-
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for discussion and latest QPR Updates throughout the day
- Chester City Fans Rebuilding From The Ashes
- Ex-QPR Manager Makes League One Team of The Week!
- Sponsor QPR Fan in MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Marathon --- TO SPONSOR (No Amount too Small - or too big!)
QPR 1 Derby 1 - Updated Table
QPR Official Site/Warnock
- Neil Warnock cut a frustrated figure, after seeing his side denied a late spot-kick in the R's 1-1 draw with Derby County.
- Lee Cook's strike on the stroke of half-time was cancelled out by Shaun Barker, but Warnock was left bemoaning the officials' failure to award Rangers a late penalty.
- "The conditions were difficult - especially in the driving rain," said Warnock.
- "I thought the first 20 minutes was the best we've played since I've been here.
- "We scored at the right time, but we threw it away really.
- "It was a very debatable free-kick which led to their goal, and then we're not given a foul late on.
- "Antonio's shirt was definitely pulled, but the linesman reckons he didn't see.
- "I don't want to start telling players to go down, but it makes you wonder.
- "You can see the shirt get pulled and it breaks his stride so it's a foul."
- Warnock added: "I can't fault the players' efforts.
- "They've put in another big shift and we'll do the same against Preston on Saturday." QPR
SPORTING LIFE - WARNOCK - RANGERS DESERVED PENALTY
By Andy Sims, Press Association Sport
- Neil Warnock was back in the old routine of berating the officials after QPR's 1-1 draw with Derby.
- Rangers boss Warnock has been a picture of calm since arriving at Loftus Road from Crystal Palace earlier this month.
- But when young striker Antonio German appeared to get a tug in the area from Russell Anderson two minutes from time, Warnock was left fuming.
- "It was a blatant penalty," he said.
- "I don't need a TV crew to tell me his shirt was being pulled.
- " I asked the referee and he told me he didn't see it, but he saw everything else all night.
- "He's a young lad and do you have to tell him to cheat and go down, is that the only way to get a penalty?
- "It knocked him off his stride. He's frustrated because he knows he would have scored."
- Both these teams will not be sorry to see the back of disappointing seasons but they are making heavy weather of dragging themselves clear of the bottom three - Derby are now six points clear of the drop zone and Rangers a point better off.
- Forgotten man Lee Cook, who has been beset by injuries for the best part of three years, fired Rangers ahead with the last kick of the first half.
- Adel Taarabt, who had Robbie Savage shadowing him all game, for once escaped the Welshman's clutches and played in the unmarked Cook to lash home his first goal since Boxing Day 2008.
- But Derby hit back when centre-half Shaun Barker finished like a striker through a crowd of players in the 67th minute.
- "Shaun was outstanding at both ends, he headed everything and scored what was, for a non-ball playing centre-half, a very good goal and got an important point for us," said Rams boss Nigel Clough.
- "I was unhappy with the manner of the goal we conceded in the 47th minute - if we had made it to half-time then we might have gone on to win it 1-0.
- "I would have taken a point beforehand but I'm disappointed with the manner of the goal we conceded."
- Derby are without a win in five matches but have drawn their last three as they edge towards Clough's survival target of 52 points.
- They held out despite some fierce late pressure from Rangers, with Rowan Vine crashing a shot against the bar five minutes from time.
- "We're unbeaten in three is how I'll look at it," added Clough. "And another seven draws will be enough!" Sporting Life
Times Online/Tom Dart - March 24, 2010 Neil Warnock laments penalty that never was
Queens Park Rangers 1 Derby County 1
These sides inhabit that itchy zone just above the Coca-Cola Championship’s bottom three. We have reached that exciting time of the season when points cushions can be burst or plumped up in a single night – when the results from one round of fixtures can lift a club to near-certain safety or slide them down into peril.
Draws like this one, of course, prolong the purgatory, although it is hard to imagine Queens Park Rangers going down under the stewardship of a manager as shrewd as Neil Warnock.
“First 20 minutes were as good as we’ve played since I’ve been here,” Warnock said. “Overall, I’m pleased with the effort we’re giving. Certain areas we’re lacking but we’re going to have to bite our tongues till the end of the season.
“Roll on summer. I’m looking forward to the challenge. When you get to my age you want to do everything yesterday. I know who I want [to sign], I’ll try and do it as soon as I can. I’ll be negotiating. If you can get one or two of your top targets in early, you’ve got an advantage.”
Warnock is planning to sign one or two players before Thursday’s loan deadline, provided they join with a view to a permanent move. “I don’t want to rush too much, I want to make sure they’re right,” he said.
Not for the first time in his long career – indeed, probably not for the 500th time – Warnock was upset with the performance of a referee. He lambasted Mick Russell and his assistants for failing to spot a late shirt-tug on Antonio German, a substitute.
“It’s a blatant penalty,” he said. “I don’t need a TV crew or the IT guy to show me his shirt being pulled. He’s told me he didn’t see it, but he’s seen everything else all night. [German’s] a young lad. Do you have to tell him to cheat, to go down? You expect professionals to see that and it’s a crucial time, it’s only two minutes to go. He’s very frustrated because he knows he can score.”
Derby County are now without a win in five matches, but considering their dismal away record, they were happy to take a point – their third successive draw. “If we get another seven draws in our last seven games, that will be 52 points and that should be enough,” Nigel Clough, the Derby manager, said.
Sounds about right, but a twist is still possible: both clubs still have to play Crystal Palace, the team occupying 22nd place. Warnock goes back to Selhurst Park on April 10 for a game that will presumably be on the vindaloo side of spicy, then Derby host Palace a week later.
The Loftus Road loyalists were so enthralled by their side’s early dominance that for several minutes they forgot to boo Robbie Savage. What a way to treat football’s favourite pantomime villain.
Rangers were rampant in the first ten minutes, forcing two fine saves from Stephen Bywater. Derby contributed to their own problems, their players shanking clearances sideways or backwards like golfers with the yips.
Shortly before the quarter-hour, Alejandro Faurlin even felt bold enough to test Stephen Bywater, the Derby goalkeeper, with a drive from 30 yards that forced him into an unconvincing parry.
They could hardly have been worse, but soon Derby were much better. With Savage a more influential figure, they punted a couple of crosses into the box, but Carl Ikeme, the QPR goalkeeper, was not tested in earnest until a tame free kick from Savage after 32 minutes that was easily saved.
QPR’s initial fluency had vanished into the ether, and they were strangely subdued as the half wore on. After 39 minutes, though, the gloves were off. Literally. Adel Taarabt flung his pair to the dugout after one came off when the midfield player was hauled down by Savage. This cynical attempt to scupper a dangerous-looking QPR breakaway merited a yellow card, but Russell was bafflingly lenient, as he was all night.
A goalless first period seemed inevitable, but QPR took the lead from nowhere seconds before the break. Taarabt raced forward down the right and his clever diagonal pass caught out the Derby defence. Lee Cook collected it, made space for a shot and smashed a low drive past Bywater. It was the injury-hit winger’s first goal since Boxing Day 2008.
Having failed to make the most of their purple patch, QPR found the net when they looked least dangerous. “A highly unprofessional goal,” Clough said. “We keep on at them about learning and learning, and they’ve got to learn quicker than that.”
The second half was a tedious stalemate until a sudden, and excellent, equaliser from Shaun Barker after 67 minutes. Despite a posse of bodies obstructing his path to goal, he brought the ball down near the penalty spot and gave Ikeme no chance with a precise, low drive. The manager’s praise was not gushing, exactly. “For a non-ball-playing centre half, quite a skilful goal,” Clough said. “He’s not the most comfortable with the ball.”
QPR then awoke and were the more threatening and inventive team for the rest of the match, but Rowan Vine bashing the ball against the crossbar in the last ten minutes was as close as they came.
Queens Park Rangers (4-4-2): C Ikeme – P Ramage, D Stewart, K Gorkss, M Connolly (sub: M Hill, 33min) — L Cook (sub: A German, 59), M Leigertwood, A Faurlin, A Tarrabt – J Simpson (sub: H Ephraim, 78), R Vine. Substitutes not used: R Cerny, A Buzsaky, A Balanta, T Priskin. Booked: Faurlin.
Derby County (4-1-4-1): S Bywater – N Hunt (sub: S Davies, 60), S Barker, R Anderson, J McEveley – R Savage – G Sunu (sub: D Leacock, 46), M Tonge, P Green, S Pearson – C Porter (sub: R Hulse, 82). Substitutes not used: D Martin, G Teale, D Moxey, D Martin. Booked: Leacock The Times
SPORTING LIFE
Shaun Barker rescued a point for Derby as QPR and the Rams both eased another notch clear of the relegation zone.
Forgotten man Lee Cook, making a rare start for Rangers, had fired Neil Warnock's side into the lead in first-half stoppage time with his first goal since Boxing Day 2008.
But centre-half Barker finished more like a striker after the break to peg the hosts back with his fourth goal of the season.
Rangers came agonisingly close to snatching the win when Rowan Vine rattled the woodwork late on, but County escaped with a valuable point.
Both these teams will not be sorry to see the back of disappointing seasons but they are making heavy weather of dragging themselves clear of the bottom three - Rangers have not won in four and Derby in five.
Nigel Clough will not be relaxing just yet but his Rams side now have a handy six-point cushion while QPR lie a point and a place better off.
Yet Clough's side could have been two down in the opening five minutes but for goalkeeper Stephen Bywater, who dived low to his left to keep out Jay Simpson's shot before tipping a fierce angled drive from Matt Connolly over the top.
The visitors hit back with Rangers keeper Carl Ikeme saving from Barker's header and holding onto a curling free-kick from Robbie Savage.
The set-piece made a welcome change for Savage, who spent the rest of the first half man-marking Rangers playmaker Adel Taarabt, snapping away at the Moroccan's heels, chirping in his ear and generally irritating the home crowd in his own inimitable style.
However, in stoppage time, Taarabt finally escaped the Welshman's clutches and played a diagonal ball to Cook.
The winger, who has been beset by injuries for the best part of three years, was left with far too much room to lash his shot inside Bywater's near post with the last kick of the half.
Rangers had a let-off six minutes after the break when Chris Porter was robbed by Damion Stewart as he shaped to tap in from six yards.
But Derby did draw level in the 67th minute when Rangers failed to deal with Savage's high free-kick into the area and Barker was on hand to lash the loose ball through a crowd of defenders and past the helpless Ikeme.
Rangers had the better chances to win it with Taarabt and Alejandro Faurlin both firing narrowly wide, before Vine crashed his shot against the crossbar with five minutes remaining. Sporting Life
QPR Official Site
Lee Cook's stunning low drive was not enough to give QPR victory against Derby, but the 1-1 draw means they do still remain unbeaten in four at Loftus Road under Neil Warnock's stewardship.
Rangers took the lead on the stroke of half-time, after Taarabt's sublime through ball found Cook on the edge of the area, who blasted home into the left-hand bottom corner.
It proved to be not enough for the R's, however, and when a Robbie Savage free-kick failed to be cleared, Shaun Barker was on hand to smash home from inside the box.
QPR pressed for a second goal late on. Though County, to their credit, held firm to seal a draw.
R's chief Warnock made four changes for the visit of the Rams.
Damion Stewart returned to the side after suspension, while Rowan Vine, Cook and Jay Simpson were also included amongst the starting XI.
That meant that Akos Buzsaky, Matt Hill, Hogan Ephraim and Tamas Priskin all had to make do with a place on the bench for the hosts.
Rangers stuck with Carl Ikeme in goal, with a back four of Peter Ramage, Stewart, Kaspars Gorkss and Matt Connolly.
The midfield quartet consisted of Cook, Mikele Leigertwood, Alejandro Faurlin and Vine on the left.
Taarabt joined Simpson in attack.
On a rainsoaked evening in the capital, it was the R's who were out of the traps quickest.
Taarabt went racing down the left before he cut in and curled a shot in at goal from the edge of the penalty area that was blocked away by Barker for a corner kick.
From the resultant set-piece, Taarabt's corner from the left-hand side swung dangerous towards the goal before Stephen Bywater did well to rise and claim the ball.
Soon after, Connolly breezed past two men just past midway before he played a cutting reverse through pass to Taarabt, and the magical Moroccan forced a fine low save from Bywater.
The Hoops continued to press in numbers, and the Derby keeper was forced into another fine save after Connolly latched on to Faurlin's pass to blast in a rasping shot that was beaten clear.
This was fast becoming one-way traffic, with Rangers camped in the County half.
Moments later, Faurlin received the ball around 35-yards out before he produced a thunderous low drive that was well saved by Bywater for County.
Lovely play between Cook, Leigertwood and Vine eventually saw the former send in a low effort from the right that was blocked away for a corner.
The visiting side had their first effort on target. After a free-kick was played from deep into Gilless Sunu, he nodded on into path of Chris Porter, who headed straight at Ikeme in the R's goal.
Derby, by now, had weathered the R's storm, and Savage then saw his bending free-kick saved by Rangers stopper Ikeme soon after.
QPR were soon back on the attack though and after Taarabt did well to ride a number of challenges, he dragged a shot well wide of Bywater's left-hand post with the half-time whistle fast approaching.
Just before the interval, QPR took a well-earned lead.
Taarabt made the goal, winning the ball just short of the halfway line before he drove at the Derby rearguard and slipped the ball through to Cook on the left-hand edge of the penalty area.
Unmarked but at a tight angle, Cook drilled the ball low past Bywater who had no chance for the Rams.
The rain was unrelenting at the start of the second half, and it was Derby who were almost handed an equaliser after a mistake from Ikeme.
Michael Tonge's superb delivery from the left was too hot for Ikeme to handle, and Stewart had to be alert to sweep the ball out just as it looked as though striker Porter would slot home.
Just short of the hour mark, Antonio German replaced Cook, who was given a standing ovation for his opener as he came off.
Shortly after, the Loftus Road crowd were silenced as County notched a surprise equalising goal.
When a free-kick was played by Savage from deep into the box, Rangers failed to clear the bouncing ball before Barker lashed home when free to draw the Rams level.
Undeterred the R's still continued to get forward in this highly-charged fixture.
Taarabt was still firmly in the thick of the play for the hosts, and he drove at the Derby defence before powering a shot just wide.
Soon after, Faurlin went even closer still and his rasping effort was blocked away for a corner.
Rangers then went within inches of stealing the points, though when German and Ephraim both combined to play in Vine on the edge of the box, his effort smashed against the crossbar and went over.
QPR: Ikeme, Ramage, Stewart, Leigertwood, Vine, Gorkss, Connolly (Hill 33), Cook (German 59), Faurlin, Simpson (Ephraim 78), Taarabt.
Subs: Cerny, Buzsaky, Balanta, Priskin.
Goals: Cook (45)
Bookings: Faurlin
Derby County: Bywater, McEveley, Green, Savage, Porter (Hulse 82), Barker, Pearson, Tonge, Hunt (Davies 61), Anderson, Sunu (Leacock 46).
Subs: David Martin, Teale, Moxey, Dave Martin.
Goals: Barker (67) Bookings: Leacock Referee: Mr K K Wright Attendance: 12, 569
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~48802,00.html
Derby County Official Site
Shaun Barker's fourth goal of the season secured a valuable point for Derby County on their travels at Queens Park Rangers this evening.
The defender crashed home midway through the second half to cancel out Lee Cook's opener for Neil Warnock's side in 1st half injury time to make it a third successive draw for the Rams in the Championship.
Nigel Clough chose to recall skipper Robbie Savage to the Derby midfield at Loftus Road, with Rob Hulse making way to the bench.
That meant Chris Porter led the line alone, but with the creative influence of Michael Tonge playing just off the former Motherwell striker.
Derby had to contend with a barrage of early Rangers pressure and Stephen Bywater was forced into 3 fine stops.
His first save came on 6 minutes to turn away Jay Simpson's powerful low shot from inside the box.
Seconds later he was performing heroics once again, this time pushing away a stinging effort from Matthew Connolly after cutting inside from the left-hand side.
Bywater's next impressive stop came on the 15 minute mark diving full length to his left to push Faurlin's 35-yard drive away to safety as the early pressure continued in the driving rain from the home side.
After putting their bodies on the line and defending well as a team unit Derby grew in confidence and on the lush playing surface at Loftus Road and began to put the home side on the back foot.
Porter was inches away from meeting a dangerous cross from Gilles Sunu at the midway point of the half as Derby launched a spell of pressure on the QPR goal Ikeme made his first save a minute later to gather a looping header from Barker.
Savage tested Ikeme with a free-kick inside the 'D' on the half hour, but he wasn't able to repeat his goalscoring exploits as he did in this season's earlier meeting at Pride Park and the on-loan Wolves goalkeeper saved easily.
