-
INDEPENDENT/By Graham Nickless - Bristol City 1 Queen's Park Ranger 1: Cerny's new freedom has security benefits for QPR
Radek Cerny is enjoying his relaxed new lifestyle and new sense of freedom at Queen's Park Rangers compared to the stressful way of living he experienced at Tottenham Hotspur.
The Czech Republic goalkeeper and former Slavia Prague player moved across London when the sun was last seen in early summer and he has been glowing with contentment ever since.
Cerny knew his days were numbered in north London when Spurs started chasing Heurelho Gomes, PSV Eindhoven's Brazilian keeper but all that is behind him now that he is about to become one of the Championship's bigger names if his early form with his new employers is anything to go by.
His remarkable one-handed save late in the game at Ashton Gate denied Dele Adebola, the Bristol City striker, a headed winner and preserved a point for Rangers, who were a man short for 40 minutes after Emmanuel Ledesma picked up a second yellow card for a late challenge on Jamie McAllister.
Cerny played down his excellent save but talked up his exciting future. He said: "For me I have to enjoy my life and if I'm playing I enjoy it so much more and there's more chance to play more games in the Championship. I think Tottenham was like a big factory football club and there was too much pressure for the players."
Dexter Blackstock showed dexterity, bravery and sheer determination when he rode out two challenges from the home defenders Louis Carey and Liam Fontaine before falling to the ground but, somehow, he still managed to hook the ball into the net to give QPR the lead on 18 minutes.
City, last season's play-off losing finalists, are determined to prove that they are not going to suffer "second-season syndrome" in the Championship and maintained their unbeaten League run by equalising within seven minutes.
Brian Wilson did exceptionally well to keep the ball in play and his whipped cross was bundled home by Adebola, the former Coventry striker, who later left the ground shaking his head in bewilderment but also full of admiration for Cerny's work.
He said: "As soon as the ball left my head I thought it was a goal but to see him tip it round the post was devastating. It's still early days but eight points from four games is not bad and we still have some key players to come back."
Goals: Blackstock (18) 0-1; Adebola (25) 1-1.
Bristol City (4-4-2): Basso; Orr, Carey, Fontaine, McAllister (Webster, 55); Wilson (Sproule, 78), Johnson, Skuse (Williams, 57), McIndoe; Maynard, Adebola. Substitutes not used: Brooker, Weale (gk).
Queen's Park Rangers (4-4-1-1): Cerny; Ramage, Connolly, Stewart, Delaney; Ledesma, Leigertwood, Mahon, Cook (Rowlands, 55); Parejo (Aygemang, 75); Blackstock. Substitutes not used: Camp (gk), Gorkss, Balanta.
Referee: D Deadman (Cambridgeshire).
Booked: Bristol City Orr, Sproule; QPR Cook, Blackstock, Rowlands, Ledesma.
Sent off: QPR Ledesma (50).
Man of the match: Cerny Attendance: 17,543. Independent
Telegraph/Jed Pitman - Akide joins Bristol strike for promotion
Gary Johnson, the Bristol City manager, will add a fifth striker to his squad. John Akinde, a 19-year-old from Ebbsfleet, was let go by the Conference club after a vote by the owners on the myfootballclub.co.uk website.
"Unless our administration team and John's have a fight in the car park, he's a City player now," joked Johnson. "He's quick, strong and has a lot of potential."
Having narrowly failed to be promoted last season, Johnson knows that he must keep up with the ambitions of the likes of Saturday's opposition who have billionaire owners and have themselves made some big name signings.
One of those, Radek Cerny, who was keeping Paul Robinson out of the Tottenham side last season, earned Rangers a point with a miraculous late save after the visitors had played most of the second half with 10 men.
In spite of the huge expectations of the owners, Bernie Ecclestone, Flavio Briatore and Lakshmi Mittal, Cerny still described the club as 'friendlier than Tottenham'.
He added: "Everyone is talking about the money invested in the club but they've gone about things in a normal way and haven't gone crazy with the money. It's more about using the players here and improving." Manager Iain Dowie, agreed: "It's evolution rather than revolution. The bosses here are very wealthy people and want success. I want to embrace that. What we've given them is a committed, disciplined and courageous performance."
Indeed they did. After Dele Adebola had cancelled out Dexter Blackstock's early goal and Emmanuel Ledesma was sent off, Rangers battled hard for their point. Telegraph
Mirror/Tony Rees - RAD GONE FROM THE LANE TO BIG GAIN
Rangers hero Radek Cerny reckons that leaving a Tottenham pressure cooker to discover family values at Shepherd's Bush was a shrewd move.
