12 YEARS AGO TODAY: QPR RELEGATED TO THE THIRD DIVISION
Flashback - 12 years ago today: April 21, 2001 - QPR's Relegation made certain with a 2-1 loss at Huddersfield.
One of the worst moments in QPR memory: And there have been more than one in the last few years!) QPR's relegation back to the old "Third Division" (in 2001 called the Second Division; and now called League 1) was made certain with a 2-1 loss at Huddersfield, who had Kevin Gallen playing for them. QPR were under the recently-appointed Ian Holloway.
(And of course, off the field, the club was in some considerable turmoil, with the Chairman selling up and the club going into Administration - having just fought off a merger with Wimbledon.) Ironically, Huddersfield were also relegated at the end of the season.
The QPR team on that sad, sad day: Harper, Baraclough, Ready, Plummer, Perry, Knight, Bignot, Peacock, Darlington, Crouch, Thomson. Subs: Bull, Wardley, Paquette, Kulcsar, Kiwomya.
BBC - April 21, 2001 - Huddersfield 2 QPR 1
Striker Delroy Facey's injury-time tap-in condemned QPR to Second Division football next season.
Facey picked up his 10th goal of the season in the fourth minute of stoppage time after Andy Booth's shot was parried straight to him by the visitors' keeper Lee Harper.
Facey, who turns 21 on Sunday, wheeled away in celebration knowing that his goal also helped the Terriers in their own fight against relegation.
Huddersfield took the lead on 33 minutes when Dean Gorre's low, 18-yard drive took a deflection off Ian Baraclough, leaving Harper stranded.
Action-packed
Rangers hit back on 43 minutes when Marcus Bignot's long ball down the right was expertly controlled by Andy Thomson, who then lobbed advancing keeper Nico Vaesen from 10 yards.
In an action-packed first half, Huddersfield had three shots cleared off the line by Mark Perry (twice) and then Baraclough.
Andy Booth struck a fierce shot goalwards after rounding Harper on nine minutes, but Perry, at full stretch, denied the recent recruit from Sheffield Wednesday.
Booth turned provider on 28 minutes with a fine left-wing cross which Simon Baldry thumped goalwards only to see Perry block the effort.
Sterile second half
Town's Chris Lucketti followed up but Baraclough stuck his leg out and blocked the ball before Karl Ready hacked the ball to safety.
At the other end, 6ft 6in striker Peter Crouch seemed certain to put Rangers ahead on three minutes but he mishit a shot into the ground and saw the ball balloon high over Vaesen's right-hand upright despite having only the big Belgian to beat from just six yards.
The second period was a sterile non-event in which neither side produced much of note.
QPR substitute Chris Kiwomya had a late goal ruled out for offside, and Huddersfield's best chance came on 74 minutes when Lucketti headed unmarked straight at Harper from a Baldry free-kick.
Facey's winning touch was a cruel blow on a hard working QPR side who matched Huddersfield stride for stride in an evenly balanced game.
The visiting players collapsed on the floor at the final whistle knowing that they were certain to be relegated.
Huddersfield: Vaesen, Heary, Lucketti, Jenkins, Baldry, Armstrong, Gorre, Holland, Thornley, Booth, Facey. Subs: Margetson, Gray, Moses, Irons, Gallen.
QPR: Harper, Baraclough, Ready, Plummer, Perry, Knight, Bignot, Peacock, Darlington, Crouch, Thomson. Subs: Bull, Wardley, Paquette, Kulcsar, Kiwomya.
Referee: A Bates (Stoke on Trent). BBC
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - April 2001 - HOLLOWAY HEARTBROKEN
BOSS Ian Holloway was absolutely heartbroken on hearing the news that Rangers had been relegated following Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield.
Olly said:" What can I say? The lads are absolutely devastated. All I can say is that they didn't lose our First Division status on the Huddersfield result alone. I thought they gave me everything on Saturday and showed great character. I felt we could have won the match.
