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Sunderland 3-1 QPR: Sunday Mirror match report
Published 21:30 24/03/12 By Brian McNally Recommend
Not even the madcap antics of axed Queen’s Park Rangers club captain Joey Barton could take the shine off a scintillating Sunderland display.
Barton tried to steal the Black Cats’ thunder with a series of provocative gestures recalling Newcastle’s 5-1 win here last season as he warmed up in the first half.
The former Magpies midfielder’s attention-seeking actions only served to fire up the crowd after a quiet start to the game.
But by the final whistle the Scouse wind-up merchant – totally ignored yesterday by Mark Hughes – could be seen yawning on the bench as QPR were torn apart by a James McClean-inspired Sunderland.
Goals by Nicklas Bendtner, man-of-the-match McClean and eight-goal top scorer Stephane Sessegnon gave the rampant Black Cats a comfortable cushion against 10-man Rangers before Taye Taiwo pulled one back.
To complete an unhappy day for Hughes and Rangers after their shock midweek comeback win against Liverpool, they will again be without Djibril Cisse through suspension.
Cisse was dismissed for a crazy two-footed challenge on substitute Fraizer Campbell – his second in QPR colours after being sent off in the home defeat by Wolves last month.
Hughes is now set to lose Cisse for four games and said: “It was a crazy challenge by Cisse. I wasn’t too delighted by the tackle.
“But we were poor all round today.”
Hughes claimed he did not see Barton’s gestures to the home fans, saying: “I wasn’t aware, I was watching the game.”
QPR owner Tony Fernandes tweeted: “The manager can do nothing if players keep getting sent off and booked. Mark Hughes is the right guy and he has my support.”
Classy Sunderland were always in command despite losing John O’Shea early on with a calf injury that rules him out of the FA Cup quarter-final reply against Everton on Tuesday.
Manager Martin O’Neill said: “John’s loss is a blow but I am really pleased with the win. It sets us up nicely for the cup. James McClean was magnificent. He scored a goal and had a hand in the other two. It was a good way to celebrate his new contract. “
Sunderland broke through four minutes before the break. McClean’s cross allowed Bendtner to evade former Black Cat Anton Ferdinand and Taiwo to head beyond Paddy Kenny for his third goal in four games.
Cisse’s red card in the 55th minute – seconds after Craig Gardner hit the bar – ensured there would be no way back for woeful Rangers.
It was fitting that McClean sealed their fate. His first effort was charged down by Ferdinand but he showed composure to force home the fifth goal of his burgeoning career in English football.
Sessegnon clinched it six minutes later after David Vaughan had been played in by a clever McClean flick.
Not even Taiwo’s well-struck free-kick could supply any consolation for a QPR side now back in the bottom three.
And bad boy Barton will go away to consider whether he has any future at the club and possibly to contemplate an FA charge. Mirror
QPR Official Site - HUGHES: 'WE GAVE OURSELVES NO CHANCE'
Posted on: Sat 24 Mar 2012
Mark Hughes bemoaned his side's defensive performance, as QPR slumped to a 3-1 defeat against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Trailing 1-0 to Nicklas Bendtner's first half header, bad turned to worse for the R's early in the second half when Djibril Cisse was shown a straight red card for a two-footed lunge on Fraizer Campbell.
James McClean and Stephane Sessegnon added two more goals for the hosts soon after, before Taye Taiwo notched a stunning consolation with a trademark free-kick.
A dejected Hughes told www.qpr.co.uk: "We didn't perform anything like the level I expect.
"Maybe the emotion and the energy we expended on Wednesday was a factor to a certain degree, but the level of performance was well below par.
"We never gave ourselves a chance to win the game.
"Defensively we were very poor and we just didn't do the right things in key moments of the game.
"We made it very difficult for ourselves."
On the sending off, Hughes added: "Once again, we've lost a player because of a really poor challenge.
"It was a completely wrong challenge to make.
"It affected us greatly today and it will affect us over the next few weeks too.
"It wouldn't have made any difference to the result today though, because we were so poor."
Hughes added: "It was a poor performance all round. We've just got to respond now and give ourselves a boost ahead of the next game.
"If we want to get out of this situation we need to be a lot, lot better."