In first half injury time the deadlock was broken as Rangers hit Derby on the counter attack. A sweeping move resulted in the ball being moved out wide to Lee Cook in a one-on-one situation against Nicky Hunt and he crashed home a low drive from 18 yards beyond the helpless Bywater.
Clough made a change at the interval with Dean Leacock on for Gilles Sunu, with Nicky Hunt pushing further forwards to the right-hand side of midfield.
Chasing the equaliser Derby started the 2nd half brightly ad a corner from Tonge saw Ikeme spill the ball in the slippery conditions but Stewart hacked away on his own goal-line with Porter ready to pounce.
Derby made another attack-minded change on the hour, introducing Steven Davies into the game in place of Hunt on the right of midfield.
And Derby's persistence finally paid off on 67 minutes when up from the back Shaun Barker crashed home a well-taken equaliser.
A free-kick into the Rangers box wasn't dealt with sufficiently and Barker took full advantage by bringing the ball under control, steadying himself and then crashing a low shot past the motionless Ikeme to send the away fans in the lower tier behind the goal into raptures.
With their tails up, Derby weren't sitting back and content to hold out for a point and they continued to force the issue.
The home crowd were becoming increasingly frustrated with their side, playing right into Derby's hands as the final 15 minutes approached.
Inevitably the home side did put together a late spell of pressure which called for more heroic defending from Derby's defence, with Anderson and Barker both outstanding throughout.
Hulse came on for Porter with 8 minutes left to provide fresh legs in attack, but it was the home side who came closest to a winner with a few minutes left when Rowan Vine crashed a stunning volley off the crossbar.
With that Derby breathed a big sigh of relief because defeat for another battling away display would have been exceptionally harsh, especially after showing great spirit and determination to come back from a goal down away from home...
Attendance: 12,569 (783 Derby County fans) Derby
BBC
1 Newcastle 38 44 80
2 West Brom 38 34 75
3 Nottm Forest 39 23 70
4 Leicester 37 11 61
5 Swansea 39 2 61
6 Cardiff 37 16 58
7 Blackpool 39 10 54
8 Middlesbrough 39 9 53
9 Sheff Utd 38 3 53
10 Doncaster 39 3 52
11 Coventry 38 -7 51
12 Bristol City 39 -10 49
13 Barnsley 38 -12 49
14 Reading 36 -3 48
15 Preston 39 -10 48
16 Ipswich 39 -8 47
17 QPR 38 -5 46
18 Derby 39 -11 45
19 Scunthorpe 38 -19 44
20 Watford 36 -8 42
21 Sheff Wed 38 -18 40
22 Crystal Palace 38 -4 39
23 Plymouth 38 -15 37
24 Peterborough 39 -25 30
- QPR/Swansea Football Violence Update
Welcome to QPR REPORT - A completely unofficial and unaffiliated fan site focusing on G-d's Chosen Team, Queen's Park Rangers (QPR) FC. (Visit also QPR Report Messageboard and Follow on Twitter.) QPR Report accepts no sponsorship, advertising or financial contributions. In 2008, QPR Report was named as one of the top two blogs in the Football League
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
QPR Stadium Tour Availability...Playing at QPR Option
-
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for discussion and latest QPR Updates throughout the day
- Ex-QPR Manager Makes League One Team of The Week!
- QPR/Swansea Football Violence Update
- Next: Derby County...Coming By Train
QPR In The Community Trust
Stadium Tours
Follow in the footsteps of your QPR legends..
Limber up in the dressing room.
Stroll down the players' tunnel.
Stand at the edge of the pitch and soak up the atmosphere of the famous Loftus Road Stadium.
The Loftus Road Experience gives fans the chance to go behind-the-scenes at one of the most historic football clubs in London.
Bring your family and friends, orgainise a group trip or a school visit - everyone is welcome at Loftus Road!
Built in 1904, Loftus Road Stadium is steeped in tradition. The loftus Road Experience is your chance to share in the heritage and history of the Club in the form of a unique, personally-guided stadium tour. Lasting approximately 45 minutes, the Loftus Road Experience is a must for every R's supporter.
Tour Highlights include:
The players' tunnel
Dressing rooms
Team dugouts
Executive boxes
The Directors' box
Press conference room
Executive reception
W12 and C Club
QPR Boutique
The Superstore
Pricing and Availability
Adults: £10pp
Children: £5pp
There is a maximum of 15 people per group.
Tours are Monday - Friday, plus Saturday match days only.
Tours are between 10am - 4pm, every hour.
On weekend match days, the final tour leaves at 11:30am.
How to Book http://www.qprcommunitytrust.co.uk/book-stadium-tour.aspx
Enquire online >
Print the booking form and post it to us.
Phone 020 8740 2509 between Mon - Fri 9am -5pm
http://www.qprcommunitytrust.co.uk/Stadium-Tours.aspx
Book a Stadium Tour
How to Book Print the booking form and post it to us
Phone 020 8740 2509 between Mon - Fri 9am -5pm
Click here for more information about our stadium tours >
Or fill in the form below if you wish to enquire:
Email * * Please enter your e-mail address Name * * Please enter your name School/Company Name Phone * * Please enter your phone number Preferred Tour Date Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday (Match days only)
Time Slot (On weekend, final match day tour departs at 11:30am) 10am
11am 12pm 1pm 2pm 3pm 4pm
Number of Adults Number of Children Additional Information
- To Book Tour
QPR Official Site - PLAY AT LOFTUS ROAD
Posted on: Tue 23 Mar 2010
Football Aid, in association with QPR, are once again giving fans the opportunity to pull on their very own Club kit and take part in a unique match on the hallowed turf at Loftus Road.
Taking part alongside the fortunate fans, and helping to guide them through their paces, will be former players of the Club - with Marc Bircham already confirmed to play for the home team!
Due to a couple of cancellations there are now three final 'Buy Now' positions still available for this game. The positions available (for 45 minutes of action) are:
Away No 5 Centre Half - available for £175
Away No 6 Centre Midfield - available for £185
Away No 14 Centre Midfield - available for £185.
Getting involved couldn't be easier, just visit www.footballaid.com, select QPR and the position you want to play in!
After arriving at the ground the players will be taken to a hospitality suite to meet the rest of their team, before being ushered down to the First Team dressing rooms to get changed into their very own fully personalised Club kit.
Then it's out onto the hallowed turf to get warmed up before playing a unique 90 minute match, under the watchful gaze of four qualified match officials, alongside former R's including Bircham.
Post-match awards will be presented after the game for both man-of-the-match and moment-of-the-match.
So why not visit www.footballaid.com now to find out how you could Live the Dream at Loftus Road on Tuesday 4th May 2010?
Alternatively, if you'd like more information, e-mail the Football Aid team at info@footballaid.com or call us on 0131 220 5999.
Since Football Aid's debut season in 2001, supporters from all over the world have been coming together to raise significant funds for our nominated charities.
Funds raised from our events are distributed through Football Aid's parent charity Field of Dreams and split between Diabetes related projects and charities nominated by our participating clubs. Past charitable beneficiaries nominated by Queens Park Rangers have included St Stephen's Primary School and the QPR Community Trust.
These donations, alongside funds donated by other clubs to local and national projects, will allow Football Aid to pledge its £1.5 millionth to charity this season. QPR
- Birthdays for Robbie James (RIP) and Gary Penrice
- FA Chief Ian Whatmore Quits
- More TV Money to Premier Clubs
- Newcastle Training Ground Bustup (One Broken Jaw)
- Opportunity to Sponsor QPR Fan in MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Marathon --- TO SPONSOR
-VIDEO Flashback: Chelsea vs QPR from 1981
- QPR Fined by the Football League
- Mike Keen Tribute Match at Wycombe
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for discussion and latest QPR Updates throughout the day
- Ex-QPR Manager Makes League One Team of The Week!
- QPR/Swansea Football Violence Update
- Next: Derby County...Coming By Train
QPR In The Community Trust
Stadium Tours
Follow in the footsteps of your QPR legends..
Limber up in the dressing room.
Stroll down the players' tunnel.
Stand at the edge of the pitch and soak up the atmosphere of the famous Loftus Road Stadium.
The Loftus Road Experience gives fans the chance to go behind-the-scenes at one of the most historic football clubs in London.
Bring your family and friends, orgainise a group trip or a school visit - everyone is welcome at Loftus Road!
Built in 1904, Loftus Road Stadium is steeped in tradition. The loftus Road Experience is your chance to share in the heritage and history of the Club in the form of a unique, personally-guided stadium tour. Lasting approximately 45 minutes, the Loftus Road Experience is a must for every R's supporter.
Tour Highlights include:
The players' tunnel
Dressing rooms
Team dugouts
Executive boxes
The Directors' box
Press conference room
Executive reception
W12 and C Club
QPR Boutique
The Superstore
Pricing and Availability
Adults: £10pp
Children: £5pp
There is a maximum of 15 people per group.
Tours are Monday - Friday, plus Saturday match days only.
Tours are between 10am - 4pm, every hour.
On weekend match days, the final tour leaves at 11:30am.
How to Book http://www.qprcommunitytrust.co.uk/book-stadium-tour.aspx
Enquire online >
Print the booking form and post it to us.
Phone 020 8740 2509 between Mon - Fri 9am -5pm
http://www.qprcommunitytrust.co.uk/Stadium-Tours.aspx
Book a Stadium Tour
How to Book Print the booking form and post it to us
Phone 020 8740 2509 between Mon - Fri 9am -5pm
Click here for more information about our stadium tours >
Or fill in the form below if you wish to enquire:
Email * * Please enter your e-mail address Name * * Please enter your name School/Company Name Phone * * Please enter your phone number Preferred Tour Date Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday (Match days only)
Time Slot (On weekend, final match day tour departs at 11:30am) 10am
11am 12pm 1pm 2pm 3pm 4pm
Number of Adults Number of Children Additional Information
- To Book Tour
QPR Official Site - PLAY AT LOFTUS ROAD
Posted on: Tue 23 Mar 2010
Football Aid, in association with QPR, are once again giving fans the opportunity to pull on their very own Club kit and take part in a unique match on the hallowed turf at Loftus Road.
Taking part alongside the fortunate fans, and helping to guide them through their paces, will be former players of the Club - with Marc Bircham already confirmed to play for the home team!
Due to a couple of cancellations there are now three final 'Buy Now' positions still available for this game. The positions available (for 45 minutes of action) are:
Away No 5 Centre Half - available for £175
Away No 6 Centre Midfield - available for £185
Away No 14 Centre Midfield - available for £185.
Getting involved couldn't be easier, just visit www.footballaid.com, select QPR and the position you want to play in!
After arriving at the ground the players will be taken to a hospitality suite to meet the rest of their team, before being ushered down to the First Team dressing rooms to get changed into their very own fully personalised Club kit.
Then it's out onto the hallowed turf to get warmed up before playing a unique 90 minute match, under the watchful gaze of four qualified match officials, alongside former R's including Bircham.
Post-match awards will be presented after the game for both man-of-the-match and moment-of-the-match.
So why not visit www.footballaid.com now to find out how you could Live the Dream at Loftus Road on Tuesday 4th May 2010?
Alternatively, if you'd like more information, e-mail the Football Aid team at info@footballaid.com or call us on 0131 220 5999.
Since Football Aid's debut season in 2001, supporters from all over the world have been coming together to raise significant funds for our nominated charities.
Funds raised from our events are distributed through Football Aid's parent charity Field of Dreams and split between Diabetes related projects and charities nominated by our participating clubs. Past charitable beneficiaries nominated by Queens Park Rangers have included St Stephen's Primary School and the QPR Community Trust.
These donations, alongside funds donated by other clubs to local and national projects, will allow Football Aid to pledge its £1.5 millionth to charity this season. QPR
- Birthdays for Robbie James (RIP) and Gary Penrice
- FA Chief Ian Whatmore Quits
- More TV Money to Premier Clubs
- Newcastle Training Ground Bustup (One Broken Jaw)
- Opportunity to Sponsor QPR Fan in MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Marathon --- TO SPONSOR
-VIDEO Flashback: Chelsea vs QPR from 1981
- QPR Fined by the Football League
- Mike Keen Tribute Match at Wycombe
QPR Report Tuesday Snippets
-
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for discussion and latest QPR Updates throughout the day
- Birthdays for Robbie James (RIP) and Gary Penrice
- FA Chief Ian Whatmore Quits
- More TV Money to Premier Clubs
- Newcastle Training Ground Bustup (One Broken Jaw)
- Opportunity to Sponsor QPR Fan in MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Marathon --- TO SPONSOR
- Next: Derby County
Coming by train! -Derby Telegraph Rams let train take the strain as they head for the capital
DERBY County will travel to tonight's Championship clash away to Queens Park Rangers by train.
They will catch the 10am train from Derby and arrive at St Pancras at 11.35am where they will be met by the team coach and taken to their hotel.
After the game, which kicks off at Loftus Road at 8pm, they will return to Derby by coach.
"There's a few clubs that do it (travel by train)," said manager Nigel Clough.
"Normally, we would have to go overnight because you can't risk the roads.
"You cannot do it on a coach in the time it takes on the train. You would have to allow three hours at least, and it's in the centre of London as well.
"On the train, the players can get up and stretch their legs a bit more than you can on a coach, but it's really to cut down the amount of travelling time.
"You spend a lot of hours on a coach during the season and especially when you are going south it can be more of a problem.
"If you get an accident on the M1, you can be sat on a bus for four hours which we don't want to do."
Derby could make changes tonight.
The Rams collected a point in Saturday's goalless draw at Sheffield Wednesday to stay five clear of the bottom three in the Championship.
Skipper Robbie Savage was rested against Wednesday – the first time he had not started a league game this season.
The 35-year-old midfielder came on as a substitute after 80 minutes and he is an option for Clough.
"We are throwing one or two ideas around at the moment," said the Rams manager.
"They (QPR) are playing a different formation, or have been doing. Whether they change or not, we don't know, so we might change to accomodate them a little bit."
Derby are looking to reach 50 points as soon as possible.
They are on 44 with eight games left, and it remains tight at the bottom end of the table.
"That's why we have been saying for the last few weeks, let's get some points on the board," said Clough.
"We haven't quite managed to get as many as we hoped, and other teams have picked up surprising results as well.
"Things can change quickly. You only have to look at the fixtures in the next two nights. Sc*n*horpe are at home to Peterborough and Sheffield Wednesday at home to Watford. Both could be home wins.
"That's why we want to get to 50 as quickly as we can which is two wins, so we could be there by Saturday tea-time.
"That is the incentive and the aim, but the way the form has been a little bit hit-and-miss of late it will probably be a case of grinding them out more than getting two quick wins, we think.
"Over the last 38 games we haven't had enough draws, but at this stage a win or two will make a huge difference to the table."
Rangers beat Derby 4-2 at Pride Park in October.
"They did turn us over and we probably played them at their absolute maximum that day. They were scoring goals and looking dangerous," said Clough.
"It's been a different story since that game really. Anybody leaving Pride Park that day would've said they'd be in the top six at the end of the season. But they're in the lower reaches with ourselves." Derby Telegraph
This is South Wales - Swans fans escorted by police after clash
Monday, March 22, 2010, 18:00
- VIOLENCE broke out following Swansea City's Championship clash with Queens Park Rangers on Saturday evening.
Police were forced to intervene as up to 100 fans clashed outside Loftus Road in London's Shepherds Bush.
- It is understood that between 50 and 100 fans were led away by officers outside the ground.
A spokesman for London Metropolitan Police said: "A disturbance occurred outside the ground at approximately 5pm between supporters from both clubs. Officers moved quickly to diffuse the situation and escorted the Swansea fans away from the conflict."
One eyewitness said: "As we left the stadium the police led us up a road and past a local pub called the Springbok where the trouble started.
"There seemed to be a skirmish.
"You could see glasses being thrown but police reacted very quickly.
"There was another scuffle outside White City tube station later on."
Trouble spilled into the streets after Swansea fans were left frustrated inside the ground as their Championship game finished one apiece.
However, police were unable to confirm whether there had been any arrests.
Swans manager Paulo Sousa, returning to West London for the first time since he was sacked by QPR in April last year, had criticised Rangers boss Neil Warnock's physical approach to games in the build-up.
And Warnock, speaking after the game, made his own dig at Swansea.
He said: "I did tell the players not to tackle today so as not to upset Paulo."
Meanwhile, on social networking website Twitter, some QPR fans have hit out at the behaviour of Swansea supporters.
