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Friday, December 31, 2010

QPR Report Friday Update...A Norwich Fan Perspective of Norwich and QPR

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- Englarged Photo - Caption: "Guess Who Just Did What to Whom" -(Thanks as always to "Bushman")
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For QPR and Football Updates and perspectives throughout the day, visit the QPR Report Messageboard. All QPR and football perspective welcome...Also Follow: QPR REPORT ON TWITTER
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QPR Official Site - QUARTET RELEASED
- Young quartet Aaron Waters, Jordan Hibbert, Danny Fitzsimons and Niki-Lee Bulmer will leave the Club when their contracts expire later today (Friday).
- The four youngsters will be released once their respective deals conclude at the end of the calendar year.
- The Club would like to thank all four players for their services to QPR and wish them the very best for the future QPR


- QPR FA CUP "History" - Last win almost exactly a decade ago....
- The QPR Team vs Luton QPR: Miklosko, Darlington, Baraclough, Plummer (Kiwomya, 35 ) , Carlisle, Perry, Rose, Connolly (Ngonge, 68 ) , Langley, Koejoe (Wardley, 90 ), Crouch Subs not used: Harper,Morrow


- Sixty-Fifth Birthday for QPR FC Chairman Gianni Paladini

- Facebook Pages: Gianni Paladini Appreciation Page and Flavio Briatore Appreciation Society (QPR)

- Daphne Biggs: Photo/Supporters Club Photos

- Five Year Flashback: Ian Holloway Worried About His Job "..."We already have more points than we did at this exact point this time last year with a game hand. "But that doesn't seem to be good enough for some people. I'm sick and tired of every Tom, Putz and Harry getting linked with my job every day. "Well ding, dang, doo. It's my job, I own it and it's up to anyone else to take it off me."

- Three Year Flashback: Gareth Ainsworth: Optimistic and Praising Chairman Paladini

- Hill Found "Not Guilty" and Swansea's Rodgers Complains

- Moen Confirmed as QPR Signing

- Telegraph/Henry Winters "20 Football Stars of 2010" - Including Gareth Ainsworth, Ian Holloway and Clarke Carlisle.


QUESTIONS & ANSWERS FROM VITAL FOOTBALL NORWICH FAN, MICHAEL DILLEY

Michael Dilley of Vital Football Norwich offers his perspective of Norwich. Many, many thanks to Michael for providing this.

I remember Ron Saunders' Norwich team which pipped us for promotion in 1972...And then John Bond took over and transformed the team. QPR's very first home game in Division II after our 1967 promotion, was against Norwich. Every QPR fan of course has burned into his and her consciousness the events of April 1976 when a Norwich victory over QPR in effect resulted in the Championship going to Liverpool. how do you feel about that?!

All a bit before my time I'm afraid (I wasn't born until 1979) so can't really comment on that!


How long have you supported Norwich? And how long have you been involved with the website?

I've been a Norwich supporter for a little over ten years (long story but let's just say I saw the light), and have been involved with the site for about three years, taking over editorial duties in the summer of 2008 (just in time for the relegation season - wonderful timing!).


Tell me a little about yourself/your site/how long/how many readers, etc. (And other Norwich fan sites: Are they great inter-board wars like there seem to be with certain QPR sites)?

The site in its current form has been going for about five years, and is part of the Vital Football network - one of if not the biggest independent network of fan sites - which gives us good interactivity with fans of other clubs.

There are quite a few different City sites about these days but I wouldn't say there are great inter-board wars (but maybe a little friendly rivalry). There are some I prefer visiting than others, but personally I just tend to avoid the others and that works for me!

We average around 40,000 visitors and between over a million hits per month so it keeps me extremely busy as well as having a full-time job and a newborn baby at home!


I guess your big rivalry is with Ipswich? And with Colchester, it's just a little cousin? What explains Norwich truly amazing gates? Did you believe Norwich would get relegated from the Premiership? And then the relegation a couple of seasons ago to "Divison Three" (whatever its official name)

Oh yes, definitely Ipswich. I think any rivalry with Colchester means a lot more to them than it does us, which is probably why their home game against us was their only sell-out.

It's hard to explain the gates but it's probably a combination of fierce loyalty and there not being a great deal of competition in the area!

Relegation from the Premiership wasn't a huge surprise but the way we slid down the Championship most definitely was - just goes to show what a difference it can make having a decent manager.


What do you think of the current Norwich manager? I guess he totally transformed your team last season after your opening loss led to the firing.

Paul Lambert can do no wrong at the moment. He has turned the club around since coming in from Colchester and with him in charge you feel that we are finally in good hands.


What do you think of the current Norwich Chairman and Board of Directors? Why are they involved with Norwich? Could they realistically have done more? You have quite a famous Chairwoman!

Delia has done a hell of a lot for the club but there will always be those who think she could/should have done more - particularly in the Premiership season.

The best thing the board have done for the club was to bring in David McNally as Chief Executive. He seems like a bit of a b*stard which frankly is exactly what the club needed to try and shed a little bit of this "nicey nicey" image.


How are Norwich doing this season? Are your currently at your peak? Are you surprised by how Norwich doing this season? Do you genuinely believe Norwich will make the top six?

We've started really well and I can't see why we can't hang around the top six. At the start of the season I'd have been delighted with a mid-table finish but to still be hanging on strong at Christmas is a really strong sign.


To what do you attribute the Norwich Success?

Everything comes from Lambert, from believing in themselves to getting the players to play a certain way.


Who are you Dangerman/Most valued/most overrated/most underrated players?

Grant Holt grabs all the headlines for obvious reasons but our most influential player this season so far has been Andrew Crofts. He arrived in the summer from Brighton and looks like a complete bargain.



Prediction for season promotion/relegation places - And how would that compare with pre-seaon prediction?

Well I think your lot have got one the automatic places tied up, and although Cardiff seem to be having a little wobble the fact that they can spend in January will see them over the line I reckon.

As for the play-off places, I'd be very happy if it stayed as it is at the moment (Swansea, Leeds, us and Reading). At the start of the season I'd have had Burnley and Derby in there but I'm not complaining!


What is your view and the general Norwich view of QPR?

Don't know about the general Norwich view of QPR but I've always had a bit of a soft spot for them. I think it's because when I used to do the old Pannini sticker albums in the late 80s QPR's was the first shiny I ever had!


Again: Many, many thanks to Vital Norwich's Michael Dilley



MIRROR - Curle prepared to leave Rangers for Rovers
- QPR coach Keith Curle is ready to quit Loftus Road after applying for the vacant manager's job at Bristol Rovers.
- Former Manchester City and England defender Curle, 47, wants to return to management at the Memorial Stadium.
- Ex-Mansfield boss Curle faces competition from Torquay chief Paul Buckle and former Wimbledon striker Dean Holdsworth.


Former QPR CEO MARK DEVLIN JOINING NOTTS COUNTY
Notts County Official Site - Devlin Joins Club
- Notts County are pleased to announce that Mark Devlin will be joining the club as Commercial & Marketing Director.
Devlin was previously CEO of Swindon Town and Queens Park Rangers, before being injured in a light aircraft crash in 2006.
"I am delighted to be joining the club at an exciting time in its history and I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues," said Devlin, who is currently Chief Executive of Win Tennis at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre.
"It is important that we get club right on and off the field," added Notts Chairman Ray Trew.
"I am therefore very pleased that Mark will be joining us as he brings with him years of commercial success and experience, both inside and out of professional football".
Devlin is due to take up his new role at Meadow Lane on January 4, 2011 Notts County


- href="http://qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=18982">Parejo Reportedly being re-signed by Real Madrid

- Flashback Couple Years: "Loftus Road #42 among World Football Stadiums in Atmosphere

- Marking the 40th Anniversary of the Ibrox Disaster

- Kudos to Watford for their generous Charity Support

- QPR STATS: QPR Compared to Previous Seasons and Other Clubs at Year's End


- Nominate your Fan of the Year

Thursday, December 30, 2010

QPR Report Thursday: Warnock's QPR...Classic Rodney Marsh Photo...Vine Returns...Waghorn Interest?

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- Englarged Photo - Caption: "Guess Who Just Did What to Whom"
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- (Thanks as always to "Bushman") Enlarged Photo - Left to Right: Back row: Pigg, Pearce, Hebden, Symes, Higginbottom...Second row:Draper, Sweetman, Plunkett, Harris, Middleton, Thomson, Birch, Rowe, R. Hewison (Manager)...Third Row: Whitehead, John, Burgess, Campbell, Hurst, W. L. Wood (Secretary)...Front Row:Brown, Spottiswood, Richmond. Young, Ford.
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For QPR and Football Updates and perspectives throughout the day, visit the QPR Report Messageboard. All QPR and football perspective welcome...Also Follow: QPR REPORT ON TWITTER
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- Parejo Reportedly being re-signed by Real Madrid

- Flashback Couple Years: "Loftus Road #42 among World Football Stadiums in Atmosphere

- Two Year Flashback: Flavio Briatore on Running QPR ...On This Day Fifteen Years Ago, Nigel Quashie made his QPR Debut

- Seven Year Flashback: Gianni Paladini Unhappy With Port Vale over his Effort to Take Over

- Marking the 40th Anniversary of the Ibrox Disaster

- Kudos to Watford for their generous Charity Support

- Next: Norwich vs QPR - Norwich Stats/Past Results....Championship Form Guide Over Past Six Games. Norwich Top!

