Dowie Post-Match Comments and Match Reports as QPR Drop Two More Home Points Against Blackpool

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QPR 1 Blackpool 1 FT - Blackstock 79 Taylor-Fletcher 18 Attend: 12,500 Half-time: 0-1 ...QPR drop to 8th with 1 points out of the last possible 9. Updated Table - Preliminary Match Report


SKY - Dowie hits back at critics
QPR boss defends tactics, while Grayson is pleased
QPR manager Iain Dowie has hit back at critics of his tactics in the wake of a 1-1 draw with Blackpool at Loftus Road.
The Hoops, who received pre-season backing as promotion candidates, were grateful for a point as Dexter Blackstock cancelled out Gary Taylor-Fletcher's sensational opener.
QPR have dropped to eighth in the Championship table on the back of the result and some have questioned Dowie's cautious formations this season.
But Dowie believes his side should have defeated Simon Grayson's Blackpool outfit and insists his tactics are working well.
"There's an obsession in this country with systems, but it's about the players out there," said Dowie.
Decent start
"We just didn't get going enough. We could have been 2-0 up at half-time and then there would have been no talk about systems.
"We've scored four at home twice this season using the system we started with tonight, and Emmanuel Ledesma got a hat-trick playing in it a couple of weeks ago.
"We've made a decent start to the season with that formation, reached the last 16 of the Carling Cup and are eighth in the table - one win away from fourth place."
Meanwhile, Blackpool boss Simon Grayson was full of praise for his team after a gritty performance.
Under pressure
He said: "We were under pressure from set-pieces in the second half but the players dug in and defended for their lives at times.
"We'd have taken a point at the start of the game but when you get to where we were and concede a goal, it's always tough and the players are disappointed.
"That shows how far those players have come. Everyone wrote us off at the start of the season but all we can do is keep working hard, and we've got some quality too.
"We've surprised quite a few people and hopefully that will continue. There's a determination to prove people wrong, because no-one likes to have the tag of relegation favourites before a ball's even been kicked.
"I can't fault the players because they've played well again. We have to be delighted with this point." Sky


SPORTING LIFE - DOWIE SLAMS SYSTEM-ATIC ABUSE
QPR manager Iain Dowie defended his choice of formation following his side's 1-1 draw at home to Blackpool on Tuesday.
Gary Taylor-Fletcher put the Seasiders ahead before Dexter Blackstock's 78th-minute equaliser - his sixth goal of the season - rescued a point for below-par Rangers.
Dowie started with his favoured 4-2-3-1 system before switching to 4-4-2 at half-time.
But he insisted: "There's an obsession in this country with systems, but it's about the players out there.
"We just didn't get going enough. We could have been 2-0 up at half-time and then there would have been no talk about systems.
"We've scored four at home twice this season using the system we started with tonight, and Emmanuel Ledesma got a hat-trick playing in it a couple of weeks ago.
"We've made a decent start to the season with that formation, reached the last 16 of the Carling Cup and are eighth in the table - one win away from fourth place.
"It's a system Spain used in Euro 2008. There's an obsession in this country with 4-4-2, which has hardly brought England great success down the years.
"I changed it at half-time because Blackpool had scored and were able to sit back and mark man for man, so I wanted to give them another problem up front."
Blackpool went ahead after 17 minutes, when Taylor-Fletcher collected defender Damion Stewart's weak clearing header and fired into the top corner of the net from 25 yards.
Dowie made a double substitution at the interval, sending on Mikele Leigertwood and striker Patrick Agyemang.
But it was Dowie's third substitute, Akos Buzsaky, who helped to haul Rangers level.
The fit-again Hungarian, brought on with 18 minutes to go, curled a 30-yard free-kick against the bar and Blackstock was able to head home the rebound.
"I thought it was a very good display," Dowie added.
"We caused them a massive amount of problems from set-pieces, especially in the second half.
"It was an unsatisfactory result but I can't be unhappy with the way we played. Should we have gone on and scored a winner? Probably. But I can't fault the desire."
Blackpool manager Simon Grayson was full of praise for his team after a gritty performance.
Grayson said: "We were under pressure from set-pieces in the second half but the players dug in and defended for their lives at times.
"We'd have taken a point at the start of the game but when you get to where we were and concede a goal, it's always tough and the players are disappointed.
"That shows how far those players have come. Everyone wrote us off at the start of the season but all we can do is keep working hard, and we've got some quality too.
"We've surprised quite a few people and hopefully that will continue. There's a determination to prove people wrong, because no-one likes to have the tag of relegation favourites before a ball's even been kicked.
"I can't fault the players because they've played well again. We have to be delighted with this point." Sporting Life