Sonnypike posted: "Swansea fans starting a fight with a police horse. A special kind of class."
And another Twitter post from ukcomic said: "Just had to run with my 10-year-old to get out of a fight between Swansea City and QPR supporters.
"It was like the 1970s again." This is South Wales
-VIDEO Flashback: Chelsea vs QPR from 1981
- QPR Fined by the Football League
- Mike Keen Tribute Match at Wycombe
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for discussion and latest QPR Updates throughout the day
- Birthdays for Robbie James (RIP) and Gary Penrice
- FA Chief Ian Whatmore Quits
- More TV Money to Premier Clubs
- Newcastle Training Ground Bustup (One Broken Jaw)
- Opportunity to Sponsor QPR Fan in MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Marathon --- TO SPONSOR
- Next: Derby County
Coming by train! -Derby Telegraph Rams let train take the strain as they head for the capital
DERBY County will travel to tonight's Championship clash away to Queens Park Rangers by train.
They will catch the 10am train from Derby and arrive at St Pancras at 11.35am where they will be met by the team coach and taken to their hotel.
After the game, which kicks off at Loftus Road at 8pm, they will return to Derby by coach.
"There's a few clubs that do it (travel by train)," said manager Nigel Clough.
"Normally, we would have to go overnight because you can't risk the roads.
"You cannot do it on a coach in the time it takes on the train. You would have to allow three hours at least, and it's in the centre of London as well.
"On the train, the players can get up and stretch their legs a bit more than you can on a coach, but it's really to cut down the amount of travelling time.
"You spend a lot of hours on a coach during the season and especially when you are going south it can be more of a problem.
"If you get an accident on the M1, you can be sat on a bus for four hours which we don't want to do."
Derby could make changes tonight.
The Rams collected a point in Saturday's goalless draw at Sheffield Wednesday to stay five clear of the bottom three in the Championship.
Skipper Robbie Savage was rested against Wednesday – the first time he had not started a league game this season.
The 35-year-old midfielder came on as a substitute after 80 minutes and he is an option for Clough.
"We are throwing one or two ideas around at the moment," said the Rams manager.
"They (QPR) are playing a different formation, or have been doing. Whether they change or not, we don't know, so we might change to accomodate them a little bit."
Derby are looking to reach 50 points as soon as possible.
They are on 44 with eight games left, and it remains tight at the bottom end of the table.
"That's why we have been saying for the last few weeks, let's get some points on the board," said Clough.
"We haven't quite managed to get as many as we hoped, and other teams have picked up surprising results as well.
"Things can change quickly. You only have to look at the fixtures in the next two nights. Sc*n*horpe are at home to Peterborough and Sheffield Wednesday at home to Watford. Both could be home wins.
"That's why we want to get to 50 as quickly as we can which is two wins, so we could be there by Saturday tea-time.
"That is the incentive and the aim, but the way the form has been a little bit hit-and-miss of late it will probably be a case of grinding them out more than getting two quick wins, we think.
"Over the last 38 games we haven't had enough draws, but at this stage a win or two will make a huge difference to the table."
Rangers beat Derby 4-2 at Pride Park in October.
"They did turn us over and we probably played them at their absolute maximum that day. They were scoring goals and looking dangerous," said Clough.
"It's been a different story since that game really. Anybody leaving Pride Park that day would've said they'd be in the top six at the end of the season. But they're in the lower reaches with ourselves." Derby Telegraph
This is South Wales - Swans fans escorted by police after clash
Monday, March 22, 2010, 18:00
- VIOLENCE broke out following Swansea City's Championship clash with Queens Park Rangers on Saturday evening.
Police were forced to intervene as up to 100 fans clashed outside Loftus Road in London's Shepherds Bush.
- It is understood that between 50 and 100 fans were led away by officers outside the ground.
A spokesman for London Metropolitan Police said: "A disturbance occurred outside the ground at approximately 5pm between supporters from both clubs. Officers moved quickly to diffuse the situation and escorted the Swansea fans away from the conflict."
One eyewitness said: "As we left the stadium the police led us up a road and past a local pub called the Springbok where the trouble started.
"There seemed to be a skirmish.
"You could see glasses being thrown but police reacted very quickly.
"There was another scuffle outside White City tube station later on."
Trouble spilled into the streets after Swansea fans were left frustrated inside the ground as their Championship game finished one apiece.
However, police were unable to confirm whether there had been any arrests.
Swans manager Paulo Sousa, returning to West London for the first time since he was sacked by QPR in April last year, had criticised Rangers boss Neil Warnock's physical approach to games in the build-up.
And Warnock, speaking after the game, made his own dig at Swansea.
He said: "I did tell the players not to tackle today so as not to upset Paulo."
Meanwhile, on social networking website Twitter, some QPR fans have hit out at the behaviour of Swansea supporters.
Sonnypike posted: "Swansea fans starting a fight with a police horse. A special kind of class."
And another Twitter post from ukcomic said: "Just had to run with my 10-year-old to get out of a fight between Swansea City and QPR supporters.
"It was like the 1970s again." This is South Wales
-VIDEO Flashback: Chelsea vs QPR from 1981
- QPR Fined by the Football League
- Mike Keen Tribute Match at Wycombe
Monday, March 22, 2010
QPR Report Monday Snippets...Lee Cook on Neil Warnock
-
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for discussion and latest QPR Updates throughout the day
- Opportunity to Sponsor QPR Fan in MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Marathon --- TO SPONSOR
- Next: Derby County
-VIDEO Flashback: Chelsea vs QPR from 1981
- QPR Fined by the Football League
- Mike Keen Tribute Match at Wycombe
- Nice flashback to a Graham Greene/The Times match report of QPR vs Blackpool from the Rodney Marsh/Mike Keen magic 1967/68 Season:
- "....As for Marsh himself he remains the individualist and the entertainer he will always be. Hooked up a number of times in full artistic flow he always managed to turn the ire of others to laughter in the fluent manner of his falling. He should be a tumbler or a clown in a circus.
- Let as a footballer he is no clown. He may not suit the planners or those who worship method. But he makes the crowd purr and it was now only the howling gale, two great saves by Taylor and those illegal last ditch obstructions that kept him out of the score line.
- But if Marsh raises the cry of "Rod-ney, Rod-ney!" from the terraces, the steady pulse of this Rangers` side beats in their captain, Keen. Unhurried, long legged, deep thinking and one-paced not unlike Crerand, of Manchester United - he prods his men on week after week from no man`s land. Quiet but keen, he is well named."
- Raheem Sterling: Off to Vietnam
- Birthday for Gary Micklewhite
- Borrowdale Makes His Charlton Debut
Daily Mirror/Nick Ive - -QPR 1-1 Swansea: - Lee Cook Perspective
- Lee Cook admits avoiding the drop is QPR’s sole aim this season - but the midfielder believes the good times are just around the corner under new boss Neil Warnock.
- Warnock has breathed new life into Rangers following a season of turmoil and the Londoners took another step towards safety by fighting back to salvage a point against high-flying Swansea.
And QPR fan Cook is confident that the colourful boss, who has suffered just one defeat matches in charge, will transform the fortunes of the Londoners once he has had a chance to stamp his authority on the team.
The 61-year-old, the fifth different manager to take the reins at Loftus Road this season, will be given funds to bring in new faces and move on any dead wood in the summer.
And Cook, who made his mark as a second-half substitute, declared: “I’m really looking forward to impressing him and getting a few goals.
- “It’s been a difficult season but we can finish on a high under the boss.
"At the end of the day he’s on our side now and I think because of that you stand more chance of winning.
“We can now go for it. Everyone knows we are working hard and pulling together. The work-rate of the boys has been upped by 20 per cent. I think there are good times ahead.”
Had QPR appointed Warnock earlier in the campaign then Cook believes a dramatic assault on the play-offs would not have been out of the question.
“The realistic target is to get safe,” added the midfielder. “But maybe we’d be going for the play-offs if Warnock had come in earlier.
“Amazingly we won one game in 13 and then after a couple of wins people were saying we were in reach of the play-offs.
It’s disappointing but all we can do now is look to the future.”
Promotion-chasing Swansea opened the scoring after 57 minutes through Nathan Dyer, but 18-year-old substitute Antonio German salvaged a point for the home side 14 minutes before time when he crashed home from close range.
It was Swans boss Paulo Sousa’s first return to Loftus Road since he was sacked last April and Spanish defender Angel Rangel offered his sympathy that they were unable to hold out for a victory.
Rangel said: “It was special for him coming back as he really liked it at Loftus Road and we are just disappointed we couldn’t get the win.
“But at this stage of the season a point away from home is good.
“I don’t think we can finish in the top two now, but the aim is just to finish in the play-offs Mirror
- QPR vs Swansea: Earlier Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for discussion and latest QPR Updates throughout the day
- Opportunity to Sponsor QPR Fan in MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Marathon --- TO SPONSOR
- Next: Derby County
-VIDEO Flashback: Chelsea vs QPR from 1981
- QPR Fined by the Football League
- Mike Keen Tribute Match at Wycombe
- Nice flashback to a Graham Greene/The Times match report of QPR vs Blackpool from the Rodney Marsh/Mike Keen magic 1967/68 Season:
- "....As for Marsh himself he remains the individualist and the entertainer he will always be. Hooked up a number of times in full artistic flow he always managed to turn the ire of others to laughter in the fluent manner of his falling. He should be a tumbler or a clown in a circus.
- Let as a footballer he is no clown. He may not suit the planners or those who worship method. But he makes the crowd purr and it was now only the howling gale, two great saves by Taylor and those illegal last ditch obstructions that kept him out of the score line.
- But if Marsh raises the cry of "Rod-ney, Rod-ney!" from the terraces, the steady pulse of this Rangers` side beats in their captain, Keen. Unhurried, long legged, deep thinking and one-paced not unlike Crerand, of Manchester United - he prods his men on week after week from no man`s land. Quiet but keen, he is well named."
- Raheem Sterling: Off to Vietnam
- Birthday for Gary Micklewhite
- Borrowdale Makes His Charlton Debut
Daily Mirror/Nick Ive - -QPR 1-1 Swansea: - Lee Cook Perspective
- Lee Cook admits avoiding the drop is QPR’s sole aim this season - but the midfielder believes the good times are just around the corner under new boss Neil Warnock.
- Warnock has breathed new life into Rangers following a season of turmoil and the Londoners took another step towards safety by fighting back to salvage a point against high-flying Swansea.
And QPR fan Cook is confident that the colourful boss, who has suffered just one defeat matches in charge, will transform the fortunes of the Londoners once he has had a chance to stamp his authority on the team.
The 61-year-old, the fifth different manager to take the reins at Loftus Road this season, will be given funds to bring in new faces and move on any dead wood in the summer.
And Cook, who made his mark as a second-half substitute, declared: “I’m really looking forward to impressing him and getting a few goals.
- “It’s been a difficult season but we can finish on a high under the boss.
"At the end of the day he’s on our side now and I think because of that you stand more chance of winning.
“We can now go for it. Everyone knows we are working hard and pulling together. The work-rate of the boys has been upped by 20 per cent. I think there are good times ahead.”
Had QPR appointed Warnock earlier in the campaign then Cook believes a dramatic assault on the play-offs would not have been out of the question.
“The realistic target is to get safe,” added the midfielder. “But maybe we’d be going for the play-offs if Warnock had come in earlier.
“Amazingly we won one game in 13 and then after a couple of wins people were saying we were in reach of the play-offs.
It’s disappointing but all we can do now is look to the future.”
Promotion-chasing Swansea opened the scoring after 57 minutes through Nathan Dyer, but 18-year-old substitute Antonio German salvaged a point for the home side 14 minutes before time when he crashed home from close range.
It was Swans boss Paulo Sousa’s first return to Loftus Road since he was sacked last April and Spanish defender Angel Rangel offered his sympathy that they were unable to hold out for a victory.
Rangel said: “It was special for him coming back as he really liked it at Loftus Road and we are just disappointed we couldn’t get the win.
“But at this stage of the season a point away from home is good.
“I don’t think we can finish in the top two now, but the aim is just to finish in the play-offs Mirror
- QPR vs Swansea: Earlier Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments
Sunday, March 21, 2010
QPR Fined by The Football League
-
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for discussion and latest QPR Updates throughout the day
- QPR vs Swansea: Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments
- Raheem Sterling: Off to Vietnam
- Birthday for Gary Micklewhite
- Borrowdale Makes His Charlton Debut
- Unhappy John Terry...Abramovich Questions
- Portsmouth Administrator Criticized by Judge
- Opportunity to Sponsor QPR Fan in MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Marathon --- TO SPONSOR
The Times - Dozens of footballers are missing out-of-competition drug tests John Goodbody and David Owen
- TWO FOOTBALL League clubs have been fined for failing to abide by the FA’s doping control regulations, but that is just the tip of the iceberg, with dozens of players missing out-of-competition tests in England.
- QPR and Bradford City have been fined £6,000 and £1,000 respectively for repeated failure to provide accurate information to sampling officers trying to locate players they want to test.
- It is prohibited for a player to miss three tests in an 18-month period — anybody who does so faces a lengthy ban. The failure of a club to give the FA accurate information concerning the whereabouts of players is also prohibited.
- The Sunday Times has seen figures that suggest players and clubs are failing in their responsibilities under the regulations at an alarming rate as the national game struggles to come to terms with requirements that are commonplace in other Olympic sports.
- The minutes of a meeting of the FA’s Professional Game Board, held last August, refer to a report by Terry Robinson, who chaired the meeting. It said that in a 20-month period from January 2008, 96 players had missed one test, while two players were on two strikes, just one missed test away from a one-year suspension, although one of these is no longer in the game.
- No fewer than 22 clubs, almost a quarter of those in the top flight of English football, were on one strike, and 13 on two strikes for “failing to provide necessary details of squad schedules”.
- Although there are concerns inside football that the doping control regime is too stringent for a sport that is not generally considered to have a problem with drugs, the FA’s enthusiasm for hosting major sports events has led to increased pressure to uphold internationally agreed anti-doping standards.
- These missed tests are embarrassing for the FA as it prepares for the 2012 London Olympics, together with its bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
- QPR’s fine was imposed in December, a particularly turbulent month for the club with the departure of manager Jim Magilton and the arrival of Paul Hart, his short-lived successor. Bradford City’s penalty was imposed last month.
- Football has always been reluctant to embrace drug- testing, partly because of the belief that out-of-competition testing is an unnecessary intrusion into the lives of players. It was only last year that Fifa, world football’s governing body, agreed to adopt the code of the World Anti-Doping Agency, accepted by most other sports in 2003- There have been examples of leading players taking performance-enhancing drugs in competition. The most notorious case involves Diego Maradona, the Argentina star, who tested positive at the 1994 World Cup for a cocktail of banned substances. He was suspended for 15 months, which effectively ended his career, although he will return to the World Cup this summer as manager of Argentina.
- In England, the heaviest suspension of a leading player was the eight months imposed on Rio Ferdinand, who failed to take a drugs test in September 2003 and was also fined £50,000.
- In all sports, urine and/or blood samples are collected by sampling officers. Until the beginning of 2010, in Britain these were under the direction of UK Sport, a quango financed with taxpayers’ money. Now this task has been taken on by UK Anti-Doping. It declined to comment on the 96 missed tests. In football, officials arrive unannounced at training grounds, although clubs have to declare where and when training is taking place. There is provision for the FA to target a player if this has been requested by his club or the Professional Footballers’ Association. This has been done if it is suspected players have been taking recreational or performance-enhancing substances.
- Three British competitors in other sports missed tests because they were not where they told UK Sport they would be.
- They were judo fighter Peter Cousins, triathlete Tim Don and, most notably, Christine Ohuruogu, who later won the Olympic 400m title. All received suspensions, although they were allowed to return to Olympic competition and all took part in the 2008 Games in Beijing. The Times
-
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for discussion and latest QPR Updates throughout the day
- QPR vs Swansea: Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments
- Raheem Sterling: Off to Vietnam
- Birthday for Gary Micklewhite
- Borrowdale Makes His Charlton Debut
- Unhappy John Terry...Abramovich Questions
- Portsmouth Administrator Criticized by Judge
- Opportunity to Sponsor QPR Fan in MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Marathon --- TO SPONSOR
The Times - Dozens of footballers are missing out-of-competition drug tests John Goodbody and David Owen
- TWO FOOTBALL League clubs have been fined for failing to abide by the FA’s doping control regulations, but that is just the tip of the iceberg, with dozens of players missing out-of-competition tests in England.
- QPR and Bradford City have been fined £6,000 and £1,000 respectively for repeated failure to provide accurate information to sampling officers trying to locate players they want to test.