"I don't think we would have lost the Huddersfield game if we didn't have to win it, if you see what I mean. I wouldn't have done the things we tried to do just to get the three points that we needed.
"If the players can show the character and the spirit that they have shown over the last couple of weeks, I feel the place can improve. I thank the players for their efforts and I think we've been a real team over the last five or six games. The spirit has improved and my boys are hurting now.
"The club have had a long fall and face a hard climb. You cannot get away from what we have been this season and we have capitulated at times.
"But I think the lads will take this on and remember this feeling. I feel we have improved and things can only get better. We have got to turn the negatives into positives.
"Rangers are a wonderful club. I love the place. And those supporters who were singing at the end on Saturday deserve more than they have got this season. All I want to do is try to bring back some good times."
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
RANGERS must prepare to spend next season in Division Two after a last minute goal from Delroy Facey condemned them to the drop.
A game that looked to be heading for the draw that would have kep both sides on tenterhooks for another week was just seconds from the end when Facey pounced for the winner.
The Terriers had taken the lead through Dean Gorre's deflected effort but although Andy Thomson levelled it was not enough to spare Rangers from heartbreak.
Rangers had Chris Kiwomya back from a bout of the shingles, although he had to be content with a place on the bench.
Peter Crouch had the first chance of the game for the visitors, but his third-minute right-foot shot from 18 yards sailed wide.
Delroy Facey then fired one over the crossbar for Huddersfield five minutes later as Town began to take the early initiative.
The lively Booth had a great chance to mark his return by opening the scoring after 10 minutes, but his close-range shot was blocked on the line and the QPR defence scrambled the danger clear.
Minutes later, after Booth had been brought down by Karl Ready, Simon Baldry's deep free-kick was well-saved by Lee Harper in the Rangers goal as Huddersfield continued to enjoy the better of the early exchanges.
Harper was again called on to pull off a save from a Chris Holland left-foot shot after 17 minutes, before Crouch finally brought some work out of Town goalkeeper Nico Vaesen with a right-foot effort three minutes later.
But it was the home side who continued to force the pace and - after Ready had blocked a Chris Lucketti effort - Gorre's 33rd-minute 25-yarder took a deflection and wrong-footed Harper to give Huddersfield a 1-0 lead.
QPR came storming back and Crouch and Leon Knight both went close to an equaliser before Thomson found it with a beautiful lob over Vaesen two minutes before the break.
Rangers pushed on looking for the winner, and having thought that a point was in the bag, and another lifeline, were cruelly punished by Facey's winner.
QPR Official Site - April 2001 - BOSS READY TO REBUILD
BOSS Ian Holloway has outlined his plans for a major revamp of the squad at Queens Park Rangers.
Olly said:" I've got a big job on my hands. I didn't realise it was as big as this. But I can't wait to have a go at it.
"I want to have a look at the positives. I think we've got some good young kids at the club and we want to bring them on.
"We've got a lot of work to do in the summer. We've got to stop the downward spiral of this club, put some foundations down and start to rebuild. It is going to be a difficult process but it is one that I want to take on. We've been on a slippery slope but hopefully it has bottomed out.
"It is going to be tough next year. It is a very tough division with big teams in it. But we need to consolidate ourselves, get some organisation into the way I want to do things and sort a few players' futures out.
"I will be given a full budget to work within this week. I have only just seen the overall finances of our club and the details of all the contracts. Things will have to change, that is all I can say. There will have to be an awful lot of changes around the place for us to survive and start building.
"We need the fans to stick with us and that is why we spent time saluting the fans after the game on Saturday. The supporters have been magnificent and that is what gives me hope for the future."
GAVIN REFLECTS ON R'S DROP
CAPTAIN Gavin Peacock spoke with dignity after hearing confirmation that Rangers had been relegated up at Huddersfield.
Gavin said:" All the players are devastated. We had been under pressure for some months and the axe had been looming over our heads. But we felt that we started to improve in recent games.