- QPR STATS: QPR Compared to Previous Seasons and Other Clubs at Year's End


Football League - Warnock Wrong But So Right
As the npower Championship season hits the half-way mark with Queens Park Rangers clear leaders and bang on course for promotion to the Premier League, Manager Neil Warnock admits he has surpassed even his own expectations.

After their final game of 2010, a 2-0 win at Coventry City, QPR have opened a seven point gap at the top - a position that easily exceeds Warnock's pre-season prediction. "I told the Directors that with 10 new players in the team at the start of the season," he said, "we'd be between fourth and seventh in the table at Christmas.

"If we were any higher than that, I told them, I'd be delighted - and that's exactly what I am at the moment. I never thought I could get a team with so many new players to gel as quickly as we have done, but now I've raised my own expectations.

"I've not got long left (as a Manager) and I want to get to the Premier League as quickly as possible - and I'm trying to do that this season."

At 62 Warnock has hopefully got quite some time left in his managerial career, and he certainly has time enough to enjoy another stint in the top flight after previously taking his home town club Sheffield United up there.

QPR have unquestionably been the team of the season so far and they are hot favourites to clinch a place in the Premier League after a 15-year absence.

But despite his present delight Warnock is taking nothing for granted and, just as importantly, neither are his players says the Manager. "Look at my team sheet - Clint Hill, Shaun Derry, Kaspars Gorkss, Paddy Kenny, Heidar Helguson - we've got so many good pros and none of them get carried away.

"We all know there are six or seven teams who could get automatic promotion. We showed two weeks ago that we can lose two games on the trot, and we could lose four on the trot - that's the division the Championship is.

"But so far we've been more consistent than anybody else, and that's what we've got to try and be in the second half of the season."

QPR's consistency shows in the Championship table's statistics, Warnock's team having collected 47 points from their 23 games and also having by far the best goal difference - their 28 is 16 ahead of next-best Cardiff City's.

So what's the secret of the Hoops' success? Happiness, reckons Warnock as he reflects on an excellent first five months of the campaign. "When you're happy you do your job better," he said, "and we're very happy as a team.

"It all goes back to pre-season. We had two great weeks, one in Cornwall and one in Italy, and it was the best thing we ever did. We had fantastic training facilities, relaxation, lads going out together - and all coming back together! I knew we were on to a team spirit, and that's shone through from day one." Football League


PFA Give Me Football - QPR continue to show they're not 'southern softies'
QPR - Neil Warnock hails the tenacity of his side after beating Coventry
By Mark Shail December 29, 2010

Neil WarnockMy team has got a bit of Yorkshire grit, if I can say that

QPR are now seven points clear at the top of the Npower Championship following their 2-0 win at Coventry yesterday and their Sheffield-born manager Neil Warnock says his side are showing “Yorkshire grit” in their challenge for automatic promotion.

Former Blades’ boss Warnock said, “When I was at Sheffield United, I used to call teams south of Watford “southern softies”.

"But my team has got a bit of Yorkshire grit, if I can say that. We stood up well (against the Sky Blues) and I thought it was superb team performance.”

On-loan Spurs’ full-back Kyle Walker was one of the men on target for Rangers at the Ricoh Arena, and Warnock revealed he is trying to keep the 20-year-old at Loftus Road beyond the New Year.

He added, “I have spoken to Harry (Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp) a number of times and he is very, very happy that he’s playing games.

“He is not going to get in their side at the moment and the next best thing is to go somewhere he can learn his trade and come up against different wingers.

“I believe, and Harry does the same, that he is better playing games, unless a Barclays Premier League club came in and offered millions.

“There is very much a chance (that he will stay at Rangers for the remainder of the season) and I will be speaking to Harry again.” Give Me Football


Matt Holland/Football League Blog
- "....I spent Boxing Day at Loftus Road watching Queens Park Rangers dismantle Swansea City 4-0 en route to a perfect Christmas that also included a 2-0 win at Coventry.
- Beforehand the mood in West London was buoyant even though Neil Warnock's men went into Christmas on the back of two surprise defeats. The fans I spoke to at the stadium felt it was just a blip and from the evidence of what I saw in person and on TV they were spot on to make that judgement.
- QPR are superbly organised and well disciplined, and are set up perfectly to defend properly before catching sides on the break. At times Swansea City outplayed them with their brand of beautiful passing football but there was no way through Rangers' solid defence and midfield. Then, on the attack they had the ideal combination of Heidur Helguson's endeavour and Adal Taarabt's skill which functioned perfectly to help earn the Hoops three valuable points.
- One player stood out for me in both matches, and that was right-back Kyle Walker who is on loan from Spurs. He was outstanding.
- Against the Swans he played on the right and left hand side with equal assurance but it's his bursts forward down the flanks that caught my eye the most. He's got so much energy and pace but allied with that he also possesses excellent quality on the ball.
- I rate Kyle highly and even if he doesn't make it at White Hart Lane I still suspect he will go right to the very top. Watch out for his name in the coming years… Football League


Mirror - Warnock launches loan move for Waghorn
- Neil Warnock has launched a bid to sign Leicester’s £3million striker Martyn Waghorn on loan.
- QPR boss Warnock wants to end Waghorn’s frustration at the Foxes and lure him to Loftus Road.
- Former Sunderland striker Waghorn was signed by Paulo Sousa in the summer after a successful loan spell last season.
-But the 20-year-old has fallen out of the picture since the arrival of Sven Goran Eriksson, making only five starts under the Swede.
- And Warnock is ready to pounce and offer Waghorn the chance to play a part in Rangers” promotion challenge.
- He said: “If someone comes available and we think is going to be better than what we’ve got or will give us an extra chance to take that step up then we’ll go for it and I’ll speak to the directors.
- “I think it may be a case of getting a few loan players in. We’re all in the same boat in the Championship - we don’t want to spend too much money until everyone knows where you are.
- `We’ve got to look at who becomes available.’
- Rangers moved seven points clear at the top of the Championship after their win at Coventry on Tuesday - but Warnock still wants more firepower. Mirror


Hounslow Chronicle/Jacob Murtagh - QPR striker Rowan Vine has Brentford loan cut short
- ROWAN Vine has returned to QPR after his loan spell at Brentford was cut short through injury.
- The 28-year-old has failed to make an appearance for the Bees since making the switch to Griffin Park in November.
- Andy Scott said Vine wasn't fit enough to feature for the first-team, and his comeback suffered a setback after he picked up a calf injury in training.
- And the Bees boss confirmed he won't be renewing the loan when it expires next week.
- Scott said: "Rowan went back to QPR for treatment.
- "Unfortunately he wasn't able to play a game for us because he wasn't fit.
- "The loan's up on Tuesday, so it will probably be too late to get fit now.
- "He's a good player, but these things happen." Hounslow Chronicle


- Flashback Five Years: "QPR are now sailing in safe waters."

- Nominate your Fan of the Year

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

QPR Report Wednesday: Coventry Reports...Next Norwich...Flashback "QPR are now sailing in safe waters"

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For QPR and Football Updates and perspectives throughout the day, visit the QPR Report Messageboard. All QPR and football perspective welcome...Also Follow: QPR REPORT ON TWITTER
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- QPR-Coventry: Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments - VIDEO: The QPR Goals (but not the missed/saved Coventry chances)


- Next: Norwich vs QPR - Norwich Stats/Past Results


- Championship Form Guide Over Past Six Games. Norwich Top!


- Flashback Five Years: "QPR are now sailing in safe waters."


- QPR STATS: QPR Compared to Previous Seasons and Other Clubs at Year's End

- When Saturday Comes: "HMRC cracks down on football tax avoidance"


- RIP: Ex-Liverpool's Avi Cohen


- Walker Extension Possible, but Permanent Signings in January Unlikely: Neil Warnock "I don't see too much happening at QPR if I'm honest. The owners would prefer me to bring in a loan signing rather than spend any money at this stage..."Sky


QPR OFFICIAL SITE DERRY: 'LET'S EMBRACE IT'
- R's midfielder Shaun Derry isn't about to get carried away with the Hoops lead at the summit of the npower Championship, but he's happy enough to embrace it for the time being.
- Derry - who has been a mainstay in the Rangers midfield since his summer switch from Crystal Palace - was speaking to www.qpr.co.uk following yesterday's 2-0 victory at Coventry City; a win that extended the R's lead to seven points at the top.
- "We were under massive pressure with the way Coventry play, but we dealt with it very well in the first half," he said.

"The second half was excellent though and we were good value for the win."

Derry added: "You'd be lying if you said it wasn't going better than planned.

"We never in our wildest dreams thought we'd be in this position at the turn of the year so you've got to embrace it.

"It's a great position to be in.

"We're fortunate that we've got a healthy, quality squad, with 18 or 19 players capable of pulling on the shirt when required."

Rangers travel to Carrow Road - the home of Norwich City - on New Year's Day and Derry expects another tough test in East Anglia.

"Norwich will raise the bar," he told www.qpr.co.uk.

"It's always a great atmosphere at Carrow Road and it promises to be another cracking game." QPR
QPR
Independent/Jon Culley - Rangers keep hold of winning thread, but long road lies ahead
If history is a marker, Queen's Park Rangers can start planning already for their return to the Premier League. Only twice in the last 19 years has the team leading the second tier at the end of December not been promoted and Neil Warnock's team were sure of occupying that position even before this victory gave them 47 points from 23 games.