- It is prohibited for a player to miss three tests in an 18-month period — anybody who does so faces a lengthy ban. The failure of a club to give the FA accurate information concerning the whereabouts of players is also prohibited.
- The Sunday Times has seen figures that suggest players and clubs are failing in their responsibilities under the regulations at an alarming rate as the national game struggles to come to terms with requirements that are commonplace in other Olympic sports.
- The minutes of a meeting of the FA’s Professional Game Board, held last August, refer to a report by Terry Robinson, who chaired the meeting. It said that in a 20-month period from January 2008, 96 players had missed one test, while two players were on two strikes, just one missed test away from a one-year suspension, although one of these is no longer in the game.
- No fewer than 22 clubs, almost a quarter of those in the top flight of English football, were on one strike, and 13 on two strikes for “failing to provide necessary details of squad schedules”.
- Although there are concerns inside football that the doping control regime is too stringent for a sport that is not generally considered to have a problem with drugs, the FA’s enthusiasm for hosting major sports events has led to increased pressure to uphold internationally agreed anti-doping standards.
- These missed tests are embarrassing for the FA as it prepares for the 2012 London Olympics, together with its bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
- QPR’s fine was imposed in December, a particularly turbulent month for the club with the departure of manager Jim Magilton and the arrival of Paul Hart, his short-lived successor. Bradford City’s penalty was imposed last month.
- Football has always been reluctant to embrace drug- testing, partly because of the belief that out-of-competition testing is an unnecessary intrusion into the lives of players. It was only last year that Fifa, world football’s governing body, agreed to adopt the code of the World Anti-Doping Agency, accepted by most other sports in 2003- There have been examples of leading players taking performance-enhancing drugs in competition. The most notorious case involves Diego Maradona, the Argentina star, who tested positive at the 1994 World Cup for a cocktail of banned substances. He was suspended for 15 months, which effectively ended his career, although he will return to the World Cup this summer as manager of Argentina.
- In England, the heaviest suspension of a leading player was the eight months imposed on Rio Ferdinand, who failed to take a drugs test in September 2003 and was also fined £50,000.
- In all sports, urine and/or blood samples are collected by sampling officers. Until the beginning of 2010, in Britain these were under the direction of UK Sport, a quango financed with taxpayers’ money. Now this task has been taken on by UK Anti-Doping. It declined to comment on the 96 missed tests. In football, officials arrive unannounced at training grounds, although clubs have to declare where and when training is taking place. There is provision for the FA to target a player if this has been requested by his club or the Professional Footballers’ Association. This has been done if it is suspected players have been taking recreational or performance-enhancing substances.
- Three British competitors in other sports missed tests because they were not where they told UK Sport they would be.
- They were judo fighter Peter Cousins, triathlete Tim Don and, most notably, Christine Ohuruogu, who later won the Olympic 400m title. All received suspensions, although they were allowed to return to Olympic competition and all took part in the 2008 Games in Beijing. The Times
-
QPR's Swansea Draw - Match Reports and Sousa and Warnock Comments
-
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard for serious discussion and latest QPR Updates throughout the day. All views welcomed.
- QPR's Football League Fine
- Raheem Sterling: Off to Vietnam
- Borrowdale's Charlton Debut
- Birthday for Gary Micklewhite
- Unhappy John Terry...Abramovich Questions
- Portsmouth Administrator Criticized by Judge
- Opportunity to Sponsor QPR Fan in MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Marathon --- TO SPONSOR
QPR 1 Swansea 1 - Updated Table
Sporting Life - SOUSA 'HAPPY' FOR GERMAN
By Andy Sims, Press Association Sport
Paulo Sousa's return to QPR was spoiled by a youngster he had earmarked for stardom as Swansea were held to a 1-1 draw at Loftus Road.
Sousa, who managed Rangers for six months before he was sacked just under a year ago, saw his Swans side denied victory by teenage striker Antonio German.
"He was playing for the under-17s when I was here and I promoted him to train with the first team," revealed Sousa.
"I'm happy for him but not so happy for me. He's a good prospect for the future."
Nathan Dyer had fired Swansea into the lead just before the hour mark after a hopeful ball from Guillem Bauza hit Rangers defender Matt Hill and fell into his path.
But German climbed off the bench to hit the leveller from close range after fellow substitute Rowan Vine drilled the ball across the area.
The point was enough to lift Swansea up to fourth, but Sousa felt his side should have run out comfortable winners.
Dyer also hit a post in the first half while Bauza missed a gilt-edged chance when he fired weakly at Rangers keeper Carl Ikeme.
"We needed to be more clinical. We had four or five big chances but at 1-0 anything can happen," added Sousa.
"I don't think it was a fair result - we had a lot of chances to conclude the game."
Neil Warnock, Rangers' sixth manager since Sousa's departure, predictably disagreed and felt his side were worth their point.
Sousa had added further spice to the encounter by criticising the physical nature of Warnock's teams in the build-up to the match.
"I did tell the players not to tackle today so as not to upset Paulo," smiled Warnock.
"I told them it would be a horrible game, as Swansea don't give anything away, and that they would have to be patient.
"It was an enjoyable second half, Antonio took his goal well and it was a good fightback.
"It was interesting to see them under some pressure because they had been so composed - it was nice to ruffle a few feathers."
Rangers are now six points clear of the relegation zone and Warnock is already looking to stamp his mark on the club next season.
"It's difficult, we've got six or seven loan players so I'm excited about bringing my own players in," he added.
"We won't be having six or seven loan players next season, that's for sure.
"I'd like to keep two or three of them though - if we've got a few million."
Sporting Life
Planet Swans/Phil Stembler -Sousa - We Should Have Won It
Paulo Sousa believes his side should have won at Loftus Road
The Swansea City manager was rueing a chance lost when he addressed the press after the 1-1 draw at his former club
He said “We deserved to win. If we had been a bit more clinical, particularly in the first half, we could have closed out the game we had four or five big chances to score.
“But when you are at 1-0 then anything can happen. One corner and something happens, and we get a bit of bad luck.
“I don’t think it was a fair result, especially for what my team did in the first 45 minutes.
“When you don’t take the chances you create, something like that can happen and we don’t want to allow that any more.
“But this has been a difficult month for us. We have had a lot of injuries and we have to manage these things well.
“With everything that has happened since the beginning of this month we need to be happy with what we have up until now.
“The league position is nice and we had some good results go our way.
“We are quite happy and ready for the last push.
“It was very good to be back here. Very nice. There was a nice atmosphere,” added Sousa.
“You could see the love and respect the players have and also the fans.
“It was a big recognition for the work I did here. The friendships have never stopped." Swans
QPR Official Site WARNOCK ON SWANSEA
- Neil Warnock was more than satisfied after seeing his team come from a goal behind to register a 1-1 draw with high-flying Swansea City.
- The Swans took the lead shortly after the break when Nathan Dyer reacted first to a long ball that smashed off the back of Matt Hill, leaving the midfielder with the easy task of firing home into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Rangers didn't capitulate, however, and when Adel Taarabt's cross was fired back across goal by Rowan Vine, Antonio German was on hand to notch from close range.
"Today was always going to be a difficult match against Swansea. They don't concede many goals and are horrible to watch," Warnock told www.qpr.co.uk.
"They're a good passing side but you've just got to hope you get a goal first. When they score it's very difficult.
"When you concede a goal against Swansea it's always going to be difficult, that's the way that they play, horrible.
"I told the players that it would be a horrible game. I think Swansea showed how hard it is to play against them when they're a goal up. I was pleased with the lads' response.
"They're a good group, they needed a little bit of direction but we've got some good players."
R's boss Warnock added: "After we equalised you could see that we were on the front foot. There just wasn't enough time to clinch another goal.
"Once Swansea scored, we were going to make the substitutions anyway to try and win the game, but it's great to come back.
"Fair play to the lads, they kept their heads up, played football and got their just rewards.
"We've got to go out for three points against Derby on Tuesday. Loftus Road is a super stadium and it gets good atmosphere." QPR
SWANSEA OFFICIAL SITE - We should have won it, says Paulo
Posted on: Sat 20 Mar 2010
Swans boss Paulo Sousa felt his side should have secured all three points on his return to Loftus Road.
Nathan Dyer looked to have secured the victory over QPR to boost Swansea's play-off hopes after firing home in the 57 minutes with his first goal in four months.
But R's young substitute Antonio German rescued a point for the home side 14 minutes from time after Swansea failed to clear a corner.
But the point was still good enough for the Swans to move above Leicester, who didn't play, and up to fourth, eight points above seventh-placed Sheffield United who drew at fellow play-off hopefuls Doncaster.
The rest of the chasing pack also failed to take advantage with Middlesbrough and Blackpool both drawing with Reading and Crystal Palace respectively.
"I don't think it was a fair result,'' declared Paulo. "We had a lot of chances to finish off the game; four or five big chances.
"We needed to be more clinical. When you are just 1-0 ahead, anything can happen.''
R's boss Warnock seemed relieved with the point: "After we equalised you could see that we were on the front foot,'' he said. "There just wasn't enough time to clinch another goal.
"Fair play to the lads, they kept their heads up, played football and got their just rewards.''
And after Paulo had a pop at Warnock's managerial style in the build up to the game, the R's boss bit back by describing the way Swansea play as "horrible''.
"I did tell the players not to tackle today so as not to upset Paulo,'' quipped Warnock.
"Today was always going to be a difficult match against Swansea. They don't concede many goals and are horrible to watch.
"They're a good passing side but you've just got to hope you get a goal first. When they score it's very difficult.
"When you concede a goal against Swansea it's always going to be difficult, that's the way that they play, horrible.
"I told the players that it would be a horrible game. I think Swansea showed how hard it is to play against them when they're a goal up. I was pleased with the lads' response.'' Swansea Official Site
Wales on Line- Swans boss Sousa was unhappy over two points lost in Rangers draw
Mar 21 2010 by Steve Tucker, Wales On Sunday
Add a commentRecommend SWANSEA CITY boss Paulo Sousa was convinced his side did enough to leave Loftus Road with all three points.
In the end the Swans had to settle for a 1-1 draw against QPR, but again failed to convert a number of good goal-scoring chances.
“We deserved to win. If we had been a bit more clinical, particularly in the first half, we could have closed out the game,” said Sousa.
“We had four or five big chances to score.
“But when you are at 1-0 then anything can happen. One corner and something happens, and we get a bit of bad luck.
“I don’t think it was a fair result, especially for what my team did in the first 45 minutes.
“When you don’t take the chances you create, something like that can happen and we don’t want to allow that any more.
“But this has been a difficult month for us. We have had a lot of injuries and we have to manage these things well.
“With everything that has happened since the beginning of this month we need to be happy with what we have up until now.
“The league position is nice and we had some good results go our way.
“We are quite happy and ready for the last push.”
Sousa said he was pleased to return for the first time to Rangers, the club he managed for five months before being fired last April.
And it was one of the young players Sousa developed during his time at Rangers, 18-year-old Antonio German, who cancelled out Nathan Dyer’s strike to earn the Hoops a point.
“It was very good to be back here. Very nice. There was a nice atmosphere,” added Sousa.
“You could see the love and respect the players have and also the fans.
“It was a big recognition for the work I did here. The friendships have never stopped.
“Antonio was one of the players I promoted here when he was 17 years old. I pushed him to train with the seniors.
“He has good characteristics and good prospects. All the best to him.
“It was good for him. I’m happy for him, but he has put us in a little bit of difficulty in that moment.”
QPR boss Neil Warnock, meanwhile, was pleased with the spirit his side showed to get back in the game.
“I knew it was going to be a horrible game before because of the way Swansea play. No disrespect to them,” said Warnock.
“They don’t give much away so we knew it was going to be a bit of a dire situation. But it was a good fightback and we had been playing some good stuff just before we got the goal.
“It was enjoyable and positive.” WalesonLine
INDEPENDENT -German thwarts returning Portuguese
Queens Park Rangers 1 Swansea City 1 By Conrad Leach at Loftus Road
- There is no Flavio Briatore these days at Loftus Road, the Italian having left his post as chairman of Queens Park Rangers this season, some months after his enforced departure from Formula One. Paulo Sousa, now the Swansea City manager but in charge of QPR until last April, was therefore denied the chance to show the man who hired – and fired – him, what he is doing with his current team. While Swansea are in the play-off zone, QPR are far closer to the relegation zone, perhaps showing who won that particular argument.
But if QPR are a happier, more stable ship now that Briatore has gone, and Neil Warnock has come in, they are far from secure. Nathan Dyer's goal threatened to give the visitors their first ever win away to QPR, but a goalmouth scramble 14 minutes from time saw Rowan Vine pass to Antonio German – two substitutes combining – and from close range the teenager tapped in to earn the west London side a point.
- Sousa had himself to blame in part. "German was playing for the under-17s when I was here and I promoted him to train with the first team," Sousa said. "I'm happy for him but not so happy for me."
- Thus the second Portuguese returning to a former haunt in west London this week was denied a win. Sousa has a long way to go to emulate Jose Mourinho as a manager, even if Sousa's exploits as a player, not least European Cup victories in two consecutive seasons with different clubs, are by far the more impressive. But he has taken over from Roberto Martinez this season and if he keeps them in the top six then he will have done something Martinez could not.
- The Swans are seven points ahead of Sheffield United, who are seventh, so the play-offs are Sousa's to throw away. If they get to football's version of the lotto, it will be a real test of his acumen in a high-pressure environment with the Premier League in sight.
Sousa facing Warnock is a high-pressure encounter because of the bad blood that has built up between them in the Portuguese's short time in English football. Last week he was speaking out about the way he feels Warnock influences referees and encourages his players to be overly-physical.
This was Sousa v Warnock part three this season, after Swansea's two games against Crystal Palace, where Warnock was manager before he abandoned that particular sinking ship. Warnock, of course, has heard it all before and feigns not to care. However, Sousa may have been surprised to see a QPR side that was not particularly physical and featured a reticent Warnock on the touchline.
Dyer saw a shot after 12 minutes hit the inside of the post and unluckily bounce out but he persisted and gave Swansea the lead after 57 minutes with some luck attached. A long ball in the winger's direction bounced off Matthew Hill into his path and he mis-hit a lob that still went inside Carl Ikeme's post.
Sousa was shaking the QPR players' hands after the game and spoke of the friends he still had at the club but complained it was not a fair result as his side had had the best chances. Sound like anyone else you know? Independent
TELEGRAPH/Neil Trainis at Loftus Road
Potential at Loftus Road has been laced with a hardiness typical of sides concocted by Neil Warnock, who continues to mould Queens Park Rangers into an outfit of substance.
His players, who before his arrival had struggled to earn the right to play with the swagger their financial might demands amid the Championship’s drudgery, held promotion-chasing Swansea City courtesy of teenage substitute Antonio German’s equaliser. Warnock’s nascent tenure has seen one defeat in five matches. Relegation anxieties have already been eased.
Sport on television Football, though, can be cruel. Paulo Sousa, once removed as QPR manager in a blaze of controversy, was denied unadulterated satisfaction. It appeared Nathan Dyer’s 57th minute goal would see him return from his old haunt gloriously victorious yet disappointment confronts the Portuguese, even if Swansea’s predicament is healthier than that of his old employers.
“If we won it’s because we want to win, not because it’s against QPR. We had chances to win and at 1-0 everything can happen,” Sousa said, dampening the significance of his first return to the club since his departure.
Swansea took a stranglehold of proceedings in the second half but failed to close out the contest. The encounter was also an illustration of QPR’s attacking dexterity and defensive calamity, a tortuous combination for their fans.
Adel Taarabt, the exasperating playmaker operating behind Tamas Priskin, demonstrated his quick-footedness and exuberance. The Moroccan is not the archetypal Neil Warnock footballer but even Taarabt’s hardened manager must have taken pleasure when he bamboozled two markers with little drag-backs and pirouettes by the corner flag.
Yet for all Taarabt’s ability to manufacture space in prompting attacks, he often misjudged the weight and direction of his final ball, a defect which will hinder ambitions of rejuvenating his prospects at a higher level.
QPR’s thrusts forward were purposeful but they were undermined by shoddiness at the back. Dyer, exploiting space in behind, ran on to Shefki Kuqi’s flick in the first half and poked a shot against the post.
Swansea, whose attack was a contrasting blend of power and nimbleness in the shape of Kuqi, Dyer and Guillem Bauza, almost exploited the sluggishness in Matthew Hill and Kaspars Gorkks.