"Even at Huddersfield, I think we probably deserved to come out on top in the game. The spirit and effort was there. But it wasn't to be.
"We had to go and try and win the game. So the manager sent on extra strikers in the second half. Then Huddersfield broke away to score the winner in injury time. But even a draw wouldn't have been enough for us.
"It wasn't just the Huddersfield result that put us down. It was our results over the whole season. You can look at recent games against Grimsby and Crewe, with the chances that went missing. You have to put the ball in the net at one end and stop it going in at the other. We haven't done that well enough over the season. So it has led to us being relegated.
"I feel for everyone at the club - all the players, everyone behind the scenes and obviously the fans as well.
"Now we have to come back stronger as players and as a club."
LIFE GOES ON FOR PETER
PETER CROUCH has given an indication as to how the players have been shaping up this week after confirmation of the news that Rangers have been relegated.
Peter said:" Basically, we have just been trying to get on with things. We have two matches left, so we have to pick ourselves up and get on with the job. We have been training pretty much the same this week.
" The Huddersfield game was heartbreaking. We had the draw in the bag, but that was no use to us. We were the better side at 1-1 and we were looking to nick it. So Olly went all out for it by putting four forwards up front, then Huddersfield broke away and nicked the winner at the end which was a sickening blow.
" The dressing room afterwards was a horrible place to be, to be honest. Everyone was really devastated. A few things were said to try to lift people as we have to carry on.
"We have two games left now where we will display a lot of pride to show the fans that we care."
[A couple of days earlier, Ian Holloway was speaking re Club and Fans
an Holloway speaking a couple days earlier
BBC - April 19, 2001
Thursday, 19 April, 2001,
QPR fans group gets Holloway support
Ian Holloway
Ian Holloway is trying to stave off relegation
Queens Park Rangers manager Ian Holloway has lent his support to the club's fans as they gathered to discuss the London outfit's slide into administration.
About 1,500 supporters attended a public meeting in Hammersmith on Wednesday night and voted overwhelmingly in favour of the formation of a Trust called QPR 1st.
"It's all about togetherness from top to bottom and at the top is our fans," Holloway said.
"Everyone is worried at this moment in time and the more the fans get together the better.
"You don't get anywhere in life without spirit and the fans are joining together to show that.
"Sometimes out of situations like this a club emerges stronger. I hope that will happen here and the fans of this club certainly deserve that to happen.
"QPR has a very real place in the hearts and minds of the people of west London
Local MP Clive Soley
"Nobody knows what the future will bring but there will be a QPR next season, I can assure everyone of that, and I think it will be a stronger QPR."
Representatives of QPR 1st have already held talks with the club's administrators and distributed more than 10,000 leaflets among fans ahead of Rangers' recent home game against Blackburn.
Libby Magrill, spokeswoman for QPR 1st, said: "This is about fans coming together in a time of crisis."
Local MP Clive Soley told the meeting how important the club was to the local community.
"QPR has a very real place in the hearts and minds of the people of west London," he said.
