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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

QPR Report Tuesday Snippets: Hull Game On?...QPR Fans Arrested and Banned Stats

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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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- Presumably Coming Soon: QPR Reporting Its Total Spending on Agents over Past Twelve Months (Period Ending September 30, 2010)

- Forty-One Years Ago: "The Doc," (Tommy Docherty) Resigned as QPR Manager - After 28 Days!

- Four Years Ago Today: Ugo Ukah "Reemerged" at QPR

- Summer Flashback: QPR Reportedly Interested in Jamie Mackie!

- BBC's Panorama/World Cup Claims
Broadcast


- No QPR Players in "Championship Team of The Week"

- Flavio Briatore's Voted #1 (Non-QPR/Non-Football)

- Updated: Football Championship Champions Odds!


FOOTBALL FANS ARRESTED AND BANNED STATS FOr 2009-1010: THE QPR STATS

The Home Office has produced its annual report on football Fans arrested and banned. There are some "bad" QPR Fans. But QPR rank pretty way down, with Leeds and Cardiff fans leading the way.
41 QPR Fans were arrested (27 at home; 14 away)
Type of Offence (QPR Fan Stats)
Violent and Public Disorder 22
Missile Throwing 1
Racist chanting 0
Pitch Incursion 4
Alcohol Offences 13
Ticket Touting 0
Offences Against Property 1
Possession of Offensive Weapon 0
Breach of Banning Order 0

Barnsley 31 8 23 10 0 6 3 12 0 0 0 0
Blackpool 36 15 21 10 0 0 6 16 0 1 3 0
Bristol City 38 18 20 20 3 0 2 13 0 0 0 0
Cardiff City 117 8 109 85 0 0 2 28 0 0 1 1
Coventry City 19 3 16 9 1 0 0 6 0 0 3 0
Crystal Palace 23 8 15 14 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0
Derby County 44 20 24 25 0 0 0 17 0 1 0 1
Doncaster Rovers 5 2 3 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Ipswich Town 19 14 5 5 1 0 0 10 0 1 2 0
Leicester City 47 28 19 20 0 0 2 23 0 0 0 2
Middlesbrough 47 28 19 21 0 0 3 21 0 1 0 1
Newcastle United 129 38 91 36 0 0 16 71 2 2 0 2
Nottingham Forest 38 19 19 15 4 0 5 11 0 3 0 0
Peterborough United 16 4 12 8 1 0 0 7 0 0 0 0
Plymouth Argyle 16 11 5 11 0 0 1 3 0 1 0 0
Preston North End 12 4 8 5 0 0 1 5 0 0 0 1
Queens Park Rangers 41 27 14 22 1 0 4 13 0 1 0 0Reading 7 2 5 2 0 0 3 0 0 1 1 0
Sheffield United 22 5 17 9 0 0 0 8 0 5 0 0
Sheffield Wednesday 41 31 10 15 2 0 1 14 0 0 1 8
Sc**thorpe United 9 3 6 4 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 1
Swansea City 63 32 31 48 2 0 2 8 0 2 0 1
Watford 8 1 7 2 1 0 1 4 0 0 0 0
West Bromwich Albion 20 3 17 12 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0
TOTAL 848 332 516 410 18 6 52 311 2 19 11 19

- Home office: Statistics on Football Arrests and Banned Orders: 2009-1010

- Leeds Lead the Way


Hull vs QPR?
East Riding Mail - HULL CITY: Tigers 'stay cool' on KC clash with QPR

- HULL City are confident that this weekend's clash with league leaders QPR will not succumb to the cold snap currently gripping East Yorkshire.
- Freezing weather in recent days has plunged the KC Stadium under a blanket of snow and raised early concerns that Saturday's fixture will inevitably fall victim to the conditions.
- But while forecasts promise little respite to the sub-zero temperatures, the Tigers remain hopeful that the KC Stadium's under-soil heating will still allow the game to go ahead.
- "We're quite cool about the whole thing at this stage, we don't foresee any problems," said John Cooper, general manager at the KC Stadium.
- "The forecast at the moment is for freezing temperatures, rather than more heavy snow, and providing that doesn't change, we're confident the game will go ahead.
- "If things stay as they are at the moment we should have the pitch clear of snow by Thursday.
- "We've also got plans in place for in and around the stadium this weekend so hopefully there will be no issue of calling the game off. We're very positive."
- The KC boasts a state-of-the-art under-soil heating system that has helped them beat freezing conditions in previous years.
- While it provides no guarantees that Saturday's fixture will go ahead, a gradual rise in the underground temperature is expected to see the current snow covering thaw out in the next 48 hours.
- Groundsmen will leave the pitch until all snow is cleared and providing the region avoids further snow in the build-up to Saturday's game, City expect to have the situation under control.
- "Under-soil heating is more of a preventative measure than a cure," explained Cooper.
- "It's a very careful process. We kept the heating off all of last week and allowed a frost.
- "For the next couple of days there will be no-one allowed near the pitch to avoid doing any damage.
- "The pitch temperature was around two to three degrees but we're slowly upping that now.
- "It'll build as the week goes on and by Thursday we'll be looking to have the temperature up to 10 or 12 degrees.
- "That will allow the snow covering to thaw out slowly and all being well, give us a clear pitch well before the weekend."
- The KC has not been immune to the weather, however, and heavy snow saw City's Premier League fixture with Chelsea called off in January.
- That was a decision based largely on safety concerns and Humberside Police will be in regular consultation again this week.
- Gritting will take place on the access roads to the KC but Cooper admits there will be some factors out of his hands.
- "For the Chelsea game last season there was a huge dump of snow on the Friday night and Saturday morning," added Cooper.
- "Safety then became an issue going to and from the stadium and that was outside of our control.
- "We're having a meeting with Humberside Police to plan for every eventuality this weekend, purely as a precaution, but it's a situation we will monitor as the week goes on." Hull Daily Mail



- Just Missed: The Soccer Convention in Rio De Janeiro

- Donate to QPR GIRLS ONLINE

Monday, November 29, 2010

QPR Report Monday: Further Reports of Cardiff's Loss...QPR's Undefeated Record Run Ends at Hull...Championship Favourites

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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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- FA Cup 3rd Round Draw: QPR at Blackburn, Jan 8...Past Blackburn-QPR Games (and Video)

- Updated: Football Championship Champions Odds!

- Just Missed: The Soccer Convention in Rio De Janeiro

QPR's Unbeaten Record Ends at Hull! (Flashback!)
Daily Mail - Hull of a coincidence for QPR -Queens Park Rangers, 2-1 victors over Cardiff and Championship leaders by five points, are just one match shy of matching the club record of 20 league matches unbeaten. That was achieved across the 1971-72 and 1972-73 seasons and ended with a 4-1 thumping at Hull City. Their tilt at history this Saturday takes them to, you guessed it, Hull. Daily Mail

- Another QPR Record to aim for: Least League Defeats in a Season

- 41 Years Ago: Bolton 6 QPR 4


- Congratulations to Zesh Rehman: At Number 10 Downing Steet

- Five Year Flashback: Q&A With QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini

- Twenty-One Years Ago: Don Howe Appointed QPR Manager. VIDEOS of Howe's first two games (Away Win at Crystal Palace. Home Win against Chelsea!)

- Caliendo on Dunga for Coaching Job

- USA Women Defeat Italy to Reach World Cup Finals


QPR VS CARDIFF

- VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS QPR vs CARDIFF (13 Minutes)

- Earlier: COMPILATION OF MATCH REPORTS re QPR vs Cardiff

- Match Video


Guardian/Barney Ronay
Adel Taarabt's guile and craft sink Cardiff and have QPR flying high
• 'We feel hard done by,' says Cardiff's Dave Jones
• Win lifts Queens Park Rangers five points clear


Neil Warnock was of the opinion that no other player on the pitch was capable of scoring the goal with which Queens Park Rangers' Moroccan playmaker Adel Taarabt settled the Championship's match of the season so far, a meeting of the top two at Loftus Road that left Rangers five points clear of Cardiff City and still unbeaten in the league.

This was perhaps a rather pointed remark after a match that featured the three outstanding attacking talents in the division, in Taarabt and Cardiff's own home international duo of Craig Bellamy and Jay Bothroyd. But then a sense of mild personal needle between the two benches – Warnock and Dave Jones disagreed a little cattily over late Cardiff appeals for a penalty – only added to the spectacle in a rousing game that had pretty much everything, including some fine passing football and the bonus of both teams pressing for a win when a draw might have been settled for.

"We feel hard done by," Jones said after a match that was topped and tailed by periods of slickly constructed Cardiff pressure, in between which Rangers hustled more effectively in midfield and asserted themselves through a combination of set-piece expertise and Taarabt's rarefied, drifting presence on the ball.

The prime target of Jones's ire was the referee, Kevin Friend, who waved play on in the 85th minute after Bothroyd had seemed to be tripped by Matthew Connolly. He might have directed at least some of his frustration at Bothroyd himself, whose uneven performance demonstrated both why he has been recently picked for England and why reservations remain.

The best of Bothroyd was lovely to watch: his perfectly weighted pass to play Bellamy in for the opening goal after 13 minutes following Kaspars Gorkss unfortunate slip (Gorkss would have his revenge, heading the equaliser five minutes later); the sprint from halfway that forced Paddy Kenny into a brave save; and the control and jink that drew the penalty-that-might-have-been. In between Bothroyd often swaggered listlessly. At one point he engaged in an extended finger-jabbing argument with Chris Burke over a misplaced lay-off.