QPR’s effervescent approach play continued to be riddled by uncertainty and Dyer pounced to convert after Bauza’s pass struck the hapless Hill. QPR, however, boast spirit and Taarabt’s corner found Rowan Vine, whose shot was blocked before German netted. Warnock has so far found a way to marry resilience with panache. Telegraph
THE TIMES - German denies Swansea victory
QPR 1 Swansea 1Rob Maul at Loftus Road
THE LAST TIME Paulo Sousa worked in this part of west London in a managerial capacity, nearly a year ago, he departed in acrimonious circumstances; yesterday, on his first visit to Queens Park Rangers since his surprise sacking, he may have been encouraged by the response of his former players but the Portuguese manager endured a similarly deflating experience, watching his dominant team concede an equaliser with 14 minutes remaining and forgo two vital points in the process.
Although promotion with Swansea City in May would be of greater satisfaction and prove a major point to the Rangers hierarchy – Sousa was not given the appropriate time, just five months and 26 matches, to implement his commendable coaching credentials – he was denied a small measure of revenge here, and the Swans’ first ever victory at Loftus Road, when counterpart Neil Warnock tactically influenced the outcome, with the introduction of substitute Antonio German proving decisive.
“Was it a fair result? No. I think not,” said Sousa. “For what my team did in the first 45 minutes was special. We had a lot of chances to conclude the game. Of course when we don’t score the goals we create, at 1-0, anything can happen. We deserved to win; we just needed to be more clinical.”
On meeting his former players, he added: “You can see once more the respect and the love that the players have for me. It is a big recognition for the work and relationship I had here.”
However, given their reputation for being the most attractive team to watch in the Championship, it was perhaps ironic that Swansea’s most memorable opening opportunities should be the result of an old-fashioned route-one trajectory. Within the space of seven first-half minutes, the visitors struck the woodwork of Carl Ikeme’s goal – the sprightly Nathan Dyer diverting Shefki Kuqi’s headed flick onto the right-hand post – and then Rangers left-back Matthew Hill was incredibly relieved to see the ball, from a long upfield pass, deflect off his body and over the crossbar for a corner.
What was equally surprising was the overall contribution of Kuqi, a seemingly reformed character since arriving in Wales from German Second Division Koblenz in January. Work-rate and commitment have never been the most obvious words to describe the muscular, occasionally uninterested 33-year-old striker, yet here he was, running with confidence, defending at important moments at the front post and generally imposing himself on the fairly uncomfortable centre-backs Kaspars Gorkss and Matthew Connolly. Indeed, the Finn could have played a crucial part in Swansea scoring with just three minutes of the half remaining, but Ikeme managed to hold Guillem Bauza’s eventual attempt from Kuqi’s pass, a vital catch under the circumstances when the close proximity of Dyer was considered.
It is fair to state that during the half-time interval Sousa may have reinforced to his players how important it was to beat his former employers. And the piece of good fortune that was so lacking during his time with Rangers came in dramatic circumstances on 57 minutes. The initial ball from Bauza was overhit, far too ambitious, but it unkindly ricocheted off the back of the disappointing Hill and dropped dead, on a sixpence, for Dyer. Like a beautifully-crafted golf shot falling to rest just yards from the hole, the speedy winger could not believe his luck at the way the opportunity beckoned. And he duly did the rest, directing his shot beyond Ikeme. The only sad sight was the clear lack of stewarding as a number of joyous visiting supporters ran onto the pitch to celebrate.
Nevertheless, Warnock responded immediately, introducing more width and making a double substitution. The tactics worked perfectly as 18-year-old German soon equalised. Goalkeeper Dorus De Vries failed to catch a corner, swung in from his right, and once the ball was played back in by Rowan Vine, who had only been on himself for four minutes, German was not going to waste such a gift, scoring his second goal of the season.
Warnock said: “The subs, I feel, made a difference – and that’s what squads are about. It was a good fightback. We played some good stuff before the goal.
“I like German but he has a lot to learn. I had given him a bit of roasting; he was offside once when he shouldn’t have been. But he has been absent for two weeks. He has been on antibiotics for a bad tooth.”
Star man: Guillame Bauza (Swansea)
Yellow card: QPR: Richards
Referee: C Boyeson
Attendance: 15,502
QPR: Ikeme 6, Ramage 6, Connolly 6, Gorkss 6, Hill 4, Buzsaky 7 (Cook 58min, 6), Leigertwood 7, Faurlin 6, Ephraim 6 (Vine 72min), Priskin 5 (German 58min, 7), Taarabt 7
Swansea: De Vries 6, Rangel 6, Tate 6, Williams 6, Richards 6, Britton 6, Gower 7 (Beattie 88min), Dyer 7 (Butler 82min), Bauza 7, Cotterill 7 (Van Der Gun 66min), Kuqi 7 The Times
NEWS OF THE WORLD - ANTONIO GERMAN SPOILS PARTY
TON-DERFUL - Antonio German gets the leveller for Rangers
QPR 1-1 Swansea
20/03/2010
ANTONIO GERMAN ruined his old Rangers boss Paulo Sousa's revenge mission with his 75th-minute equaliser.
Swansea chief Sousa was making his first return to Loftus Road since he was axed last April after just five months at the helm.
And the Portuguese coach was heading for a sweet victory against his former club when Nathan Dyer ended his four-month goal drought in the 57th minute.
But Rangers substitute German, who was a youth-team player during Sousa's reign, spoiled his one-time boss' afternoon with his second goal of the season.
Sousa said: "We had enough chances to win this game. I don't think a draw is a fair result. I'm happy for Antonio but not so happy for us.
"Antonio was playing for the Under-17s when I was here and he has a bright future.
"I wish him all the best and we've now got to make sure we stay in the top six."
Rangers manager Neil Warnock admitted goal hero German had shaken off a tooth problem to face Swansea.
He explained: "Antonio wasn't fully fit because he has been suffering with a tooth abscess. He has been on antibiotics for two weeks and he had to have the tooth out.
"He took his goal well. I'm still getting to know the young players here but I like the look of him."
Swansea almost stunned Rangers in the 12th minute when Dyer hit the post after latching on to Shefki Kuqi's flick-on.
Dyer fired Swansea into a deserved lead early in the second half.
He clipped the ball past Carl Ikeme after Guillem Bauza's pass was deflected into his path after hitting unlucky Rangers defender Matthew Hill.
Teenager German levelled when he stabbed home from two yards after Dorus de Vries palmed Rowan Vine's effort as far as the striker. News of The World
WALES ON LINE - Dyer ends goal drought but Swans search for elusive Rangers win goes on - Mar 21 2010 by Steve Tucker, Wales On Sunday
- IN their long history, Swansea City have never won at Loftus Road.
They’ll be kicking themselves they did not put that right here.
After taking the lead thanks to a somewhat fortuitous strike from Nathan Dyer, they seemed to be totally in control against a Rangers side who are rapidly running out of things to play for this season, apart from perhaps ensuring new boss Neil Warnock doesn’t shout at them.
But, despite the apparent meanness of the Swansea defence this campaign, they can’t seem to cut out the odd error which costs them.
And that is just what happened here with barely a quarter of an hour left.
QPR’s equaliser came from a corner floated in high by substitute Lee Cook and, for once, the holy trinity of Dorus de Vries, Alan Tate and Ashley Williams sinned badly.
The trio failed to clear the danger and Rowan Vine’s shot fell perfectly for Antonio German to lash home from just a few yards out.
As is so often the way in football, it was typical that young German was plucked from the Rangers’ Under-17s by a certain Paulo Sousa during his five months in charge at the London club last season.
After the final whistle, indeed, Sousa did not know whether to sing the 18-year-old’s praises or wring his neck.
In fact Sousa, back at his old haunt for the first time since getting fired, was probably in two minds over how to react to this result in general.
It was a point that moved the Swans up into fourth in the Championship, at least until results today. And a point away from home against anyone at this stage of the season is not to be sniffed at.
But in the first half here, in particular, Swansea carved out a clutch of pretty good chances that really should have resulted in them going in ahead at the break.
Of course, it doesn’t take a genius to work out that if it does all end in tears for the Swans this season then it will be an inability to stick the ball in the net which will be blamed.
The strike which actually did put them ahead on 57 minutes came with such a large slice of luck you could almost believe Swansea are destined for big things already.
Guillem Bauza’s through ball for Nathan Dyer was so massively over-hit the only result could possibly be that it would end up in the arms of home goalkeeper Carl Ikeme.
But on its way to doing just that it hit unfortunate defender Matthew Hill and dropped perfectly in the path of Dyer, who calmly slotted home past the now horribly exposed Ikeme.
It was Dyer’s second goal of the campaign and his first since his unlikely header against arch-rivals Cardiff City way back in November.
Although, Dyer had come as close to scoring as is feasibly possible without doing so after 12 minutes.
A De Vries goal-kick was flicked on by Shefki Kuqi and Dyer slipped through a split Rangers defence only to see his effort bounce back off the inside of the post.
That was the first of a series of chances in the first period that Swansea crafted.
On 19 minutes the hapless Hill almost put the ball in his own net trying to quell the danger following a sublime Dyer take-down. And as the half came to an end Kuqi put a header wide from a Mark Gower corner, the battering-ram of a forward getting down the right channel only to see his shot saved by Ikeme.
But with the first period almost over came a great Swansea chance. Kuqi was this time the provider, firing in from the right, but Bauza got a poor connection on his shot, which made things easy for the home keeper when really they should not have been.
This was the Spaniard’s first start of the season though and overall he did an excellent job in a less familiar deeper role, with Darren Pratley consigned to the bench with a tight hamstring.
Skipper Garry Monk was also left out as a precaution by Sousa over fears of a re-occurrence of his calf problem.
Swansea’s lead had only lasted three minutes when Rangers came close to levelling. Cook hoisted in a free-kick from the flank and defender Kaspars Gorkss saw his header drop just wide of the post.
But Swansea almost doubled their lead after 65 minutes when Bauza forced a good diving save from Ikeme.
Yet the impetus really swung to the home side after Rangers’ equaliser with Warnock’s men made of sterner stuff than at any time in a season when the managers’ office has had a revolving door. But Warnock himself is changing, too. When Matthew Connolly nodded home a deflected free-kick near the death, the home crowd were so convinced they had snatched it they even put on that silly goal celebration music they play, only for the assistant to raise his flag for offside. Warnock himself later agreed with the decision before praising the officials.
What ever next? A Swansea win at Loftus Road sometime? WalesonLine
QPR Official Site
Antonio German came off the bench to grab a point for QPR in their entertaining clash with promotion-chasing Swansea City at Loftus Road.
It was no more than Rangers deserved for another battling performance in West London, though they had to come back from a goal down when Nathan Dyer finished smartly after a ball from deep hit the back of Matt Hill.
The R's weren't to be beaten, however, and after Adel Taarabt's corner was knocked back by substitute Rowan Vine into the direction of German, he made little mistake to fire home from close range.
QPR had chances to win it, though Matt Connolly's header that was ruled out for offside was as close as they came, as the hosts picked up another welcome point.
Rangers gaffer Neil Warnock was forced into changes for the first time since taking over as boss at the start of the month.
Damion Stewart missed out owing to a one-match suspension for a red card received in the midweek loss at Reading, while Jay Simpson suffered a knock in training yesterday (Friday) that ruled him out of the Swans clash.
That meant Peter Ramage and Akos Buzsaky both came into the starting line-up.
Carl Ikeme was in goal for the R's.
Ramage and Hill started at full-back, while Connolly came into the centre of defence to partner Kaspars Gorkss.
In midfield, Buzsaky and Hogan Ephraim began the game from the flanks, supported by Mikele Leigertwood and Alejandro Faurlin from the middle.
Taarabt played just off Tamas Priskin up front.
There wasn't much to choose between the two sides in the opening minutes, though it was the R's who fashioned two half chances to find an opener.
Ramage nodded a header onto Taarabt just past halfway, before the midfielder controlled the ball and unleashed a low drive from 30 yards that went straight at Dorus De Vries.
Moments later, QPR were on the attack once again. Gorkss played a ball from deep into the path of Buzsaky, who flashed a shot just wide from the edge of the box.
Taarabt then produced a flurry of skills down the right-hand side allowing Buzsaky to flash over a cross that was driven wide from close-range by Priskin, who was under pressure from his defensive opponent.
Swansea, however, were by no means passengers in the match, and they came closest yet the notching a first goal when Shefki Kuqi flicked on for Dyer, whose shot came off the foot of the post and back into play before it was cleared up field.
Soon after, a ball was played from deep over the top of the R's backline and into the path of Dyer, and just as it looked as though he was to have a clean shot at goal, Hill intervened to clear the ball away - albeit with a slightly fortuitous deflection off Ikeme - for a corner kick.
Just before the interval, lovely build up play involving Hill, Leigertwood and Taarabt resulted in Buzsaky cutting in from the left before firing a low shot at De Vries in the City net.
Swansea created a chance of their own as the half came to a close. Mark Gower's pinpoint cross found the head of Kuqi, who headed just over the bar.
Moments later, Kuqi was involved yet again when he raced down the right-hand side of the penalty area before crossing for Guillem Bauza, who drove straight at Ikeme from close range.
As the second half got underway, it was Swansea who were first on the offensive, and Gower forced a smart save from Ikeme when his goal-bound cross from a free-kick had to be tipped over the crossbar.
Play then switched to the other end, and when Leigertwood picked the ball up around 25-yards out, his low drive was collected well by De Vries.
Soon after, David Cotterill fired in a set-piece at Ikeme that he had little trouble in catching for QPR.
The R's keeper was helpless to keep out the Swans' next attempt, however, as they rather fortuitously took a 57th minute lead at Loftus Road.
Bauza's ball from midway hit the back of Hill on the edge of the penalty area, putting Dyer through one-on-one with Ikeme in the R's net. The midfielder made no mistake to tuck to ball away low into the left-hand corner.
Play then switched the other end, where the R's missed a great chance to level.
Rangers substitute Lee Cook's delicious free-kick from the right was nodded goalwards by the unmarked Connolly, who headed just wide with keeper De Vries soundly beaten.
There could be no doubt that the R's were now the stronger force as they looked to level matters.
Following a sustained spell of pressure, they forced a deserved equaliser with just under 15 minutes remaining in W12.
Taarabt played a corner over from the left that was clipped back across goal at the back post from Vine, before German snuck in to smash home.
Buoyed by the equaliser, QPR then wasted no time of searching for a winner.
Faurlin soon received the ball on the edge of the box before he smashed high and wide of the bar.
The R's thought they had won it with five minutes to go.
Taarabt's smashed free-kick bounced up off the wall before Connolly raced around the back to nod in, but the assistant official deemed him to be in an offside position.
QPR: Ikeme, Ramage, Leigertwood, Buzsaky (Cook 58), Gorkss, Connolly, Faurlin, Hill, Ephraim (Vine 73), Priskin (German 58), Taarabt. Subs: Balanta, Cerny, Brown, Oastler. Goals: German (76)
Swansea City: Devries, Williams, Tate, Britton, Dyer (Butler 84), Rangel, Bauza, Gower (Beattie 89), Richards, Kuqi, Cotterill (Van Der Gun 66).
Subs: Cornell, Pratley, Pintado, Trundle.
Goals: Dyer (57)
Bookings: Richards Referee: Mr C Boyeson Attendance: 15, 502 QPR
Updated Table - BBC
1 Newcastle 37 43 77
2 West Brom 38 34 75
3 Nottm Forest 38 21 67
4 Swansea 38 6 61
5 Leicester 36 11 60
6 Cardiff 36 14 55
7 Sheff Utd 38 3 53
8 Doncaster 38 4 52
9 Blackpool 38 6 51
10 Middlesbrough 38 7 50
11 Coventry 37 -7 50
12 Barnsley 37 -10 49
13 Reading 36 -3 48
14 Preston 38 -8 48
15 Ipswich 38 -6 47
16 Bristol City 38 -12 46
17 QPR 37 -5 45
18 Derby 38 -11 44
19 Watford 35 -6 42
20 Scunthorpe 37 -23 41
21 Sheff Wed 38 -18 40
22 Crystal Palace 37 -2 39
23 Plymouth 37 -17 34
24 Peterborough 38 -21 30
BBC Table
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QPR 1 Swansea 1 - Updated Table
Sporting Life - SOUSA 'HAPPY' FOR GERMAN
By Andy Sims, Press Association Sport
Paulo Sousa's return to QPR was spoiled by a youngster he had earmarked for stardom as Swansea were held to a 1-1 draw at Loftus Road.
Sousa, who managed Rangers for six months before he was sacked just under a year ago, saw his Swans side denied victory by teenage striker Antonio German.
