QPR Win at Norwich - Reports and Comments

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QPR down to 10 men for 3/4 of the game won 1-0 at Norwich through a first half goal from Martin Rowlands. QPR picked up their first Championship away win of the season; have lost just once this season; and are up to fourth. Table
Wolverhampton 6 16
Birmingham 6 16
Preston 6 14
QPR 6 13
Reading 6 10
Cardiff 6 10


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - SMELLS LIKE TEAM SPIRIT
Iain Dowie was understandably delighted following the 1-0 win at Norwich City tonight.
Despite being down to ten men for over an hour after Matt Connolly was dismissed for two bookable offences, the R's emerged victorious thanks to Martin Rowlands' first-half free-kick, and Dowie crowed: "I like the smell of the dressing room at this Club.
"This performance was all about desire, and we had plenty."
"We certainly feel we deserved that win because we harried and pressed, and our shape was excellent.
"Radek Cerny didn't really have a save to make. Defensively I thought we were excellent. Kaspars Grokss came in and was terrific - I was delighted for him."
After Connolly's dismissal, Lee Cook was replaced by Grokss, and Dowie confessed to www.qpr.co.uk: "Poor old Cookie must think I've got something against him because I took him off at Bristol City when Emmanuel Ledesma was red carded as well!
"But I've explained to Lee that I didn't buy him for his defensive qualities.
"It's a decent result, and I can't speak highly enough of the players for the effort they gave me out there."
Rowlands marked his first start of the season with the all-important goal, and the First Team Coach added: "I was pleased for Rowly. He took on the captain's role by taking that free-kick, and lashing it home.
"He showed great tenacity and desire, and was fantastic.
"We're not getting carried away though. There is a long, long way to go yet." QPR


BBC - QPR boosted their promotion credentials as they overcame an early red card to secure three points against Norwich thanks to Martin Rowland's free-kick.
The visitors were down to 10 men when Matthew Connolly received a second yellow card after just 25 minutes.
Just five minutes later Rowlands opened the scoring when his ferocious free-kick from 20 yards evaded everyone, including keeper David Marshall.
The hosts dominated the second period but could not find a breakthrough BBC


SKY SPORT - Ten-man Rangers shock Norwich Hoops hang on after Connolly dismissal

Queens Park Rangers hung on for a 1-0 win at Norwich despite spending most of the game with 10 men.

Martin Rowland's 33rd-minute free-kick gave the Hoops a surprise lead just eight minutes after they had Matthew Connolly dismissed for a second bookable offence.

The hosts dominated the second period but Iain Dowie's men withstood a barrage of late pressure to claim their fourth league win of the season and go back into fourth place.

Both teams came into the game on the back of encouraging weekend victories and Norwich boss Glenn Roeder opted to keep faith with the attacking partnership of Antoine Sibierski and Arturo Lupoli, which put Plymouth to the sword on Saturday.

The Canaries finally recorded their first three points of the season as the on-loan duo both struck to see off Plymouth 2-1 at Home Park, and they appeared determined to continue where they left off as on-loan Fiorentina striker Lupoli lashed a 20-yard volley inches over the crossbar after just 13 seconds.

The home team continued to press with Roeder clearly instructing his men to use Sibierski as the target up front.

Darel Russell and Matthew Pattison were the providers, constantly feeding the on-loan Wigan striker with lofted balls.

QPR have started to live up to the expectations created by their Flavio Briatore-funded summer spending spree, but after 25 minutes they found themselves on the receiving end of referee Rob Shoebridge's wrath as Connolly was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Dismissal
The QPR defender had been booked 15 minutes earlier and, after a reckless lunge on Pattison, Shoebridge had little hesitation in giving Connolly his marching orders.

Dowie left Real Madrid loanee Daniel Parejo on the bench in favour of the tireless Rowlands and, five minutes after the red card, his decision was vindicated as Rowlands smashed home the opener with a free-kick from 20 yards after Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma's free-kick had been handled in the wall.

The scoreline could have been increased before the interval as lively Argentinian midfielder Ledesma latched onto a loose ball and unleashed a close-range drive which was courageously blocked by Ryan Bertrand.

From the resulting corner in-form striker Dexter Blackstock rose above the static Norwich defence, but his header went over to leave the home side begging for the half-time whistle.

Roeder introduced winger Lee Croft in place of Lupoli after the break, leaving Sibierski in a lone striking role.

Switch
The tactical switch had the desired effect as the home side proceeded to control possession.

Midfielder Pattison tried to lead by example but his two speculative efforts failed to trouble Radek Cerny.