Perhaps he might yet learn something from Bellamy, who worked extremely hard and constantly troubled the Rangers backline, or indeed from Taarabt, who can be scattergun in the application of his undoubted vision and fine touch but who was never discouraged by misplaced passes or faltering dribbles, constantly sought the ball and was rewarded on 68 minutes when he bundled through Lee Naylor's attempted tackle on the left, jinked inside and out and finished thrillingly.

Rangers rely heavily on Taarabt for craft but they are playing with great spirit and are defensively very solid. After Saturday they already look, if not exactly unbeatable, then perhaps something close to unassailable.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/nov/29/qpr-cardiff-city-championship


STAR/MATT BUTLER QPR 2 - CARDIFF 1 - MAGICAL AD CAN DRIVE US ALL MAD
ABOVE: Adel Taarabat celebrates his goal He can be infuriating and mesmerising at the same time. But it’s fun when you are playing with talents like that QPR striker Tommy Smith on his team mate Adel Taarabat

QPR striker Tommy Smith reckons Adel Taarabt would have never got near the first team if he was English.

Taarabt scored the winner against Cardiff to send the Hoops five points clear of the Bluebirds at the top of the Championship.

But Smith claims the “infuriating” side of the Moroccan’s game would have nipped his career in the bud before it started.

For every killer pass Taarabt puts through, he tries one trick too many or has a shot when it would be better to lay off to a team-mate.

And Smith said: “He can be infuriating and mesmerising at the same time. But it’s fun when you are playing with talents like that.

“It’s different for English players growing up, especially when I was younger.

“You couldn’t get away with not working.

“You know you’ve got to work for the team first, otherwise you’d never get anywhere near the first team.

“I think nowadays, particularly in Europe, it is all about football and the talent that you have rather than your physique or speed.

“That’s the difference. If he wants to play in England and get on he’s got to work on that side of his game, which he has done.”

Craig Bellamy fired Cardiff in front before Kaspars Gorkss nodded home Smith’s cross for Rangers’ 18th-minute equaliser.

Taarabt won it by curling a stunning left-foot shot into the top corner after fooling Mark Hudson with an outrageous dummy.

But Bluebirds boss Dave Jones was left furious that referee Kevin Friend failed to spot a trip on Jay Bothroyd in the dying minutes.

And he admits his promotion chasers may take time to get over the loss.

Jones said: “They’ll take a few days to get it out of their systems and we just feel a little bit hard done by, but I don’t know what you do.

“This was an opportunity to go top. We didn’t take it.

“Should we have come away with something? Yes, but we didn’t.

“They just earned that little bit of luck where it didn’t fall for us. But after the goal went in, we dominated it – that’s when you need the break.”
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view....ive-us-all-mad/


The Sun - By MIKE DONOVAN

TOMMY SMITH confessed he sometimes wants to tear out team-mate Adel Taarabt's hair.

But the QPR winger is dazzled by the Moroccan who must also have impressed two other mavericks, Rangers legends Stan Bowles and Rodney Marsh, in the stands.

Taarabt netted the winner that put the Championship leaders five points ahead of second-placed Cardiff after Smith had laid on the leveller.

Smith was brought up on the blood, sweat and tears of the English game in the cold climate of Hemel Hempstead.

But Taarabt developed his mercurial skills on the sun-drenched Cote d'Azur in the South of France after leaving his native desert land as a baby. He was dubbed the new Zinedine Zidane.

Smith, 30, said: "It's different for English players growing up, especially when I was younger. You couldn't get away with not working.

"You had to work for the team first, otherwise you would never get anywhere.

"Nowadays, particularly in Europe, it is all about football and the talent rather than physique or speed.

"If Adel wants to play in England and get on, he's got to work on that side of his game. He has done and is getting better at it. He can be infuriating but mesmerising at the same time.

"It's fun playing with a talent like that. But you have to let the frustrations you feel sometimes go and just let him play his own game as he can produce goals and create chances out of nothing.

"He's been outstanding for the last two or three weeks after a quiet three or four. That shows the great attitude he is beginning to get and what a great player he is once he gets going."

The Moroccan's go-it-alone ways frustrated Spurs' Harry Redknapp who off-loaded him to Rangers this season.

Taarabt, 21, admitted: "I have started to understand I have to play for the team to step to the next level.

"People are maybe surprised by how I try to defend because in the past I did not do this. But when you have a manager like Neil Warnock you can't not do it for him. He's changed my life."

Kaspars Gorkss' 100th QPR game was one to remember. He slipped to allow Craig Bellamy to put Cardiff ahead and headed the equaliser from Smith's cross before Taarabt's ninth of the season had Warnock cheering.

But Cardiff boss Dave Jones had a warning for Rangers, who could equal a club record of 20 league games without defeat at Hull on Saturday.

He said: "They're on a run but the fear factor will step in for them when they think they're going to lose one."

Jones may face an FA rap for slamming referee Kevin Friend over a penalty claim when Jay Bothroyd appeared to be tripped by Matthew Connolly.

He said: "It was clear cut. How do you correct it? Maybe technology. I'm just angry because it is a big game and a big call. My next question would be: 'Is it too big for him'.

"The referee asked me whether I was questioning his integrity - I was questioning his decision."
SUN STAR MAN
ADEL TAARABT (QPR). A danger every time he got the ball
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/spo....l#ixzz16ecmiowC


MIRROR/Ann Gripper
Adel Taarabt produced another moment of magic to clinch this top-of-the-table clash – and Tommy Smith has warned there is more to come from QPR’s superstar.

City had taken a 13th-minute lead through Craig Bellamy, soon cancelled out by Kaspars Gorkss’ headed equaliser.

But it was Moroccan Taarabt who once again netted the winner, getting the better of a block tackle before jinking into the box and firing an ­unstoppable shot high into the roof of the net.

It was his ninth of the season, further proof Neil Warnock’s nurturing approach to the flair midfielder is paying off.

And the 21-year-old’s talent means his team-mates, too, are willing to put up with things they might not normally tolerate from a lesser player.

Striker Smith said: “He can be ­infuriating but mesmerising at the same time.

“It’s fun but when you are playing with talents like that you’ve got to allow the ­frustrations sometimes and just let him play his own game, because he can produce goals and create chances out of nothing.

“The last two or three weeks he’s been outstanding. It shows what a great attitude he’s getting and what a great player he is once he gets going.

“Today, again, he was fantastic with a great goal.”

This was a clash that lived up to its billing as QPR and Cardiff both showed why they are the promotion pacesetters.

Rangers, now unbeaten in 19, played a possession game, while Cardiff looked to break quickly.

And when Gorkss slipped, Jay Bothroyd released Craig Bellamy, who finished through Paddy Kenny’s legs.

But the visiting supporters were silenced just five minutes later, Gorkss connecting with Smith’s cross to level.

Then Taarabt teased Seyi Olofinjana, brushing past him and flashing a shot wide of the right post. But the Cardiff midfielder soon got one back in the personal battle, teaming up with Peter ­Whittingham to ­dispossess him then release Bothroyd who was denied by Kenny.

Jamie Mackie brought a flying save from Cardiff keeper Tom Heaton as the Hoops ratcheted up the pressure.

And there was nothing Heaton could do on 78 minutes when Taarabt took his chance.

Cardiff refused to be beaten though and were left fuming when Matt Connolly appeared to foul Bothroyd in the box. But referee Kevin Friend failed to point to the spot.

Defeat leaves City five points behind Rangers, but Smith believes they’re still good enough for promotion.

He added: “Cardiff are a great team. They proved today if you make a mistake against them they’ve got the players who can punish you right away.

“That’s Premier League class and they’ve got that running throughout their team. They are going to be right up there at the end of the season.”
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/QPR....icle639661.html


Terry Phillips, South Wales Echo - We deserved something from game insists Tom Heaton

ADEL Taarabt’s shot for the Queens Park Rangers winning goal took a deflection which lifted the ball out of goalkeeper Tom Heaton’s reach.

It was a tremendous strike by Moroccan international Taarabt, who strode past left-back Lee Naylor, albeit with a fortunate ricochet out of the challenge, and fired home with a left-foot strike which flew across Heaton and into the top far corner.

That proved the winner and Heaton said: “It was a terrific strike, but the shot took a bit of a deflection.”

Heaton, though, took some of the blame for QPR’s first goal when Kaspars Gorkss headed in to make it 1-1.

“It was a poor goal kick from me and that led to the attack,” said Heaton, now firmly established as Cardiff City number one ahead of Scottish international David Marshall. “We should have defended better as a unit before that goal – and I include myself in that.

“Overall, though, we feel slightly unlucky not to come away with a point. It was a tight game and we had chances.

“Jay Bothroyd insists he was fouled and should have had a penalty. Sometimes those things go against you. It’s the same with that deflection off Taarabt’s shot for the goal. It wasn’t our day.

“We went to Loftus Road believing we could win and it didn’t happen. But we go again when Preston North End come to Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday.

“People talk about our poor record over November, but we can’t worry about that. QPR away was our final game in November anyway.

“We play Preston next in December and we have to earn the points. On a different day we might have come away with something from Queens Park Rangers. We felt we deserved something.”
www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-fc/2010/11/29/we-deserved-something-from-game-insists-tom-heaton-9 1466-27732493/#ixzz16eZssXzq


Terry Phillips, South Wales Echo
Bothroyd fury with ref after penalty is not given at Rangers

JAY Bothroyd was furious with referee Kevin Friend after Cardiff City’s 2-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers.

The big Bluebirds striker and top scorer with 15 goals made his feelings known about the penalty that wasn’t given with some hard-hitting messages on Twitter.

“The referee said it wasn’t a penalty, but even Clint Hill and Matt Connolly, the guy who brought me down, said it was,” said Bothroyd. “Yet nobody can say anything?”

England international Bothroyd insisted there were two ‘stonewall’ penalties not given.