"He was playing for the under-17s when I was here and I promoted him to train with the first team," revealed Sousa.
"I'm happy for him but not so happy for me. He's a good prospect for the future."
Nathan Dyer had fired Swansea into the lead just before the hour mark after a hopeful ball from Guillem Bauza hit Rangers defender Matt Hill and fell into his path.
But German climbed off the bench to hit the leveller from close range after fellow substitute Rowan Vine drilled the ball across the area.
The point was enough to lift Swansea up to fourth, but Sousa felt his side should have run out comfortable winners.
Dyer also hit a post in the first half while Bauza missed a gilt-edged chance when he fired weakly at Rangers keeper Carl Ikeme.
"We needed to be more clinical. We had four or five big chances but at 1-0 anything can happen," added Sousa.
"I don't think it was a fair result - we had a lot of chances to conclude the game."
Neil Warnock, Rangers' sixth manager since Sousa's departure, predictably disagreed and felt his side were worth their point.
Sousa had added further spice to the encounter by criticising the physical nature of Warnock's teams in the build-up to the match.
"I did tell the players not to tackle today so as not to upset Paulo," smiled Warnock.
"I told them it would be a horrible game, as Swansea don't give anything away, and that they would have to be patient.
"It was an enjoyable second half, Antonio took his goal well and it was a good fightback.
"It was interesting to see them under some pressure because they had been so composed - it was nice to ruffle a few feathers."
Rangers are now six points clear of the relegation zone and Warnock is already looking to stamp his mark on the club next season.
"It's difficult, we've got six or seven loan players so I'm excited about bringing my own players in," he added.
"We won't be having six or seven loan players next season, that's for sure.
"I'd like to keep two or three of them though - if we've got a few million."
Sporting Life
Planet Swans/Phil Stembler -Sousa - We Should Have Won It
Paulo Sousa believes his side should have won at Loftus Road
The Swansea City manager was rueing a chance lost when he addressed the press after the 1-1 draw at his former club
He said “We deserved to win. If we had been a bit more clinical, particularly in the first half, we could have closed out the game we had four or five big chances to score.
“But when you are at 1-0 then anything can happen. One corner and something happens, and we get a bit of bad luck.
“I don’t think it was a fair result, especially for what my team did in the first 45 minutes.
“When you don’t take the chances you create, something like that can happen and we don’t want to allow that any more.
“But this has been a difficult month for us. We have had a lot of injuries and we have to manage these things well.
“With everything that has happened since the beginning of this month we need to be happy with what we have up until now.
“The league position is nice and we had some good results go our way.
“We are quite happy and ready for the last push.
“It was very good to be back here. Very nice. There was a nice atmosphere,” added Sousa.
“You could see the love and respect the players have and also the fans.
“It was a big recognition for the work I did here. The friendships have never stopped." Swans
QPR Official Site WARNOCK ON SWANSEA
- Neil Warnock was more than satisfied after seeing his team come from a goal behind to register a 1-1 draw with high-flying Swansea City.
- The Swans took the lead shortly after the break when Nathan Dyer reacted first to a long ball that smashed off the back of Matt Hill, leaving the midfielder with the easy task of firing home into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Rangers didn't capitulate, however, and when Adel Taarabt's cross was fired back across goal by Rowan Vine, Antonio German was on hand to notch from close range.
"Today was always going to be a difficult match against Swansea. They don't concede many goals and are horrible to watch," Warnock told www.qpr.co.uk.
"They're a good passing side but you've just got to hope you get a goal first. When they score it's very difficult.
"When you concede a goal against Swansea it's always going to be difficult, that's the way that they play, horrible.
"I told the players that it would be a horrible game. I think Swansea showed how hard it is to play against them when they're a goal up. I was pleased with the lads' response.
"They're a good group, they needed a little bit of direction but we've got some good players."
R's boss Warnock added: "After we equalised you could see that we were on the front foot. There just wasn't enough time to clinch another goal.
"Once Swansea scored, we were going to make the substitutions anyway to try and win the game, but it's great to come back.
"Fair play to the lads, they kept their heads up, played football and got their just rewards.
"We've got to go out for three points against Derby on Tuesday. Loftus Road is a super stadium and it gets good atmosphere." QPR
SWANSEA OFFICIAL SITE - We should have won it, says Paulo
Posted on: Sat 20 Mar 2010
Swans boss Paulo Sousa felt his side should have secured all three points on his return to Loftus Road.
Nathan Dyer looked to have secured the victory over QPR to boost Swansea's play-off hopes after firing home in the 57 minutes with his first goal in four months.
But R's young substitute Antonio German rescued a point for the home side 14 minutes from time after Swansea failed to clear a corner.
But the point was still good enough for the Swans to move above Leicester, who didn't play, and up to fourth, eight points above seventh-placed Sheffield United who drew at fellow play-off hopefuls Doncaster.
The rest of the chasing pack also failed to take advantage with Middlesbrough and Blackpool both drawing with Reading and Crystal Palace respectively.
"I don't think it was a fair result,'' declared Paulo. "We had a lot of chances to finish off the game; four or five big chances.
"We needed to be more clinical. When you are just 1-0 ahead, anything can happen.''
R's boss Warnock seemed relieved with the point: "After we equalised you could see that we were on the front foot,'' he said. "There just wasn't enough time to clinch another goal.
"Fair play to the lads, they kept their heads up, played football and got their just rewards.''
And after Paulo had a pop at Warnock's managerial style in the build up to the game, the R's boss bit back by describing the way Swansea play as "horrible''.
"I did tell the players not to tackle today so as not to upset Paulo,'' quipped Warnock.
"Today was always going to be a difficult match against Swansea. They don't concede many goals and are horrible to watch.
"They're a good passing side but you've just got to hope you get a goal first. When they score it's very difficult.
"When you concede a goal against Swansea it's always going to be difficult, that's the way that they play, horrible.
"I told the players that it would be a horrible game. I think Swansea showed how hard it is to play against them when they're a goal up. I was pleased with the lads' response.'' Swansea Official Site
Wales on Line- Swans boss Sousa was unhappy over two points lost in Rangers draw
Mar 21 2010 by Steve Tucker, Wales On Sunday
Add a commentRecommend SWANSEA CITY boss Paulo Sousa was convinced his side did enough to leave Loftus Road with all three points.
In the end the Swans had to settle for a 1-1 draw against QPR, but again failed to convert a number of good goal-scoring chances.
“We deserved to win. If we had been a bit more clinical, particularly in the first half, we could have closed out the game,” said Sousa.
“We had four or five big chances to score.
“But when you are at 1-0 then anything can happen. One corner and something happens, and we get a bit of bad luck.
“I don’t think it was a fair result, especially for what my team did in the first 45 minutes.
“When you don’t take the chances you create, something like that can happen and we don’t want to allow that any more.
“But this has been a difficult month for us. We have had a lot of injuries and we have to manage these things well.
“With everything that has happened since the beginning of this month we need to be happy with what we have up until now.
“The league position is nice and we had some good results go our way.
“We are quite happy and ready for the last push.”
Sousa said he was pleased to return for the first time to Rangers, the club he managed for five months before being fired last April.
And it was one of the young players Sousa developed during his time at Rangers, 18-year-old Antonio German, who cancelled out Nathan Dyer’s strike to earn the Hoops a point.
“It was very good to be back here. Very nice. There was a nice atmosphere,” added Sousa.
“You could see the love and respect the players have and also the fans.
“It was a big recognition for the work I did here. The friendships have never stopped.
“Antonio was one of the players I promoted here when he was 17 years old. I pushed him to train with the seniors.
“He has good characteristics and good prospects. All the best to him.
“It was good for him. I’m happy for him, but he has put us in a little bit of difficulty in that moment.”
QPR boss Neil Warnock, meanwhile, was pleased with the spirit his side showed to get back in the game.
“I knew it was going to be a horrible game before because of the way Swansea play. No disrespect to them,” said Warnock.
“They don’t give much away so we knew it was going to be a bit of a dire situation. But it was a good fightback and we had been playing some good stuff just before we got the goal.
“It was enjoyable and positive.” WalesonLine
INDEPENDENT -German thwarts returning Portuguese
Queens Park Rangers 1 Swansea City 1 By Conrad Leach at Loftus Road
- There is no Flavio Briatore these days at Loftus Road, the Italian having left his post as chairman of Queens Park Rangers this season, some months after his enforced departure from Formula One. Paulo Sousa, now the Swansea City manager but in charge of QPR until last April, was therefore denied the chance to show the man who hired – and fired – him, what he is doing with his current team. While Swansea are in the play-off zone, QPR are far closer to the relegation zone, perhaps showing who won that particular argument.
But if QPR are a happier, more stable ship now that Briatore has gone, and Neil Warnock has come in, they are far from secure. Nathan Dyer's goal threatened to give the visitors their first ever win away to QPR, but a goalmouth scramble 14 minutes from time saw Rowan Vine pass to Antonio German – two substitutes combining – and from close range the teenager tapped in to earn the west London side a point.
- Sousa had himself to blame in part. "German was playing for the under-17s when I was here and I promoted him to train with the first team," Sousa said. "I'm happy for him but not so happy for me."
- Thus the second Portuguese returning to a former haunt in west London this week was denied a win. Sousa has a long way to go to emulate Jose Mourinho as a manager, even if Sousa's exploits as a player, not least European Cup victories in two consecutive seasons with different clubs, are by far the more impressive. But he has taken over from Roberto Martinez this season and if he keeps them in the top six then he will have done something Martinez could not.
- The Swans are seven points ahead of Sheffield United, who are seventh, so the play-offs are Sousa's to throw away. If they get to football's version of the lotto, it will be a real test of his acumen in a high-pressure environment with the Premier League in sight.
Sousa facing Warnock is a high-pressure encounter because of the bad blood that has built up between them in the Portuguese's short time in English football. Last week he was speaking out about the way he feels Warnock influences referees and encourages his players to be overly-physical.
This was Sousa v Warnock part three this season, after Swansea's two games against Crystal Palace, where Warnock was manager before he abandoned that particular sinking ship. Warnock, of course, has heard it all before and feigns not to care. However, Sousa may have been surprised to see a QPR side that was not particularly physical and featured a reticent Warnock on the touchline.
Dyer saw a shot after 12 minutes hit the inside of the post and unluckily bounce out but he persisted and gave Swansea the lead after 57 minutes with some luck attached. A long ball in the winger's direction bounced off Matthew Hill into his path and he mis-hit a lob that still went inside Carl Ikeme's post.
Sousa was shaking the QPR players' hands after the game and spoke of the friends he still had at the club but complained it was not a fair result as his side had had the best chances. Sound like anyone else you know? Independent
TELEGRAPH/Neil Trainis at Loftus Road
Potential at Loftus Road has been laced with a hardiness typical of sides concocted by Neil Warnock, who continues to mould Queens Park Rangers into an outfit of substance.
His players, who before his arrival had struggled to earn the right to play with the swagger their financial might demands amid the Championship’s drudgery, held promotion-chasing Swansea City courtesy of teenage substitute Antonio German’s equaliser. Warnock’s nascent tenure has seen one defeat in five matches. Relegation anxieties have already been eased.
Sport on television Football, though, can be cruel. Paulo Sousa, once removed as QPR manager in a blaze of controversy, was denied unadulterated satisfaction. It appeared Nathan Dyer’s 57th minute goal would see him return from his old haunt gloriously victorious yet disappointment confronts the Portuguese, even if Swansea’s predicament is healthier than that of his old employers.
“If we won it’s because we want to win, not because it’s against QPR. We had chances to win and at 1-0 everything can happen,” Sousa said, dampening the significance of his first return to the club since his departure.
Swansea took a stranglehold of proceedings in the second half but failed to close out the contest. The encounter was also an illustration of QPR’s attacking dexterity and defensive calamity, a tortuous combination for their fans.
Adel Taarabt, the exasperating playmaker operating behind Tamas Priskin, demonstrated his quick-footedness and exuberance. The Moroccan is not the archetypal Neil Warnock footballer but even Taarabt’s hardened manager must have taken pleasure when he bamboozled two markers with little drag-backs and pirouettes by the corner flag.
Yet for all Taarabt’s ability to manufacture space in prompting attacks, he often misjudged the weight and direction of his final ball, a defect which will hinder ambitions of rejuvenating his prospects at a higher level.
QPR’s thrusts forward were purposeful but they were undermined by shoddiness at the back. Dyer, exploiting space in behind, ran on to Shefki Kuqi’s flick in the first half and poked a shot against the post.
Swansea, whose attack was a contrasting blend of power and nimbleness in the shape of Kuqi, Dyer and Guillem Bauza, almost exploited the sluggishness in Matthew Hill and Kaspars Gorkks.
QPR’s effervescent approach play continued to be riddled by uncertainty and Dyer pounced to convert after Bauza’s pass struck the hapless Hill. QPR, however, boast spirit and Taarabt’s corner found Rowan Vine, whose shot was blocked before German netted. Warnock has so far found a way to marry resilience with panache. Telegraph
THE TIMES - German denies Swansea victory
QPR 1 Swansea 1Rob Maul at Loftus Road
THE LAST TIME Paulo Sousa worked in this part of west London in a managerial capacity, nearly a year ago, he departed in acrimonious circumstances; yesterday, on his first visit to Queens Park Rangers since his surprise sacking, he may have been encouraged by the response of his former players but the Portuguese manager endured a similarly deflating experience, watching his dominant team concede an equaliser with 14 minutes remaining and forgo two vital points in the process.
Although promotion with Swansea City in May would be of greater satisfaction and prove a major point to the Rangers hierarchy – Sousa was not given the appropriate time, just five months and 26 matches, to implement his commendable coaching credentials – he was denied a small measure of revenge here, and the Swans’ first ever victory at Loftus Road, when counterpart Neil Warnock tactically influenced the outcome, with the introduction of substitute Antonio German proving decisive.
“Was it a fair result? No. I think not,” said Sousa. “For what my team did in the first 45 minutes was special. We had a lot of chances to conclude the game. Of course when we don’t score the goals we create, at 1-0, anything can happen. We deserved to win; we just needed to be more clinical.”
On meeting his former players, he added: “You can see once more the respect and the love that the players have for me. It is a big recognition for the work and relationship I had here.”
However, given their reputation for being the most attractive team to watch in the Championship, it was perhaps ironic that Swansea’s most memorable opening opportunities should be the result of an old-fashioned route-one trajectory. Within the space of seven first-half minutes, the visitors struck the woodwork of Carl Ikeme’s goal – the sprightly Nathan Dyer diverting Shefki Kuqi’s headed flick onto the right-hand post – and then Rangers left-back Matthew Hill was incredibly relieved to see the ball, from a long upfield pass, deflect off his body and over the crossbar for a corner.
What was equally surprising was the overall contribution of Kuqi, a seemingly reformed character since arriving in Wales from German Second Division Koblenz in January. Work-rate and commitment have never been the most obvious words to describe the muscular, occasionally uninterested 33-year-old striker, yet here he was, running with confidence, defending at important moments at the front post and generally imposing himself on the fairly uncomfortable centre-backs Kaspars Gorkss and Matthew Connolly. Indeed, the Finn could have played a crucial part in Swansea scoring with just three minutes of the half remaining, but Ikeme managed to hold Guillem Bauza’s eventual attempt from Kuqi’s pass, a vital catch under the circumstances when the close proximity of Dyer was considered.
It is fair to state that during the half-time interval Sousa may have reinforced to his players how important it was to beat his former employers. And the piece of good fortune that was so lacking during his time with Rangers came in dramatic circumstances on 57 minutes. The initial ball from Bauza was overhit, far too ambitious, but it unkindly ricocheted off the back of the disappointing Hill and dropped dead, on a sixpence, for Dyer. Like a beautifully-crafted golf shot falling to rest just yards from the hole, the speedy winger could not believe his luck at the way the opportunity beckoned. And he duly did the rest, directing his shot beyond Ikeme. The only sad sight was the clear lack of stewarding as a number of joyous visiting supporters ran onto the pitch to celebrate.
Nevertheless, Warnock responded immediately, introducing more width and making a double substitution. The tactics worked perfectly as 18-year-old German soon equalised. Goalkeeper Dorus De Vries failed to catch a corner, swung in from his right, and once the ball was played back in by Rowan Vine, who had only been on himself for four minutes, German was not going to waste such a gift, scoring his second goal of the season.
Warnock said: “The subs, I feel, made a difference – and that’s what squads are about. It was a good fightback. We played some good stuff before the goal.
“I like German but he has a lot to learn. I had given him a bit of roasting; he was offside once when he shouldn’t have been. But he has been absent for two weeks. He has been on antibiotics for a bad tooth.”
