QPR's Shock Win Over Aston Villa! - Reports and Comments

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QPR move into the Fourth Round!


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - DOWIE: A SPECIAL NIGHT
Iain Dowie saluted the goal that booked Rangers' place in the Fourth Round of the Carling Cup.
Damion Stewart bagged the crucial winner, rising high to nod home Dani Parejo's cross, as the R's stunned the Villa Park faithful with a 1-0 win.
"Dani's delivery for the goal was excellent," Dowie told www.qp.co.uk.
"We worked on it in training yesterday and I wasn't altogether happy with it, but to be fair to him, he's put a first class delivery in and Damion's absolutely buried it.
"It was a great delivery and a great header - worthy of winning the match in my opinion."
Backed by 2,500-plus Rangers fans, Dowie's men showed courage and heart against their high-flying Premiership opponents.
It was a performance that didn't go unnoticed by the R's boss.
"It's a special night for us - terrific," said Dowie.
"To come to a Club like this, led by a Manager like Martin O'Neill, and to win and keep a clean sheet is just unbelievable.
"Martin always manages to get the best out of his players and I'm incredibly proud that we've come here and upset the odds."
Both sides made changes for the Third Round tie in the Midlands, but Villa still including six full internationals - and even introduced hot-shot Gabi Agbonlahor from the bench in the second half.
"I looked at the team sheet and they were as big as they could be and they've got excellent set-piece delivery, so we were well aware of what we were up against.
"We were concerned that we'd have to defend well and we did that magnificently.
"To be honest, I don't think we played as well as we're capable of, in terms of keeping the ball. We gave it away a lot in important areas.
"Defensively though we were terrific and I don't think Radek has really had a top save to make."
Dowie added: "I'm proud of each and every one of the lads and it's a really pleasing result.
"When you come to a side that can bring on a player like Gabi Agbonlahor and in my opinion they've got one of the best wingers in the game in Ashley Young, it will always cause you problems, but we coped with it really well.
"I thought we had loads of possession up until the edge of the penalty box, but we didn't use the ball well enough.
"We gave them such cheap giveaways and they've got blistering pace which could have really hurt us.
"But out defensive shape improve as the game went on and we got the desired result." QPR


Aston Villa Official Site -MArtin O'Neil
Martin O'Neill revealed his bitter disappointment at Villa's exit from the Carling Cup but insisted: "We had the chances to win the game!"
The Villa boss told AVTV Online: "It's a desperate disappointment and hard to take because I felt we should have won.
"We had a number of chances in the game, particularly in the first half, but we spurned them.
"You do worry that they might come back to haunt you - but I always felt we were in control of the match.
"While there were moments in the game where QPR looked a fine, talented and entertaining side, the fact is we had enough chances to get through. "But it doesn't matter how well you play between the penalty boxes, you have to score when you have the opportunity and defend when you have to.
"I have to say there weren't that many times when we had to defend. I remember Craig Gardner getting a block in in the first half and a couple of 35-yarders that didn't really trouble us.
"I feel if we had scored one of our chances in the first half, we would have gone on to win the game. We are really disappointed.
"People will say it's déjà vu from last season but I disagree.
"In terms of the result, I can't argue but in terms of the performance, I think we should have won tonight. I can't remember too many positives from the game against Leicester." Aston VIlla