Certainly, television replays backed up Bothroyd’s view of the incident when Connolly brought him down inside the penalty area.

Bothroyd also believes Cardiff City should have had a penalty when Craig Bellamy was pulled back and bundled over, but that was far less clear cut than the first.

It is difficult to see how neither referee Friend or his assistant on that side saw the foul. Bothroyd went down heavily and sat on the grass in front of Cardiff City fans at that end with his arms in the air appealing for a spot kick – backed up by team-mates and the travelling Bluebirds faithful, almost 2,500 strong, who roared out their feeling that it was a penalty.

Friend also waved aside two strong appeals from QPR for penalties, but the most clear cut was the foul on Bothroyd.

The City man said: “I’ve gone through in the penalty area and the guy has left his leg out.

“He didn’t get the ball and took me down. Yet the referee didn’t give a penalty.

“Then Craig Bellamy ran through. He was in the box and their guy pulled him by his shirt – everyone can see the big V from the back of his shirt. Once again he didn’t give it and it’s inconsistent. He’s a Premiership referee as well.

“I don’t understand why referees are untouchable. For me if you make a mistake you hold your hands up and say I made a mistake. I don’t understand why referees can’t do that.

“He waved me away saying it was never a penalty. I’m going through to score a goal, he’s brought me down. I don’t understand. Why would I go down if it’s not a penalty.”

Championship leaders QPR hit back from a goal down after Bellamy scored to take the points thanks to goals from Kaspars Gorkss and Adel Taarabt.

The Bluebirds have now managed only one win in their last five league matches, but drove away from Loftus Road after the game feeling they had been robbed of at least a point.

“It was a very even game,” said Bothroyd.

“But we lost and I think it was down to the decisions that weren’t given to us. It was nasty. I don’t understand why if players make bad challenges during a game we hold our hands up and say it was a bad challenge but when a referee makes a bad decision you can’t talk to them.

“I don’t understand that and I don’t think it’s fair. There was two stonewall penalties
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnat..../#ixzz16eaiitK8


Dave Jones left fuming at referee’s decision
by Steve Tucker, Western Mail

CARDIFF CITY boss Dave Jones was left fuming after his side were not awarded a penalty in their defeat to QPR.

With minutes left of the 2-1 defeat at Loftus Road, striker Jay Bothroyd looked to have been tripped in the area by Hoops’ defender Matthew Connolly.

But referee Kevin Friend waved away the frantic appeals by the Bluebirds players and left their manger far from happy after the final whistle.

“I’m a bit frustrated and a bit angry. I don’t think there’s much in the game and when the decision needed to be called the referee didn’t make it,” said Jones.

“If he misses it, his linesman can’t miss it. That’s the difference between us coming away with something and not.

“18,000 people in the stadium today knew it was a penalty – the officials may analyse it tomorrow, but it doesn’t mean two hoots because we’re not going to get it back.

“We just have to lick our wounds and get going again.

“I asked the fourth official because we’re told if the referee misses it then they can give it.

“And the fourth official tells me, and rightly so, that the referee said no penalty and that he had a good view.

“I don’t know what he was looking at – whatever view he’s got ain’t from the view I’ve got.

“Sometimes during the season you’ll get your luck and during the season hopefully we’ll earn more luck than bad decisions.

“I’m just angry because it’s a big game and a big call.

“My next question would be: ‘Is it too big for him?’

“There’s a fine line between coming away with something and in such a tight game, a big game, you need the person in the middle to make the right calls. You can’t miss the big call in games as tight as that.”

In an entertaining game Neil Warnock’s Rangers edged proceedings thanks to a second-half winner from Adel Taarabt to preserve their unbeaten run in the league this season.

“They’re on a good run,” Jones added
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnat....91466-27733354/


Cardiff City lose out to QPR at Loftus Road
Nov 29 2010 by Delme Parfitt, Western Mail

IT was billed as a classic and it almost lived up to it.

If you are one of those who like their football from the old school, you would have appreciated two teams going at each other like rabid dogs, fervent supporters so close they are seemingly on the pitch, floodlights illuminating the chill and the heady scent of Bovril in the air then west London on Saturday was the place to be.

From the very first whistle, Dave Jones’ Bluebirds and Neil Warnock’s Rangers made their intentions clear with the sort of confidence only swapping top spot in the Championship for weeks on end can engender.

There was commitment and passion, there was skill, even some magic, and there were mistakes and controversy too.

There was even comic Bill Bailey tweeting about the bird-life on offer at Loftus Road if the full-throttle action on the pitch wasn’t enough for you, which it should have been.

So, all in all. a very satisfying encounter only marred from a Bluebirds’ perspective by the result.

It would be glib to suggest the man who grabbed the winner to send the Londoners five points clear of Cardiff at the top was the difference between the two sides, but Adel Taarabt was a fascinating proposition throughout.

The Moroccan magician cast a spell at times over the Bluebirds. A fantastic runner with the ball at his feet and with the ability to ghost past opponents, he is the best player this correspondent has seen in the Championship all season.

Indeed, it is quite hard to understand how the midfielder failed to make the grade at Tottenham. It’s all down to attitude apparently, but when playing like this Taarabt could boot my dog in the backside every morning and I’d still play him.

His winner, like much of the game, owed equal measure to error and brilliance.

On 68 minutes. Taarabt broke a Lee Naylor tackle and spirited into the box. The enormity of Naylor’s mistake was put into perspective by a seasoned QPR watcher sat next to me who observed: “Blimey, that’s the first tackle Taarabt has won all season.”

But when faced with a glimmer of goal the rest from Taarabt was pure class. A sexy shimmy and cocky step-over as he passed it into the top corner with Cardiff goalkeeper Tom Heaton mesmerised.

Warnock’s QPR are a class act throughout. mind. Jamie Mackie is another real handful and. for all its creative parts, QPR is also a side forged in the image of its pugnacious boss too.

Cardiff effectively matched their hosts in most departments, although if Taarabt shone some of the Bluebirds’ ‘star’ names perhaps failed to quite step up to the plate again.

You would still want more from Craig Bellamy, for example. A player who covered every inch of the pitch, but whose pedigree keeps telling me he should be grabbing Championship games a bit more by the scruff of the neck.

That said, it was his neatly-timed run which gave Cardiff the perfect start.

On 13 minutes, one-time Cardiff target Kaspars Gorkss slipped and Jay Bothroyd was allowed to feed Bellamy.

One-on-one with Paddy Kenny in the home goal, it wasn’t the most convincing finish from the Bluebirds skipper, but all that mattered was that it hit the back of the net.

That Cardiff held that lead for no longer than five minutes is down to what most people will agree is their most problematic department – central defence.

Jones himself seems less than thrilled with his options, fiddling again, with Gabor Gyepes dropped to the bench now and Darcy Blake freed up to return to the heart of defence.

It was classic second-phase defending which did for Cardiff on 18 minutes. The Bluebirds thought they had cleared the danger when a Gorkss knock-down found the invisible man, but when Tommy Smith hoisted it back into the mix Gorkss was still there to head home.

It was bad defending yet again with Gorkss virtually unmolested as he rose.

It led to much finger-pointing and accusation in the Bluebirds’ defence and probably to Jones making another memo to himself not to forget to look for further centre-half options if given the chance in the January sales.

It was a shame in many ways, but the Bluebirds paid from some below-par showings, particularly in midfield where youngster Danny Drinkwater is surely not fit and Peter Whittingham, the player who the term ‘mercurial’ was coined for, presents his least satisfying aspects.

To be fair though, Cardiff stuck to their task and went for it right to the death despite a hugely inconsequential half hour from Jason Koumas.

Jones left the arrival of Michael Chopra too late, though, and then, for some reason, took off Chris Burke, who was at least providing a threat.

Chopra looked as if he wasn’t sure what his role was by the end, but I suppose his main instruction was: ‘Put the ball in the net’.

And Cardiff had almost done it, with Burke, before his withdrawal, seeing a shot take a deflection and bounce off the fortunate Kenny’s head to safety with the Rangers’ keeper clueless as to how he had saved it.

Then 10 minutes from the end that controversy we were promised arrived.

Bothroyd seemed to edge the ball past Matthew Connolly before the QPR defender stuck out a leg and Bothroyd hit the deck.

It looked about as clear-cut a penalty as you are going to see, even for someone perched at the back of the main stand, so how referee Kevin Friend didn’t give it from just yards away remains a mystery.

It was a decision which quite rightly left the Cardiff players and Jones furious.

But the Bluebirds can take heart from the fact they are not going to face a side of the calibre of Rangers every week, indeed the seemingly much easier prospect of Preston North End at home is their next outing.

With black November behind them now, a month which has inflicted three defeats on Cardiff, they still lie in second and, even in defeat, should take positives from the role they played in this scintillating encounter
www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnat..../#ixzz16ebNBTJ8


- Leon Jeanne Joins Bath City

- Chris Wright Sells Chrysalis

- Nice Burnley Site Profiles of Ex-QPR Players Who Played for Burnley including Dave Thomas and Leighton James


- Donate to QPR GIRLS ONLINE


Among the Saturday Attendees at Loftus Road! - Other Photos From Saturday

Sunday, November 28, 2010

QPR Report Sunday: Cardiff's Loss to QPR...Zesh Rehman Meets Prime Minister at #10...FA Cup Draw Today

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- Congratulations to Zesh Rehman
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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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- The Draw for the Third Round of the FA Cup is being made today (5:45 pm GMT). QPR are #32

- Congratulations to Zesh Rehman

- Tabloid: West Ham to Look for New Manager - Possibly Jones But supposedly definitely NOT Warnock

- Five Year Flashback: Q&A With QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini

- Twenty-One Years Ago Today: Don Howe Appointed QPR Manager. VIDEOS of Howe's first two games (Away Win at Crystal Palace. Home Win against Chelsea!)