But even with his record – six promotions with five clubs – Warnock is taking nothing for granted. Neither, he says, are his players, lest any supporter fear complacency. "There are not many who would get carried away in this team," he said. "We all know there are six or seven teams who can get automatic promotion. We showed two weeks ago that we can lose two games on the trot. We could lose four games on the trot, it is that kind of division. But so far we have been more consistent than anyone else and that's what we have to be in the second half of the season."

He might also have pointed out that this was Rangers' first away win since the beginning of October. Indeed, that challenge might still stand had Coventry taken advantage of their own early supremacy, when QPR struggled to cope with their direct approach and, but for Paddy Kenny, would have been behind. The goalkeeper, rescued by Warnock after his nine-month suspension for a drugs-test failure, pulled off fine saves to keep out headers from Clive Platt and Richard Wood.

But Westwood handed Rangers the lead four minutes after the break when he diverted Kyle Walker's cross-cum-shot into his own net and thereafter Warnock's side looked more assured.

When Adel Taarabt's clever through ball was glanced past Westwood off the head of Tommy Smith, the leaders had complete control with half an hour still to play.

Coventry's third straight loss would seem to augur badly, although manager Aidy Boothroyd would see only positives. "We are going to have setbacks but are improving," he said. Independent


STEFFAN MOORE/Cambridge News - Moore's debt to Gregory turns into Saints' gain - by Michael Vaughton
Cambridge News

- Rodney Marsh Interviewed about his latest Book, "Lose Cannon"

- Nominate your Fan of the Year

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

QPR Open Up Seven Point Lead at the Top With Win at Coventry - Compilation of Reports and Comments

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For QPR and Football Updates and perspectives throughout the day, visit the QPR Report Messageboard. All QPR and football perspective welcome...Also Follow: QPR REPORT ON TWITTER
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- RIP: Ex-Liverpool's Avi Cohen

- Walker Extension Possible, but Permanent Signings in January Unlikely: Neil Warnock "I don't see too much happening at QPR if I'm honest. The owners would prefer me to bring in a loan signing rather than spend any money at this stage..."Sky


Coventry 0 QPR 2

UPDATED TABLE
QPR 23 28 47
Cardiff 23 12 40
Swansea 24 6 40
Leeds 24 4 40
Norwich 23 7 39
Reading 23 10 34
Coventry 24 0 34
Watford 22 8 33
Burnley 22 5 32
Millwall 23 5 32
Nott'm Forest 20 7 30 BBC


QPR Official Site - WARNOCK: 'SUPERB TEAM PERFORMANCE'
Neil Warnock poured praise upon his top of the table charges, after QPR recorded a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena.

Second-half goals from Kieron Westwood (OG) and Tommy Smith were the deciding factor, as Rangers extended their lead to seven points at the summit of the npower Championship prior to this afternoon's (Tuesday) later kick-offs.

Warnock told www.qpr.co.uk: "Coventry are difficult to play against.

"It was a superb term performance. I thought we played as well as we could here.

"I was more impressed with how we performed as a team more than anything else."

He added: "We saw both sides of our play today.

"We've got a bit of Yorkshire grit, if I can say that!

"But we play a bit as well. I thought it was a great mixture.

"We've had a difficult period, preparation wise. But Swansea on Boxing Day and today have been superb.

"We've got to go to Norwich now, but it's great going there with two wins under our belts http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/TheGaffer/0,,10373~2252639,00.html


Coventry City Official Site -BOOTHROYD: Need to score when you're on top
SKY Blues boss Aidy Boothroyd said that while his side may have been guilty of not capitalising on their early chances he was still pleased with periods of their play.

City went down to QPR at the Ricoh Arena after two second half goals from Kyle Walker and Tommy Smith but Boothroyd said the last two games just showed his side was not quite yet ready for the top two.

"I think first of all I was pleased with the way we started and I thought we were well on top in the first half but you've got to score when you're on top," he said.

"I think the last couple of games have just showed us we're not quite ready for the top two but then why would we.

"We're currently the highest we've been in the table at this point for the last eight or nine years but we still want better than that.

"There was still alot of positives to come out of today's game. Yes we made mistakes for the goals but for long periods we were on top and we are still a work in progress. We're not going to be right overnight.

"I remember being at clubs and not beating sides in the top six until we got to the play-off final so we'll have an orange, a chat and see where we go for the second half of the season."
Check out Aidy Boothroyd's FULL post-match interview on Sky Blues Player NOW!!!
http://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10269~2252809,00.html


QPR Official Site
The R's secured their second win in the space of three days with an immeasurable 2-0 victory against another promotion rival in the form of Coventry City.

An own goal from Kieron Westwood and a Tommy Smith header won it for QPR, on an afternoon where the R's put on one of their finest away showings of the season to defeat a strong Sky Blues side.

Rangers were in front in the 49th minute, after Kyle Walker's cross-come-shot was put into his own net by Westwood.

And the points were safe in the 61st minute.

Adel Taarabt's teasing centre was met by the head of Smith, whose clever nod sailed past the keeper for the R's second.

QPR were unchanged in a 4-2-3-1 formation for the trip to the Ricoh Arena.

Paddy Kenny - with 12 league clean sheets already to his name before today's fixture - was in goal for the R's.

Walker, Matt Connolly, Kaspars Gorkss and Clint Hill made up the Rangers back four.

Faurlin joined Shaun Derry in holding midfield, behind the attacking trio of Jamie Mackie, Taarabt and Smith.

Heidar Helguson led the R's attack.

Rangers were in confident mood prior to kick-off after their stunning 4-0 victory over Swansea City at Loftus Road on Boxing Day.

Taarabt's sumptuous double - as well as further strikes from Mackie and Helguson - saw the R's return to winning ways in stunning fashion following back-to-back defeats.

However, the Sky Blues went into this one on the back of a 2-0 defeat at Cardiff City, thanks to goals from Seyi Olofinjana and Craig Bellamy.

Nevertheless, with Coventry in the healthy standing of sixth position before kick-off, the R's were bound to be in for a stern test in front of the watching Sky Sports cameras.

Following their bright start, Taarabt almost edged QPR in front on 11 minutes.

The magical Moroccan broke at pace down the left and, when he cut in past Richard Keogh to fire in an effort on goal from close range, Nathan Cameron superbly intervened with a sliding challenge to knock the ball off Taarabt for a goal kick.

Moments later, the tricky playmaker was involved in another R's attack.

Faurlin and Taarabt exchanged passes, before the latter beat one man and forced a smart take from Westwood, who stooped low to claim the QPR top-scorer's effort from 18-yards out.

There could be no doubt that, midway through the first period, Rangers were the better side.

However, for all of their excellent play, the R's had to be thankful to Kenny on 26 minutes for a quite spectacular save.

Marlon King picked up possession on the left and, when his pinpoint cross was met by the head of Clive Platt, the QPR shot-stopper dived down to his right to superbly tip the ball away for a corner.

Eight minutes later Kenny was on hand to produce another fantastic save.

Richard Wood rose highest following Gary McSheffrey's devastating centre from a corner, before the keeper was alert to move across his line and palm the ball away to safety.

Just before the break, Faurlin was on hand with a goal-line clearance to keep the scores levels.

When another outstanding centre from McSheffrey was met by the head of Wood, the Argentine midfielder was on hand at the right-hand post to clear the ball up field.

But QPR had a chance of their own to go in at half-time a goal to the good.

Walker was the architect and, when Mackie turned on his pass in the area, he fired an effort inches wide of the left-hand post.

Rangers continued in the second half where they left off in the first.

Smith's cutting long ball found Taarabt on the left-hand touchline, before the R's attacker cut in to smash a shot straight at Westwood.

But there was little the Sky Blues custodian could do on 49 minutes, as QPR forced their way into the lead.

The R's right-back, who had continued to cause his marker Wood problems, fired across goal and, as Westwood attempted to clear the danger, he only succeeded in parrying the ball into his own net.

It sparked mass celebrations from the R's faithful in the visitors' end - as well as banter between Keith Curle and the goalscorer, with the QPR First Team Coach telling him it was an own goal!

And, just 12 minutes later, the R's all-but clinched it.

It will come as no surprise to learn that Taarabt made the goal.

He exchanged passes with Faurlin before swinging over a beautifully struck cross with his weaker left foot.

The rest was pure class from Smith, whose deft flick sailed into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.


Coventry City: Westwood, Keogh, Carsley, McPake (Eastwood 87), Bell (Wilson 71), Doyle, King, McSheffrey, Platt, Wood (O'Halloran 71), Cameron.

Subs: Ireland, Jutkiewicz, Cranie, Baker.

Bookings: McSheffrey (25)
QPR: Kenny, Hill, Derry, Taarabt (Rowlands 84), Helguson (Orr 89), Faurlin, Mackie, Gorkss, Walker, Connolly, Smith (Clarke 80).
Subs: Cerny, Agyemang, Hulse, Tofas.
Goals: Westwood (OG 49), Smith (61)
Bookings: Helguson (21), Faurlin (31)
Referee: Mr N Swarbrick
Attendance: 17, 687 (1037)
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~52617,00.html


Coventry City Official Site
COVENTRY City fell to a defeat to high-flying Queens Park Rangers at the Ricoh Arena after second half strikes from Kyle Walker and Tommy Smith.

The Sky Blues were the better of the two sides at the end of the first half but QPR got their noses infront with Walker's opener three minutes after the restart with Smith adding the second just after the hour.

The Sky Blues were first to register a shot on target after ten minutes, Gary McSheffrey breaking away from his own half and running at the QPR back four before laying off to Marlon King whose acute angled effort only found the hands of Paddy Kenny.

