Stan Bowles QPR Debut: Enlarged Photo-
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PEOPLE/Dean Jones - Football News David Beckham all set for a friendly 'debut' at Tottenham
- DAVID BECKHAM is in line for a surprise appearance for Tottenham this week in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
-A Spurs XI face QPRreserves on Tuesday and Becks has been mulling over the idea of a run-out.
- Midfielder Jamie O’Hara and defender Jonathan Woodgate will be using the match to boost their fitness levels as they return from long term injuries and there is a possibility Beckham will play a small part too.
- Spurs have been weighing up the option as the England midfielder bids to improve his condition.
- It is proving difficult to get the green light from LA Galaxy for an official loan spell but Becks would love to get some game time under his belt and has been told he is allowed to play in practice games. A final decision is expected to be made tomorrow on whether it is worth the risk – his MLS club would be furious if Beckham picks up an injury.
- Spurs do not have an official reserve side in a league, so they set up friendlies to help fringe and youth team players.
- The QPR game will see midfielder O’Hara make his long-awaited return from a serious back problem.
- He has been sidelined all season following surgery but will start the match as he takes the final step towards a full recovery.
- If Spurs are satisfied that he is fully fit then he is likely to leave the club on a short-term loan.
- Woodgate will get playing time too, as he bids to prove he is fit again after a long-standing groin problem.
- QPR are one of the sides who have shown interest in taking him on loan, but manager Neil Warnock has gone a bit cold on the idea as he wants a centre-back who is in top shape. People
BURNLEY 0 QPR 0
QPR 26 27 49
Swansea 27 9 46
Cardiff 26 10 44
Norwich 26 8 44
Leeds 27 7 44
Watford 25 15 42
Reading 26 13 40
Nott F 24 12 40 - Table
QPR Official Site - WARNOCK: 'BACK ON FORM'
Neil Warnock felt that his side were 'back on form' in their stalemate with Burnley at Turf Moor.
Dominant for large spells of the affair, the R's had chances to win it - namely when Kaspars Gorkss blazed a glorious chance over the bar from close range after the break.
And Warnock laid praise to his top of the table charges, telling www.qpr.co.uk: "I thought we were composed and back to normal today.
"Defensively we were very solid, had great shape in the midfield and always looked a threat in attack.
"It was a good recipe for a good performance."
He added: "I thought today was as good as I've seen Adel (Taarabt) play away from home.
"When you consider the conditions and the fact that he was getting kicked every time he got on the ball, I was delighted with his performance.
"I can't speak highly enough of him. Fans pay to watch stuff like that.
"The conditions made it difficult for both sides but I was delighted with the application.
"I thought we stood up well. I think Burnley will be the happier of the two teams to come away with a point QPR
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
Burnley and QPR shared the spoils at Turf Moor, as the R's cemented their place at the top of the npower Championship.
Neil Warnock's men could count themselves unlucky not to register all three points, on an afternoon when Rangers dominated proceedings in all departments.
Kaspars Gorkss missed the R's greatest chance to take a maximum return back to W12, firing over from close range when it seemed easier to find the net.
Nonetheless, the draw ensured the Hoops remain three points clear at the summit.
QPR made three changes for the trip to Lancashire.
Matt Connolly returned at the centre of defence, replacing Gary Borrowdale.
Meanwhile, Petter Vaagan Moen came in for the injured Jamie Mackie to make his first league start for the R's.
Tommy Smith was also named in the starting eleven at the expense of Leon Clarke.
Paddy Kenny was in goal for QPR, behind the back four of Bradley Orr, Connolly, Gorkss and Clint Hill.
Shaun Derry and Alejandro Faurlin were in defensive midfield.
The attacking trio of Smith, Adel Taarabt and Vaagan Moen played just off lone striker Rob Hulse.
On a wet and windy afternoon at Turf Moor, the R's enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the early stages.
Rangers went desperately close to taking the lead on eight minutes.
Some neat build-up play from the visitors eventually ended in Smith cutting a clever pass back to Derry on 20 yards, whose drilled effort was magnificently tipped away for a corner by Lee Grant at his bottom left-hand post.
Moments later, Tyrone Mears went close with a free-kick from 25 yards, after Gorkss was adjudged to have felled Chris Eagles.
But QPR were in the ascendancy and Orr missed a golden chance to edge the R's in front on 16 minutes.
Faurlin's lovely dinked pass over the top of the Burnley defence found the onrushing defender unmarked six-yards out, before Orr came up with what can only be described as a weak effort, with his prod beaten away from goal by Grant.
The Clarets keeper was soon forced into action again, this time producing a smart save from Taarabt, whose deflected shot from range was well held.
Despite their slow start, the home side got better as the half wore on.