- Caliendo on Dunga for Coaching Job

- USA Women Defeat Italy to Reach World Cup Finals



UPDATED COMPILATION OF MATCH REPORTS re QPR vs Cardiff

- Match Video

QPR 19 41
Cardiff 19 36
Swansea 19 33 TABLE

INDEPENDENT/Geoff Brown - Championship round-up: Taarabt the key as Rangers extend lead

Not for the first time this season, Adel Taarabt scored the match-winning goal as Queens Park Rangers extended their lead at the top of the Championship to five points with a 2-1 defeat of second-placed Cardiff City at Loftus Road. The Welsh side went ahead in the 13th minute through Craig Bellamy, but the lead lasted only five minutes, Kaspars Gorkss heading in from Tommy Smith's cross. Taarabt was beginning to direct QPR operations and midway through the second half he beat Lee Naylor and calmly found the top-left corner.

"It was a great goal by Adel," the QPR manager, Neil Warnock, said, "but I have to say that Kaspars Gorkss was superb at the back, apart from the mistake for their goal, and the whole spine of my team were excellent." Independent


Guardian Blog/Barney Ronay -Football League: your thoughts
QPR's victory failed to disguise Cardiff's superiority while a former Arsenal trainee took Dover to the third round of the Cup


It seems Neil Warnock and Dave Jones might not like each other that much. At the very least their post-match press conferences at Loftus Road after Queens Park Rangers' 2-1 top-of-the-table Championship victory over Cardiff City provided a bracing alternative to the usual comfortable clubbiness, with both managers carping on about unawarded penalties and launching pre-emptive strikes towards whatever the other might suggest in their absence.

Jones in particular was incandescent over Kevin Friend's failure to award a penalty in the 85th minute for what looked like a trip on Jay Bothroyd. He even suggested Cardiff might have gone on to get a winner. If this seemed optimistic you could understand his frustration. Cardiff were the better team overall, if not in terms of goals scored and territory in the second half, then in terms of passing and controlled football.

Their dominant spell towards the end of the first half provided the classiest passage of the match and of the two teams it is Cardiff who look currently better equipped to thrive at the higher level if – or probably when – they both get promoted. Rangers are unbeaten because they have an excellent defence (and they should hurl a percentage of their transfer trust fund at buying Kyle Walker from Tottenham), because they have great energy and purpose and are expert at set pieces. Cardiff have more clarity to their style and, already, a dusting of class in midfield and attack.

Having said that, the match was settled by a moment of brilliance from Adel Taarabt, the Moroccan who is entrusted almost single-handedly with providing a gloss of butterfly-ish guile to Rangers' attack. Taarabt's winning goal was expertly taken. It was also typically Taarabt-ish in that it was the high point of a scattergun performance. He is a Championship-level attacking genius: give him 10 chances to create something and one will end up in a wonderfully worked goal. At a higher level he will rarely get such a wealth of opportunities.

Craig Bellamy was also excellent today, and altogether more direct in style. Not yet fully fit, he worked hard, looked typically jet-heeled and finished neatly after a terrible mistake by Kaspars Gorkss. Bellamy will get sharper: if he stays fit it he has the dead-eyed quality to light up the Championship and ensure that, of these two, it is Jones who leads the way in May. BR Guardian


Chris Wathan, Wales On Sunday
THE QPR fans were unequivocal in their verdict at the final whistle at Loftus Road after handing the Bluebirds defeat.

The ditty of choice – as it had been for the majority of the afternoon – was simply: “Taarabt’s too good for you.”

And they weren’t wrong as the man Neil Warnock has hailed as his matador stuck the knife into Cardiff’s claims to be the best in the division.

Of course, the true claim to be top dogs of the second tier will only be decided in May, not mid-winter.

But here, the majestic Moroccan Adel Taarabt not only caused the Bluebirds bother all through this clash of the top two, he provided the moment of brilliance to seal the win with 22 minutes remaining.

In contrast, Cardiff’s own star men went missing when they were needed, Dave Jones’ team as a whole failing to step up to the challenge laid down by a direct rival for an automatic promotion spot.

While Craig Bellamy did open the scoring on 13 minutes, when Kaspars Gorkss levelled five minutes later there was little created to suggest a Cardiff comeback.

And QPR always looked the more likely to enjoy this early advantage in the race for the Premier League, the Hoops edging five points clear when Taarabt did his stuff.

It is probably harsh on QPR – and the much-maligned Warnock – to say the former Spurs starlet was the difference between the teams.

For QPR were at their organised best, setting out with a system that Cardiff couldn’t handle and certainly failed to fire against.

In fairness, the Bluebirds gave it a go at the death and were denied a potential penalty for a foul on Jay Bothroyd.

And they had offered hope in a ding-dong first half and again showed they could score against any opponent as their movement got in behind a defence which has kept 11 clean sheets to date.

The breakneck opening wouldn’t have necessarily pleased the rival bosses, and it made for plenty of hearts-in-mouths, heads-in-hands moments for the rival supporters.

And those observing the adrenalin-pumped opening would probably argue it was the London hosts that edged the early exchanges, their system built around the enigmatic Taarabt causing Cardiff plenty of problems as City struggled to figure out which runner to pick up.

Chris Burke was quick to suggest anything you can do, I can do better as he twisted and tricked his way into the QPR defence early on.

And it was clear, with Bellamy playing off Bothroyd and Danny Drinkwater surprisingly dispatched to the left of midfield, that Burke was the outlet for QPR to target.

Cardiff were not afraid to counter quickly in retaliation, a long ball or two for Bellamy to chase and earn territory adding to the speed of things, but not exactly adding to the quality side.

Yet, when that pressure brought the Bluebirds’ 13th-minute opener, there were no complaints from the raucous travelling support.

Attempting to play the ball around at the back, QPR did not take into account the speed and the sincerity of Bellamy’s work-rate and, as Kaspars Gorkss slipped, Bothroyd pounced and fed his overlapping strike partner.

There was perhaps a touch of offside about the Cardiff captain, but if others were looking for the flag Bellamy only had eyes on goal, the power in his shot beating Paddy Kenny.

QPR, though, would not be down for long and, as they still made life difficult for Cardiff’s backline, so the leveller came just five minutes later.

While Hulse had been the main concern of centre-back pairing Mark Hudson and Darcy Blake, it was Gorkss who atoned for his error when he ghosted in and glanced home Tommy Smith’s cross following a period of Hoops pressure.

It was Bothroyd who should have been marking the unmarked defender, although neither Lee Naylor nor Drinkwater covered themselves in glory given the time Smith had to deliver.

In terms of a response, Cardiff would have to bide their time before things opened up again, Taarabt going closest to making the most of QPR’s ensuring purple patch when he shot just wide on 26 minutes.

But slowly the Bluebirds began to bear their own attacking teeth more, Bothroyd running straight and true after some good covering work from Peter Whittingham and only denied a superb goal by the close attention of Matthew Connolly.

It painted a positive picture for the visitors going into the second half, yet the reality was somewhat different.

Though the pace of Bellamy had caused problems, Cardiff were just too quick to hit the searching ball and seeing possession given up having spent so long trying to win it.

And, all the while, QPR pressed and probed and built towards ascendency.

The warning came on 66 minutes when Taarabt crossed only for Hulse to head over, the danger signs flashing even brighter when Heaton had to dive at full stretch two minutes later to deny Mackie from long range.

But neither were heeded and, as Cardiff failed to clear the resulting corner, Taarabt took great joy in evading Naylor’s rushed challenge to glide into the area and slam home.

It wasn’t until five minutes to go that Cardiff finally got the ball down and start playing themselves, and it almost bought a get-out-of-jail card when Bothroyd danced through the area and appeared to be tripped by Connolly, referee Kevin Friend as unimpressed with that as he was by Bellamy’s protestations for half a shout of a foul moments later.

And, as late luck deserted them, so the points stayed with Rangers. WalesonLine


TALKSPORT - Jay Bothroyd has hit out at referee Kevin Friend following Cardiff’s 2-1 loss to QPR in the Championship.
The clash which saw the top two sides in the division come face-to-face was touted as one of the biggest of the season but ended in controversy when Friend denied the Bluebirds what they felt were two “stonewall” penalties.

Recently capped England international Bothroyd told talkSPORT he was livid with the decisions after fouls on him and his strike partner Craig Bellamy resulted in nothing from the referee, leading him to question the protection officials are given when they get decisions wrong.

He told Call Collymore: “It was a very even game but we lost and I think it was down to the decisions that weren’t given to us. It was nasty. I don’t understand why if players make bad challenges during a game we hold our hands up and say it was a bad challenge but when a referee makes a bad decision you can’t talk to them. I don’t understand that and I don’t think it’s fair.

“There was two stonewall penalties. I’ve gone through in the penalty area, the guys left his leg out, he’s not got the ball and he’s taken me down and he ain’t given a penalty. Then Craig Bellamy’s run through, he’s in the box, the guy’s pulled him by his shirt - everyone can see the big V from the back of his shirt and once again he didn’t give it and it’s inconsistent. He’s a Premiership referee as well.

“I don’t understand why referees are untouchable. For me if you make a mistake you hold your hands up and say I made a mistake. I don’t understand why referees can’t do that. Today he waved me away saying it was never a penalty. I’m going through to score a goal, he’s brought me down. I don’t understand, why would I go down if it’s not a penalty.” Talksport


PREVIOUSLY POSTED QPR vs CARDIFF REPORTS & COMMENTS

QPR Official Site
Adel Taarabt's 68th minute winner saw QPR come from behind to go five points clear at the top of the league.