With City doing most of the early attacking it was no surprise that they then managed to register the second effort of the afternoon on goal after quarter of an hour, Richard Keogh delivering a deep cross for McSheffrey whose downward header never tested Kenny.

The QPR goalkeeper was pushed to full stretch ten minutes later though when King's cross from the left found Clive Platt ten yards out, his header bound for the bottom corner pushed away and behind for a corner by Kenny's fingertips.

Platt set up McSheffrey two minutes later, a soft first touch putting the ball into the path of the winger 15 yards out but McSheffrey could not keep his shot down.

Kenny was forced into making another great save two minutes after the half hour, David Bell taking a short corner to Michael Doyle before getting it back to swing a cross at the back post for Richard Wood whose header was pushed away from inside the post by the visiting 'keeper.

Kenny then had to rely on a team mate to keep the score level when a deep corner delivery found Wood whose downward header towards the far corner was scooped off the line by Faurlin's right boot.

Jamie Mackie finished off the half though, receiving the ball from Shaun Derry with his back to goal before turning and shooting from 20 yards, his effort rolling just wide of Keiren Westwood's far post.

It was the visitors who took the lead though three minutes after the restart when Walker held McSheffery off the ball down the right flank, cut inside down the goalline and fired into the roof of the net inside Westwood's near post.

It was then two just after the hour when Smith needed just the slightest of touches to direct the ball into the net after Adel Taraabt sliced a ball across the six-yard area with the outside of his boot.

Wood forced a solid save out of Kenny on 63 minutes when he glided past three QPR defenders before firing a low shot with Kenny first spilled but then collected.

The Sky Blues rallied to look for a way back into the game and spent much of the remainder of the match camped in QPR's half.

But Boothroyd's side could not find a way through as the visitors packed their penalty area with bodies, preventing the Sky Blues from playing a final ball which could have brought about an equaliser.

The final chance of the game then fell to Rangers as substitute Leon Clarke broke down the right and cut inside in the final minute of the game, his shot forcing a good save out of Westwood and the loose ball then being headed away from the goalmouth from Keogh.
Attendance: 17,678 (1,037 away)
http://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/MatcReport/0,,10269~52617,00.html


Sky - Resilient Rangers down Sky Blues
QPR claimed their first away victory in six games as they won 2-0 at Coventry to head into 2011 with a firm stranglehold on the Championship.

Neil Warnock's side are seven points ahead of second-placed Cardiff - who travel to Watford on Tuesday afternoon - safe in the knowledge the team leading the second tier going into January have won promotion to the Premier League in all but two of the last 19 years.

The visitors, sporting green and white hoops, could count themselves lucky to still be on level terms after a keenly-contested first half at the Ricoh Arena in which the Sky Blues were denied on more than one occasion.

But the clash was over as a contest within 16 minutes of the restart as on-loan Tottenham full-back Kyle Walker burst down the right and found the net at the near post - only to see what would have been his first professional strike go down as a Keiren Westwood own goal as the ball came off his shoulder.

Tommy Smith's header then put QPR into a more commanding position to leave fellow promotion hopefuls City nursing a third successive defeat against sides alongside them in the top six.

Sky Blues boss Aidy Boothroyd promised a much-improved display from his side than the one which saw them go down tamely at Cardiff on Boxing Day, and after bringing in winger David Bell and target man Clive Platt, he certainly got a positive response.

The unchanged R's were able to name left-back Clint Hill in their starting XI while they wait to see whether their appeal against his dismissal versus Swansea is successful.

Boothroyd's charges looked up for the challenge of facing the league leaders amid an open and fast-paced start to proceedings.

Marlon King shot straight at Paddy Kenny after a bright City counter while Adel Taarabt was only denied by a superb sliding tackle from teenage centre-back Nathan Cameron.

The tempo slowed momentarily after the early rush but the encounter remained an intriguing one.

And it was the visitors who twice had keeper Kenny to thank for keeping them on level terms - diving low to his right to palm away Platt's well-taken header before keeping out Richard Wood's attempt.

The hosts, more than matching Warnock's title challengers, were enjoying a sustained spell of pressure with the tempo having picked up and they again came close to forging a breakthrough, this time Alejandro Faurlin clearing Wood's knock-down off the line.

But the R's survived the onslaught and could have indeed taken the lead themselves in first-half injury time, Jamie Mackie turning in the area and driving a low effort just wide of Westwood's far post.

But QPR needed just four second-half minutes to open the scoring.

Walker broke down the right, barging off the attentions of Gary McSheffrey, before getting to the byline and drilling a powerful effort in off Westwood at his near post.

And having come close to going behind on a couple of occasions in the first half, the visitors were two goals to the good just after the hour mark.

The enigmatic but so often brilliant Taarabt curled over a delightful cross which Smith glanced into the bottom corner.

There was an immediate sense the points were settled but that did not stop Coventry trying to get back into the game.

A handful of penalty appeals were waved away while several teasing balls were sent into the area but it was all to no avail, while Westwood denied Taarabt a third in injury time. http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3283890,00.html


- Birthday/Flashback: Birthday for Ex-QPR Frank McLintock

- STATS: QPR Compared to Previous Seasons and Other Clubs at Year's End

- Ex-QPR Scott Donnelly Set for Wycombe

STEFFAN MOORE/Cambridge News - Moore's debt to Gregory turns into Saints' gain - by Michael Vaughton
Cambridge News

- Coventry Behind the Scenes: QPR Report Interview With a Coventry City Fansite


- Rodney Marsh Interviewed about his latest Book, "Lose Cannon"

- Nominate your Fan of the Year

QPR Report Update: Coventry...Flashback: QPR Crush Chelsea at Stamford Bridge...QPR Compared to Past Seasons...Steffan Moore and Frank McLintock

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For QPR and Football Updates and perspectives throughout the day, visit the QPR Report Messageboard. All QPR and football perspective welcome...Also Follow: QPR REPORT ON TWITTER
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- Coventry Behind the Scenes: QPR Report Interview With a Coventry City Fansite


- "On This Day Flashback" (Thirty-six Years Ago!): QPR Crush Chelsea at Stamford Bridge!

- December 28th 1974: Recently-appointed, Dave Sexton-managed QPR against a recently-having-dismissed-Dave Sexton Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. QPR had the recently-signed Don Masson in midfield and John Beck in his best QPR season. Chelsea managed by Ron Stuart with Eddie McCreadie as Coach. Final Score: Chelsea 0 QPR 3 - Two goals from Don Givens; one from Gerry Francis. QPR: Parkes - Clement Webb Mclintock Gillard - Francis Beck Masson - Givens Bowles Thomas Chelsea: Phillips - Locke Hay Droy Harris - Wilkins Hollins Kember Cooke - Hutchinson Garland - Sub: Houseman


- Today: Coventry Weather Permitting) - Coventry Stats

- Birthday/Flashback: Birthday for Ex-QPR Frank McLintock

- STATS: QPR Compared to Previous Seasons and Other Clubs at Year's End

- Ex-QPR Scott Donnelly Set for Wycombe


Mirror/Matt Butler - QPR hotshot: We can't stop talking about promotion
- Jaime Mackie claims QPR are already talking about promotion – even though the season is not halfway through.
- The Rangers striker, who ended a three-month drought with the opening goal in Sunday’s 4-0 win over Swansea, knows his side are regarded as nailed-on Premier League contenders.

They have lost only two games this season and are four points clear at the top ahead of this lunchtime’s game at Coventry.

And Mackie revealed the players are talking about promotion – whether their boss Neil Warnock likes it or not.

He said: “We all want to get there – that is the promised land. A few of us have played there and the rest are striving to get there.

“The manager is not going to be able to stop us talking about it. I am sure he talks about it as well, but there is no point in talking about it unless we do it on the pitch.

“That’s our target. We are top of the league now and we have two really hard away trips.

“We are top of the league and we don’t worry about anybody else. We just worry about ourselves and try to keep picking up results.”

The win over Swansea ended a wobble by Rangers, who had lost their previous two games against Watford and Leeds.

But Mackie insisted his side never lost belief, adding: “All it was was a blip, but people made a lot of it because we went 19 games unbeaten.

“But I don’t think anybody expected us to go through the whole season unbeaten.”

Adel Taarabt provided the assist for Mackie’s goal, along with scoring two himself.

But Mackie revealed the Moroccan’s tendency to showboat rather than offload means he has suffered some stick from his team mates. He said: “You have to get on his case. He has that much ability in the game, but sometimes the best thing is a five-yard pass, like he did for me to score.”

Aidy Boothroyd wants Coventry to forget about their defeat at Cardiff by bouncing back against Rangers.

The Sky Blues boss gave an honest assessment of his side’s 2-0 defeat at their Welsh promotion rivals.

Boothroyd insists his men cannot afford to dwell on that below-par performance before their clash against the Championship leaders at the Ricoh Arena.

Boothroyd said: “We have to respond. When we have a result and performance like that we have to bounce back.

“It was a disappointing display but there is no point in sulking about the result. We have to move on and get on with it.

“It’s what the Championship is like as the games come along quickly.

“We have lost games before and recovered from them. I hope we can do the same again.” Mirror


SKY - Warnock eyes loan additions
Rangers boss considers January options


..Queens Park Rangers manager Neil Warnock admits he could turn to the loan market during the January transfer window.

Warnock's Hoops are currently sitting pretty at the top of the Championship and will remain at the summit for the turn of the year.