QPR Official Site: Aston Villa 0 QPR 1
Damion Stewart's second half header booked Rangers' place in the Fourth Round of the Carling Cup, on a night to remember for Iain Dowie's side.
The Jamaican international leapt to head home Daniel Parejo's pin-point cross, as the R's - backed by 2,500 fanatical fans - claimed the notable scalp of a Villa side currently sitting pretty in fourth spot in the Premiership.
Victory was no less than the R's deserved, as Villa failed to breakdown a resolute Rangers defence, led magnificently by Fitz Hall.
To a man, Rangers out-battled and out-foxed the hosts, with a Radek Cerny a virtual spectator in the R's goal.
Rangers made five changes to the side that was beaten in the Championship by Coventry City on Saturday, as Daniel Parejo, Fitz Hall, Matt Connolly and Patrick Agyemang all returned to the starting line-up at the expense of Mikele Leigertwood, Kaspars Gorkss, Peter Ramage and Dexter Blackstock, who all - with the exception of Ramage - took up seats on the bench.
The final change was warmly greeted by the travelling support, as Akos Buzsaky made his first start of the season, with Lee Cook making way.
Villa Manager Martin O'Neill chose a strong side to contest the tie, despite making five changes of his own. In came Brad Guzan - making his debut - Carlos Cuellar, Isaiah Osbourne, Zat Knight and Marlon Harewood to the team that triumphed in the Birmingham derby last weekend.
A lively opening and neat one-touch football from the visitors led to Buzsaky registering the first effort on goal, but his shot from the edge of the box flew high and wide.
Emmanuel Ledesma tried his luck minutes later, but his shot from even further out had a similar outcome.
The boisterous R's fans were in full voice as their team made a bright start to the game against their Premiership opponents.
Finally, Villa created an opening of their own, as Stiliyan Petrov slipped a perfect through ball for Harewood, who could only curl his shot over the Rangers bar.
Ashley Young then forced Cerny into his first save, not that it was too difficult. Switching to the left, he was fed by Gareth Barry and cut inside, but could not get enough power on his curling strike.
Parejo saw a free-kick smack the wall minutes later, as the R's it back.
Back came Villa and a surging John Carew run was only halted by a superb recovery tackle from Stewart.
The game was seesawing back and forth and Ledesma again saw an effort curl high and wide after being picked out by the roaming Parejo.
Seconds later, Harewood latched on to a Carew flick-on and was only denied the opening goal of the game by another fantastic recovery challenge, this time from Connolly.
Sloppy defending almost saw Young net as the game burst back into life after a period of stalemate. The Villa winger picked up on a loose ball and again tried to bend the ball around Cerny, only to see his effort fly well wide.
Harewood missed a glaring chance on the stroke of half-time, as Young crossed from the left and the big striker sent his header from four yards out over the bar.
Villa opened the second half the brighter despite the weather deteriorating and Young's dangerous cross was only just gathered ahead of the onrushing Harewood.
Despite the home side's stronger start to the half, it was Rangers who bagged the crucial opening goal on 58 minutes.
Buzsaky fortunately won, then took a corner that was only half cleared to Parejo on the right hand side.
The Spaniard's inch-perfect cross back into the box met the head of Stewart, who rose unchallenged to power home his tenth goal in QPR colours, beyond the outstretched hand of the exposed Guzan.
The hard working Agyemang made way for Samuel Di Carmine on 65 minutes to give the R's a stronger presence up front.
O'Neill responded to going a goal behind by throwing on winger Wayne Routledge and England Under-21 hot-shot Gabriel Agbonlahor.
And his double substitution nearly paid off five minutes later.
Young's long ball was expertly flicked on by Carew and with the Rangers defence all at sea, Barry ghosted clean through, only to scuff his attempted chip wide of Cerny's right hand post.
Buoyed by their reprieve, the R's went straight back up the other end and Parejo - who was becoming more and more influential as the half wore on - stung the palms of Guzan with a rasping 25-yard drive.
After putting his side ahead, Stewart was equally effective at the other end of the park, successfully winning a plethora of headers, as Villa looked to utilise the height and physical presence of Norwegian front-man Carew in their pursuit of an equaliser.
Despite their best efforts though, it was Rangers who prevailed, to book their place in Saturday's fourth round draw.
Aston Villa: Guzan, Barry, Young, Harewood (Agbonlahor 68), Carew, Knight, Petrov, Shorey, Cuellar, Gardner, Osbourne (Routledge 68).
Subs: Friedel, Delfouneso, Davies, Salifou, Reo-Coker.
Goals:
Bookings: Cuellar (34), Gardner (60)
Sendings Off:
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon, Hall, Parejo, Buzsaky (Leigertwood 82), Agyemang (Di Carmine 66), Rowlands, Connolly, Ledesma (Balanta 91).
Subs: Camp, Blackstock, Gorkss, Ephraim.
Goals: Stewart (58)
Bookings: Delaney (81)
Sendings Off: Referee: Mr L Mason Attendance: 21, 541 QPR Official Site