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/TheGaffer/0,,10373~2691568,00.html
TONY FERNANDES
Hughes backed as QPR crash again
(AFP) – 2 hours ago
SUNDERLAND — Mark Hughes received a vote of confidence from Queens Park Rangers owner Tony Fernandes, as the Londoners slumped into the relegation zone with a dismal 3-1 loss at Sunderland.
QPR had hoped to build on the momentum generated by their remarkable 3-2 win over Liverpool in midweek as they travelled to the Stadium of Light to face a Sunderland side beaten by struggling Blackburn in their last outing.
But instead it was an all too familiar story for Hughes and QPR as Djibril Cisse was sent off for a wild lunge on Fraizer Campbell to leave the Hoops -- trailing 1-0 at the time -- with a mountain to climb.
Predictably, Hughes' team never looked like finding a way back into the match as Sunderland goals from Nicklas Bendtner, James McClean and Stephane Sessesgnon sealed a comfortable win for Martin O'Neill's men.
Taye Taiwo scored a late consolation for QPR with an eye-catching free-kick but could not stop QPR slipping into the bottom three with a daunting run-in awaiting them over the final weeks of the season.
Nevertheless Hughes -- who controversially replaced Neil Warnock in January -- was given backing from QPR owner Fernandes following the defeat.
"The manager can do nothing if players keep getting sent off and booked," Fernandes said on Twitter. "Mark Hughes is right guy and he has my support."
But Fernandes was scathing of the disciplinary problems which have dogged Rangers throughout Hughes short reign.
Cisse's dismissal -- the second of his QPR career -- was the third red card since Hughes took over and means the former France international will now miss four games through suspension.
"I can't believe this. Red cards. Nothing to do with luck . Very frustrating," Fernandes wrote.
"Crucial is for us to win home games. But boy we do make it difficult," he said in another Tweet, adding: "This is the first time I'm generally pissed off. We got to bloody keep 11 players on the pitch." AFP
TONY FERNANDES TWEETS
Tony Fernandes Tweets
Tony Fernandes @tonyfernandes
This is the first time I'm generally pissed of. we got to bloddy keep 11 players on the pitch.
Crucial is for us to win home games. But boy we do make it dfficult.
The manager can do nothing if players keep getting sent off and booked. Mark hughes is right guy and he has my support.
I can't believe this. Red cards. Nothing to do with luck . Very frustrating.
JACOB Murtagh - QPR boss counting the cost of 'crazy' Cisse
MARK Hughes will be without Djibril Cisse for four matches after the QPR striker's 'crazy' red card in this afternoon's defeat at Sunderland.
The French frontman was sent-off for the second time in four games for a two-footed tackle on Fraizer Campbell just before the hour mark.
Rangers went on to lose 3-1 despite Taye Taiwo's consolation, and boss Hughes admits he's counting the cost of Cisse's moment of madness.
He said: “It was a crazy challenge by Djibril, he knows that.
“It compromised us, but even if he stayed on the pitch I don't think we would've won.
“He's going to be missing for four of the remaining eight matches and that's going to hurt us.
“He's scored three in six games and when he's on the pitch he's been excellent for us.
“But we can't dwell on spilt milk. I have to focus on the personnel that's available.â€
http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/london-qpr/2012/03/24/qpr-boss-counting-the-cost-of-crazy-cisse-82029-30617075/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#ixzz1q461HPN0
Barton Tweets...No further tweets for a while
Joseph Barton @Joey7Barton
Going to take a little twitter sabbatical before I say something I'll end up regretting. Have a good few weeks people.
Not selected. Nothing I can do sitting on the bench. Obviously disappointed
Reminds me of a film this 5under1and place.........can't think which one. #thedeliverance
Very, very disappointed.
QPR Official Site
Djibril Cisse saw red, as ten-man QPR went down to a 3-1 defeat against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
In the 250th league game of Mark Hughes's managerial career, Rangers went a goal down just four minutes before the break, after Nicklas Bendtner headed home James McClean's cross.
The R's task was made all-the-harder when Cisse picked up his second red card in just five appearances for the Hoops - that after a two-footed challenge on Fraizer Campbell on 54 minutes.
The home side duly capitalised on that numerical advantage.