IAIN DOWIE'S POST-MATCH COMMENTS - QPR OFFICIAL SITE DOWIE: WE DESERVED MORE
Iain Dowie was adamant Rangers deserved more than the point they gained thanks to Dexter Blackstock's late equaliser against Blackpool.
Trailing to Gary Taylor-Fletcher's stunning first half effort, the R's responded with an Alamo like display in the second half, only to fail to bag the all-important second goal late on.
"We showed great drive and great desire to come back into the game after they scored from their only chance of the entire 90 minutes," Dowie told www.qpr.co.uk.
"Blackpool are a good side, make no mistake. Of course we are disappointed with a point, but they are the fourth best side away from home in the division and they've already won at Birmingham this season.
"In the second half our display was full of energy and hunger and a point was the minimum we deserved from the match."
With the R's trailing at half-time, Dowie rang the changes at the break, introducing Mikele Leigertwood and Patrick Agyemang at the expense of the tiring Daniel Parejo and Emmanuel Ledesma - and switching to a 4-4-2 in the process.
"We had to freshen it up at half-time. I felt we needed another focus point and Patrick and Mikele gave us that.
"I felt we created numerous chances. I'm not sure what the goal was disallowed for and I thought we should have had a penalty late in the day.
"I'm not sure why, but when the keeper spills one and it squirts out, the referee gives a foul.
"There were certainly a few odd decisions late on, but sometimes they go for you and other times they don't.
"I'm looking forward to seeing the stats afterwards, because we were by far superior in all departments." QPR


QPR Official Site - QPR vs Blackpool
Dexter Blackstock spared QPR blushes as his header cancelled out Gary Taylor-Fletcher's opener as Rangers drew at Loftus Road with a spirited Blackpool.
Despite a host of chances for the home side, Iain Dowie's men could not find a winner against a determined Tangerine outfit.
Taylor-Fletcher's long range volley opened the scoring but, after an Akos Buzsaky free-kick struck the wood-work, Blackstock was on hand to head into a gaping net.
Rangers made two changes for the visit of the Tangerines, as Lee Cook came in for Akos Buzsaky who dropped to the bench, and Peter Ramage regained the right back berth ahead of Matt Connolly.
Simon Grayson handed starts to on-loan striker Steve Kabba, alongside Ben Burgess in attack, David Vaughan on the left and former Rangers defender Ian Evatt at the heart of the defence.
The R's raced out of the blocks and could've gone ahead inside the first minute. Daniel Parejo seized on a loose ball and fed Rowlands who found Cook out on the left. His floated cross was poorly cleared to Blackstock but, with the ball at an awkward height, the striker failed to make a decent connection.
Rangers were at it again moments later, as build up play involving Peter Ramage, Ledesma and Blackstock found Cook on the edge of the area, but his shot flew wide.
Cook and Blackstock had started brightly and the two combined minutes later as Cook's cross was chested down by Blackstock into the path of Rowlands who had burst into the box. The midfield marvel, however, could only glance the ball wide.
Suddenly Blackpool scored through Taylor-Fletcher. Against the run of play, the ball found its way to the Pool winger who teed himself up and guided a shot straight into Radek Cerny's top right hand corner.
Loftus Road was stunned and Rangers instantly sought a leveller but Ledesma could not strike his 20-yard effort with enough power to worry Paul Rachubka in the visitor's goal.
Back came Blackpool and Keith Southern attempted to copy Taylor-Fletcher with a long range effort that was always going wide.
Rangers struck back as Cook's cross was nearly turned in by Blackstock, only for Rob Edwards to nick it away for a corner.
From the resultant set-piece, Gavin Mahon's half-volley was bravely blocked by a determined orange wall.
Rowlands was next to try his luck as, after being fed by Parejo 25-yards out, he strode forward an unleashed a drive that fizzed wide.
With minutes remaining of the first half, Blackstock should've scored. Ledesma's cross found him in acres of space but instead of trying to head in, he attempted to control and shoot on the turn. Unfortunately for him, and the increasingly frustrated R's fans, the ball bobbled up and away from danger.
As the teams emerged it was evident to see that Dowie had reshuffled his pack. Patrick Agyemang and Mikele Leigertwood replaced Ledesma and Parejo.
And the change almost reaped instant rewards as the latter sent a pin-point pass out to Cook, who controlled it early to beat Shaun Barker and ran through on goal before pulling the trigger. His shot was well struck, on target, and needed a fully stretched Rachubka to turn it round the post.
Cook was at it again moments later as he linked with Agyemang before firing over a cross that Blackstock rose to head weakly at Rachubka.
Cook was at the heart of everything Rangers were trying to do, looking a constant menace. Seconds later, he teed up Leigertwood from 25-yards out, but once again the shot was off target.
The diminutive winger went searching for a goal himself as he sent a half-volley looping over a packed Blackpool box that only just cleared the bar.
Despite a period of sustained pressure, Rangers were just not testing visiting keeper Rachubka. A Rowlands corner was glanced wide by Blackstock in the latest attempt at an equaliser.
With the last roll of the dice, Dowie introduced crowd favourite Buzsaky to try and work his magic in midfield.
And the dice came up in the R's favour as Rangers won a free-kick 25-yards out. Buzsaky stepped up to curl an effort that beat Rachubka but smacked back off the crossbar. Desperation turned to ecstasy. however. as Blackstock was on hand to nod the rebound into an empty net to send R's fans in to raptures.
Rangers poured forward searching for a winner and a brilliant Cook cross was headed down by Blackstock right into Rachubka's grateful arms.
Despite throwing everything at the visitors, the game ended a stalemate as Blackpool held on to take a point back up to Lancashire. QPR