It was no more than Neil Warnock's charges deserved in an excellent advert for the Championship at Loftus Road.

The R's were behind on 13 minutes when Kaspars Gorkss' slip enabled Jay Bothroyd to free Craig Bellamy, who made no mistake to put the visitors into the lead from close range.

But Rangers battled back in spirited fashion to claim a vital win.

First, Gorkss made up for his earlier error when he nodded home Tommy Smith's cross on 18 minutes.

Before Taarabt blasted home the decisive goal on 68 minutes to send the home crowd into raptures and put the R's some eight points clear of third position.

R's gaffer Warnock made two changes to his R's side that defeated Preston in W12 just seven days ago.

Shaun Derry returned from suspension to replace Fitz Hall, while Smith also came back into the side at the expense of Leon Clarke.

Paddy Kenny was in goal for QPR, behind a back four of Kyle Walker, Matt Connolly, Gorkss and Clint Hill.

In front of the defence, Derry partnered Alejandro Faurlin.

Jamie Mackie, Taarabt and Smith were deployed in attacking midfield roles.

Rob Hulse led the R's attack.

Less than five minutes had passed before the Hoops went within inches of taking the lead.

Mackie it was with the chance, picking up possession on the left before cutting in to fire an effort inches wide of Tom Heaton's right-hand post from 20-yards out.

The first 10 minutes set the tone for what was to be a vivacious encounter, with play switching from one end to the other at a breakneck pace.

Cardiff took the lead following a mistake from Latvian stopper Gorkss.

The defender slipped on Walker's pass as QPR looked to play from the back, which allowed Bothroyd to put Bellamy through on goal.

QPR's backline voiced appeals for offside but referee Mr Friend was having none of it, as Bellamy raced away and tucked the ball under the advancing Kenny to put the Bluebirds into the lead.

The R's could have capitulated but, as has been the case this season, they battled back in fine fashion and were rewarded for their efforts with an equaliser only five minutes later.

Smith picked up possession on the right-hand channel before cutting back to curl a cross onto the head of Gorkss.

The delivery was of perfection - and so was the finish, as the big Latvian stopper stooped to head an effort home into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Taarabt almost put the R's ahead on 26 minutes.

The Moroccan magician won possession midway into the Cardiff half, dancing past one defender before lashing a low effort just wide of the right-hand post.

However, the tie continued to swing from end-to-end, and Kenny had to be at his very best to thwart Bothroyd 11 minutes before he break.

Cardiff broke at pace and, when Bothroyd raced clear of Gorkss, Kenny raced off his line to block the front-man's effort away to safety from 12-yards out.

The R's were enjoying far more possession as temperatures continued to soar at the start second period.

However both sides, in truth, created little in the opening 15 minutes.

Indeed, it took until the 65th minute for the first notable effort on goal to be fashioned.

Faurlin and Taarabt combined down the left and, when the latter's teasing centre was met by the head of Hulse, the former Derby County striker could only nod wide of the left-hand post.

Two minutes later, Heaton pulled off a spectacular save from Mackie.

Following a free-flowing R's move, Hulse eventually touched the ball back to the Scotland international on the edge of the penalty area, whose effort - that seemed destined to find the top-right hand corner - was superbly clawed to safety by the keeper.

Rangers were menacing and they found a deserved second on 68 minutes through Taarabt.

It was a moment of sheer brilliance from the mercurial Moroccan who, after eventually receiving possession from Derry's deflected pass, cut in to smash the ball home with his weaker left foot into the back of the net.

It was a goal that raised the Loftus Road roof, as Taarabt wheeled away in celebration to hug R's First Team Coach, Keith Curle.

Fully 20 minutes of Cardiff pressure followed.

Though didn't know much about it, Kenny was on hand to block Chris Burke's effort away from target with his face, after the midfielder's effort bounced up off the foot of Gorkss.

And, despite a further three minutes of injury time, the R's defended resolutely to take the points.

QPR: Kenny, Hill, Derry, Taarabt (Clarke 87), Faurlin, Mackie (Agyemang 88), Gorkss, Walker, Connolly, Hulse, Smith (Hall 90).

Subs: Orr, Helguson, Cerny, Ephraim.

Goals: Gorkss (18), Taarabt (68)

Bookings: Hill (81), Clarke (88)
Cardiff City: Heaton, McNaughton, Naylor, Hudson, Blake, Bellamy, Bothroyd, Olofinjana, Drinkwater (Koumas 57), Burke (Chopra 80), Whittingham.
Subs: Marshall, Matthews, Gyepes, McPhail, Keogh.
Goals: Bellamy (13)
Bookings: Koumas (58), Whittingham (62), Bellamy (85)
Referee: Mr K Friend
Attendance: 17, 316 (2488)
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~52147,00.html


QPR Official Site - WARNOCK: GREAT ADVERT FOR CHAMPIONSHIP
QPR Manager Neil Warnock told www.qpr.co.uk that he "really enjoyed" this afternoon's top-of-the-table clash at Loftus Road, which the R's won 2-1.

Kaspars Gorkss and Adel Taarabt were on target for Rangers, as the hosts came back from a goal down after Craig Bellamy's opener.

"I thought this was a cracking advertisement for the Championship," Warnock said.

"There were two teams out there who were at each others' throats for the whole game, it was end to end and there were chances in both goalmouths.

"I really enjoyed it - and I would have said that regardless of the score."

The game was level at the break, after Gorkss' fine header cancelled out Bellamy's strike, and Warnock said he felt his team had it in them to improve after the interval.

"At half-time I told the lads just to go out and enjoy it," he said. "I thought we could do a little bit more in the second half.

"We were a little bit in awe of their strikers early on but we sorted that out after the break and were a lot more positive."

Taarabt grabbed his third strike in two games to send QPR five points clear at the top of the npower Championship, and Warnock was full of praise for his Captain.

"Only he could have scored that goal," he said. "He does that in training, and I can't believe some of the other things he can do.

"It was a great finish, and was worthy of winning any match. It was a super strike."

Warnock was also pleased with the effort shown by the Moroccan when out of possession.

"Adel worked hard today," he added. "They were very tight on him so he didn't get a lot of joy, but he worked his socks off - and that's not his game."

The R's gaffer also had special praise for his trio of forwards.

"I thought Jamie Mackie, Tommy Smith and Rob Hulse were excellent," he said. "Rob was absolutely magnificent. He won nearly every header and dominated the game for us."

Cardiff left Loftus Road bemoaning a penalty decision which didn't go their way, when they believed Jay Bothroyd had been felled in the box in the closing stages.

"I think Dave is clutching at straws really," said Warnock. "In the 13th minute we had a certain penalty not given when their lad handled it in the box. And in the last minute we had a cert penalty as well - so two against one isn't bad!"

Rangers now head to Hull next weekend where they can equal the Club's 20-match unbeaten league run by avoiding defeat.

"We're not really looking at that," admitted Warnock, "but we look forward to every game and we're really enjoying ourselves.
"We know we are going to get beaten between now and the end of the season, but we're all enjoying it and the lads are playing with smiles on their faces."

Warnock also congratulated the QPR fans who backed the team throughout the game.

"What an atmosphere," he added. "Loftus Road was absolutely buzzing today. Cardiff more than played their part. It just whets your appetite and leaves you wanting more." http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/TheGaffer/0,,10373~2231917,00.html


SKY SPORTS - Warnock staying grounded
R's boss admits club won't win anything in NovemberLast updated: 27th November 2010

Warnock: Hails super Hoops

Neil Warnock hailed his side's wonderful performance as QPR moved five points clear at the top of the Championship with a 2-1 win against main challengers Cardiff.

Goals from Kaspars Gorkss and mercurial Moroccan Adel Taarabt turned the game around at Loftus Road after Craig Bellamy put Cardiff in front with his first goal in seven games.

The result means the Hoops are still unbeaten in the league and look destined for a long-awaited return to the top flight.

Atmosphere

However, Warnock said his side won't be getting carried away, saying: "It was a great game. It was two teams playing end-to-end stuff, which is what football should be about. And the atmosphere was unbelievable.

"It was a great goal by Adel but I have to say that Kaspars Gorkss was superb at the back apart from the mistake for their goal, and the whole spine of my team were excellent.

"Shaun Derry was magnificent in midfield and the spine of Paddy Kenny in goal, Matt Connolly at the back, Derry and Rob Hulse were great. I thought it was Hulse's best game for us.

"We won't be getting carried away. You don't win anything in November, but the points are great to have."

Decisions
Stuttering Cardiff have now lost their last two matches and manager Dave Jones was furious at the decision not to award his team a penalty in the 85th minute for a challenge by Connolly on Jay Bothroyd.

He said: "How can the referee not see it? And if he doesn't see it, how can the linesman not see it?

"They're the big decisions that matter in tight games like this.

"Everybody in the stadium could see it was a penalty. The reaction of the QPR players tells you that. We feel hard done by.

"I went to see him (the referee) about it afterwards and he asked if I was questioning his integrity. I was questioning his decision.
"Referees have got to be better in games like this. Was the game too big for him? That's for the referee's assessor to decide."

Warnock had a different view, though.
"I thought the referee had a good game. What Dave's saying is deflecting from the result, and we deserved to win that match," he said.

Jones added: "It was an even game and both teams deserved to get something from it. We probably should have, as we had a lot of chances in the second half. The decisions were the difference between us getting a point and not.

"It's a kick in the teeth but we were behind QPR and caught up with them before, and we'll have to do it again."
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11711_6531978,00.html


Telegraph - Queens Park Rangers 2 Cardiff City 1: match report
The watching Rodney Marsh would have been proud of the goal which took his former club a step closer to promotion.
Forty-two years after Marsh spearheaded their rise to the top flight, Queens Park Rangers are comparably reliant on the brilliance of Adel Taarabt, whose second-half winner settled this battle of the Championship's top two.

