Swansea-QPR Report consensus - Dire, Lucky, QPR

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QPR are down to 9th,with 18 points from 12 games - 9 points behind top-placed Birmingham - and 6 points ahead of 3rd-from-bottom Barnsley!.Updated Table

Mirror/David Dulin - QPR TAKE A LIBERTY Swansea 0 QPR 0
Qpr boss Iain Dowie left the Liberty Stadium a relieved man after his side survived a Swansea onslaught.
They might also have had Martin Rowlands sent off midway through the first half when his lunge left Swansea keeper Dorus de Vries with a suspected broken jaw.
With the Dutchman in hospital and no keeper on the bench, defender Alan Tate went in goal but he did not have to make a save.
Dowie said: "I'm pleased with the point but not the performance.
We wish the lad a speedy recovery. I don't think there was any malice. It was a ball he was entitled to go for." Mirror


Daily Mail/David Kent - Swansea 0 QPR 0: Swans heap pressure on under-fire Dowie
QPR manager Iain Dowie rued a dismal attacking display as his side’s away-day misery continued. His side have won just once on their travels.
Even with Swansea forced to use defender Alan Tate as a makeshift keeper for
almost an hour after an injury to Dorus de Vries, QPR still never looked like breaking the deadlock.
Worrying times: Dowie
Dowie, who defended his captain Martin Rowlands following a first-half lunge resulting in De Vries being carried off, said: ‘I’m pleased with the point but not the performance.
‘We got more than we deserved. We didn’t help ourselves. We kept giving the
ball away. We are disappointed we didn’t test Tate.
‘Martin Rowlands is entitled to go for the ball and is concerned how the goalkeeper is. There was no intent on his part.’
The game’s turning point appeared to arrive when Rowlands’ challenge saw the
Dutchman carried off with a suspected broken jaw.
But Swansea took control as Jason Scotland, Darren Pratley and Jordi Gomez went close.
Swansea boss Roberto Martinez said: ‘Dorus looks like being out between five and seven weeks. It was a nasty challenge. Mail


Swansea Evening Post - KEEPER WOE FOR SWANS
- ROBERTO Martinez pointed the finger at Queens Park Rangers midfielder Martin Rowlands after Dorus de Vries was ruled out for at least five weeks with a horrible facial injury.
- Swansea City's goalkeeper was stretchered off 28 minutes into last night's entertaining goalless draw at the Liberty Stadium.
- He was rushed to hospital with suspected fractured jaw and cheekbones and was due to undergo surgery this morning.
"I don't think the player (Rowlands) is malicious, but if you hit a goalkeeper with a full boot in the face, I think it's avoidable," said Martinez, who hinted he may look to sign another keeper in de Vries's absence.
"Keepers often get hit in the body, but I think when it's the face you can avoid those challenges.
-"Dorus is in a bad state. We think he has broken his jaw and his cheekbone and he will be out for between five and seven weeks."
- QPR boss Iain Dowie defended his captain over the incident.
He said: "We all wish him a speedy recovery and hope it's nothing serious.
"I think it's a ball he's entitled to go for —there was no malice in it.
"Martin is not that kind of player and was very concerned and asking how the lad was after the game."
- The injury to de Vries meant defender Alan Tate had to fill in as an emergency keeper because Swansea did not have a second stopper on the bench. But the utility man was hardly troubled as Swansea dominated Rangers without finding a breakthrough.
= Martinez defended his policy of not naming keeper Artur Krysiak among his substitutes, saying: "It's a very small percentage of games where you lose a keeper in the game. We have got Alan who feels comfortable in that position and we have won a lot of points with the substitutions we've made in the last couple of seasons.
"That's why we use five outfield players on the bench." Swansea Evening Post


