QPR's Bristol City Point: Further Reports and Cerny on Friendly QPR

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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