It took Rangers five points clear of Cardiff City whose manager Dave Jones confronted referee Kevin Friend afterwards, claiming the official failed to award a "clear cut, stonewall penalty" after Jay Bothroyd appeared to be tripped by QPR defender Matt Connolly.

"I asked him about it and he asked if I was questioning his integrity. I was questioning his decision," Jones insisted.

"He'll probably feel he got the decision right. Was the game too big for him? I don't know. That's for the referee's assessor to decide. He'll probably be back next week making decisions.

"It's a waste of time talking about it, a waste of time filing a report and waste of time the assessor saying they'll look at it. It goes nowhere and will be swept under the carpet."

Jones ought to feel equally furious with the defensive lapse that led to his team conceding an equaliser only five minutes after taking an early lead.

A slip by QPR's Kaspars Gorkss allowed Bothroyd to pounce on the loose ball and pick out Craig Bellamy, who fired past goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, only for Gorkss to quickly atone for his error by heading Tommy Smith's left-wing cross into the far corner of the net.

Cardiff's emphasis on keeping their midfield shape, regardless of what the unpredictable Taarabt threw at them, meant they were set up perfectly to defend a lead and frustrate their opponents as the game wore on.

So the speed with which Rangers hit back was hugely significant. It was a major setback for City and proved to be a turning point in the match.

QPR were galvanised by Gorkss' goal and in the ascendancy when Taarabt drifted in from the right wing, breezed past Lee Naylor and belted in his ninth goal of the season.

"Nobody else on the pitch could have scored that goal," declared victorious QPR manager Neil Warnock.

"It was a great game. It was two teams playing end-to-end stuff, which is what football should be about.

"I thought the referee had a good game. What Dave is saying is deflecting from the result. We deserved to win that match."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/8164900/Queens-Park-Rangers-2-Cardiff-City-1 -match-report.html


BBC QPR 2 - 1 Cardiff
Adel Taarabt celebrates after scoring what turned out to be the winner
Adel Taarabt's ninth goal of the season saw off second-place Cardiff City and sent unbeaten Championship leaders Queens Park Rangers five points clear.

Cardiff had taken a 13th-minute lead when Jay Bothroyd pounced on Kaspars Gorkss' slip to let in Craig Bellamy for his third of the season.

Gorkss made amends five minutes later though when he headed home Tommy Smith's floating cross.

Taarabt grabbed the winner from close range after a great individual run.

QPR are now unbeaten in 19 games, one short of their all-time club record which dates back to 1972, and remain the only side not to have lost in the Football League.

But more importantly for boss Neil Warnock's side is that they are looking a formidable force in the Championship in the race for the Premier League and put some daylight between their closest rivals.

Despite starting brightly, it was Cardiff who created the early openings first with Chris Burke's mazy run which sent goalkeeper Paddy Kenny sprawling.

Then Bellamy ran at the home defence before finding Chris Burke on the right, and the winger cut back to Peter Whittingham who curled his effort fractionally over from the edge of the box.

Rangers had a penalty appeal turned down when Taarabt's cross looked to have hit Darcy Blake's arm, and moments later Cardiff were ahead.

Gorkss slipped unopposed in the middle of his own half and Bothroyd nipped in to free Bellamy into the box to blast the ball past Kenny.

Cardiff's lead was to last just five minutes though as they failed to clear their lines and Smith floated in a left-footed cross from the right which Gorkss glanced home from 12 yards.

It was the visitors who went on to enjoy more of the possession and some delightful build-up play almost found Bothroyd six yards out.

Bluebirds top scorer Bothroyd then went close to creating a goal of his own with a powerful run only to be denied at Kenny's feet.

Rangers had chances themselves with Argentine midfielder Alejandro Faurlin forcing Tom Heaton to push away his low 25-yard shot.

Heaton then pulled off the save of the game in a tighter second half when he was at full stretch to parry Jamie Mackie's strike which was heading towards the top corner.

But the on-loan Manchester United keeper could to little to stop Taarabt as Cardiff failed to deal with the resulting corner and the Moroccan beat Lee Naylor and smashed the ball home from close range.

Cardiff pressed for a point and should have had a penalty in the last five minutes when Bothroyd was brought down by Matthew Connolly, only to see referee Kevin Friend wave away appeals.
Click for 90 seconds of Warnock Audio
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/9220874.stm


Guardian/Barney Ronay

Adel Taarabt turns on the style to put Rangers five points clear
Queens Park Rangers are now five points clear at the top of the Championship after a match of great endeavour and no little attacking invention was settled by Adel Taarabt's finely executed 68th-minute goal.

This was a victory earned by a second half of sustained hustling pressure – in front of a boisterous 17,316 crowd – from a Rangers team who, in the first period, had seemed likely to be picked off by the rapier edges of Craig Bellamy and Jay Bothroyd, a spiky and, at times, thrillingly mobile home-international pairing in the Cardiff attack.

Afterwards, manager Dave Jones was left fuming – and fuming at great length – by referee Kevin Friend's decision not to award Cardiff an 85th-minute penalty for what looked like a clear trip on Bothroyd by Matthew Connolly. "How does he miss it?" Jones asked. "And how does the linesman miss it? And how does the fourth official? These are the big decisions in tight games and he hasn't called it. I'm not questioning [Friend's] integrity, but I am questioning his decision-making. Was the game too big for him? He'll say not."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Neil Warnock saw the incident differently. "I thought he [Friend] had a good game. It's a tough game to referee. He [Jones] can pick on the penalty, but I thought we deserved to win. We were super down the middle, Paddy Kenny, Connolly, [Shaun] Derry – [Rob] Hulse was brilliant, the best I've seen him play for me here. It was a fantastic match. That's what football's all about. End to end and it was a fantastic atmosphere."

The penalty incident provided a fittingly fevered conclusion to a meeting between the division's twin pace-setters. Rangers came into the game unbeaten, a steamrollering start to the season that has been soft-pedalled by a recent run of seven draws in their past 10 games. This had seemed likely to stack up as a meeting of unyielding defence against irrepressible attack, with Rangers' solid rearguard tested by a front duo comprising England's latest attacking recruit and the returning Bellamy.

As it was, the opening goal, after 13 minutes, came as a result of a terrible defensive mistake by Kaspars Gorkss, who slipped and fell over with the ball at his feet, 25 yards from goal. Bothroyd took advantage, slipping a simple pass to Bellamy, who ran in on goal and finished with ease from eight yards out.

Happily for Gorkss, redemption was at hand five minutes later. Having rumbled forward for a free-kick, the Latvian centre-half stayed upfield to meet Tommy Smith's cross from the right with a fine guided header across Tom Heaton and into the far corner of the net.

Cardiff continued to press. Bellamy had been booed as his name was read out before kick-off — perhaps with a nod towards the approaching pantomime season rather than any real sense of malice — and he looked full of red-booted menace cutting in from the left. It was from that side that Bothroyd almost added another on 33 minutes, an instant clearance allowing him to sprint away from Clint Hill and force an excellent whites-of-their-eyes save from Kenny on the edge of his six-yard box.

Cardiff dominated as half-time approached, with Seyi Olofinjana and Peter Whittingham winning the battle in midfield. After the break, the roles were reversed as Rangers emerged with renewed purpose and forced a succession of attacking set-pieces, a potent route to goal for a team full of heft and height.

Cardiff remained dangerous on the break, notably after 56 minutes, when Bellamy glided away from Derry – in a manner reminiscent of Maurice Greene competing in a school sports day dads' race – and played in Bothroyd, whose goalbound shot was blocked by Connolly.

After 67 minutes, Rangers' greater pressure paid off. Lee Naylor allowed Taarabt to brush through his tackle too easily on the right, but the finish was exhilarating, the Moroccan jinking inside and out before lifting the ball into the far corner. "No one else on the pitch would have scored that," Warnock purred, but in truth it was another scattergun performance from Taarabt, with incisive invention mixed with some energetic meandering. At this level, he often gets enough chances to make the difference and Rangers remain reliant on him for attacking craft.

Cardiff roused themselves to stage a succession of late attacks and, penalty shouts aside, will feel justifiably hard done by not to have taken a point back down the M4. In the end, Taarabt's moment of poise amid the hustle was enough.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/nov/27/qpr-cardiff-city-championshio


TABLE - BBC
1 QPR 19 26 41
2 Cardiff 19 14 36
3 Swansea 19 8 33
4 Derby 19 10 30
5 Coventry 19 4 30
6 Burnley 19 7 29
7 Leeds 19 0 29
8 Nott'm Forest 18 5 27
9 Norwich 18 2 27
10 Doncaster 19 1 27
11 Reading 19 6 26
12 Barnsley 19 -5 26
13 Portsmouth 19 -1 25
14 Watford 19 2 24
15 Millwall 19 0 24
16 Ipswich 18 -2 24
17 Bristol City 19 -6 23
18 Hull 19 -6 22
19 Leicester 18 -8 22
20 Sheff Utd 19 -11 22
21 Scunthorpe 19 -9 20
22 Crystal Palace 19 -12 20
23 Middlesbrough 19 -10 18
24 Preston 19 -15 15 BBC


Another QPR Record to aim for: Least League Defeats in a Season

- Leon Jeanne Joins Bath City

- Chris Wright Sells Chrysalis

- Nice Burnley Site Profiles of Ex-QPR Players Who Played for Burnley including Dave Thomas and Leighton James


- Eleven Year Flashback: Sammy Koejoe Joins QPR (reportedly based on a video)

- Old Football Grounds

- Bolton's 35 Million Pound and mass debt examined (Update)

- Donate to QPR GIRLS ONLINE

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Queens Park Rangers Crush Cardiff - Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments

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- 17,316 saw QPR came from behind to beat Cardiff and go five points clear and remain unbeaten after 19 games.