"It is an institution. We must keep it. We don't want it taken over and moved out of the area." BBC
Table, Results and Appearances from 2000-2001Table from 2000-2001
2000-2001 -
2000-2001 Results
QPR's Squad and Goalscorers in 2000-2001 (Crouch Top scorer with 10)
http://stats.football.co.uk/2000/qpr.html
Pos Team Pl W D L F A GD Pts
1. Fulham 46 30 11 5 90 32 +58 101
2. Blackburn Rovers 46 26 13 7 76 39 +37 91
3. Bolton Wanderers 46 24 15 7 76 45 +31 87
4. Preston North End 46 23 9 14 64 52 +12 78
5. Birmingham City 46 23 9 14 59 48 +11 78
6. West Bromwich Albion 46 21 11 14 60 52 +8 74
7. Burnley 46 21 9 16 50 54 -4 72
8. Wimbledon 46 17 18 11 71 50 +21 69
9. Watford 46 20 9 17 76 67 +9 69
10. Sheffield United 46 19 11 16 52 49 +3 68
11. Nottingham Forest 46 20 8 18 55 53 +2 68
12. Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 14 13 19 45 48 -3 55
13. Gillingham 46 13 16 17 61 66 -5 55
14. Crewe Alexandra 46 15 10 21 47 62 -15 55
15. Norwich City 46 14 12 20 46 58 -12 54
16. Barnsley 46 15 9 22 49 62 -13 54
17. Sheffield Wednesday 46 15 8 23 52 71 -19 53
18. Grimsby Town 46 14 10 22 43 62 -19 52
19. Stockport County 46 11 18 17 58 65 -7 51
20. Portsmouth 46 10 19 17 47 59 -12 49
21. Crystal Palace 46 12 13 21 57 70 -13 49
22. Huddersfield Town 46 11 15 20 48 57 -9 48
23. Queens Park Rangers 46 7 19 20 45 75 -30 40
24. Tranmere Rovers 46 9 11 26 46 77 -31 38
OTHER RESULTS THAT DAY OF RELEGATION
Preston 3-2 Watford
Saturday review
Bolton 1-0 Norwich
Burnley 0-0 Birmingham
Gills 1-2 West Brom
Grimsby 0-1 Sheff Utd
Huddersfield 2-1 QPR
Portsmouth 1-1 Fulham
Sheff Wed 2-1 Barnsley
Stockport 3-0 Crewe
Tranmere 1-1 C Palace
Wimbledon 2-1 Forest
Wolves 0-0 Blackburn
Flashback - 12 years ago today: April 21, 2001 - QPR's Relegation made certain with a 2-1 loss at Huddersfield.
One of the worst moments in QPR memory: And there have been more than one in the last few years!) QPR's relegation back to the old "Third Division" (in 2001 called the Second Division; and now called League 1) was made certain with a 2-1 loss at Huddersfield, who had Kevin Gallen playing for them. QPR were under the recently-appointed Ian Holloway.
(And of course, off the field, the club was in some considerable turmoil, with the Chairman selling up and the club going into Administration - having just fought off a merger with Wimbledon.) Ironically, Huddersfield were also relegated at the end of the season.
The QPR team on that sad, sad day: Harper, Baraclough, Ready, Plummer, Perry, Knight, Bignot, Peacock, Darlington, Crouch, Thomson. Subs: Bull, Wardley, Paquette, Kulcsar, Kiwomya.
BBC - April 21, 2001 - Huddersfield 2 QPR 1
Striker Delroy Facey's injury-time tap-in condemned QPR to Second Division football next season.
Facey picked up his 10th goal of the season in the fourth minute of stoppage time after Andy Booth's shot was parried straight to him by the visitors' keeper Lee Harper.
Facey, who turns 21 on Sunday, wheeled away in celebration knowing that his goal also helped the Terriers in their own fight against relegation.
Huddersfield took the lead on 33 minutes when Dean Gorre's low, 18-yard drive took a deflection off Ian Baraclough, leaving Harper stranded.
Action-packed
Rangers hit back on 43 minutes when Marcus Bignot's long ball down the right was expertly controlled by Andy Thomson, who then lobbed advancing keeper Nico Vaesen from 10 yards.
In an action-packed first half, Huddersfield had three shots cleared off the line by Mark Perry (twice) and then Baraclough.
Andy Booth struck a fierce shot goalwards after rounding Harper on nine minutes, but Perry, at full stretch, denied the recent recruit from Sheffield Wednesday.
Booth turned provider on 28 minutes with a fine left-wing cross which Simon Baldry thumped goalwards only to see Perry block the effort.
Sterile second half
Town's Chris Lucketti followed up but Baraclough stuck his leg out and blocked the ball before Karl Ready hacked the ball to safety.