Former Manchester City striker Sibierski also did his best to break the visitors resistance but his clipped 68th-minute effort from the edge of the area was well gathered by Cerny.

The home crowd began to let their frustrations be known but their team were unable to respond and Rowlands almost doubled the visitors' lead as his delightful chip only found the roof of the net.

QPR continued to absorbed the Norwich pressure as Mark Fotheringham had his 30-yard free-kick tipped round the post by former Tottenham keeper Cerny but they were unable to penetrate the stubborn away defence. Sky Sports


Norwich Official Site - Norwich 0 QPR 1

DESPITE mounting a frantic late assault on the visitors' goal, City fell victim to a 1-0 defeat at home to ten man QPR at Carrow Road.

The only goal of the game came for the visitors in the 34th minute, from Martin Rowlands from a thrice-taken free-kick which was enough to see the Londoners return to the capital victorious after a frustrating game for the Canaries.

A first half belonged to QPR who scored the only goal of the game after being reduced to ten men in the 25th minute. QPR's Connolly was sent off after ploughing into Pattison, knocking the midfielder flying directly in front of the away dugout. Connolly had already received a yellow card after ten minutes when he brought down Antoine Sibierski.

QPR's goal came in slightly bizarre fashion after 34 minutes, when Captain Martin Rowlands smoothly drilled home a low free-kick past David Marshall. It was the third free-kick awarded to the visitors by referee Rob Shoebridge inside a minute after the first two efforts struck City skipper Mark Fotheringham.

Hoolahan battles with Mikele Leigertwood
FRUSTRATING: Wes Hoolahan battles
with Mikele Leigertwood

Half time: Norwich 0 QPR 1

The Canaries dominated possession in the second half.

A clash of heads in the 60th minute between City's John Kennedy and QPR's Dexter Blackstock saw the Norwich defender helped of the pitch, making way for a home debut for loanee Jonathan Grounds. Replacing Wes Hoolahan, Jamie Cureton came on six minutes later, and soon picked up the second head injury of the evening, leaving the pitch with a blood stained shirt. The striker soon returned, wearing a Terry Butcher-esque bandage.

Full-Time at Carrow Road brings disappointment for City
DISAPPOINTMENT: City lose to ten-man Rangers

Cureton's late shot which hit Grounds and Sibierski's header inches wide from a brilliant Bertrand cross were the closest Norwich came to getting back on to level terms, but it wasn't to be and Rangers claimed all three points.

NORWICH: Marshall, Kennedy (Grounds 63), Stefanovic, Sibierski, Hoolahan (Cureton 66), Fotheringham (C), Lupoli (Croft 45), Russell, Bertrand, Omozusi, Pattison. Subs not used: Nelson, Koroma

QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon, Leigertwood, Blackstock (Agyemang 77) , Rowlands (C), Ramage, Connolly, Cook (Gorkss 30), Ledesma (Buszaky 82). Subs not used: Camp, Parejo. Norwich


QPR Official Site

Ten-man QPR defied the odds to snatch a fully deserved 1-0 victory over Norwich City at Carrow Road.

Captain Marvel Martin Rowlands earned the win with a fine free-kick for his first of the campaign, after the R's had earlier been reduced to ten men following Matt Connolly's double booking.

The win was no less than Rangers deserved, as Radek Cerny was a virtual spectator throughout, having only been called into action on one occasion, to save a Mark Fotheringham free-kick.

Indeed, the visitors could and perhaps should have doubled their advantage before half-time, with both the hard-working Emmanuel Ledesma and lone striker Dexter Blackstock each squandering gilt-edged chances.

Rangers, despite thumping Southampton three days ago, made two changes.

Emmanuel Ledesma, back from suspension, replaced Hogan Ephraim, and Rowlands, captaining the side, replaced Daniel Parejo, who took up a seat on the bench. He was joined by the returning Akos Buzsaky, after the Hungarian midfielder had fully recovered from ankle surgery.

The hosts were unchanged after picking up their first win at the weekend over Plymouth Argyle. This meant loan strikers Arturo Lupoli and Antoine Sibierski, from Fiorentina and Wigan respectively, started together in attack, while the club's player of the month Darel Russell lined up in midfield.

A pacy opening led to Norwich testing Radek Cerny first, as Russell sent a left-footed effort curling into the Czech keeper's arms.

Russell was at it again moments later as his 20-yard shot was again easily saved by Cerny. Rangers were working hard; patiently moving the ball around, but as yet could not break down a side buoyed by their first win of the season on Saturday.