Star man: Guillame Bauza (Swansea)
Yellow card: QPR: Richards
Referee: C Boyeson
Attendance: 15,502
QPR: Ikeme 6, Ramage 6, Connolly 6, Gorkss 6, Hill 4, Buzsaky 7 (Cook 58min, 6), Leigertwood 7, Faurlin 6, Ephraim 6 (Vine 72min), Priskin 5 (German 58min, 7), Taarabt 7
Swansea: De Vries 6, Rangel 6, Tate 6, Williams 6, Richards 6, Britton 6, Gower 7 (Beattie 88min), Dyer 7 (Butler 82min), Bauza 7, Cotterill 7 (Van Der Gun 66min), Kuqi 7 The Times
NEWS OF THE WORLD - ANTONIO GERMAN SPOILS PARTY
TON-DERFUL - Antonio German gets the leveller for Rangers
QPR 1-1 Swansea
20/03/2010
ANTONIO GERMAN ruined his old Rangers boss Paulo Sousa's revenge mission with his 75th-minute equaliser.
Swansea chief Sousa was making his first return to Loftus Road since he was axed last April after just five months at the helm.
And the Portuguese coach was heading for a sweet victory against his former club when Nathan Dyer ended his four-month goal drought in the 57th minute.
But Rangers substitute German, who was a youth-team player during Sousa's reign, spoiled his one-time boss' afternoon with his second goal of the season.
Sousa said: "We had enough chances to win this game. I don't think a draw is a fair result. I'm happy for Antonio but not so happy for us.
"Antonio was playing for the Under-17s when I was here and he has a bright future.
"I wish him all the best and we've now got to make sure we stay in the top six."
Rangers manager Neil Warnock admitted goal hero German had shaken off a tooth problem to face Swansea.
He explained: "Antonio wasn't fully fit because he has been suffering with a tooth abscess. He has been on antibiotics for two weeks and he had to have the tooth out.
"He took his goal well. I'm still getting to know the young players here but I like the look of him."
Swansea almost stunned Rangers in the 12th minute when Dyer hit the post after latching on to Shefki Kuqi's flick-on.
Dyer fired Swansea into a deserved lead early in the second half.
He clipped the ball past Carl Ikeme after Guillem Bauza's pass was deflected into his path after hitting unlucky Rangers defender Matthew Hill.
Teenager German levelled when he stabbed home from two yards after Dorus de Vries palmed Rowan Vine's effort as far as the striker. News of The World
WALES ON LINE - Dyer ends goal drought but Swans search for elusive Rangers win goes on - Mar 21 2010 by Steve Tucker, Wales On Sunday
- IN their long history, Swansea City have never won at Loftus Road.
They’ll be kicking themselves they did not put that right here.
After taking the lead thanks to a somewhat fortuitous strike from Nathan Dyer, they seemed to be totally in control against a Rangers side who are rapidly running out of things to play for this season, apart from perhaps ensuring new boss Neil Warnock doesn’t shout at them.
But, despite the apparent meanness of the Swansea defence this campaign, they can’t seem to cut out the odd error which costs them.
And that is just what happened here with barely a quarter of an hour left.
QPR’s equaliser came from a corner floated in high by substitute Lee Cook and, for once, the holy trinity of Dorus de Vries, Alan Tate and Ashley Williams sinned badly.
The trio failed to clear the danger and Rowan Vine’s shot fell perfectly for Antonio German to lash home from just a few yards out.
As is so often the way in football, it was typical that young German was plucked from the Rangers’ Under-17s by a certain Paulo Sousa during his five months in charge at the London club last season.
After the final whistle, indeed, Sousa did not know whether to sing the 18-year-old’s praises or wring his neck.
In fact Sousa, back at his old haunt for the first time since getting fired, was probably in two minds over how to react to this result in general.
It was a point that moved the Swans up into fourth in the Championship, at least until results today. And a point away from home against anyone at this stage of the season is not to be sniffed at.
But in the first half here, in particular, Swansea carved out a clutch of pretty good chances that really should have resulted in them going in ahead at the break.
Of course, it doesn’t take a genius to work out that if it does all end in tears for the Swans this season then it will be an inability to stick the ball in the net which will be blamed.
The strike which actually did put them ahead on 57 minutes came with such a large slice of luck you could almost believe Swansea are destined for big things already.
Guillem Bauza’s through ball for Nathan Dyer was so massively over-hit the only result could possibly be that it would end up in the arms of home goalkeeper Carl Ikeme.
But on its way to doing just that it hit unfortunate defender Matthew Hill and dropped perfectly in the path of Dyer, who calmly slotted home past the now horribly exposed Ikeme.
It was Dyer’s second goal of the campaign and his first since his unlikely header against arch-rivals Cardiff City way back in November.
Although, Dyer had come as close to scoring as is feasibly possible without doing so after 12 minutes.
A De Vries goal-kick was flicked on by Shefki Kuqi and Dyer slipped through a split Rangers defence only to see his effort bounce back off the inside of the post.
That was the first of a series of chances in the first period that Swansea crafted.
On 19 minutes the hapless Hill almost put the ball in his own net trying to quell the danger following a sublime Dyer take-down. And as the half came to an end Kuqi put a header wide from a Mark Gower corner, the battering-ram of a forward getting down the right channel only to see his shot saved by Ikeme.
But with the first period almost over came a great Swansea chance. Kuqi was this time the provider, firing in from the right, but Bauza got a poor connection on his shot, which made things easy for the home keeper when really they should not have been.
This was the Spaniard’s first start of the season though and overall he did an excellent job in a less familiar deeper role, with Darren Pratley consigned to the bench with a tight hamstring.
Skipper Garry Monk was also left out as a precaution by Sousa over fears of a re-occurrence of his calf problem.
Swansea’s lead had only lasted three minutes when Rangers came close to levelling. Cook hoisted in a free-kick from the flank and defender Kaspars Gorkss saw his header drop just wide of the post.
But Swansea almost doubled their lead after 65 minutes when Bauza forced a good diving save from Ikeme.
Yet the impetus really swung to the home side after Rangers’ equaliser with Warnock’s men made of sterner stuff than at any time in a season when the managers’ office has had a revolving door. But Warnock himself is changing, too. When Matthew Connolly nodded home a deflected free-kick near the death, the home crowd were so convinced they had snatched it they even put on that silly goal celebration music they play, only for the assistant to raise his flag for offside. Warnock himself later agreed with the decision before praising the officials.
What ever next? A Swansea win at Loftus Road sometime? WalesonLine
QPR Official Site
Antonio German came off the bench to grab a point for QPR in their entertaining clash with promotion-chasing Swansea City at Loftus Road.
It was no more than Rangers deserved for another battling performance in West London, though they had to come back from a goal down when Nathan Dyer finished smartly after a ball from deep hit the back of Matt Hill.
The R's weren't to be beaten, however, and after Adel Taarabt's corner was knocked back by substitute Rowan Vine into the direction of German, he made little mistake to fire home from close range.
QPR had chances to win it, though Matt Connolly's header that was ruled out for offside was as close as they came, as the hosts picked up another welcome point.
Rangers gaffer Neil Warnock was forced into changes for the first time since taking over as boss at the start of the month.
Damion Stewart missed out owing to a one-match suspension for a red card received in the midweek loss at Reading, while Jay Simpson suffered a knock in training yesterday (Friday) that ruled him out of the Swans clash.
That meant Peter Ramage and Akos Buzsaky both came into the starting line-up.
Carl Ikeme was in goal for the R's.
Ramage and Hill started at full-back, while Connolly came into the centre of defence to partner Kaspars Gorkss.
In midfield, Buzsaky and Hogan Ephraim began the game from the flanks, supported by Mikele Leigertwood and Alejandro Faurlin from the middle.
Taarabt played just off Tamas Priskin up front.
There wasn't much to choose between the two sides in the opening minutes, though it was the R's who fashioned two half chances to find an opener.
Ramage nodded a header onto Taarabt just past halfway, before the midfielder controlled the ball and unleashed a low drive from 30 yards that went straight at Dorus De Vries.
Moments later, QPR were on the attack once again. Gorkss played a ball from deep into the path of Buzsaky, who flashed a shot just wide from the edge of the box.
Taarabt then produced a flurry of skills down the right-hand side allowing Buzsaky to flash over a cross that was driven wide from close-range by Priskin, who was under pressure from his defensive opponent.
Swansea, however, were by no means passengers in the match, and they came closest yet the notching a first goal when Shefki Kuqi flicked on for Dyer, whose shot came off the foot of the post and back into play before it was cleared up field.
Soon after, a ball was played from deep over the top of the R's backline and into the path of Dyer, and just as it looked as though he was to have a clean shot at goal, Hill intervened to clear the ball away - albeit with a slightly fortuitous deflection off Ikeme - for a corner kick.
Just before the interval, lovely build up play involving Hill, Leigertwood and Taarabt resulted in Buzsaky cutting in from the left before firing a low shot at De Vries in the City net.
Swansea created a chance of their own as the half came to a close. Mark Gower's pinpoint cross found the head of Kuqi, who headed just over the bar.
Moments later, Kuqi was involved yet again when he raced down the right-hand side of the penalty area before crossing for Guillem Bauza, who drove straight at Ikeme from close range.
As the second half got underway, it was Swansea who were first on the offensive, and Gower forced a smart save from Ikeme when his goal-bound cross from a free-kick had to be tipped over the crossbar.
Play then switched to the other end, and when Leigertwood picked the ball up around 25-yards out, his low drive was collected well by De Vries.
Soon after, David Cotterill fired in a set-piece at Ikeme that he had little trouble in catching for QPR.
The R's keeper was helpless to keep out the Swans' next attempt, however, as they rather fortuitously took a 57th minute lead at Loftus Road.
Bauza's ball from midway hit the back of Hill on the edge of the penalty area, putting Dyer through one-on-one with Ikeme in the R's net. The midfielder made no mistake to tuck to ball away low into the left-hand corner.
Play then switched the other end, where the R's missed a great chance to level.
Rangers substitute Lee Cook's delicious free-kick from the right was nodded goalwards by the unmarked Connolly, who headed just wide with keeper De Vries soundly beaten.
There could be no doubt that the R's were now the stronger force as they looked to level matters.
Following a sustained spell of pressure, they forced a deserved equaliser with just under 15 minutes remaining in W12.
Taarabt played a corner over from the left that was clipped back across goal at the back post from Vine, before German snuck in to smash home.
Buoyed by the equaliser, QPR then wasted no time of searching for a winner.
Faurlin soon received the ball on the edge of the box before he smashed high and wide of the bar.
The R's thought they had won it with five minutes to go.
Taarabt's smashed free-kick bounced up off the wall before Connolly raced around the back to nod in, but the assistant official deemed him to be in an offside position.
QPR: Ikeme, Ramage, Leigertwood, Buzsaky (Cook 58), Gorkss, Connolly, Faurlin, Hill, Ephraim (Vine 73), Priskin (German 58), Taarabt. Subs: Balanta, Cerny, Brown, Oastler. Goals: German (76)
Swansea City: Devries, Williams, Tate, Britton, Dyer (Butler 84), Rangel, Bauza, Gower (Beattie 89), Richards, Kuqi, Cotterill (Van Der Gun 66).
Subs: Cornell, Pratley, Pintado, Trundle.
Goals: Dyer (57)
Bookings: Richards Referee: Mr C Boyeson Attendance: 15, 502 QPR
Updated Table - BBC
1 Newcastle 37 43 77
2 West Brom 38 34 75
3 Nottm Forest 38 21 67
4 Swansea 38 6 61
5 Leicester 36 11 60
6 Cardiff 36 14 55
7 Sheff Utd 38 3 53
8 Doncaster 38 4 52
9 Blackpool 38 6 51
10 Middlesbrough 38 7 50
11 Coventry 37 -7 50
12 Barnsley 37 -10 49
13 Reading 36 -3 48
14 Preston 38 -8 48
15 Ipswich 38 -6 47
16 Bristol City 38 -12 46
17 QPR 37 -5 45
18 Derby 38 -11 44
19 Watford 35 -6 42
20 Scunthorpe 37 -23 41
21 Sheff Wed 38 -18 40
22 Crystal Palace 37 -2 39
23 Plymouth 37 -17 34
24 Peterborough 38 -21 30
BBC Table
Saturday, March 20, 2010
QPR Report Saturday...Warnock's Musings...Sousa's QPR Axing
-
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Visit the QPR and football-only QPR Report Messageboard (and quasi-blog) - For latest QPR Updates throughout the day
- Opportunity to Sponsor QPR Fan in MS Marathon
- Sousa's Swansea at Loftus Road
- Six Years Ago Today: QPR "Chairman" Gianni Paladini Saw His First QPR Game and then bought into the Club
- Also "On This Day" (March 20)....
- Ex-QPR Roberto Herrera: Where He Is Now
- VIDEO: Three QPR Games vs Oxford (NOT The Cup Final!) - First Game After Relegation
- VIDEO: Mike Keen Playing for England FA
- El Salvador's Goalie Banned for a Year in a Row over sponsorship
- Mike Keen Tribute Match - Wycombe, April 15
- Updated: Perspective of Ex-QPR Star, Mike Ferguson
- Portsmouth's Peter Storrie Responds
- Coventry City Fan/Club Cooperation Praised
- QPR Reserves Win
- QPR Youth Final Date vs Peterborough - Football League Youth Alliance Area Final on Tuesday 30th March
The Independent - Neil Warnock: I turned down Zamora – but what do I know about strikers? - What I Learnt This Week - Saturday, 20 March 2010
What a fantastic game and super result for Fulham on Thursday. It just shows what you can do with the right attitude, and, when you look at the way Juventus played, what can happen to you with the wrong attitude. A few rounds ago I don't suppose Fulham were bothered one way or the other about the Europa League and they were fielding weakened teams. Having almost secured Premier League football next season they can now give the competition a full whack and are really going for it.
- It looked and sounded like a great atmosphere. Craven Cottage is still one of the great football grounds, though I do wonder what some of the Juventus players thought of it with the cottage and the dressing rooms. I can remember playing there at the beginning of my career, with Chesterfield, and a few parts don't seem to have changed.
- Thinking about England, Bobby Zamora is the nearest thing there is to another Emile Heskey, more than Carlton Cole. I could have had him on loan when he went to Brighton about 10 years ago. I'd just taken over at Sheffield United and he was out of favour at Bristol Rovers. I thought he was a bit lazy for me but he did well on loan at Brighton so they signed him and later sold him to Spurs for £1.5m. Now he's all over Fabio Cannavaro and might play for England. But that's typical, I'm absolutely useless at spotting strikers, though I think he works harder now.
- While I was disappointed for Chelsea to go out in the week's other big European game I have to say my admiration and respect for Jose Mourinho softened the blow. Given he had a somewhat lesser side on paper, it does show you how important the manager is. Chelsea dominated that first game and were unlucky to lose 2-1, but the organisation of Inter at Stamford Bridge, and the pressure they put on made for a frustrating evening for Chelsea and another notch on Jose's CV.
2. Don't send referees out until they are ready
- I had to smile when I saw Michael Brown's comments regarding Steven Gerrard's forearm smash, that if it had been the other way around he would definitely have got a three-game ban. He's got a point.
Now I know the rules are that, if the referee sees an incident, the FA can't do anything about it, yet when you see things like that it makes you think ill of the system. That incident apart, I do think Stuart Attwell has improved since his unfortunate goal that never was last year. While on the subject of young referees we had one at Reading the other night, Mr Ward.
He'd only done four games this year. I know referees need to gain experience, but why send him into a derby when he's not ready for it? Do they look at the fixtures? The Madejski, like Loftus Road, can be intimidating and it is wrong to put refs in situations they're not ready for.
We lost (a penalty and a sending-off since you ask) but our performance was good. The other bonus was that at least I could get a haircut. I've needed one for a couple of weeks – I don't know if all managers are the same, but when I'm on a decent run I tend not to bother. I'm looking a bit smarter now.
3. William provided me with the win this week
- QPR were not the only club I managed this week. I was delighted to turn up for William's last game to find the teacher taking the school's other team. I got hold of William's team and was soon telling them what to do. It reminded me of when I played at Hartlepool and managed a group of scruffy urchins who had knocked on my door and asked if I could come training. I ended up coaching them and will never forget them scoring with a corner kick we worked on and running up and down the touchline celebrating.
I felt the same on Wednesday when the lads put up a great performance in winning 3-0. William was captain and he cracked home a penalty which set them off. Then young James got two. We had a team photograph to mark it, although isn't it unbelievable in this modern age where we have to make sure we have all the parents' permission first?