At the other end, 6ft 6in striker Peter Crouch seemed certain to put Rangers ahead on three minutes but he mishit a shot into the ground and saw the ball balloon high over Vaesen's right-hand upright despite having only the big Belgian to beat from just six yards.
The second period was a sterile non-event in which neither side produced much of note.
QPR substitute Chris Kiwomya had a late goal ruled out for offside, and Huddersfield's best chance came on 74 minutes when Lucketti headed unmarked straight at Harper from a Baldry free-kick.
Facey's winning touch was a cruel blow on a hard working QPR side who matched Huddersfield stride for stride in an evenly balanced game.
The visiting players collapsed on the floor at the final whistle knowing that they were certain to be relegated.
Huddersfield: Vaesen, Heary, Lucketti, Jenkins, Baldry, Armstrong, Gorre, Holland, Thornley, Booth, Facey. Subs: Margetson, Gray, Moses, Irons, Gallen.
QPR: Harper, Baraclough, Ready, Plummer, Perry, Knight, Bignot, Peacock, Darlington, Crouch, Thomson. Subs: Bull, Wardley, Paquette, Kulcsar, Kiwomya.
Referee: A Bates (Stoke on Trent). BBC
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - April 2001 - HOLLOWAY HEARTBROKEN
BOSS Ian Holloway was absolutely heartbroken on hearing the news that Rangers had been relegated following Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield.
Olly said:" What can I say? The lads are absolutely devastated. All I can say is that they didn't lose our First Division status on the Huddersfield result alone. I thought they gave me everything on Saturday and showed great character. I felt we could have won the match.
"I don't think we would have lost the Huddersfield game if we didn't have to win it, if you see what I mean. I wouldn't have done the things we tried to do just to get the three points that we needed.
"If the players can show the character and the spirit that they have shown over the last couple of weeks, I feel the place can improve. I thank the players for their efforts and I think we've been a real team over the last five or six games. The spirit has improved and my boys are hurting now.
"The club have had a long fall and face a hard climb. You cannot get away from what we have been this season and we have capitulated at times.
"But I think the lads will take this on and remember this feeling. I feel we have improved and things can only get better. We have got to turn the negatives into positives.
"Rangers are a wonderful club. I love the place. And those supporters who were singing at the end on Saturday deserve more than they have got this season. All I want to do is try to bring back some good times."
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
RANGERS must prepare to spend next season in Division Two after a last minute goal from Delroy Facey condemned them to the drop.
A game that looked to be heading for the draw that would have kep both sides on tenterhooks for another week was just seconds from the end when Facey pounced for the winner.
The Terriers had taken the lead through Dean Gorre's deflected effort but although Andy Thomson levelled it was not enough to spare Rangers from heartbreak.
Rangers had Chris Kiwomya back from a bout of the shingles, although he had to be content with a place on the bench.
Peter Crouch had the first chance of the game for the visitors, but his third-minute right-foot shot from 18 yards sailed wide.
Delroy Facey then fired one over the crossbar for Huddersfield five minutes later as Town began to take the early initiative.
The lively Booth had a great chance to mark his return by opening the scoring after 10 minutes, but his close-range shot was blocked on the line and the QPR defence scrambled the danger clear.
Minutes later, after Booth had been brought down by Karl Ready, Simon Baldry's deep free-kick was well-saved by Lee Harper in the Rangers goal as Huddersfield continued to enjoy the better of the early exchanges.
Harper was again called on to pull off a save from a Chris Holland left-foot shot after 17 minutes, before Crouch finally brought some work out of Town goalkeeper Nico Vaesen with a right-foot effort three minutes later.
But it was the home side who continued to force the pace and - after Ready had blocked a Chris Lucketti effort - Gorre's 33rd-minute 25-yarder took a deflection and wrong-footed Harper to give Huddersfield a 1-0 lead.
QPR came storming back and Crouch and Leon Knight both went close to an equaliser before Thomson found it with a beautiful lob over Vaesen two minutes before the break.