QPR 19 41
Cardiff 19 36
Swansea 19 33 TABLE

- Match Video

QPR Official Site
Adel Taarabt's 68th minute winner saw QPR come from behind to go five points clear at the top of the league.

It was no more than Neil Warnock's charges deserved in an excellent advert for the Championship at Loftus Road.

The R's were behind on 13 minutes when Kaspars Gorkss' slip enabled Jay Bothroyd to free Craig Bellamy, who made no mistake to put the visitors into the lead from close range.

But Rangers battled back in spirited fashion to claim a vital win.

First, Gorkss made up for his earlier error when he nodded home Tommy Smith's cross on 18 minutes.

Before Taarabt blasted home the decisive goal on 68 minutes to send the home crowd into raptures and put the R's some eight points clear of third position.

R's gaffer Warnock made two changes to his R's side that defeated Preston in W12 just seven days ago.

Shaun Derry returned from suspension to replace Fitz Hall, while Smith also came back into the side at the expense of Leon Clarke.

Paddy Kenny was in goal for QPR, behind a back four of Kyle Walker, Matt Connolly, Gorkss and Clint Hill.

In front of the defence, Derry partnered Alejandro Faurlin.

Jamie Mackie, Taarabt and Smith were deployed in attacking midfield roles.

Rob Hulse led the R's attack.

Less than five minutes had passed before the Hoops went within inches of taking the lead.

Mackie it was with the chance, picking up possession on the left before cutting in to fire an effort inches wide of Tom Heaton's right-hand post from 20-yards out.

The first 10 minutes set the tone for what was to be a vivacious encounter, with play switching from one end to the other at a breakneck pace.

Cardiff took the lead following a mistake from Latvian stopper Gorkss.

The defender slipped on Walker's pass as QPR looked to play from the back, which allowed Bothroyd to put Bellamy through on goal.

QPR's backline voiced appeals for offside but referee Mr Friend was having none of it, as Bellamy raced away and tucked the ball under the advancing Kenny to put the Bluebirds into the lead.

The R's could have capitulated but, as has been the case this season, they battled back in fine fashion and were rewarded for their efforts with an equaliser only five minutes later.

Smith picked up possession on the right-hand channel before cutting back to curl a cross onto the head of Gorkss.

The delivery was of perfection - and so was the finish, as the big Latvian stopper stooped to head an effort home into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Taarabt almost put the R's ahead on 26 minutes.

The Moroccan magician won possession midway into the Cardiff half, dancing past one defender before lashing a low effort just wide of the right-hand post.

However, the tie continued to swing from end-to-end, and Kenny had to be at his very best to thwart Bothroyd 11 minutes before he break.

Cardiff broke at pace and, when Bothroyd raced clear of Gorkss, Kenny raced off his line to block the front-man's effort away to safety from 12-yards out.

The R's were enjoying far more possession as temperatures continued to soar at the start second period.

However both sides, in truth, created little in the opening 15 minutes.

Indeed, it took until the 65th minute for the first notable effort on goal to be fashioned.

Faurlin and Taarabt combined down the left and, when the latter's teasing centre was met by the head of Hulse, the former Derby County striker could only nod wide of the left-hand post.

Two minutes later, Heaton pulled off a spectacular save from Mackie.

Following a free-flowing R's move, Hulse eventually touched the ball back to the Scotland international on the edge of the penalty area, whose effort - that seemed destined to find the top-right hand corner - was superbly clawed to safety by the keeper.

Rangers were menacing and they found a deserved second on 68 minutes through Taarabt.

It was a moment of sheer brilliance from the mercurial Moroccan who, after eventually receiving possession from Derry's deflected pass, cut in to smash the ball home with his weaker left foot into the back of the net.

It was a goal that raised the Loftus Road roof, as Taarabt wheeled away in celebration to hug R's First Team Coach, Keith Curle.

Fully 20 minutes of Cardiff pressure followed.

Though didn't know much about it, Kenny was on hand to block Chris Burke's effort away from target with his face, after the midfielder's effort bounced up off the foot of Gorkss.

And, despite a further three minutes of injury time, the R's defended resolutely to take the points.

QPR: Kenny, Hill, Derry, Taarabt (Clarke 87), Faurlin, Mackie (Agyemang 88), Gorkss, Walker, Connolly, Hulse, Smith (Hall 90).

Subs: Orr, Helguson, Cerny, Ephraim.

Goals: Gorkss (18), Taarabt (68)

Bookings: Hill (81), Clarke (88)
Cardiff City: Heaton, McNaughton, Naylor, Hudson, Blake, Bellamy, Bothroyd, Olofinjana, Drinkwater (Koumas 57), Burke (Chopra 80), Whittingham.
Subs: Marshall, Matthews, Gyepes, McPhail, Keogh.
Goals: Bellamy (13)
Bookings: Koumas (58), Whittingham (62), Bellamy (85)
Referee: Mr K Friend
Attendance: 17, 316 (2488)
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~52147,00.html


QPR Official Site - WARNOCK: GREAT ADVERT FOR CHAMPIONSHIP
QPR Manager Neil Warnock told www.qpr.co.uk that he "really enjoyed" this afternoon's top-of-the-table clash at Loftus Road, which the R's won 2-1.

Kaspars Gorkss and Adel Taarabt were on target for Rangers, as the hosts came back from a goal down after Craig Bellamy's opener.

"I thought this was a cracking advertisement for the Championship," Warnock said.

"There were two teams out there who were at each others' throats for the whole game, it was end to end and there were chances in both goalmouths.

"I really enjoyed it - and I would have said that regardless of the score."

The game was level at the break, after Gorkss' fine header cancelled out Bellamy's strike, and Warnock said he felt his team had it in them to improve after the interval.

"At half-time I told the lads just to go out and enjoy it," he said. "I thought we could do a little bit more in the second half.

"We were a little bit in awe of their strikers early on but we sorted that out after the break and were a lot more positive."

Taarabt grabbed his third strike in two games to send QPR five points clear at the top of the npower Championship, and Warnock was full of praise for his Captain.

"Only he could have scored that goal," he said. "He does that in training, and I can't believe some of the other things he can do.

"It was a great finish, and was worthy of winning any match. It was a super strike."

Warnock was also pleased with the effort shown by the Moroccan when out of possession.

"Adel worked hard today," he added. "They were very tight on him so he didn't get a lot of joy, but he worked his socks off - and that's not his game."

The R's gaffer also had special praise for his trio of forwards.

"I thought Jamie Mackie, Tommy Smith and Rob Hulse were excellent," he said. "Rob was absolutely magnificent. He won nearly every header and dominated the game for us."

Cardiff left Loftus Road bemoaning a penalty decision which didn't go their way, when they believed Jay Bothroyd had been felled in the box in the closing stages.

"I think Dave is clutching at straws really," said Warnock. "In the 13th minute we had a certain penalty not given when their lad handled it in the box. And in the last minute we had a cert penalty as well - so two against one isn't bad!"

Rangers now head to Hull next weekend where they can equal the Club's 20-match unbeaten league run by avoiding defeat.

"We're not really looking at that," admitted Warnock, "but we look forward to every game and we're really enjoying ourselves.
"We know we are going to get beaten between now and the end of the season, but we're all enjoying it and the lads are playing with smiles on their faces."

Warnock also congratulated the QPR fans who backed the team throughout the game.

"What an atmosphere," he added. "Loftus Road was absolutely buzzing today. Cardiff more than played their part. It just whets your appetite and leaves you wanting more." http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/TheGaffer/0,,10373~2231917,00.html


SKY SPORTS - Warnock staying grounded
R's boss admits club won't win anything in NovemberLast updated: 27th November 2010

Warnock: Hails super Hoops

Neil Warnock hailed his side's wonderful performance as QPR moved five points clear at the top of the Championship with a 2-1 win against main challengers Cardiff.

Goals from Kaspars Gorkss and mercurial Moroccan Adel Taarabt turned the game around at Loftus Road after Craig Bellamy put Cardiff in front with his first goal in seven games.

The result means the Hoops are still unbeaten in the league and look destined for a long-awaited return to the top flight.

Atmosphere

However, Warnock said his side won't be getting carried away, saying: "It was a great game. It was two teams playing end-to-end stuff, which is what football should be about. And the atmosphere was unbelievable.

"It was a great goal by Adel but I have to say that Kaspars Gorkss was superb at the back apart from the mistake for their goal, and the whole spine of my team were excellent.

"Shaun Derry was magnificent in midfield and the spine of Paddy Kenny in goal, Matt Connolly at the back, Derry and Rob Hulse were great. I thought it was Hulse's best game for us.

"We won't be getting carried away. You don't win anything in November, but the points are great to have."

Decisions
Stuttering Cardiff have now lost their last two matches and manager Dave Jones was furious at the decision not to award his team a penalty in the 85th minute for a challenge by Connolly on Jay Bothroyd.

He said: "How can the referee not see it? And if he doesn't see it, how can the linesman not see it?

"They're the big decisions that matter in tight games like this.

"Everybody in the stadium could see it was a penalty. The reaction of the QPR players tells you that. We feel hard done by.

"I went to see him (the referee) about it afterwards and he asked if I was questioning his integrity. I was questioning his decision.
"Referees have got to be better in games like this. Was the game too big for him? That's for the referee's assessor to decide."

Warnock had a different view, though.
"I thought the referee had a good game. What Dave's saying is deflecting from the result, and we deserved to win that match," he said.