And as QPR's colourful Formula One billionaire controllers Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone looked on, the 34-year-old Czech Republic international keeper showed the strongest mental resilience with a stunning late onehanded save to deny City goal-scorer Dele Adebola.
Former Slavia Prague star Cerny was a formidable barrier behind central destroyers Damion Stewart and Matt Connolly - oozing class after the young Argentine Emmanuel Ledesma saw red when pole-axing Jamie McAllister on 50 minutes, a second booking.
A smart effort from Dexter Blackstock in the 19th minute had put the visitors ahead, before journeyman Adebola bludgeoned a leveller, the Nigerian's 143rd career strike,sevenminutes later
Yet Rangers escaping with reward certainly pleased the relieved Cerny, who reflected: "I have to say that we defended well, especially in the second half. It was brilliant, our two midfielders and defence kept a very good shape.
"It was nice to get a point like this. We played with only 10 men for a long time. Everybody thought the header - from Adebola - was going in and my save was important." Cerny, who replaced ex-England first choice stopper Paul Robinson at Spurs for long periods last season, believes his switch from White Hart Lane to west London in May is already justified.
"Tottenham was like a big factory club. QPR is a more friendly family, a small corner workshop.
There was too much pressure on the Spurs players," he said.
Qpr boss Iain Dowie said: "Emmanuel's tackle was a silly one. I tried to tell him in broken Spanish that he needs to show Mirror
Daily Mail - Keeper Cerny is happy at 'friendly' QPR after summer move for White Hart Lane - Bristol City 1 QPR 1
Few players enjoy dropping down a division, but keeper Radek Cerny revealed he is delighted to have swapped White Hart Lane for QPR.
Cerny, speaking after his new side’s 1-1 draw at Bristol City, said: ‘At Spurs it was a big factory football club but it’s more friendly here.
'There was too much pressure at Tottenham.’
QPR keeper Radek Cerny insists he is happy to have swapped Spurs for Loftus Road
QPR boss Iain Dowie hopes to bring in more players with similar experience but is not promising new arrivals before the transfer window closes.
He said: ‘Radek was a fantastic signing and is the sort of calibre player we want to attract.’
QPR faded after Dextor Blackstock put them ahead, allowing Dele Adebola to equalise and then having to hold on for a point after Emmanuel Ledesma was sent off in the second half. Mail
Also:
- QPR's Strong Draw at Bristol City - Reports and Comments
- QPR and Bristol City Official Site Match Reports
Welcome to QPR REPORT - A completely unofficial and unaffiliated fan site focusing on G-d's Chosen Team, Queen's Park Rangers (QPR) FC. (Visit also QPR Report Messageboard and Follow on Twitter.) QPR Report accepts no sponsorship, advertising or financial contributions. In 2008, QPR Report was named as one of the top two blogs in the Football League
QPR Report Twitter Feed
Blog Archive
-
▼
2008
(1621)
-
▼
September
(133)
- Dowie Post-Match Comments and Match Reports as QPR...
- Teams - QPR vs Blackpool
- Managerial - QPR-Rejecting Manager Takes Over at P...
- Dowie's Best Young Championship Player...Gavin Mah...
- Blackpool Preview...Blackpool's Last Win at QPR (R...
- Tuesday Snippets: Year Flashback- QPR Crushed and ...
- Manchester United vs QPR Date Set
- QPR's Akos Buzsaky Back in Hungary Squad
- QPR Snippets - New Year Greetings....Next: Blackpo...
- QPR Weekend Overview: Derby Loss...Man Ut Draw......
- Ex-QPR Chairman Bill Power ("BP") Turns 55
- Derby Loss: QPR's Prices Feature in Various (Depre...
- The Return of Akos Buzsaky
- "On This Day" Flashback: Ray Harford Resigns and D...
- QPR-Derby Match Reports and Post-Match Comments
- Stan Bowles Criticizes QPR's Owners
- QPR - Mail "Humour"
- QPR's Derby Loss - Dowie's Post-Match Comments
- QPR Slump at Home
- QPR Away to Manchester United - Carling Cup Draw
- QPR Statement - No Name Change Name Even Discussed
- "One QPR" Statement re Price Increases
- QPR vs Derby - Further Previews....Ex-QPR John Del...
- QPR Name Change?
- Snippets: De Canio and other Ex-QPR Birthdays...Mo...