Kenny produced a fine save to deny Jay Rodriguez, catching the ball at the second attempt after palming away the Clarets front-man's blast from distance.
However, QPR continued to threaten, with Grant continuing to impress in the Clarets goal.
Vaagan Moen's deep cross from a free-kick on the right found Hill at the back post and, when his bullet header was diverted away from the target, Grant reacted first to punch the loose ball up field.
QPR began the second period much like they did the first.
Hulse was hauled to the ground by his marker, before Taarabt's teasing cross-come-shot whistled inches wide of a beaten Grant's left-hand post.
And the magical Moroccan was soon in the thick of the action again.
Mears clipped Taarabt on the edge of the box, before the R's attacker dusted himself down to lob an effort over the crossbar.
Burnley were starting to feel their way into the affair, and Kenny had to be at his very best to divert Rodriguez's fearsome centre away from goal.
Gorkss then missed arguably the R's best chance of the contest.
Taarabt's free-kick from the left was met by Orr at the back post and, when his nod back across goal found Gorkss, the Latvian - on the stretch - somehow scooped an effort over the bar from close range.
Burnley: Grant, Alexander (Edgar 86), Fox, Duff, Carlisle, Cork, Iwelumo (Thompson 68), Elliott, Mears, Rodriguez, Eagles.
Subs: Jensen, MacDonald, Bikey, Wallace, Easton.
Bookings: Duff (35), Alexander (68), Fox (69), Thompson (83), Cork (90)
QPR: Kenny, Orr, Hill, Derry, Taarabt (Hall 90), Faurlin (Clarke 81), Gorkss, Connolly, Hulse (Heguson 81), Smith, Vaagan Moen.
Subs: Cerny, Cook, Borrowdale, German.
Bookings: Faurlin (23), Orr (30)
Referee: Mr M Jones
Attendance: 14, 819
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~53307,00.html
Burnley Official Site
Eddie Howe is set to start his new job on Monday with a clean slate and a clean sheet after the Clarets held the Championship leaders to record their first shut-out since the middle of October.
The Clarets' prospective new manager watched Burnley end a 13-match wait for a blank as caretaker manager Stuart Gray handed over with an unbeaten Turf Moor record.
Gray's temporary reign rarely looked like ending with a win as the Clarets failed to find their usual attacking spark in difficult conditions.
But the soft centre that has undermined their promotion challenge in recent weeks was efficiently stamped out as Rangers were given equally short shrift by a dominant Burnley back four.
Goalkeeper Lee Grant had to produce an impressive performance to set up the first clean sheet he has enjoyed since joining the Clarets.
But with the title favourites kept at bay Burnley proved, as they had when drawing at Loftus Road, that they can match the best, something Howe will now be looking to get them to do on a regular basis to keep the promotion places in sight.
Eddie Howe gets a feel for Turf Moor
After a nod to the past in the shape of a moving ovation for title-winning captain and club legend Jimmy Adamson, back at Turf Moor for the opening of a new suite in his name, the Clarets prepared to usher in a new era as Howe took his place in the directors' box before kick-off.
The manager-elect was given plenty to ponder in an opening spell dominated by the visitors, whose speed of movement had the Clarets under pressure and reliant on Grant to keep them on level terms.
With eight minutes gone Shaun Derry sized up a shot which was bottom-corner bound until Grant plunged to his left to touch the ball round the post.
And the Clarets' keeper rescued his side again after a quarter of an hour when he stood firm to repel Bradley Orr after the former Clarets' loanee had run behind the defence to meet a curling pass from Alejandro Faurlin which he should have made more of.
Head boys
Grant also saved a deflected shot from Adel Taarabt, who promised more than he actually delivered as the Clarets managed to keep the Rangers' captain and play-maker under a fairly tight rein.
He did, though, gain a free-kick which earned Michael Duff a harsh-looking booking and ended with Clint Hill connecting with a far post header which Grant did well to parry.
But having ridden out the early storm Burnley did threaten themselves as they grew in stature as the first half progressed.
Stuart Gray signs off with a point
Chris Eagles and Wade Elliott both stretched the Rangers' defence, although Paddy Kenny was forced into only one testing save as he went full length to palm away a snap-shot from Jay Rodriguez.
Rodriguez also dragged a shot wide as he cut in from the left flank and the young striker also went close with a header from an Eagles' cross ten minutes before the break.
But in wet and windy conditions that helped neither side the Clarets found it difficult to build up any sustained period of pressure and it was not until the start of the second half that the game found any real tempo.
Taarabt whacked a free-kick just wide and chipped another onto the roof of the net after being tripped just outside the penalty area before the Clarets almost broke through with an hour gone.