Sibierski fancied a goal on his home debut, but his volley was blocked by an oblivious Damion Stewart.

Minutes later, Ledesma almost capitalised on a rapid counter-attack involving Lee Cook, as he volleyed an effort just wide after a deflection off a Norwich player.

Then a hammer blow. Connolly, already booked, scythed down Matty Pattison to earn his marching orders after 26 minutes, echoing last years fixture where Stewart was the unlucky villain. Manager Iain Dowie reshuffled his pack, introducing Kaspars Gorkss for Lee Cook.

Rangers had the chance to take a shock lead in the 33rd minute, as they won a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Ledesma's first shot was illegally charged down by Mark Fotheringham, earning the home skipper a yellow card. The re-take was taken in superb fashion by Rowlands, who sent a venomous daisy-cutter hard and low, beyond David Marshall, into the bottom left corner for his first goal of the season.

Ledesma almost made it two moments later, as a complete misjudgement in the Norwich defence from John Kennedy allowed the Argentine to pick up the ball in the six-yard box. He danced passed the stranded Kennedy, lobbed a bewildered Ryan Bertrand, but could not get a decent shot away.

Blackstock then sent a free header over the Canaries crossbar from Ledesma's free-kick. The R's were not letting the numerical advantage affect them in the slightest, but had to settle for a solitary goal advantage at half-time.

Norwich opened the second half in determined fashion as you would expect, but Rangers were holding firm, with the impressive away support in full voice urging them on.

Wave after wave of yellow and green attacks were repeatedly repelled by the superb Mikele Leigertwood and Gavin Mahon patrolling the centre of the park, with anything that did creep through easily dealt with by Stewart and Gorkss.

Indeed, Sibierski was only denied a certain goal by a superb block from the Latvian substitute, after Pattison had wriggled into the box and sent a low cross from the left side.

In a rare Rangers foray, Ledesma fed goalscorer Rowlands who dribbled across the box, working an angle, before sending over a delightful chip that marginally sailed wide with Marshall scrambling.

With quarter of an hour left, it was Cerny's turn to save Rangers with an unorthodox two-handed save to deny Fotheringham's free-kick from sneaking into the corner.

With little under ten minutes to play, Dowie played his final card, introducing Buzsaky for Ledesma, with the Hungarian making his first appearance of the season.

Despite a late chance for the hosts, which fell just past the post, Rangers held on - and how!
Norwich City: Marshall, Kennedy (Grounds 62), Stefanovic, Sibierski, Hoolahan (Cureton 66), Fotheringham, Lupoli (Croft 46), Russell, Bertrand, Omuzusi, Pattison.

Subs: Nelson, Cureton, Koroma.

Goals:

Bookings: Fotheringham (32), Lupoli (35), Stefanovic (85)

Red Cards:

QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon,Leigertwood, Blackstock (Agyemang 76), Rowlands, Ramage, Connolly, Cook (Gorkss 29), Ledesma (Buzsaky 81).

Subs: Camp, Parejo.

Goals: Rowlands (33)

Bookings: Connolly (8, 24), Blackstock (69)

Red Cards: Connolly (24)

Referee: Mr R Shoebridge

Attendance: 24, 249 QPR


Norwich Official Site - Glen Roeder - WE OWE FANS HOME WIN' - ROEDER

CITY'S players owe the Canary fans one after their disappointing defeat against ten-man QPR at Carrow Road, says boss Glenn Roeder.

Norwich enjoyed plenty of possession but lacked cutting edge against a strong and solid Rangers outfit, who stood firm despite the dismissal of Matt Connolly after only 25 minutes.

And after Martin Rowlands fired the Londoners in front eight minutes later, the Canaries' knocked in vain at the Rangers door for two thirds of a frustrating match.

Roeder commented: "I'm hugely disappointed. You can carry one or two players having an average game but you can't carry seven or eight and that's what we had tonight unfortunately.

"It's particularly frustrating after playing so well at Plymouth and creating so many chances. Tonight even against ten men we had lots of the ball in their half but failed to create anywhere near enough threats to their goal.

"Rangers are a strong and powerful unit and when they had their man sent off they still made it very difficult. People fall into the trap of thinking 11 v ten must be an easy win for the team with more players but that doesn't necessarily follow. They had two very solid banks of four and just said 'come on and try and get through us then' - and we never did, simple as that.

"I have told the players I don't want any sulking or heads down about this tomorrow. We have two days to pick ourselves up and learn from our mistakes tonight and then go out there on Saturday against Sheffield United and get the home win that our excellent fans deserve." Norwich