- Ex-QPR Gino Padula Doing Well in the American MLS
- Camp to Quit?....Stewart on Wembley...Parejo Speak...
- Next: Derby County at Loftus Road
- QPR's Support for the Kiyan Prince Foundation
- Advocating Fan "Response" to QPR's Announced Price...
- Carling Cup (League Cup!) Draw Details...QPR #9
- Vote For Championship Player of The Month
- QPR's Vice Chairman, Amit Bhatia Official Site Sta...
- QPR's Win At Aston Villa - Reports Compilation
- QPR's Shock Win Over Aston Villa! - Reports and Co...
- Strong Opinion Piece Advocating QPR Protests
- Teams - Aston Villa vs QPR
- (Corrected): QPR's Ticket Prices Summed Up in Cart...
- QPR Snippets...Buzsaky on Playing...Preparing for ...
- QPR Statement (Sort of) on Ticket Pricing, But Si...
- QPR Ticket Update - From Derby County (Continued S...
- Next: Aston Villa Away
- League Rule Against QPR: Derby Comment...QPR Remai...
- Snippets: QPR Chairman Briatore, Profiled...Flashb...
- Football League Rejects QPR Price Increases
- Dowie: "I have a different set of problems now but...
- QPR's Balanta Again on Cusp of Young England Chanc...
- Coventry's QPR Win - Further Reports and Comments
- QPR 5 Newcastle 5: On This Day, The Incredible QPR...
- Continued Media Attention on QPR's Price Increases
- QPR Fan Groups United in QPR Protest - One-QPR Sta...
- Snippets...Dowie on Lee Cook...Another Ticket Pric...
- QPR's Coventry Loss - Reports and Comments
- Bottom Line: QPR Lose at Coventry...Stay Fourth
- Teams - Coventry vs QPR
- Joint QPR Fan Groups Protest Supposedly Planned
- Snippets: Watson to QPR?...Bosnich on Not Signing ...
- QPR's Price Increases: Compilation of QPR's Variou...
- QPR vs Coventry - Previews and Memories
- QPR Prices - QPR Fans Side With Derby
- Yet More Commentary re QPR Rising Prices
- QPR1st Add Their Criticism...Condemn QPR's Price I...
- Waiting For The Football League...Price of Success...
- QPR's Price Increases (Continued) "First Champions...
- 1967 Stalwart Turns Sixty-One....Flashback Two Yea...
- QPR's Case For Increased Ticket Prices
- Connolly Misses Coventry...Coventry Welcome Back D...
- Media Disparages QPR's Decision to Raise Ticket Pr...
- Snippets: Ex-QPR's Ray Wilkins Back at Chelsea...E...
- QPR's Norwich Victory - Further Reports and Comments
- QPR Win at Norwich - Reports and Comments
- Teams: Norwich vs QPR - Ledesma and Rowlands Return
- Snippets: Ex-QPRs Bean, McLeod, Quashie, Ben Sahar...
- Dowie and Ainsworth Perspectives...One For The Fut...
- QPR's Ali Russell Comments QPR's Finances/Ticket P...
- Norwich-QPR Tonight...Roeder on QPR
- Snippets: Lee Cook's Generosity to QPR Praised...T...
- QPR Supporters Group Expresses "Dismay and Disgust...
- Dowie on QPR's Solid Defense...Norwich Hoping for ...
- QPR's Dexter Blackstock Makes "Team of the Week"...
- QPR Fans React Strongly to Price Increases
- "On This Day" Flashbacks - Stan Bowles QPR Debut.....
- "QPR Looking Good For Promotion"...View of Blackst...
- QPR Increase Their Prices
- The Kiyan Prince Foundation Launched
- Snippets:: Martin Allen's Appointment Confirmed......
- Next! Norwich Away
- QPR's Win Over Southampton: Compilation of Match R...
- QPR Up to Fourth After Defeating Southampton: Repo...
- Teams - QPR vs Southampton
- Another Perspective re QPR's New Owners
- QPR vs Southampton...Matt Connolly Loving Loftus Road
- QPR's First League Encounter With Chelsea: 40 Year...
- Ex-QPR Martin Allen's Reported New Managerial Appo...
- Gerry Francis Returning to Football...Ex-QPRs: All...
- Lakshmi Mittal and His Involvement With QPR
- Gerry Francis Returning to Coaching?...Ben Watson ...
- Viewing QPR-Southampton in the USA....Previewing Q...
- Selecting Incoming QPR Players By Committee?...Ram...
- Former QPR Player Returns to QPR as Academy Coach
-
▼
September
(133)