meeting with Rangers, the Addicks are away at Watford on Monday, October 6th, before hosting Ipswich on Monday, November 3rd and the Eagles on Monday, November 17th.

The reserves are next in action when they host Aldershot Town in the league on Monday (7pm). Charlton