It has been a fantastic campaign for Rangers so far and they will be keen to kick on and secure promotion to the Premier League between now and May, having already finalised a deal for Norwegian left winger Petter Vaagan Moen to join in January

Warnock admits anyone coming into Loftus Road will have to be better than the players already at his disposal, and for that reason the loan market may be the best option.

He told Sky Sports News: "I think we've got to look at who comes available. If someone comes available and we think is going to be better than what we've got or will give us an extra chance to take that step up then we'll go for it and I'll speak to the directors.

"But at the moment there's nothing planned. We're signing a lad from Norway but there's nothing planned as such.

"I think it may be a case of getting a few loan players in - looking at the top-flight clubs and seeing if there's a loan player we can get till the end of the season.

"We're all in the same boat in the Championship - we don't want to spend too much money until everyone knows where you are.

Misleading
"Sometimes January can be a little misleading. You think you need strengthening in different areas and all of a sudden when you sign them you realise they're not better than what you've had."

QPR thrashed fellow promotion hopefuls Swansea 4-0 on Boxing day and take on Coventry on Tuesday live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1.

Warnock is not taking anything for granted and believes a number of sides can still push for a top-two spot.

"There's about six teams who could gain automatic promotion at the moment, it's levelling out," he added.

"When you look at the table it's much-of-muchness. There's some very good teams, teams who can beat anybody.

"You can't take anything for granted, it's going to be a long season 46 games."

Clint Hill was shown a red card on Boxing Day but Warnock confirmed the club have lodged an appeal against the decision. SKY


STEFFAN MOORE/Cambridge News - Moore's debt to Gregory turns into Saints' gain - by Michael Vaughton

John Gregory may not have directly helped bring Stefan Moore to St Neots in October, but he did play his part some four years ago.

In 2006, striker Moore was at a low ebb after falling out of favour at Queens Park Rangers following his move from Premier League side Aston Villa.

The forward had captained the Villains to FA Youth Cup glory in 2002, but an ankle injury hampered his chances with the club he followed as a youngster, and he was deemed surplus to requirements by manager David O'Leary.

Fortunately, the perfect pick-me-up arrived when Gregory, whose father John Gregory senior managed St Neots in the 1960s, arrived at QPR and lifted his spirits.

"I've not spoken to John for a couple of years, but I was quite interested to hear his father used to be the manager at St Neots," said Moore. "John was really good to me at QPR and he got me back in love with football. He really looked after me and took me under his wing.

"I was away from home and it was a hard time for me. I was really struggling at that time and he really helped me."

The departure of Gregory from the Loftus Road hotseat in October 2007 was quickly followed by Moore's exit, with spells at Walsall and Kidderminster before he joined Zamaretto League, Premier Division club Halesowen at the start of last season.

He banged in an impressive 37 goals in all competitions and caught the eye of the ambitious Saints' manager Dennis Greene and chairman John Delaney, who brought him to Rowley Park in October.

"St Neots showed an interest, so I came down to have a look at the club and I liked what I saw," said Moore. "For someone playing in non-League, seeing the club and their facilities, it looked so professional. It was something I wanted to be a part of.

"I feel I've settled in quite well at St Neots. I don't think I've showed my full potential yet, but I'm enjoying it and everything done at the club is done in the right way. It's a club on the rise."

The Saints have so far risen to the summit of the Hereward Teamwear United Counties League, Premier Division and booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Vase.

Moore, who has found the net 13 times for his new employers - including two hat-tricks and one four-goal salvo - is determined to remain injury-free and help the club realise their ambitions.

"I had two-and-a-half good years at QPR and it's a great club, but I've never really been settled at a club as I've had a lot of injuries in my career," he said.

"The year I was with Halesowen and since my time with St Neots, touch wood, I've only had one injury. I think a lot of it is down to luck.

"When you've played at a higher level and then find yourself playing at this level, it's nice to be part of something like this.

"We've got to take every game as it comes. Everyone knows we want to get promoted, but if you look too far ahead then things can come unstuck."

After having thoughts of pursuing a return to professional football at the end of last season, Moore is now fully focused on playing a big part in the St Neots revolution.

"I'm 27 now and if I was going to go back into full-time football then it would have happened in the summer," said the striker.

"I've signed a two-and-a-half year contract at St Neots and I expect to be here for that time."
Cambridge News


- Rodney Marsh Interviewed about his latest Book, "Lose Cannon"

- Nominate your Fan of the Year

Monday, December 27, 2010

The QPR Report Interview: A Coventry City Fan's Assessment of Coventry and QPR

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For QPR and Football Updates and perspectives throughout the day, visit the QPR Report Messageboard. All QPR and football perspective welcome...Also Follow: QPR REPORT ON TWITTER
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- Next: Coventry (December 29 - Weather Permitting) - Coventry Stats

Coventry City Fan Interview: Q&A re Coventry & QPR
- Coventry City Fan, Kev Monks has very kindly responded to a series of questions re Coventry prior to QPR's game against Coventry tomorrow (hopefully). Very, many thanks to Kev for doing this.

COVENTRY CITY FAN, Coventry-Mad's KEV Monks

How long have you supported Coventry?
It's been 41 years since my first game. Tuesday's game will be my 1914th Coventry City first team match.


Did you believe Coventry would ever get relegated. I remember over the years, time and again, Coventry seemed doomed and then made miraculous recovery. So when that day finally came, how was it?

It was always a case of riding our luck and then putting in a big finish on the last day or relying on results elsewhere to keep us in the division. However, relegation which came at Aston Villa was something we could prepare for, as the team under Gordon Strachan had been the worst for a few years.

City supporters were a bit like all the lads who joined up in the first World War thinking it would be a short-lived affair and we would soon be back. However, it has proved not to be the case and ten years on we are still trying to get back into the top flight.


You have a new stadium? What was it like making the change from Highfield Road? Have you become accustomed yet? How about the financial burden of the new Ricoh Stadium?

In my book, moving to any stadium that you don't own unless your own ground is having a sell-out every week was a bad move. Granted we now have excellent conference facilities, two decent gig venues etc but Coventry City FC don't get anything from them. With income steams being severely curtailed, it led to the club twice being hours away from administration and losses have been announced every season since.

Unlike, Arsenal and Cardiff, who have retained the location of the stadiums by moving across the road, meaning that match going habits are not changed, moving to a new stadium on the city's boundaries without adequate transport links such as a railway station, is going to be fraught with problems.

If the ground is not full, it takes a lot of effort to make any atmosphere, something that smaller grounds such as Loftus Road can easily generate and this has put some people off going on a regular basis.

After five years, most of the City support is now used to the Ricoh and although, going to a home game requires planning rather than walking up on match-day as you could at Highfield Road, most go because it is where the team play rather than somewhere they want to be.


What do you think of the current Coventry manager?

Aidy Boothroyd is certainly his own man. He is not the lap-dog that Chris Coleman was and is determined to get what he wants.
Some of his methods have not got down well but he is giving the Coventry manager’s job a good go.


What do you think of the current Coventry Chairman and Board of Directors? Why are they involved with Coventry? Could they realistically have done more?

Coventry’s board can be split in two. On one hand, we have the private behind closed doors world of hedge fund SISU and their front man Ray Ranson, who had been trying to get a foot in a number of clubs before he showed an interest in Coventry City. Then we have the public side with two main directors who are City supporters of very long standing and are highly respected in and around the Coventry & Warwickshire area.

They have made some difficult decisions in what is a very difficult climate and at least the club are currently in a stable position where they can account for every penny unlike in the past.


What is your view and the general Coventry view of QPR?

To be honest, if QPR had not had their silly and in my view completely pointless phase of Sack The Manager every other month, you would have probably been promoted by now.

We could see the seeds of a good side when we played at Loftus Road last season and I have not been surprised by QPR topping the table with some good performances this season.


How are Coventry doing this season? Are your currently at your peak? Are you surprised by how Coventry doing this season? Do you genuinely believe Coventry will make the top six?

Coventry supporters are well used to the New Year or later in the season slide down the table and after defeats against Norwich and Cardiff, there have been comments that the bubble has burst.

However, having seen every Coventry game this season, all the sides apart from Cardiff are much the same. Although, we have probably already lost too many matches to mount a serious threat to the top two, we are have as much chance as being in the play-offs come May as any other team in the division.


To what do you attribute the Coventry Success?

Aidy Boothroyd must take his share of the credit for changing some of the ethics in the club and making the Sky Blues a more difficult side to play against. We have had years of teams coming to Coventry and being allowed to walk away with the points but this season, apart from Cardiff on Boxing Day, we only lose after putting up a fight.


Who are you Dangerman/Most valued/most overrated/most underrated players?

Marlon King, now he is back to fitness, has a big part to play. He’s good at deflecting attention from opposing players (and fans!) and this means other players get their chance to shine.

Keiren Westwood is our current player of the year and yet again he is having a fine season. With the transfer window opening next week, there is the worry that the right bid may see him sold but as long as he is in goal, there is always hope for City.

James McPake and youngster Nathan Cameron who last season was captaining our U18’s team are both under-rated players. Hopefully, both will have good futures in the game.


What are your past Encounter Memories - Best Memory/Worst Memory of Past Coventry-QPR Encounters? Who is your favourite QPR Player? (And your least favourite)? Ditto any view of Neil Warnock?