Rangers pushed on looking for the winner, and having thought that a point was in the bag, and another lifeline, were cruelly punished by Facey's winner.
QPR Official Site - April 2001 - BOSS READY TO REBUILD
BOSS Ian Holloway has outlined his plans for a major revamp of the squad at Queens Park Rangers.
Olly said:" I've got a big job on my hands. I didn't realise it was as big as this. But I can't wait to have a go at it.
"I want to have a look at the positives. I think we've got some good young kids at the club and we want to bring them on.
"We've got a lot of work to do in the summer. We've got to stop the downward spiral of this club, put some foundations down and start to rebuild. It is going to be a difficult process but it is one that I want to take on. We've been on a slippery slope but hopefully it has bottomed out.
"It is going to be tough next year. It is a very tough division with big teams in it. But we need to consolidate ourselves, get some organisation into the way I want to do things and sort a few players' futures out.
"I will be given a full budget to work within this week. I have only just seen the overall finances of our club and the details of all the contracts. Things will have to change, that is all I can say. There will have to be an awful lot of changes around the place for us to survive and start building.
"We need the fans to stick with us and that is why we spent time saluting the fans after the game on Saturday. The supporters have been magnificent and that is what gives me hope for the future."
GAVIN REFLECTS ON R'S DROP
CAPTAIN Gavin Peacock spoke with dignity after hearing confirmation that Rangers had been relegated up at Huddersfield.
Gavin said:" All the players are devastated. We had been under pressure for some months and the axe had been looming over our heads. But we felt that we started to improve in recent games.
"Even at Huddersfield, I think we probably deserved to come out on top in the game. The spirit and effort was there. But it wasn't to be.
"We had to go and try and win the game. So the manager sent on extra strikers in the second half. Then Huddersfield broke away to score the winner in injury time. But even a draw wouldn't have been enough for us.
"It wasn't just the Huddersfield result that put us down. It was our results over the whole season. You can look at recent games against Grimsby and Crewe, with the chances that went missing. You have to put the ball in the net at one end and stop it going in at the other. We haven't done that well enough over the season. So it has led to us being relegated.
"I feel for everyone at the club - all the players, everyone behind the scenes and obviously the fans as well.
"Now we have to come back stronger as players and as a club."
LIFE GOES ON FOR PETER
PETER CROUCH has given an indication as to how the players have been shaping up this week after confirmation of the news that Rangers have been relegated.
Peter said:" Basically, we have just been trying to get on with things. We have two matches left, so we have to pick ourselves up and get on with the job. We have been training pretty much the same this week.
" The Huddersfield game was heartbreaking. We had the draw in the bag, but that was no use to us. We were the better side at 1-1 and we were looking to nick it. So Olly went all out for it by putting four forwards up front, then Huddersfield broke away and nicked the winner at the end which was a sickening blow.
" The dressing room afterwards was a horrible place to be, to be honest. Everyone was really devastated. A few things were said to try to lift people as we have to carry on.
"We have two games left now where we will display a lot of pride to show the fans that we care."
[A couple of days earlier, Ian Holloway was speaking re Club and Fans
an Holloway speaking a couple days earlier
BBC - April 19, 2001
Thursday, 19 April, 2001,
QPR fans group gets Holloway support
Ian Holloway
Ian Holloway is trying to stave off relegation
Queens Park Rangers manager Ian Holloway has lent his support to the club's fans as they gathered to discuss the London outfit's slide into administration.
About 1,500 supporters attended a public meeting in Hammersmith on Wednesday night and voted overwhelmingly in favour of the formation of a Trust called QPR 1st.
"It's all about togetherness from top to bottom and at the top is our fans," Holloway said.
"Everyone is worried at this moment in time and the more the fans get together the better.
"You don't get anywhere in life without spirit and the fans are joining together to show that.