BBC - QPR 1-1 Blackpool
Dexter Blackstock struck late on with his sixth of the season to earn QPR a deserved point against Blackpool.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher's stunning 25-yard strike into the top corner earned the visitors a slender half-time lead.

QPR pushed for an equaliser, with Dexter and Lee Cook both going close and Daniel Parejo claiming a penalty.

But substitute Akos Buzsaky saw a free-kick crash back off the crossbar and Blackstock was in the right place to head home the rebound.
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon (Buzsaky 73), Hall, Parejo (Leigertwood 46), Blackstock, Rowlands, Ramage, Cook, Ledesma (Agyemang 46).Subs Not Used: Camp, Gorkss.
Booked: Leigertwood.
Goals: Blackstock 79.
Blackpool: Rachubka, Southern, Evatt, Vaughan (Broomes 84), Taylor-Fletcher, Jorgensen (Fox 90), Kabba, Camara, Edwards, Barker, Burgess.Subs Not Used: Coid, Hammill, Gow.
Goals: Taylor-Fletcher 18. Att: 12,500.
Ref: Grant Hegley (Hertfordshire). BBC


Blackpool Rivals Match Report
Some records seem there not to be broken (unlike Preston's unbeaten Tuesday night record .. haha!) and the one which has been in place at Loftus Road since 1972 looks like it will never go!

QPR had the better of the early exchanges with a couple of opportunities in the first 5 minutes, the best chance falling to top scorer Dexter Blackstock. 'Pool did have a couple of early corners but with the Seasiders playing deep, they did end up soaking up some of the early pressure. Blackstock did well to get past Camara but Martin Rowlands failed to beat Rachubka when he should have done better. However, against the run of play, from 30 yards out Gary Taylor-Fletcher struck the ball brilliantly with the outside of his right foot and beat Cerny in the Rangers goal to put the Seasiders 1-0 ahead.

Keith Southern had a long range shot on goal 10 minutes later which went wide during which time Rangers struggled to get back in to the game. Dexter Blackstock should have done better moments later but was beaten by the returning Ian Evatt. From the resulting corner, Rob Edwards cleared the ball before QPR fans shouted from a penalty as Shaun Barker went in for a tackle to take the pressure off the Seasiders goal.

Blackpool were enjoying much more possession than in those opening 10 minutes and again had a couple of chances to add to the lead with two corners within a minute but failed to beat the home side's defence. Martin Rowlands had a decent chance when Cook sent the ball across the goal but he put the ball wide of Rachubka's goal. Dexter Blackstock had another great chance as he was unmarked but tried to take an extra touch and put the ball straight in to Chub's arms. With half time approaching, the Seasiders rode their luck somewhat with QPR failing to take a number of chances in that first 45 minutes and the home side went off to a chorus of boos.

QPR came out strong and with Patrick Agyemang one of two substitutions, he put the first corner of the second half over the bar after some poor marking by the 'Pool defence. Chubs pulled off a fine save from Lee Cook moments later as Rangers piled on the pressure with two consecutive corners and from the second Dexter Blackstock headed the ball in the back of the net, but for the first time in a long while a referee ruled out an opposition goal and it remained 1-0. QPR won a free kick after an hour but Martin Rowlands saw his free kick go over the bar.

'Pool took some of the pressure off and won a corner which David Vaughan delivered and from an Ian Evatt header, Keith Southern saw his shot saved by Cerny. At the other end, the Seasiders were defending deep as they looked for their third away win of the season. With Blackpool looking to score two goals in a game for the first time this season, Ben Burgess had a chance from a Taylor-Fletcher cross but put the ball over the bar. All the pressure finally paid off after 75 minutes when QPR from a free kick hit the bar and Blackstock was the first to react and scored the equaliser.

Marlon Broomes came on to make his debut for the Seasiders in place of David Vaughan as Larry changed it to a 5-3-2 but 'Pool were still getting forward in to the heart of the QPR defence in the final minutes. The Seasiders still had some scares with the Patrick Agyemang coming close on 88 minutes but was denied by Rachubka. In injury time 'Pool had three corners and a free kick to defend but held on to earn a priceless point on the road. - Blackpool Rivals