That’s a lot of matches to think about. There was winning on the plastic pitch, one David Speedie Boxing Day goal, a Keith Houchen header, Dion Dublin’s City debut, the game in Ibiza, City beating QPR in the opening game at the Ricoh, Gary McSheffrey winning a penalty for a 1-0 win, Kevin Kyle scoring, and even the excellent 2-2 draw at Loftus Road last season

Worst was probably the 5-1 defeat in 1993 which cost Bobby Gould his job and the 4-1 defeat where the City supporters turned on the likes of Tim Sherwood and Steve Staunton.

My favourite QPR players certainly include Gerry Francis, Phil Parkes, John Hollins, Stan Bowles and Rodney Marsh. Worst is Danny Shittu for his behaviour in Ibiza. He certainly let his team-mates and Ian Holloway down that night.

As for Neil Warnock, he is like Aidy Boothroyd in that he is not employed to be popular, he is employed to get results. There is no doubt that he is good at what he does and anyone who has read his autobiography will see why.


Over the years, we've shared, Dave Sexton, Gerry Francis, Alan Brazil, John Beck, Gary Bannister, John O'Rourke, Paul Furlong (a QPR hero), among others:
QPR currently have an ex-Coventry player, Gareth Borrowdale. We're not quite sure why we have him. He certainly has played very little. Did you have any impression of him at Coventry?


Gary Borrowdale is a nice lad, very quiet I seem to remember. He scored the Reserves goal of the season with a cracking run and finish from thirty yards in the last season of City Reserves playing in a competitive league at Shrewsbury.

He did struggle against fast wingers though and this and his wages limited the amount of appearances he made for Coventry.


Prediction for season promotion/relegation places - And how would that compare with pre-season prediction?

Well I was hoping for a mid-table finish but the expectation levelled has now raised, so most City supporters are now predicting something a little higher. I’m going for QPR and Cardiff to be automatically promoted (I had QPR for a top six finish at the start of the season). As for going down, I still fancy Palace, Sc**thorpe (my original two tips) and now Preston.


Are you looking forward to playing QPR?

After having the floor wiped with us by Cardiff and seeing the highlights of your demolition of Swansea (and the red card for Clint Hill was a disgrace), the answer is No!.

QPR look back to form after a slight blip whilst City probably need a week to prepare for this game and if the Sky Blues cannot step up their game, it could be a long afternoon.


SCORE PREDICTION for Coventry-QPR?
I would be very happy with a draw if you are offering it.


Once again, many, many thanks to Coventry City Fan/Coventry-Mad's, Kev Monks


- Ex QPR News: Simpson, Ainsworth & Furlon

- Birthday for Richard Langley

- Rodney Marsh Interviewed about his latest Book, "Lose Cannon"

- Briatore: No Mutu

- Football Quotes of the Year and Alternative Awards..(Offer Your Suggestions)

-Football League: Process for Weather Cancellation of Games

- Nominate your Fan of the Year

QPR Report Monday: QPR Crush Swansea - Compilation of Reports and Comments

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For QPR and Football Updates and perspectives throughout the day, visit the QPR Report Messageboard. All QPR and football perspective welcome...Also Follow: QPR REPORT ON TWITTER
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- Next: Coventry (December 29 - Weather Permitting) - Coventry Stats

- Ex QPR News: Simpson, Ainsworth & Furlon

- Birthday for Richard Langley

- Rodney Marsh Interviewed about his latest Book, "Lose Cannon"

- Briatore: No Mutu


QPR 4 Swansea 0: Reports and Comments

- VIDEO: QPR 4 SWANSEA 0

- Video 4th Goal

QPR 22 26 44
Cardiff 22 15 40
Leeds 23 4 39
Swansea 23 5 37
Norwich 22 5 36
Coventry 23 2 34
Reading 22 10 33 - Complete Table

QPR Official Site GAFFER: 'A STRONG DISPLAY'
Posted on: Sun 26 Dec 2010

Neil Warnock was a happy man after seeing his side return to winning ways with a 4-0 victory over Swansea City at Loftus Road.

Goals from Adel Taarabt (2), Jamie Mackie and Heidar Helguson clinched it for the R's and, just moments after the final whistle, Warnock told www.qpr.co.uk: "We played well in the end today.

"We were nervous early on, but the first goal was important and after that we were excellent.

"Second half we came really strong.

"The second goal was crucial and then we grew from strength to strength."

Taarabt's sublime second - QPR's fourth - was the crowning glory for the hosts and Warnock beamed: "Adel's second was a super strike.

"There's not a lot you can do when he's playing like that.

"He's a super lad and his contribution, along with Helguson's, was massive today."

Warnock did, however, bemoan the referee's decision to show Clint Hill a red card, commenting: "I thought the sending off was harsh and we'll be appealing it. Hilly did nothing than go over and try and separate Monk and Mackie.

"It's a nothing sending off from our point of view. It defeats me really."

Warnock added: "The basics were good today.

"We were strong in every department and it's great to get a clean sheet.

"I thought that was Dezza's best display of the season. He and Helguson were excellent for us."
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/TheGaffer/0,,10373~2251538,00.html


SPORTING LIFE
Sporting Life

WARNOCK HAILS TEMPERAMENTAL TALENT
By Andy Sims, Press Association Sport

Neil Warnock vowed to keep putting up with Adel Taarabt's shortcomings after QPR's mercurial captain produced a stunning display to sink Swansea 4-0.

The Morocco international, a £1million bargain signing from Tottenham in the summer, was at his unplayable best as he set up the opener for Jamie Mackie, won a penalty for Heidar Helguson to tuck in number two and wrapped up the scoring himself with a fine double.

Yet Taarabt can delight and frustrate in equal measure, as shown before Christmas when his eagerness to impress in front of the television cameras contributed to Rangers' 19-match unbeaten run coming to an end against Watford.

But Rangers boss Warnock said: "Taarabt was excellent, that's what we know he can do.

"It's one of those things you have to accept that sometimes he's the opposite - like he was on the television the other day."

When asked if he feared a top-flight club coming in for his talisman when the transfer window opens next week, Warnock added: "I don't think anyone in the Premier League will want him - who would put up with him?"

A commanding victory for the table-toppers kept some fresh air between themselves and the chasing pack and banished any post-Christmas blues following recent back-to-back defeats.

They went ahead after 16 minutes with Taarabt the instigator, tip-toeing past a succession of Swansea challenges on his way to the edge of the penalty area before teeing up Mackie.

The match exploded into controversy two minutes later when Kyle Walker's marauding run was clumsily halted by Alan Tate 20 yards out.

As players from both sides squared up, Tate and Clint Hill's tete-a-tete was a little too heated for referee Phil Crossley's liking and both left-backs were sent off.

Yet Warnock and opposite number Brendan Rodgers were bemused by the decision.

"I still don't understand the red card so we will be appealing against that - he's not lifted his hands or anything," said Warnock.

"If Clint was going to get himself sent off it wouldn't be for something like that - it was astounding."

Rodgers also confirmed he would look at the incident again before considering an appeal.

After the break Taarabt drew a foul from Ashley Williams to earn the penalty from which Helguson scored and then collected the Icelandic player's knockdown to drill in the third.

But the best was yet to come, with Taarabt swivelling to nutmeg Joe Allen on the left touchline before curling an unstoppable drive to cap a sensational display which left even Rodgers applauding.

"I felt we started really well, created some chances and if we'd taken them it would have been a different game," said Rodgers.

"Up until the sendings-off we looked comfortable. I thought 4-0 was harsh on us.

"But three of the goals we gave away were disappointing - although the final one was a wonderful piece of skill by a top player."
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/liv....Nightlead.h tml


EXPRESS QPR 4 SWANSEA 0: HOT TAAR SEALS IT FOR WARNOCK
Adel Taarabt kept QPR flying high with an outstanding solo ­performance
Monday December 27,2010
ADEL TAARABT kept QPR flying high with an outstanding solo ­performance that had Premier League class written all over it.

In a feisty clash which saw Swansea’s Alan Tate and Clint Hill of QPR sent off after 19 minutes, Taarabt, 21, showed the talent that marks him out as one of the most-gifted players outside the top flight.

Taarabt, who joined on a permanent deal from Tottenham in August, scored his 10th and 11th goals of the season. He also had an assist in Jamie Mackie’s opening goal and was fouled for a penalty scored by Heidar Helguson.

But manager Neil Warnock is confident that despite interest from watching scouts, he will keep the nucleus of his squad together through the January transfer window.

Warnock said: “Adel was excellent. That’s what we know he can do. It’s just one of those things where you have to accept that there will be days when he is the opposite. Usually when the TV cameras are around .

“I don’t think there will be one [bid ] for any of my players if I am honest. I don’t think any Premier League club will want Adel or Mackie – who would put up with them? I think they will all be with us.”

Swansea boss Brendan Rogers agreed Taarabt was outstanding as his side maintained their ‘record’ of never having won at Loftus Road. He said: “At this level, he has wonderful ability. He has that Premier League quality – the skills, the pace, the power.”

But QPR took time to get into their stride and could have gone behind after four minutes, but Shaun Derry produced a great last-ditch block to deny Craig Beattie.

But Taarabt soon showed his class, riding a number of challenges before playing a delicate pass to Mackie.

He then slid the ball into the bottom corner of the net after 16 minutes, for his first goal since mid-September.

Within three minutes both sides were reduced to 10 men – but both Rodgers and Warnock were unsure why Tate and then Hill were dismissed by referee Phil Crossley.

Warnock said: “Clint has gone in to separate Mackie and Tate. He has not lifted his hands above his head, nor head-butted anyone. The referee said to me, in reflection, that he could have handled the situation better.