"Sometimes out of situations like this a club emerges stronger. I hope that will happen here and the fans of this club certainly deserve that to happen.
"QPR has a very real place in the hearts and minds of the people of west London
Local MP Clive Soley
"Nobody knows what the future will bring but there will be a QPR next season, I can assure everyone of that, and I think it will be a stronger QPR."
Representatives of QPR 1st have already held talks with the club's administrators and distributed more than 10,000 leaflets among fans ahead of Rangers' recent home game against Blackburn.
Libby Magrill, spokeswoman for QPR 1st, said: "This is about fans coming together in a time of crisis."
Local MP Clive Soley told the meeting how important the club was to the local community.
"QPR has a very real place in the hearts and minds of the people of west London," he said.
"It is an institution. We must keep it. We don't want it taken over and moved out of the area." BBC
Table, Results and Appearances from 2000-2001Table from 2000-2001
2000-2001 -
2000-2001 Results
QPR's Squad and Goalscorers in 2000-2001 (Crouch Top scorer with 10)
http://stats.football.co.uk/2000/qpr.html
Pos Team Pl W D L F A GD Pts
1. Fulham 46 30 11 5 90 32 +58 101
2. Blackburn Rovers 46 26 13 7 76 39 +37 91
3. Bolton Wanderers 46 24 15 7 76 45 +31 87
4. Preston North End 46 23 9 14 64 52 +12 78
5. Birmingham City 46 23 9 14 59 48 +11 78
6. West Bromwich Albion 46 21 11 14 60 52 +8 74
7. Burnley 46 21 9 16 50 54 -4 72
8. Wimbledon 46 17 18 11 71 50 +21 69
9. Watford 46 20 9 17 76 67 +9 69
10. Sheffield United 46 19 11 16 52 49 +3 68
11. Nottingham Forest 46 20 8 18 55 53 +2 68
12. Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 14 13 19 45 48 -3 55
13. Gillingham 46 13 16 17 61 66 -5 55
14. Crewe Alexandra 46 15 10 21 47 62 -15 55
15. Norwich City 46 14 12 20 46 58 -12 54
16. Barnsley 46 15 9 22 49 62 -13 54
17. Sheffield Wednesday 46 15 8 23 52 71 -19 53
18. Grimsby Town 46 14 10 22 43 62 -19 52
19. Stockport County 46 11 18 17 58 65 -7 51
20. Portsmouth 46 10 19 17 47 59 -12 49
21. Crystal Palace 46 12 13 21 57 70 -13 49
22. Huddersfield Town 46 11 15 20 48 57 -9 48
23. Queens Park Rangers 46 7 19 20 45 75 -30 40
24. Tranmere Rovers 46 9 11 26 46 77 -31 38
OTHER RESULTS THAT DAY OF RELEGATION
Preston 3-2 Watford
Saturday review
Bolton 1-0 Norwich
Burnley 0-0 Birmingham
Gills 1-2 West Brom
Grimsby 0-1 Sheff Utd
Huddersfield 2-1 QPR
Portsmouth 1-1 Fulham
Sheff Wed 2-1 Barnsley
Stockport 3-0 Crewe
Tranmere 1-1 C Palace
Wimbledon 2-1 Forest
Wolves 0-0 Blackburn
STOKE BEAT QPR...QPR Go DOWN
Guardian Report
Stoke City claim rare away win to leave QPR staring into the abyss
Peter Crouch 42, Jonathan Walters 77 pen
John Ashdown at Loftus Road
The Observer, Saturday 20 April 2013 12.15 EDT
Jump to comments (62)
Stoke City scorer Peter Crouch, left, fends off QPR's Tal Ben Haim during the Premier League game at Loftus Road. Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters
Stoke City took a significant stride towards safety and pushed QPR closer to the brink with victory at Loftus Road. Goals from Peter Crouch and Jonathan Walters, from the penalty spot, stopped the Potters' rot and took Tony Pulis's side six points clear of the bottom three.