- Amy's been just as sporty, she's been doing the triathlon: running, swimming, and shooting. With a real pistol. I'll have to find out if it is live ammunition before I next tell her off.
4. Sharon gets shirty to the hospice's delight
- Since the move I've been doing some driving. From QPR's training ground to home takes anything from an hour and 10 minutes to two-and-a-half hours. Each way. I can't carry on like that so we are moving. It's one of the downsides of this job, and many others in the world, that you move a lot. We've not been in this house long and we're moving to a smaller house, so Sharon is trying to get the packing done and she's taking a very close look at my stuff. Apparently I'm a hoarder. There are boxes that have not been opened since four houses ago, but I've told her, "Don't you dare go throwing them away."
She's been going through my wardrobes too, shouting at me to get rid of some shirts. She's been desperate for me to get rid of these short-sleeved ones I bought when I was in China with Sheffield United. I finally succumbed and St Christopher's Hospice now has about 35 shirts of mine still with the tags on. Hurry, while stocks last.
5. Man-mark Rooney – it worked against Giggs
- Driving up and down the motorway I've been listening to a lot of radio. I had to laugh during a debate as to who is better, Rooney or Messi, when Darren Gough said: "How can you say he is great when he has only got one foot?" I thought, I wish all my players had got a foot like that. Older readers will remember people used to say the same about Norman Hunter, but when you have a left foot like theirs you don't need a right foot. Incidentally, why is it we only say this about left-footed players?
- They asked me on Match of the Day 2 last week how I would deal with Rooney. I think I'd try and man-mark him, make it 10 v 10. I'm surprised no one does, though it is a dying art. Alongside me on the sofa was some one who could have done it, Martin Keown. I still do occasionally. Against Reading in midweek I went 9 v 9 with the full-backs marking their wingers.
- At Notts County we played Manchester United and man-marked all over the pitch. They were lucky to get a draw. I remember a young Ryan Giggs asking Chris Short, who was following him everywhere: "Just what is it you want?"
6. I wouldn't know if we had plenty in reserve
- We had our first reserve-team match since I joined QPR this week, against Crystal Palace. It was strange knowing the opposition better than my own team – quite a few of them I'd barely seen as I've had to concentrate on the first team. There were some decent performances and as soon as we're safe I'll be looking to give the lads here permanently a chance – at the moment we are picking five loan players. Unfortunately, it was a home game so instead of hopping over the fence I had to travel across London.
- We're playing Swansea today, managed by Paulo Sousa, one of my predecessors at QPR. I'll have to tell him to calm down. Last time we were in opposition at Loftus Road he was sent to the stands. He's done a fabulous job at Swansea, building on the good work by Roberto Martinez, not making big changes, just putting his own character on them. They are the best side Palace played this season and I fancy them for the play-offs. Independent
BBC Swansea Match Preview
- Paulo Sousa returns to Loftus Road - where Swansea have never won a league game - for the first time since his troubled five-month spell at QPR was brought to an abrupt end last April.
- Sousa has since guided Swansea to fifth place despite a number of key players being sold or injured since his arrival - an obstacle he also had to deal with at Rangers.
- But problems on the pitch were the least of the ex-Portugal star's worries during his time in west London, where his management style was deeply unpopular with some members of the club's hierarchy.
- They - and not Sousa - were eventually backed by co-owner Flavio Briatore: a man who thought QPR was a restaurant before buying the club in 2007, but saw fit to criticise the double Champions League winner's tactics and team selections..." BBC
MIRROR - Swansea chief slams Neil Warnock over bully-boy tactics
Published 05:00 20/03/10 By Darren Witcoop
- Paulo Sousa lit the fuse ahead of today’s return to Loftus Road by claiming Neil Warnock intimidates Championship referees.
Sousa has already clashed with former Crystal Palace boss Warnock twice this season.
But the Swansea chief insists the new Rangers manager’s bully-boy tactics will not be enough to defeat his promotion-chasing side.
Sousa said: “Neil is always pushing the referees for his side.
“It’s something everybody knows and if referees concede to do that it’s because they agree with that.
“I have respect for him but he is a controversial character and the type of manager who will always encourage the players to tackle the opponents to intimidate the players.
“I don’t like it and it’s not something I encourage my players to do because it’s not the type of football I like.
“I remember when I was at QPR playing against Palace, one of my players was kicked in the face and broke his nose. There was blood everywhere.
“His teams are always competitive - they are encouraged to do that to make it difficult.
“They put out the foot in the challenge to try to take advantage. How do we cope with that? We will play football, that is our way.
“My concern is to play football, not to kick each other. I would like to see that.”
Swansea suffered a dent to their play-off hopes with a 2-0 home defeat to West Brom in midweek.
But Sousa added: “The players did not take the defeat well and there was real frustration.
“We have had to pick them up more than usual and they have had to recover mentally. It is important to get a victory.”
Swansea’s Jordi Lopez has put the boot into QPR by claiming his old club will still regret axing Sousa, claiming: “He would have got you promoted.”
Sousa returns to Loftus Road today for the first time since he was booted out by controversial supremo Flavio Briatore after just five months in charge.
The ex-Portugal midfielder has turned the Welsh outfit into strong promotion contenders - while mega-rich Rangers are still wallowing in mid-table.
And Swans star Lopez, who also played under Sousa at Shepherd’s Bush, reckons former QPR chief Briatore knows he blundered by showing his boss the door last April.
He said: “I think QPR made a mistake sacking Paulo. He’s shown he’s a great manager at Swansea.
“If QPR kept him they would now be pushing for promotion. I’m sure they would be doing what we’re doing this season.
“I was surprised when he got sacked because I thought he was doing a good job at QPR.
“He arrived in the middle of the season and that makes things more difficult.
“He was only given five months and that’s not long enough. A manager needs to be given time to get his ideas across.
“The chairman made a decision - but it was bad for QPR and good for Swansea because it gave them the chance to get Paulo.
“I think Paulo will get a good reception because he did a good job there and the fans loved him.
“There was a big pressure at QPR to get into the Premier League so it was a difficult environment.
“They should be challenging for promotion but any manager needs time - and he didn’t get it. But Paulo has shown he’s one of the best managers outside the Premier League. I think he will become a big manager in football.” Mirror
- QPR REPORT Available on TWITTER!
- Visit the QPR and football-only QPR Report Messageboard (and quasi-blog) - For latest QPR Updates throughout the day
- Opportunity to Sponsor QPR Fan in MS Marathon
- Sousa's Swansea at Loftus Road
- Six Years Ago Today: QPR "Chairman" Gianni Paladini Saw His First QPR Game and then bought into the Club
- Also "On This Day" (March 20)....
- Ex-QPR Roberto Herrera: Where He Is Now
- VIDEO: Three QPR Games vs Oxford (NOT The Cup Final!) - First Game After Relegation
- VIDEO: Mike Keen Playing for England FA
- El Salvador's Goalie Banned for a Year in a Row over sponsorship
- Mike Keen Tribute Match - Wycombe, April 15
- Updated: Perspective of Ex-QPR Star, Mike Ferguson
- Portsmouth's Peter Storrie Responds
- Coventry City Fan/Club Cooperation Praised
- QPR Reserves Win
- QPR Youth Final Date vs Peterborough - Football League Youth Alliance Area Final on Tuesday 30th March
The Independent - Neil Warnock: I turned down Zamora – but what do I know about strikers? - What I Learnt This Week - Saturday, 20 March 2010
What a fantastic game and super result for Fulham on Thursday. It just shows what you can do with the right attitude, and, when you look at the way Juventus played, what can happen to you with the wrong attitude. A few rounds ago I don't suppose Fulham were bothered one way or the other about the Europa League and they were fielding weakened teams. Having almost secured Premier League football next season they can now give the competition a full whack and are really going for it.
- It looked and sounded like a great atmosphere. Craven Cottage is still one of the great football grounds, though I do wonder what some of the Juventus players thought of it with the cottage and the dressing rooms. I can remember playing there at the beginning of my career, with Chesterfield, and a few parts don't seem to have changed.
- Thinking about England, Bobby Zamora is the nearest thing there is to another Emile Heskey, more than Carlton Cole. I could have had him on loan when he went to Brighton about 10 years ago. I'd just taken over at Sheffield United and he was out of favour at Bristol Rovers. I thought he was a bit lazy for me but he did well on loan at Brighton so they signed him and later sold him to Spurs for £1.5m. Now he's all over Fabio Cannavaro and might play for England. But that's typical, I'm absolutely useless at spotting strikers, though I think he works harder now.
- While I was disappointed for Chelsea to go out in the week's other big European game I have to say my admiration and respect for Jose Mourinho softened the blow. Given he had a somewhat lesser side on paper, it does show you how important the manager is. Chelsea dominated that first game and were unlucky to lose 2-1, but the organisation of Inter at Stamford Bridge, and the pressure they put on made for a frustrating evening for Chelsea and another notch on Jose's CV.
2. Don't send referees out until they are ready
- I had to smile when I saw Michael Brown's comments regarding Steven Gerrard's forearm smash, that if it had been the other way around he would definitely have got a three-game ban. He's got a point.
Now I know the rules are that, if the referee sees an incident, the FA can't do anything about it, yet when you see things like that it makes you think ill of the system. That incident apart, I do think Stuart Attwell has improved since his unfortunate goal that never was last year. While on the subject of young referees we had one at Reading the other night, Mr Ward.
He'd only done four games this year. I know referees need to gain experience, but why send him into a derby when he's not ready for it? Do they look at the fixtures? The Madejski, like Loftus Road, can be intimidating and it is wrong to put refs in situations they're not ready for.
We lost (a penalty and a sending-off since you ask) but our performance was good. The other bonus was that at least I could get a haircut. I've needed one for a couple of weeks – I don't know if all managers are the same, but when I'm on a decent run I tend not to bother. I'm looking a bit smarter now.
3. William provided me with the win this week
- QPR were not the only club I managed this week. I was delighted to turn up for William's last game to find the teacher taking the school's other team. I got hold of William's team and was soon telling them what to do. It reminded me of when I played at Hartlepool and managed a group of scruffy urchins who had knocked on my door and asked if I could come training. I ended up coaching them and will never forget them scoring with a corner kick we worked on and running up and down the touchline celebrating.
I felt the same on Wednesday when the lads put up a great performance in winning 3-0. William was captain and he cracked home a penalty which set them off. Then young James got two. We had a team photograph to mark it, although isn't it unbelievable in this modern age where we have to make sure we have all the parents' permission first?
- Amy's been just as sporty, she's been doing the triathlon: running, swimming, and shooting. With a real pistol. I'll have to find out if it is live ammunition before I next tell her off.
4. Sharon gets shirty to the hospice's delight
- Since the move I've been doing some driving. From QPR's training ground to home takes anything from an hour and 10 minutes to two-and-a-half hours. Each way. I can't carry on like that so we are moving. It's one of the downsides of this job, and many others in the world, that you move a lot. We've not been in this house long and we're moving to a smaller house, so Sharon is trying to get the packing done and she's taking a very close look at my stuff. Apparently I'm a hoarder. There are boxes that have not been opened since four houses ago, but I've told her, "Don't you dare go throwing them away."
She's been going through my wardrobes too, shouting at me to get rid of some shirts. She's been desperate for me to get rid of these short-sleeved ones I bought when I was in China with Sheffield United. I finally succumbed and St Christopher's Hospice now has about 35 shirts of mine still with the tags on. Hurry, while stocks last.
5. Man-mark Rooney – it worked against Giggs
- Driving up and down the motorway I've been listening to a lot of radio. I had to laugh during a debate as to who is better, Rooney or Messi, when Darren Gough said: "How can you say he is great when he has only got one foot?" I thought, I wish all my players had got a foot like that. Older readers will remember people used to say the same about Norman Hunter, but when you have a left foot like theirs you don't need a right foot. Incidentally, why is it we only say this about left-footed players?
- They asked me on Match of the Day 2 last week how I would deal with Rooney. I think I'd try and man-mark him, make it 10 v 10. I'm surprised no one does, though it is a dying art. Alongside me on the sofa was some one who could have done it, Martin Keown. I still do occasionally. Against Reading in midweek I went 9 v 9 with the full-backs marking their wingers.
- At Notts County we played Manchester United and man-marked all over the pitch. They were lucky to get a draw. I remember a young Ryan Giggs asking Chris Short, who was following him everywhere: "Just what is it you want?"
6. I wouldn't know if we had plenty in reserve
- We had our first reserve-team match since I joined QPR this week, against Crystal Palace. It was strange knowing the opposition better than my own team – quite a few of them I'd barely seen as I've had to concentrate on the first team. There were some decent performances and as soon as we're safe I'll be looking to give the lads here permanently a chance – at the moment we are picking five loan players. Unfortunately, it was a home game so instead of hopping over the fence I had to travel across London.
- We're playing Swansea today, managed by Paulo Sousa, one of my predecessors at QPR. I'll have to tell him to calm down. Last time we were in opposition at Loftus Road he was sent to the stands. He's done a fabulous job at Swansea, building on the good work by Roberto Martinez, not making big changes, just putting his own character on them. They are the best side Palace played this season and I fancy them for the play-offs. Independent
BBC Swansea Match Preview
- Paulo Sousa returns to Loftus Road - where Swansea have never won a league game - for the first time since his troubled five-month spell at QPR was brought to an abrupt end last April.
- Sousa has since guided Swansea to fifth place despite a number of key players being sold or injured since his arrival - an obstacle he also had to deal with at Rangers.
- But problems on the pitch were the least of the ex-Portugal star's worries during his time in west London, where his management style was deeply unpopular with some members of the club's hierarchy.
- They - and not Sousa - were eventually backed by co-owner Flavio Briatore: a man who thought QPR was a restaurant before buying the club in 2007, but saw fit to criticise the double Champions League winner's tactics and team selections..." BBC
MIRROR - Swansea chief slams Neil Warnock over bully-boy tactics
Published 05:00 20/03/10 By Darren Witcoop
- Paulo Sousa lit the fuse ahead of today’s return to Loftus Road by claiming Neil Warnock intimidates Championship referees.
Sousa has already clashed with former Crystal Palace boss Warnock twice this season.
But the Swansea chief insists the new Rangers manager’s bully-boy tactics will not be enough to defeat his promotion-chasing side.
Sousa said: “Neil is always pushing the referees for his side.
“It’s something everybody knows and if referees concede to do that it’s because they agree with that.
“I have respect for him but he is a controversial character and the type of manager who will always encourage the players to tackle the opponents to intimidate the players.
“I don’t like it and it’s not something I encourage my players to do because it’s not the type of football I like.
“I remember when I was at QPR playing against Palace, one of my players was kicked in the face and broke his nose. There was blood everywhere.
“His teams are always competitive - they are encouraged to do that to make it difficult.
“They put out the foot in the challenge to try to take advantage. How do we cope with that? We will play football, that is our way.
“My concern is to play football, not to kick each other. I would like to see that.”
Swansea suffered a dent to their play-off hopes with a 2-0 home defeat to West Brom in midweek.
But Sousa added: “The players did not take the defeat well and there was real frustration.
“We have had to pick them up more than usual and they have had to recover mentally. It is important to get a victory.”
Swansea’s Jordi Lopez has put the boot into QPR by claiming his old club will still regret axing Sousa, claiming: “He would have got you promoted.”
Sousa returns to Loftus Road today for the first time since he was booted out by controversial supremo Flavio Briatore after just five months in charge.
The ex-Portugal midfielder has turned the Welsh outfit into strong promotion contenders - while mega-rich Rangers are still wallowing in mid-table.
And Swans star Lopez, who also played under Sousa at Shepherd’s Bush, reckons former QPR chief Briatore knows he blundered by showing his boss the door last April.
He said: “I think QPR made a mistake sacking Paulo. He’s shown he’s a great manager at Swansea.
“If QPR kept him they would now be pushing for promotion. I’m sure they would be doing what we’re doing this season.
“I was surprised when he got sacked because I thought he was doing a good job at QPR.
“He arrived in the middle of the season and that makes things more difficult.
“He was only given five months and that’s not long enough. A manager needs to be given time to get his ideas across.
“The chairman made a decision - but it was bad for QPR and good for Swansea because it gave them the chance to get Paulo.
“I think Paulo will get a good reception because he did a good job there and the fans loved him.
“There was a big pressure at QPR to get into the Premier League so it was a difficult environment.
“They should be challenging for promotion but any manager needs time - and he didn’t get it. But Paulo has shown he’s one of the best managers outside the Premier League. I think he will become a big manager in football.” Mirror
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