“When they look at the video, I don’t see any reason why they won’t rescind the red card.”

Rodgers said he would look at the incident again before considering an appeal. Swansea’s Ashley Williams was perhaps lucky not to have followed them in the second half when he received a yellow card for his trip on Taarabt.

Although there were suspicions the QPR player may have dived, Helguson took the spot-kick and fired his sixth goal of the season.

But Taarabt had the last word. Receiving a headed flick from Helguson, his shot squirmed under the body of Dorus de Vries.

Then, after being brilliantly denied by the trailing feet of the Swansea goalkeeper, Taarabt curled a shot into the net for his side’s fourth.

Rodgers, who suffered his heaviest defeat since taking over five months ago, said it was important the players got this “out of their system” against Barnsley tomorrow evening.

He said: “This was disappointing, but there can’t be a hangover from this. I had said to the players that, whatever happens, win, lose or draw, we have to keep going.

“We have to dust ourselves down and give something back to the supporters who came here.”

QPR (4-4-1-1): Kenny; Walker, Connolly, Gorkss, Hill; Mackie, Derry, Faurlin, Smith (Orr 21); Taarabt (Rowlands 83); Helguson (Hulse 86). Sent off: Hill 19. Goals: Mackie 16, Helguson 62pen, Taarabt 70, 80.

Swansea (4-3-3): De Vries; Rangel, Monk, ­Williams, Tate; Allen, Agustien (Dobbie 71), ­Pratley; Sinclair, Beattie (Easter 71), Dyer (Taylor 20). Booked: Wiliams. Sent off: Tate 19.
Referee: P Crossley (Kent).
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/2195....k#ixzz19GcHYrm1


Guardian Adel Taarabt's brace against Swansea caps a return to form for QPR
Anna Kessel at Loftus Road

QPR are back in the driving seat, having overturned their December wobble in style. After losing their last two games against Watford and Leeds, ending a run of 19 matches unbeaten, Neil Warnock refused to panic and gave all his players the day off on Christmas Day. They rewarded their manager's faith with a dominant performance against promotion rivals – fourth-placed Swansea – to maintain their lead at the top of the table.

A sparkling performance from the temperamental Adel Taarabt made the difference. Warnock likes to maintain that Taarabt's skilful style alone makes a Loftus Road season ticket worth paying for, and yesterday the red-tipped boots of the 21-year-old were indeed a delight. The former Tottenham player created the first two goals, a dazzling run setting up Jamie Mackie for the opener in the first half before going on another weaving trot to force a penalty out of Ashley Williams for Heidar Helguson to hit home.

Taarabt then followed with two more strikes of his own – the second of which was an exquisite effort in which he nutmegged Joe Allen before wriggling into the box to send a ball over the defenders' heads – taking his total for the season to 11 goals. The Swansea manager, Brendan Rodgers, described him in awed tones as "Premier League quality" – [b]although Warnock refuted that he would be a target in the January transfer window: "Who's going to want to put up with him?" he joked of the capricious midfielder. Taarabt, dubbed the Moroccan magician, received a standing ovation as he was substituted late in the game.[/b

]Without Taarabt's performance, a more unsavoury incident might have hogged the headlines, as both Clint Hill and Alan Tate were sent off after a melee broke out among the players following a foul on Kyle Walker in the first half. The details of the incident remain under dispute – initially there were accusations of a headbutt and an elbow – but Warnock later claimed that the referee had had second thoughts, with Phil Crossley apparently admitting that he "could have handled it better on reflection" after issuing red cards to both Hill and Tate. Warnock will appeal against the card, additionally arguing that there should have been a sending-off for Williams after the foul on Taarabt that provided the penalty.

Brendan Rodgers may also want to lodge an appeal on behalf of Tate, having questioned whether either player should have been shown a red card. "Both players were trying to get away from each other," said Rodgers. "I didn't think it was a sending-off. It spoiled what was supposed to be a good game. I'll have to have another look at it again and weigh it up [whether to appeal]. There was a wee melee but it wasn't a headbutt. I thought the referee could have just stood and once it calmed down, talked to them. "

Rodgers said the incident – along with Taarabt's penalty which he felt could have gone either way – changed the game, after a promising opening half from his side which displayed the attractive football for which they are so renowned for. Crucially, though, Swansea failed to find the decisive ball in the final third of the pitch, and when QPR attacked they capitulated, suffering their heaviest defeat under Rodgers's leadership. The loss leaves Swansea with just one win in six matches.

"There can't be a hangover against Barnsley," promised Rodgers. "We can't dwell on it too long. I said to the players: 'Remember last season Blackpool going to Crystal Palace and losing 4-0 and it turned out all right for them'. So we have to dust ourselves off. These players have done terrific up until now, so we've just got to keep the faith."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/dec/26/qpr-swansea-city-championship


Telegraph/Julian Bennetts
No matter what Neil Warnock received for Christmas, the best present he got during 2010 came on Aug 5, when Adel Taarabt agreed to move to QPR from Tottenham for just under £1million.

Since then, the Moroccan has been the talismanic figure who seems set to fire the club back to the Premier League. While others took the Boxing Day spirit a little too literally, as Clint Hill and Alan Tate were harshly sent-off for fighting, Taarabt focussed his efforts on taking Swansea’s defence apart as Rangers cemented their place at the top of the Championship.

He started by setting up Jamie Mackie for the opener before winning the penalty that Heidar Helguson converted.

Yet that was nothing when compared with what was to come. Taarabt’s first was simple enough as he ran on to Helguson’s flick before finishing well, but his second was special as he produced an outrageous nutmeg on Joe Allen before lashing home a 25-yard drive.

And Warnock could not resist praising a player who is surely the most talented outside the Premier League.

“Taarabt was excellent today,” he beamed after his side bounced back from successive defeats. “That was what we want, and what we know he can do – though we have to accept there will be days when he will be the opposite. All-round it was a super performance.”

The only thing that displeased Warnock was the red card for Hill, with both managers admitting they are likely to appeal as Phil Crossley sent-off both the Rangers man and Tate despite neither appearing to raise their hands.

That completed a poor day for Swansea, though, and having extended their record of never having won at Loftus Road, Brendan Rodgers demanded a reaction.

“We are better than we are showing at the moment,” he said. “We owe the supporters and ourselves a result and a performance.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footbal.... ch-report.html


Mail

Queens Park Rangers 4 Swansea 0: Boxing Day! Two sent off as league leaders run riot to thrash promotion rivals at Loftus Road
By Sportsmail Reporter

Adel Taarabt got QPR's npower Championship title tilt back on track with another virtuoso display to sink Swansea.

Rangers' mercurial captain set up the opener for Jamie Mackie, won a penalty for Heidar Helguson to tuck in number two and wrapped up the scoring himself with a stunning double.

A commanding victory for Neil Warnock's table-toppers keeps some fresh air between themselves and the chasing pack and banished any post-Christmas blues following recent back-to-back defeats.

Boxing day: A mass melee ensues after Swansea's Alan Tate elbows QPR defender Clint Hill square in the jaw

There was little in the way of festive cheer on display at Loftus Road, though, as a bad-tempered first half saw two straight red cards.

Clint Hill and Alan Tate were the recipients after the latter's foul on Kyle Walker sparked a sudden outbreak of handbags.

But Rangers comfortably won the 10-a-side encounter to put another dent in Swansea's promotion challenge - they have picked up just eight points from their last eight games.

The hosts went ahead against the run of play after 16 minutes with Taarabt the instigator, tiptoeing past a succession of Swansea challenges on his way to the edge of the penalty area.

Early bath: Both Tate and Hill were sent off in the 19th minute after their dust-up

And where, in recent matches, the Moroccan would have attempted to skip past a couple more for good measure, he instead squared the ball for Mackie who drilled a first-time shot past Dorus de Vries to end a 15-game goal drought.

The match exploded into controversy two minutes later when Walker's marauding run was clumsily halted by Tate 20 yards out.

As players from both sides squared up, Tate and Hill's tete-a-tete was a little too heated for referee Phil Crossley's liking and both left-backs were sent packing.

Under pressure: Swansea star Joe Allen struggles to get the ball under control after QPR's Alejandro Faurlin holds him up

The Swans attempted to hit back before half-time but Joe Allen blazed their best chance over.

As the second half got under way Taarabt twice almost conjured up a second goal, a blur of stepovers setting up Kaspars Gorkss and Mackie in quick succession only for De Vries to save both times.

But it was third time lucky on the hour as Taarabt charged into the area and drew a clumsy foul from Ashley Williams, allowing Helguson to dispatch the spot-kick for his eighth goal of the season.

Done and dusted: Adel Taarabt completed a fine win for Neil Warnock's men with the fourth goal of the game at Loftus Road

Taarabt was not finished, though, and in the 70th minute he collected Helguson's knock-down and hit a fierce drive under De Vries for number three.

And 10 minutes later, with Swansea by now sick of the sight of Rangers' number seven, Taarabt jinked his way inside from the left touchline and unleashed a superb 20-yard curler which De Vries could only help into the net.

Taarabt trooped off to a deserved standing ovation as Rangers shrugged off their recent blip and proved they will take some catching in 2011.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footbal....l#ixzz19ElzVrVN


South Wales Echo SWANS IGNORE WARNING FLAGS
NO wonder the man in front of the directors' box at Loftus Road waves a Moroccan flag.

Queens Park Rangers's fans enjoyed suggesting that Adel Taarabt was too good for Swansea City to handle.