A fine pass from Graham Alexander released Rodriguez to sprint into the box but from his low cross Kenny was able to stick out a boot and clear.
Michael Duff let nothing past
Not surprisingly, the table toppers never made life easy and having kept Burnley's chances to a minimum they could have gone ahead mid-way through the second half.
Again a free-kick was the source of the danger and when Orr headed back at the far post, Kaspars Gorkss should have hit the target from close in.
Clarke Carlisle then threw himself in front of a shot from Tommy Smith as the Clarets dug in to grind out a result.
And with the impressive Duff also standing strong beside him, the Clarets - given a late glimpse of three points when Kenny dropped a corner just beyond Carlisle - made sure they would give Howe a solid platform to build from.
http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10413~53307,00.html
BURNLEY OFFICIAL SITEDuff Delighted To Keep Clean Sheet
Defensive strongman Michael Duff welcomed the return of the Clarets' mean streak as Championship leaders Queens Park Rangers were rebuffed at Turf Moor.
Duff played a key role as Burnley recorded their first clean sheet in 14 games in a 0-0 draw against the title favourites.
And while the result left the Clarets in tenth place in the table ahead of the anticipated arrival of Eddie Howe as the club's new manager, Duff sees the result as progress.
"It was a good point. They are a good team and they are top of the league for a reason," said the long-serving centre-back.
"In the last two home games we have scored four, which is great, but when we are at that creative sometimes we get done at the back through lack of numbers.
"From a defender's point of view it's nice to get a clean sheet.
Michael Duff keeps the Rs at bay
"If you are scoring four goals every week you're not going to keep that many clean sheets, because it's normally one way or the other.
"But we have shown a different side to us today and I think that's important."
Duff added: "It was a team performance. When we score four goals everyone takes the credit for that and I think it's got to be the same when we keep clean sheets.
"It's not a case of defenders versus attackers. We attack with 11 and defend with 11. It can sound quite boring but that's the way it is."
Duff admits that the Clarets need to start winning on a regular basis to close the gap on the top six.
The Clarets secured a first clean sheet since October
And he hopes that matching a QPR side that is three points clear at the top of the table will help provide a platform for take-off under Howe, who watched Saturday's game from the directors' box.
"We are getting to the end of January and we are still in mid-table. We need to start putting back-to-back results together.
"But we are a good team and if we can dig in and not play well and pick up points against good teams then hopefully we can kick on," Duff said.
http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/page/LatestHeadlines/0,,10413~2267806,00.html
BURNLEY OFFICIAL SITE
Gray To Stay at Turf MoorPosted on: Sat 15 Jan 2011
Stuart Gray has confirmed that he will stay at Turf Moor as part of the new management team.
Gray ended his four-game caretaker spell in charge with a goalless draw against league leaders QPR - the Clarets' first clean sheet in 14 games.
And although Chairman Barry Kilby will now begin talks this weekend with Eddie Howe over the managerial vacancy, Gray has been assured he will form part of a new managerial backroom team.
Eddie Howe at Turf Moor today
Gray said: "The Chairman informed me yesterday that he would be making an appointment soon, once everything is agreed, and that Eddie is very keen for me to stay on, so I will be having a conversation with him.
"I haven't had any conversations, but I would imagine my role will go back to being first team coach."
Howe and his assistant at Bournemouth, Jason Tindall, both watched as observers from the stands as the Clarets fought out a hard-fought stalemate of few clear cut chances against Neil Warnock's organised outfit.
And Gray, who knows Howe from their time together at south coast clubs Southampton and Bournemouth respectively, added: "If Eddie is appointed, he is inheriting a hugely talented squad of players and a good team spirit at a good football club.
Howe, pictured with Barry Kilby and (right) Jason Tindall
"Let's hope he hits the ground running and that everything can be put to bed and we can look to try and go on a run.
"I think he will have looked today and thought there is a lot of character there.
"The lads have thrown their bodies on the line and he will have seen that side of their game.
"However, I'll be telling him that we are better than that with the ball because we can be more creative than that."
Gray, whose four game spell brought two wins, one draw and one defeat, added: "I have thoroughly enjoyed my spell and I think I have had a response from the players.
"I can only thank them because their application has been fantastic.
"I'm just a little bit disappointed that we haven't ended on a high by nicking it 1-0, but
importantly we have kept a clean sheet, which the team can take pride in because it's been a while.
"I'm just disappointed we didn't do as much with the ball as we could.
"I thought QPR did a good job on keeping Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears quiet down the right.
"But all credit to them. That's why they are top of the league and if you were asking me before the game would I take a clean sheet, of course I would.
"The only surprise is that with the creative players we have in the team that we haven't scored."
http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/page/TheGaffer/0,,10413~2267804,00.html
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