Western Daily Mail/Chris Wathan - It’s floodlight robbery at Liberty
- WITH the money in megabucks QPR’s coffers, you would think they wouldn’t have to resort to theft.
- Yet, at the Liberty Stadium, the loadsamoney Londoners got away with floodlight robbery as they stole two deserved points off superb Swansea.
- There was only ever one side in this affair, still the hosts’ failure to convert such supremacy into scores saw both teams share the loot.
And that’s even with Alan Tate having to resume his role of emergency goalkeeper after Dorus de Vries was stretched off with a suspected broken jaw less than half-hour into the game.
- But Tate, who conceded one on his last stint between the sticks as a replacement for Roger Freestone against Hartlepool back in February 2003, was never troubled in his unfamiliar position such was the way his team-mates in front of him controlled matters.
- “We had a shot on goal,” was the best the away fans could muster, paying their own unique tribute to their hosts for the evening and the fact a centre-back, turned right-back, turned keeper was untested.
- Shame the visitors on the pitch failed to extend such courtesy with their, at times, roughhouse tactics earning them six bookings and possibly a fine.
- Which, of course, they can afford to pay.
- However, what Swansea can’t afford is too many more games like this one where their play isn’t rewarded by the goals or the points they warrant, whatever their ambitions for the season.
- But, in all honesty, it is hard to criticise a performance that only lacked in one area – in front of goal.
- Because, from the off, the super-rich club were made to look poor by their hosts, Ferrie Bodde showing his worth with his first two touches – both beautifully-struck passes the width of the field that landed upon their target’s shoelaces.
- But the spectacular from the central midfielder was only part of the terrific all-round build-up from Swansea that QPR just couldn’t contain.
- Having dropped a striker and utilising an extra midfielder, the now normal practice of visiting sides to try and nullify Swansea’s threat in the middle, the Hoops were chasing shadows from the off.
- And with Leon Britton battling, the opportunities were starting to come for Roberto Martinez’s men, Gomez whipping a free-kick just over the crossbar on seven minutes .
- Then, on 12 minutes, it looked as though the killer pass had been provided when Garry Monk’s long floor pass found Jason Scotland, only for the recalled striker to slip at the vital moment when he had pulled his marker out of position.
- And, as Scotland and Gomez interlinked down the left, only a timely block by Damion Stewart stopped the Trinidadian’s effort finding the target rather than going behind for a corner.
- Swansea were rattling the R’s and, sure enough, the team managed by Iain Dowie showed an ugly side.
- Damien Delaney had already been lucky to escape without a booking for a rash challenge on Gomez, but that was putting none of his team-mates off, charging around the field looking for both the man and a way of finding some sort of possession.
- When free-kicks were given – and it wasn’t every time – Dowie would moan on the touchline, but surely his frustration was coming from the fact his side just weren’t in this contest, despite the stalemate.
- The odd foot left in, the 100mph nature in which the tackles were carried out was leaving a bitter taste in home supporters’ and players’ mouths alike.
- Little surprise, perhaps, it would result in the injury to de Vries as Rowlands chased a 50-50 through pass and smashed into the Dutchman as both eyed up the ball.
- It looked dangerous and the reactions of Swansea City’s players seemed to confirm as such, although replays later suggested it was there for Rowlands to go for.
- Still, it meant de Vries was off to hospital and Tate was given the duty of playing emergency goalkeeper.
- And it initially looked to have little impact on Swansea’s play, apart from igniting a previously lukewarm Liberty atmosphere.
- For soon Swansea were attacking once more, Angel Rangel’s cross only just missing the head of the unmarked Darren Pratley before Bodde went close to nicking Marcos Painter’s delivery from the other side into the near corner.
- In fact, it was a measure of Swansea’s dominance that Tate had to bide his time for his first feel of the ball as stand-in stopper, expertly clearing with his wrong foot as Blackstock bore down to the biggest applause of the evening.
- The former Manchester United trainee, signed by Sir Alex Ferguson as a teen for his defending potential rather than goalkeeping, did have to be alert just before the break, though, as Mark Gower foolishly gave the ball away on the edge of the area and Monk blocked the initial shot before Tate saved low to his left when Rowlands’ cross deflected off Williams.
- Yet, goalkeeping change-arounds aside, Swansea exited for the interval knowing they had not made the most of such one-sided supremacy.
- And they would waste little time to try and put that right after the restart, Britton’s shot being deflected over before Scotland’s hold-up play and Pratley’s shot forced Radek Cerny into a good save.
- Then, as the passing penetration continued, Gower saw his shot palmed away erratically by former Spurs man Cerny, but the high bouncing ball could not be controlled in time to take advantage by any attacking Swans.
- The introduction of Daniel Parejo did offer something of an outlet for the Londoners, and he came closest to working Tate with 20 minutes to go when he won a free-kick from Bodde and, after Mikele Leigertwood’s cross was punched clear, the Spaniard saw a deflection only just roll wide.
- But still it was Swansea in the ascendancy, a fact they couldn’t reflect on the scoreboard as every time they burst clear they found a box too congested to wriggle their way into.
- It meant the long shots kept coming, Bodde going close to finding the target with one such effort.
- And, when the pass looked to have come, the imposing Fitz Hall was equal to Scotland to stop the striker getting a sight of the net.
- Scotland, though, did manage to work free of his markers on 76 minutes as he held up a short corner, feeding Monk with his back to goal and only the presence of Parejo on the line stopped the skipper claiming an unlikely winner.
- Swansea weren’t deterred and the sweeping passing movement continued, Britton racing clear with 12 minutes to go only for him to be taken out by Stewart’s body check, Gomez unlucky to see his superbly struck set-piece edge wide of the target.
- Yet he would be unluckier still when Gower’s run saw him creep to the byline and Peter Ramage’s cross fell to Gomez, only for the shot to canon off both keeper and post to safety.
- But it wouldn’t come, a drilled shot from Rangel in injury time desperately cleared by Delaney and QPR’s get-away was complete. Western Daily Mail