First, the lively James McClean struck a Sunderland second thanks to a deflection off Nedum Onuoha, before Stephane Sessegnon tucked away a David Vaughan centre from close range.
Taye Taiwo curled home a free-kick - and a scant consolation for Rangers - on 79 minutes.
Hughes made two changes to his Rangers side for the trip to the North East.
Armand Traore was forced to sit out with a hamstring complaint, while Joey Barton dropped to the substitute's bench.
The duo were replaced by Taiwo and Jamie Mackie - scorer of the R's dramatic last-gasp winner versus Liverpool in midweek - respectively.
Paddy Kenny was in goal for the Hoops, behind a back four of Luke Young, Onuoha, stand-in skipper Anton Ferdinand and Taiwo.
Mackie began from the right-hand side of midfield, with Shaun Derry and Samba Diakite in the middle and Adel Taarabt starting from the left.
Cisse partnered Bobby Zamora up front.
The opening stanza proved to be a tentative one, with neither side giving an inch inside the opening minutes.
The home side carved open their first chance on ten minutes.
McClean's teasing corner from the right looked to be to a tee for a host of queuing Sunderland bodies at the back post, but Young was on hand to clear the danger.
Three minutes later, Sessegnon twisted and turned both Young and Diakite before crossing for Jack Colback, who saw his effort blocked by Taiwo in the box.
But Colback soon went closer for the hosts.A long ball saw Bendtner flick a header on to the Mackems midfielder, before his low drive clipped the left-hand post before going wide.
QPR fashioned their first opportunity in the 16th minute. Diakite found Young down the left, before his cross was headed just over the bar by Mackie.
Six minutes later, the R's had another attempt when Zamora played a pass into Cisse on the edge of the box, before his shot deflected comfortably up into the hands of Simon Mignolet.
Moments later, Sessegnon saw an effort whistle just wide of the left-hand post, following good work from Craig Gardner from the right.
Bendtner then diverted McClean's dangerous corner from the right just wide of the post on 25 minutes, before Zamora fired an effort just over the bar seconds later.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 41st minute.
The ever-threatening McClean played architect, sending over a delicious cross from the left that was expertly turned home by the head of Bendtner from close range.
Rangers almost responded just a minute later. Flowing football from the R's ended in Taiwo crossing for Cisse from the left, who saw an effort deflected wide of the target.
With Diakite already on a booking, Hughes decided to replace the Mali international with Akos Buzsaky seven minutes after the half-time break.
Sunderland, meanwhile, went exceptionally close to adding a second goal when Gardner rattled the crossbar with a bullet free-kick.
But QPR's chances of clawing their way back into this contest were dealt a major blow in the 64 minutes, after Cisse was handed a straight red card.
The French ace went in for a challenge with Campbell and appeared to catch the former Manchester United man with a two-footed challenge.
Referee Mr Jones took little time to make up his mind on a decision, reaching for a straight red card.
A man to the good, Sunderland began to make their numerical advantage count by creating a number of chances.
On 64 minutes, McClean saw his shot blocked over the target, following Gardner's low centre from the right.
McClean was proving to be a constant thorn in the R's side and he went close with an effort just a minute later, dragging his shot just wide of the right-hand post after a neat passage of build-up play from the Mackems.
But McClean wouldn't pass at the third time of asking, doubling Sunderland's lead 20 minutes from time.
Onuoha misjudged a ball forward and, when McClean saw an initial effort blocked by Young, his second attempt took a deflection before nestling into the back of the net.
The hosts added a third on 76 minutes. Onuoha was dispossessed in his own half before the ball was eventually played out to Vaughan down the left, whose telling cross was guided home by Sessegnon.
Rangers struck a consolation with 11 minutes left on the clock.
Michael Turner was penalised for a foul on Zamora, before Taiwo stepped up to curl home the subsequent free-kick from just outside the box.
Sunderland: Mignolet, Bridge (Meyler 70), Turner, Gardner, Colback, Vaughan, O'Shea (Campbell 28), McClean, Kyrgiakos, Sessegnon, Bendtner (Elmohamady 82).
Subs: Gordon, Wickham, Kilgallon, Dong-won.