ASTON VILLA OFFICIAL SITE - VILLA 0-1 QPR
la suffered League Cup disappointment for the second year running as Martin O'Neill's men went down 1-0 to QPR.
The home side dominated the first half but didn't get the rewards their effort deserved.
Marlon Harewood blasted over the bar and saw a header fly wide in an opening 45 minutes when Martin O'Neill's side were primarily on the offensive.
Damion Stewart settled the tie just before the hour mark as he headed home a Daniel Parejo centre.
Villa showed plenty of endeavour in the second period but couldn't find a way past a resolute QPR defence.
Buzsaky saw a 30-yard shot fly well over the bar on three minutes.
Young's corner on six was met by Harewood but his header didn't hit the target.
Harewood blasted over the bar from close range after a magnificent through ball from Petrov on 12.
Young ran at Connolly down the left and cut inside but his low shot went straight at Cerny on 15.
Harewood, from a tight angle on the right, saw hit shot well parried by Cerny on 19. Parejo saw his 25-yard free-kick cannon into the wall on 21.
Carew made a terrific run down the right on 25 but he couldn't cut the ball back to Harewood.
Cuellar headed wide of Cerny's left hand post a minute later from a great left-footed centre from Barry.
Harewood did brilliantly to evade his man with a wonderful overhead kick on 27 but his path to goal was well marshalled by Hall.
Harewood drove wildly over the bar on 35. Cuellar was booked on 36.
Young curled a shot wide of Cerny's left-hand post after great work from Osbourne down the left on 38.
The wing wizard produced a wonderful cross from the left on 43 but Harewood couldn't direct his header past Cerny.
Young again was the provider on 52 as his low cross went into the danger area but Harewood couldn't quite reach the impressive centre.

Petrov tried his luck on 54 but it flew a way wide of Cerny's right-hand post.

Stewart headed home a Parejo cross on 58 to give the visitors the lead.

Petrov did well to evade two challenges but his 20-yard strike went straight into the arms of Cerny on 63.

Di Carmine replaced Agyemang on 67. Then Routledge and Agbonlahor came on for Osbourne and Harewood.

Knight put across a magnificent ball on 70 to Young on the left. The winger cut inside but, once again, Cerny was in the right place to parry the shot.

Barry had a glorious chance to equalise as he ran through the Rangers defence but he miscued his shot wide from 10 yards out on 75.

Parejo's 25-yarder was well parried by Guzan a minute later. Gardner saw a 15-yard strike fly wide of Cerny's post on 79.

Delaney was booked for a wild challenge on Routledge on 80. Leigertwood replaced Buzsaky on 81.

Routledge wasted a chance to cross on 84 as he found himself in space down the right. He then fired wide on 86 from a central area.

Balanta replaced Ledesma on 90 as QPR looked to run down the clock.

VILLA: Guzan; Gardner BOOKED, Knight, Cuellar BOOKED, Shorey; Osbourne, Petrov, Barry, Young; Carew, Harewood. Subs: Friedel, Agbonlahor (for Harewood, 67), Delfouneso, Davies, Salfou, Routledge (for Osbourne, 67), Reo-Coker.

QPR: Cerny, Delaney BOOKED, Stewart, Mahon, Hall, Parejo, Buzsaky, Agyemang, Rowlands, Connolly, Ledesma. Subs: Camp, Leigertwood (for Buzsaky, 81), Blackstock, Gorkss, Balanta (for Ledesma, 90), Di Carmine (for Agyemang, 67), Ephraim.

Att: 24,541 ASton Villa