BBC - Swansea 0-0 QPR
Swansea goalkeeper Dorus de Vries is stretchered off with a broken jaw
Swansea maintained their unbeaten home record against Queens Park Rangers but had to do it with defender Alan Tate acting as a make-shift goalkeeper.
Stopper Dorus de Vries suffered a suspected broken jaw on 26 minutes after a challenge from Martin Rowlands that saw the QPR captain booked.
With no replacement on the bench it meant Tate was handed the task of replacing the injured Dutchman.
But QPR were unable to muster any real threat to test Tate between the sticks.
De Vries was set to undergo an operation on Tuesday night and is expected to be out for between five and seven weeks.
Swansea manager Roberto Martinez:
"It was the most one-sided 0-0 you will see in the Championship.
"The performance in many, many areas was outstanding.
"The points will come if we keep playing like this. I am taking a lot of positives out of this performance.
"I don't think the player (Rowlands) is a malicious player. When the ball is there, you are allowed to challenge for the ball.
"But when you hit a goalkeeper on the face, it's avoidable."
Queens Park Rangers manager Iain Dowie:
"We all wish the lad (Dorus de Vries) a speedy recovery. I don't think there was any malice in that.
"I thought it was a ball Martin Rowlands was entitled to go for.
"I'm pleased with the point but not the performance, we didn't do nowhere near the things we do well normally, we didn't pass the ball with any conviction.
"We were never going to test their keeper without passing the ball." BBC


The Star - ANGUS AT DORUS KO
SWANSEA goalkeeper Dorus de Vries was rushed to hospital with a suspected ­fractured jaw after a 25th-minute flashpoint that brought a booking for Rangers skipper Martin Rowlands.
Rowlands had collided heavily with the keeper as he lunged in on Dexter Blackstock’s through ball.
Swansea’s players angrily protested it was a reckless challenge and deserved a red card but referee Tony Bates opted for yellow.
It left Swansea playing for more than an hour with defender Alan Tate in goal.
Manager Roberto Martinez rarely names a goalkeeper among his subs.
But Tate saw litle action as Swansea ­dominated without being able to break the deadlock.
Midfielder Darren Pratley came closest to putting the Welsh side ahead early in the second half, but his fierce drive brought a spectacular leaping save from Radek Cerny.
Rangers, continuing in the role of hard men, had Damien Delaney, Akos Buzsaky and Mikele Leigertwood all booked as they battled to stay in the game.
Star


Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Swansea City 0 QPR 0
IAIN Dowie leapt to the defence of Martin Rowlands after the QPR skipper's challenge left Swansea goalkeeper Dorus de Vries with a broken jaw.
The Dutchman was taken to hospital after half an hour at the Liberty Stadium on Tuesday, following a collision with Rowlands as the keeper raced out to clear Mikele Leigertwood's through ball.
Swansea manager Roberto Martinez described the challenge as 'avoidable', but Dowie insisted: "Martin's not that kind of player.
"The ball was there to be won, but unfortunately he's caught him. We hope he makes a speedy recovery and wish him all the best."
Without a goalkeeper on the bench, the Swans were forced to field defender Alan Tate between the sticks for the rest of the game, but QPR failed to trouble him as the home side dominated.
"We haven't tested him at all and that is not good enough - for 70 minutes he's not done anything," Dowie added.
"We've come away with a point and I'm pleased that we have that at least. But when we face Reading on Saturday, we have to play much, much better."
Swansea swarmed over Rangers for the majority of the game, with Radek Cerny saving well from Jordi Gomez and Darren Pratley, while Ferrie Bodde found the side netting.
The Rs' only real opportunity came 20 minutes from the end, when substitute Daniel Parejo's volley was deflected wide, and the visitors then dug in to try and salvage a point.
But Parejo was soon involved at the other end, clearing off the line from Gomez, who also struck the post late on. Kilburn Times


- See Also: Earlier Swansea-QR Reports and Managerial Comments

- See Also: Clive Whittingham/LoftforWords Match Report

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