Goals: Bendtner (41), McClean (70), Sessegnon (76)
Bookings: Kyrgiakos (34), Bridge (45)
QPR: Kenny, Diakite (Buzsaky 52), Derry, Taarabt (Wright-Phillips 60), Mackie, Young, Cisse, Taiwo, Ferdinand, Onuoha, Zamora (Bothroyd 82).
Subs: Cerny, Hill, Gabbidon, Barton.
Goals: Taiwo (79)
Bookings: Diakite (11), Young (21), Zamora (34)
Red Cards: Cisse (54)
Referee: Mr M Jones
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~58763,00.html
GUARDIAN
QPR lose Djibril Cissé to red card and three points to Sunderland
Sunderland's David Vaughan, centre, vies for the ball with QPR's Bobby Zamora, right, and Adel Taarabt. Photograph: Scott Heppell/AP
Djibril Cissé was sent off for the second time in his brief Queens Park Rangers career as his side self-destructed at Sunderland. The visitors were trailing to Nicklas Bendtner's 41st-minute header when the Frenchman launched himself into a two-footed tackle on Fraizer Campbell and was shown a straight red card by the referee Mike Jones, and his side went on to lose 3-1.
Cissé will receive a four-match ban to add to the three he served following his dismissal against Wolves, after what proved to be a costly fifth appearance for the club.
The striker, who had a loan spell at the Stadium of Light earlier in his career, was not the only old boy to suffer on his return to Wearside, with Nedum Onuoha's error allowing James McClean to celebrate his new contract by adding a second 20 minutes from time. Stéphane Sessègnon made sure of the points six minutes later and, although the defender Taye Taiwo pulled a goal back with a stunning late free-kick, the home side ran out comfortable winners in front of a crowd of 37,128.
Mark Hughes said: "That's going to hurt us because when we have been able to keep him on the pitch he has been excellent for us. He has scored something like three in five, but we can't really dwell on it.
"It's spilled milk from our point of view. We have got to get on with it. I have got to focus on the personnel who are available to me. It's a crazy challenge by Djibril, and he knows that.''
Martin O'Neill's joy will have been tempered, however, by the sight of John O'Shea limping off before the break with an injury that could jeopardise the defender's chances of playing in Tuesday's FA Cup quarter-final replay against Everton.
The Sunderland manager said: "I am just delighted to have won the game. It keeps the momentum going. Forty points on the board – if you had given me that in December I would have taken your arms off, for the end of the season, never mind anything else."
The win took the Black Cats into eighth place in the table, only two points adrift of Liverpool in seventh, and sent QPR back into the relegation zone.
O'Neill added: "It was a surprise at Liverpool being beaten [by Wigan], but from our own viewpoint, it sets us up for Tuesday night, at least in terms of confidence."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/mar/24/sunderland-qpr-premier-league?newsfeed=true
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- SUNDERLAND - Shared Players/Past Results & Reports
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- Do it! Do it! Do it! David Lacey/The Guardian "Chelsea could do worse than choose John Terry for their new manager. It is in the realms of fantasy but there are successful precedents for promoting a player at Stamford Bridge..."
AF- QPR owner criticises Terry case delay
QPR owner Tony Fernandes Saturday criticised the lengthy adjournment of John Terry's racial abuse court case as the furore continues to hang over his club.
Fernandes, speaking to AFP ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix, kept an open mind on whether alleged victim Anton Ferdinand should shake the hand of Chelsea's Terry when the teams meet again on April 29.
But he said the case's adjournment until July 9 -- after Euro 2012, which wraps up eight days earlier -- had made life difficult for all parties. Terry denies racially abusing Ferdinand during a game in October.
"Let's wait till the day and see what happens," Fernandes, who also owns the Caterham Formula One team, said of the handshake when QPR play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
"The court case should have been done by now," he added. "To be fair to John Terry, to be fair on Anton, to be fair on the paying public. It shouldn't have been delayed."
The case has had wide-ranging repercussions. In February, Fabio Capello resigned as England manager after the Football Association (FA) stripped Terry of the national team's armband.
In January, the FA cancelled the traditional pre-match handshake for QPR's FA Cup clash with Chelsea after it emerged players were planning to snub Terry. AFP
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