And the truth was that the visiting contingent could not really argue.

Taarabt was the leading light on what turned into a gloomy afternoon for Swansea, who got beaten up on Boxing Day and saw Alan Tate sent off as both teams finished with ten men.

Taarabt had a sensational afternoon, creating one goal for Jamie Mackie, winning the penalty which Heidar Helguson converted and netting twice himself.

Without him, this would been a different story.

With their African inspiration involved, Rangers mauled Brendan Rodgers's Swansea like no other side has.

Beaten in successive games for the first time since Roberto Martinez left the Liberty, Swansea must find a response when Barnsley come to Wales tomorrow.

Success

Rodgers had shaken his team up after below-par displays against Millwall and Sheffield United, naming Darren Pratley and Kemy Agustien in a more powerful-looking midfield.

Out went Andrea Orlandi and Mark Gower as Swansea sought to record what would have been one of their results of the season.

Rangers have been the success story of the Championship campaign to date, avoiding defeat in each of their first 19 league games.

But Neil Warnock's men came into this one on the back of successive losses, so both sides were seeking an upturn in form.

It was Swansea who looked more determined to carve out a Christmas win in the early stages, Scott Sinclair coming close to an opener after just four minutes when he swept Joe Allen's corner too close to Paddy Kenny.

Ashley Williams and Craig Beattie both showed an interest in the rebound, but Rangers scrambled clear.

Swansea came again, Sinclair lashing a long-ranger too high before Tate's deflected 20-yarder was scooped up by Kenny.

So it was tough on the visitors when the Hoops snatched the advantage with the their first attack of any real significance.

Sinclair gave the ball away on halfway, but Swansea still had opportunities to clear the danger.

They did not manage it, instead allowing Taarabt to weave his web on the edge of the box before squaring for Mackie to drive the ball crisp and low past Dorus de Vries.

Then came the bad will to all men, Tate ending Kyle Walker's run with what was deemed as a foul and the handbags following.

Mackie was the instigator, the striker aggravating Tate by suggesting to the referee that he should be sent off.

Hill joined the argument later, the Scouser opting for a wrestle with Tate, and both left-backs ended up seeing red.

Rodgers sacrificed Nathan Dyer as a result, switching to a 4-3-2 formation with Sinclair playing alongside Beattie.

Despite the loss of a winger, Swansea stuck to their attacking principles and were unfortunate not to have drawn level by the break given their control of the game.

Allen blazed over after a sweet pass from the classy Agustien, Beattie cut in from the left and curled a shot just beyond the far post.

Williams was busy, the centre-back advancing into enemy territory to unleash two long-range drives, the second of which had Kenny scrambling to save.

All the while Rangers carried a threat through Taarabt, the Moroccan international forcing one save from de Vries and teeing up chances for Helguson and Bradley Orr, both of which were wasted.

Swansea threatened once more early in the second period, Angel Rangel seeing a header blocked by Orr.

Rangel's run and cross meant danger for Rangers minutes later, but Beattie could not get a shot away.

Swansea were right in it at this stage, but just past the hour their hopes were killed off as Helguson's flick sent Taarabt running at Williams.

The former Spurs man flicked the ball inside and went sprawling, and the referee pointed to the spot.

Helguson sent de Vries the wrong way, but at least Swansea still had 10 men as Williams saw yellow rather than red.

Here was a crumb of comfort for Swansea in what would develop into a torrid second half.

Rangers' third goal came from another Helguson flick, Taarabt firing low and through de Vries's attempted block.

The hosts were now cutting Swansea open at will, and it needed a stunning double save from de Vries to keep out Helguson and Taarabt on 76 minutes.

But Taarabt was not finished, the former Spurs man nutmegging Allen before curling his second goal of the afternoon into the far corner of the net.

Here was a spectacular end to what was a spectacular disappointment for Swansea.

Now to put things right.
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/sport/....il/article.html


QPR OFFICIAL SITE
Adel Taarabt stole the show, as his double helped the R's serve up a festive feast at Loftus Road.

The magical Moroccan was at his very best, taking his league tally to double figures (11) with another breathtaking display that saw him involved in all four of QPR's goals.
Article continues
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It was no more than Neil Warnock's men deserved for an accomplished display - especially in the second half.

Rangers took the lead on 16 minutes, after Jamie Mackie thumped Taarabt's square ball home from 18 yards, before Clint Hill and Alan Tate were both sent off following the latter's challenge on Kyle Walker.

The hosts went into overdrive after the break.

Heidar Helguson put the R's two up from the spot, after Taarabt was unjustly hauled down by Ashley Williams.

It was then left to Taarabt to cap a quite splendid victory.

The gifted playmaker notched his first of the afternoon following Helguson's flick-on, as he buried the ball under Dorus De Vries from the edge of the box.

Taarabt then produced an exceptional moment of skill that raised the roof in W12, nutmegging Joe Allen before rifling home a magnificent effort that darted into the bottom right-hand corner from 25 yards.

QPR made two changes in a 4-2-3-1 formation for the visit of Brendan Rodgers' Swans.

Alejandro Faurlin - who missed the R's trip to Leeds United last weekend owing to an illness - came back into the starting eleven to replace Bradley Orr, as did Helguson at the expense of Rob Hulse.

Paddy Kenny was between the sticks for Rangers, behind a back four of Walker, Matt Connolly, Kaspars Gorkss and Hill.

Faurlin returned to join Shaun Derry as protection for the Hoops rearguard in holding midfield, behind the attacking trio of Mackie, Taarabt and Tommy Smith.

Helguson led the Rangers attack.

The R's went into this one hungry to avenge back-to-back defeats against Watford and Leeds.

Last time out, QPR picked up only their second league defeat in 21 fixtures, after Max Gradel's deadly double was enough to see off Neil Warnock's men at Elland Road.

Swansea too lost their last match, after tasting a 1-0 defeat at managerless Sheffield United.

But, with both sides still sitting pretty in the top six of the npower Championship prior to kick-off, this one was all-but guaranteed to be a real Christmas cracker.

Both sides started with real intent, though it was Kenny who was first forced into action, after he pulled off a stunning save on four minutes to thwart Scott Sinclair.

Sinclair picked up possession from 12-yards out following a corner from the right and, when his resultant low drive was superbly blocked by Kenny, a forest of R's legs were on the line to clear the ball to safety.

But play soon switched to the other end, where De Vries was forced into a smart save of his own to tip Helguson's looping header wide, after Taarabt's high ball into the box.

QPR were now on top and, just past the quarter of the hour, Mackie fired Rangers into the lead.

Taarabt played the architect, weaving his way past three challenges before laying the ball to the Scotland marksman on the edge of the box.

Mackie made no mistake thereafter, leaving De Vries with no chance as he buried a low effort into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

The tie sparked into controversy just three minutes later.

Walker went on a swashbuckling run from right-back, brushing aside four challenges before he was cynically hauled to the ground by Tate.

A melee ensued where, among the commotion, Hill and Tate came head-to-head after the latter clashed with Mackie.

Hill and Tate were duly shown their marching orders, as referee Mr Crossley sent both players off for violent conduct.

Taarabt almost etched a second R's goal from the resultant free-kick, which was excellently tipped around the bar by De Vries.

Helguson missed a glorious chance to double QPR's advantage just before the break.

Moroccan magician Taarabt was again in the thick of the action and, when his beautifully-struck free-kick from the right was met by the head of Helguson, he could only nod agonisingly wide of the target.

The second half began as somewhat of a scrappy affair, with neither QPR nor the Swans giving an inch.

However, it was the R's who continued to create the better chances.

Fantastic skill from Taarabt saw him round past three players before sliding a ball clever reverse pass to Walker, who cut-in from the left before seeing his blasted effort - that seemed destined to find the net - blocked for a corner.

But QPR didn't have to wait too much longer for a second, as they doubled their lead on 61 minutes.

Taarabt picked up possession on the left-hand edge of the box and, when his attempt to skip past Williams was unfairly halted by the Jacks defender, the referee was left with no option but to point for the spot.

Helguson was coolness personified from 12 yards, as he sent the keeper the wrong way and slided the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

It was just rewards for the Icelandic striker, whose initial header originally freed Taarabt, who won the penalty.

The R's second made for an open finish, and the home side - especially Taarabt - took full advantage.

The former Spurs ace grabbed a dazzling double, as he fashioned two strikes of the highest quality.

His first was a smart finish, as Taarabt got on the end of Helguson's knock-down before smashing the ball under De Vries from 18-yards out.

But his second was simply stunning.

It was an unbelievable display of skill from Taarabt, who nutmegged Allen before drilling home an outstanding effort from 25-yards out that left the keeper with no chance.

QPR: Kenny, Hill, Derry, Taarabt (Rowlands 84), Helguson (Hulse 86), Faurlin, Mackie, Gorkss, Walker, Connolly, Smith (Orr 20).

Subs: Cerny, Clarke, Agyemang, Ephraim.

Goals: Mackie (16), Helguson (pen 61), Taarabt (71 & 80)

Red Cards: Hill (19)

Swansea City: De Vries, Williams, Tate, Pratley, Beattie (Easter 71), Dyer (Taylor 20), Monk, Sinclair, Rangel, Allen, Agustien (Dobbie 71).

Subs: Ma-Kalambay, Orlandi, Serran, Gower.

Bookings: Williams (61)

Red Cards: Tate (19)

Referee: Mr PT Crossley

Attendance: 15, 693
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~51981,00.html



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