Jones added: "It was an even game and both teams deserved to get something from it. We probably should have, as we had a lot of chances in the second half. The decisions were the difference between us getting a point and not.

"It's a kick in the teeth but we were behind QPR and caught up with them before, and we'll have to do it again."
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11711_6531978,00.html


Telegraph - Queens Park Rangers 2 Cardiff City 1: match report
The watching Rodney Marsh would have been proud of the goal which took his former club a step closer to promotion.
Forty-two years after Marsh spearheaded their rise to the top flight, Queens Park Rangers are comparably reliant on the brilliance of Adel Taarabt, whose second-half winner settled this battle of the Championship's top two.

It took Rangers five points clear of Cardiff City whose manager Dave Jones confronted referee Kevin Friend afterwards, claiming the official failed to award a "clear cut, stonewall penalty" after Jay Bothroyd appeared to be tripped by QPR defender Matt Connolly.

"I asked him about it and he asked if I was questioning his integrity. I was questioning his decision," Jones insisted.

"He'll probably feel he got the decision right. Was the game too big for him? I don't know. That's for the referee's assessor to decide. He'll probably be back next week making decisions.

"It's a waste of time talking about it, a waste of time filing a report and waste of time the assessor saying they'll look at it. It goes nowhere and will be swept under the carpet."

Jones ought to feel equally furious with the defensive lapse that led to his team conceding an equaliser only five minutes after taking an early lead.

A slip by QPR's Kaspars Gorkss allowed Bothroyd to pounce on the loose ball and pick out Craig Bellamy, who fired past goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, only for Gorkss to quickly atone for his error by heading Tommy Smith's left-wing cross into the far corner of the net.

Cardiff's emphasis on keeping their midfield shape, regardless of what the unpredictable Taarabt threw at them, meant they were set up perfectly to defend a lead and frustrate their opponents as the game wore on.

So the speed with which Rangers hit back was hugely significant. It was a major setback for City and proved to be a turning point in the match.

QPR were galvanised by Gorkss' goal and in the ascendancy when Taarabt drifted in from the right wing, breezed past Lee Naylor and belted in his ninth goal of the season.

"Nobody else on the pitch could have scored that goal," declared victorious QPR manager Neil Warnock.

"It was a great game. It was two teams playing end-to-end stuff, which is what football should be about.

"I thought the referee had a good game. What Dave is saying is deflecting from the result. We deserved to win that match."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/8164900/Queens-Park-Rangers-2-Cardiff-City-1 -match-report.html


BBC QPR 2 - 1 Cardiff
Adel Taarabt celebrates after scoring what turned out to be the winner
Adel Taarabt's ninth goal of the season saw off second-place Cardiff City and sent unbeaten Championship leaders Queens Park Rangers five points clear.

Cardiff had taken a 13th-minute lead when Jay Bothroyd pounced on Kaspars Gorkss' slip to let in Craig Bellamy for his third of the season.

Gorkss made amends five minutes later though when he headed home Tommy Smith's floating cross.

Taarabt grabbed the winner from close range after a great individual run.

QPR are now unbeaten in 19 games, one short of their all-time club record which dates back to 1972, and remain the only side not to have lost in the Football League.

But more importantly for boss Neil Warnock's side is that they are looking a formidable force in the Championship in the race for the Premier League and put some daylight between their closest rivals.

Despite starting brightly, it was Cardiff who created the early openings first with Chris Burke's mazy run which sent goalkeeper Paddy Kenny sprawling.

Then Bellamy ran at the home defence before finding Chris Burke on the right, and the winger cut back to Peter Whittingham who curled his effort fractionally over from the edge of the box.

Rangers had a penalty appeal turned down when Taarabt's cross looked to have hit Darcy Blake's arm, and moments later Cardiff were ahead.

Gorkss slipped unopposed in the middle of his own half and Bothroyd nipped in to free Bellamy into the box to blast the ball past Kenny.

Cardiff's lead was to last just five minutes though as they failed to clear their lines and Smith floated in a left-footed cross from the right which Gorkss glanced home from 12 yards.

It was the visitors who went on to enjoy more of the possession and some delightful build-up play almost found Bothroyd six yards out.

Bluebirds top scorer Bothroyd then went close to creating a goal of his own with a powerful run only to be denied at Kenny's feet.

Rangers had chances themselves with Argentine midfielder Alejandro Faurlin forcing Tom Heaton to push away his low 25-yard shot.

Heaton then pulled off the save of the game in a tighter second half when he was at full stretch to parry Jamie Mackie's strike which was heading towards the top corner.

But the on-loan Manchester United keeper could to little to stop Taarabt as Cardiff failed to deal with the resulting corner and the Moroccan beat Lee Naylor and smashed the ball home from close range.

Cardiff pressed for a point and should have had a penalty in the last five minutes when Bothroyd was brought down by Matthew Connolly, only to see referee Kevin Friend wave away appeals.
Click for 90 seconds of Warnock Audio
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/9220874.stm


Guardian/Barney Ronay

Adel Taarabt turns on the style to put Rangers five points clear
Queens Park Rangers are now five points clear at the top of the Championship after a match of great endeavour and no little attacking invention was settled by Adel Taarabt's finely executed 68th-minute goal.

This was a victory earned by a second half of sustained hustling pressure – in front of a boisterous 17,316 crowd – from a Rangers team who, in the first period, had seemed likely to be picked off by the rapier edges of Craig Bellamy and Jay Bothroyd, a spiky and, at times, thrillingly mobile home-international pairing in the Cardiff attack.

Afterwards, manager Dave Jones was left fuming – and fuming at great length – by referee Kevin Friend's decision not to award Cardiff an 85th-minute penalty for what looked like a clear trip on Bothroyd by Matthew Connolly. "How does he miss it?" Jones asked. "And how does the linesman miss it? And how does the fourth official? These are the big decisions in tight games and he hasn't called it. I'm not questioning [Friend's] integrity, but I am questioning his decision-making. Was the game too big for him? He'll say not."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Neil Warnock saw the incident differently. "I thought he [Friend] had a good game. It's a tough game to referee. He [Jones] can pick on the penalty, but I thought we deserved to win. We were super down the middle, Paddy Kenny, Connolly, [Shaun] Derry – [Rob] Hulse was brilliant, the best I've seen him play for me here. It was a fantastic match. That's what football's all about. End to end and it was a fantastic atmosphere."

The penalty incident provided a fittingly fevered conclusion to a meeting between the division's twin pace-setters. Rangers came into the game unbeaten, a steamrollering start to the season that has been soft-pedalled by a recent run of seven draws in their past 10 games. This had seemed likely to stack up as a meeting of unyielding defence against irrepressible attack, with Rangers' solid rearguard tested by a front duo comprising England's latest attacking recruit and the returning Bellamy.

As it was, the opening goal, after 13 minutes, came as a result of a terrible defensive mistake by Kaspars Gorkss, who slipped and fell over with the ball at his feet, 25 yards from goal. Bothroyd took advantage, slipping a simple pass to Bellamy, who ran in on goal and finished with ease from eight yards out.

Happily for Gorkss, redemption was at hand five minutes later. Having rumbled forward for a free-kick, the Latvian centre-half stayed upfield to meet Tommy Smith's cross from the right with a fine guided header across Tom Heaton and into the far corner of the net.

Cardiff continued to press. Bellamy had been booed as his name was read out before kick-off — perhaps with a nod towards the approaching pantomime season rather than any real sense of malice — and he looked full of red-booted menace cutting in from the left. It was from that side that Bothroyd almost added another on 33 minutes, an instant clearance allowing him to sprint away from Clint Hill and force an excellent whites-of-their-eyes save from Kenny on the edge of his six-yard box.

Cardiff dominated as half-time approached, with Seyi Olofinjana and Peter Whittingham winning the battle in midfield. After the break, the roles were reversed as Rangers emerged with renewed purpose and forced a succession of attacking set-pieces, a potent route to goal for a team full of heft and height.

Cardiff remained dangerous on the break, notably after 56 minutes, when Bellamy glided away from Derry – in a manner reminiscent of Maurice Greene competing in a school sports day dads' race – and played in Bothroyd, whose goalbound shot was blocked by Connolly.

After 67 minutes, Rangers' greater pressure paid off. Lee Naylor allowed Taarabt to brush through his tackle too easily on the right, but the finish was exhilarating, the Moroccan jinking inside and out before lifting the ball into the far corner. "No one else on the pitch would have scored that," Warnock purred, but in truth it was another scattergun performance from Taarabt, with incisive invention mixed with some energetic meandering. At this level, he often gets enough chances to make the difference and Rangers remain reliant on him for attacking craft.

Cardiff roused themselves to stage a succession of late attacks and, penalty shouts aside, will feel justifiably hard done by not to have taken a point back down the M4. In the end, Taarabt's moment of poise amid the hustle was enough.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/nov/27/qpr-cardiff-city-championshio


TABLE - BBC
1 QPR 19 26 41
2 Cardiff 19 14 36
3 Swansea 19 8 33
4 Derby 19 10 30
5 Coventry 19 4 30
6 Burnley 19 7 29
7 Leeds 19 0 29
8 Nott'm Forest 18 5 27
9 Norwich 18 2 27
10 Doncaster 19 1 27
11 Reading 19 6 26
12 Barnsley 19 -5 26
13 Portsmouth 19 -1 25
14 Watford 19 2 24
15 Millwall 19 0 24
16 Ipswich 18 -2 24
17 Bristol City 19 -6 23
18 Hull 19 -6 22
19 Leicester 18 -8 22
20 Sheff Utd 19 -11 22
21 Scunthorpe 19 -9 20
22 Crystal Palace 19 -12 20
23 Middlesbrough 19 -10 18
24 Preston 19 -15 15 BBC

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