Aston Villa can provide the last rites for QPR with a win over Manchester United on Monday, but, for Rangers, it has long been a matter of when rather than if. Harry Redknapp shuffled his pack again in an attempt to find a winning hand, with Rob Green, Shaun Derry and Tal Ben Haim making rare starts, but the rejigged lineup failed to remove the sense of perpetual defensive panic that pervades this Rangers team.
Stoke initially failed to test that fragility – one botched break apart – and it was the home side who began the brighter. No team has conceded a greater percentage of goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season than City, a statistic that must stick in the craw of Pulis so fundamental are they to his side's success, and they should have conceded another here in the 17th minute, but Loïc Rémy failed to convert a free header from five yards out after Adel Taarabt's corner.
Asmir Begovic then saved from Rémy and a José Bosingwa free-kick, while a Rob Green fumble that came close to spilling over the line was about as close as Stoke came to a goal until Crouch forced the goalkeeper into a fine save with a volley on the half hour.
Green had no chance with the same player's next effort, though. Marc Wilson robbed Andros Townsend close to halfway and sent a lovely ball down the line for Cameron Jerome, who got the better of Samba, slipped the ball in to Crouch, who sidefooted home under Green from close range.
Ten minutes after the break a superb run and shot from Rémy was halted by an equally fine save from Begovic, but when Taarabt hobbled off awkwardly a minute later any attacking verve QPR possessed went with him.
Indeed, it was little surprise when Stoke doubled their lead. Huth headed on to the post and Hill was adjudged to have held Crouch as he made for the rebound. After being asked to retake because of encroachment, Jon Walters tucked home the penalty. Guardian
Stoke City claim rare away win to leave QPR staring into the abyss
Peter Crouch 42, Jonathan Walters 77 pen
John Ashdown at Loftus Road
The Observer, Saturday 20 April 2013 12.15 EDT
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Stoke City scorer Peter Crouch, left, fends off QPR's Tal Ben Haim during the Premier League game at Loftus Road. Photograph: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters
Stoke City took a significant stride towards safety and pushed QPR closer to the brink with victory at Loftus Road. Goals from Peter Crouch and Jonathan Walters, from the penalty spot, stopped the Potters' rot and took Tony Pulis's side six points clear of the bottom three.
Aston Villa can provide the last rites for QPR with a win over Manchester United on Monday, but, for Rangers, it has long been a matter of when rather than if. Harry Redknapp shuffled his pack again in an attempt to find a winning hand, with Rob Green, Shaun Derry and Tal Ben Haim making rare starts, but the rejigged lineup failed to remove the sense of perpetual defensive panic that pervades this Rangers team.
Stoke initially failed to test that fragility – one botched break apart – and it was the home side who began the brighter. No team has conceded a greater percentage of goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season than City, a statistic that must stick in the craw of Pulis so fundamental are they to his side's success, and they should have conceded another here in the 17th minute, but Loïc Rémy failed to convert a free header from five yards out after Adel Taarabt's corner.
Asmir Begovic then saved from Rémy and a José Bosingwa free-kick, while a Rob Green fumble that came close to spilling over the line was about as close as Stoke came to a goal until Crouch forced the goalkeeper into a fine save with a volley on the half hour.
Green had no chance with the same player's next effort, though. Marc Wilson robbed Andros Townsend close to halfway and sent a lovely ball down the line for Cameron Jerome, who got the better of Samba, slipped the ball in to Crouch, who sidefooted home under Green from close range.
Ten minutes after the break a superb run and shot from Rémy was halted by an equally fine save from Begovic, but when Taarabt hobbled off awkwardly a minute later any attacking verve QPR possessed went with him.
Indeed, it was little surprise when Stoke doubled their lead. Huth headed on to the post and Hill was adjudged to have held Crouch as he made for the rebound. After being asked to retake because of encroachment, Jon Walters tucked home the penalty. Guardian
