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August 25, 1973: QPR 1 Southampton 1
QPR's First Game back in the First Division under Gordon Jago/Bobby Campbell. At home to Southampton. With John Delve replacing suspended Gerry Francis, QPR drew 1-1
Parkes
Clement Mancini Hazell Watson
Venables Delve Leach
Thomas Bowles Givens
August 25th 1984 QPR 3 WBA 1:
Alan Mullery's first game in charge of QPR having replaced Terry Venables (and the one-week appointment of Gordon Jago).: Things good looked aug 25 1984 ...With 2 wins and 2 draws from our first 4 games things looked good...Then came a 0-5 defeat at Spurs; THE 5-5 draw at home to Newcastle...and after 17 games, Mullery was axed.
Hucker
Neil Wicks Fenwick Dawes
Stewart Gregory Fillery Mickelwhite
Stainrod Bannister
Fereday
Aug 25 1990: Nottingham Forest 1 QPR 1
Don Howe started his first (and only) full season in charge of QPR having replaced Trevor Francis half-way through the previous season.
Roberts
Sansom Bardsley McDonald Maddix
Channing Sinton Wilkins Wilson
Falco Wegerle
Subs: Barker Ferdinand
Goal - Wegerle
Some other August 25 Games - But NOT opening Games
Aug 25, 2003 Rushden 3 QPR 3
Aug 25 2001 QPR 0 Reading 0
Aug 25 1999 QPR 0 Cardiff 1 - League Cup
Aug 25 1993 Chelsea 2 QPR 0
Aug 25 1979 QPR 1 Leicester 4 (Tommy Docherty's Allen/Goddard's QPR!)
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
Friday, August 25, 2006
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Penrice and Breaker Set to Join Holloway at Plymouth
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Plymouth Official Site Announcement
IAN Holloway's back-room team at Argyle will be completed next month when coaches Gary Penrice and Tim Breacker finalise their moves from Queens Park Rangers.
The two have been in limbo since the Pilgrims' new manager himself was put on gardening leave by Rangers' chairman Gianni Paladini towards the end of last season.
However, that situation is set to be resolved, and Holloway believes that Argyle will benefit from the input of his trusted lieutenants.
"They've both got to go back to QPR for their deals to be settled but they have agreed their contracts with us," said Holloway. "That's vital for me, and vital for us.
"Hopefully, they will be starting on September 1, providing their negotiations go okay with Gianni Paladini, which I'm sure they will.
"All I've been doing is trying to get my staff, my players - hopefully those two situations will be sorted in the next couple of days. I'm delighted."
FIFA 07
Plymouth
Plymouth Official Site Announcement
IAN Holloway's back-room team at Argyle will be completed next month when coaches Gary Penrice and Tim Breacker finalise their moves from Queens Park Rangers.
The two have been in limbo since the Pilgrims' new manager himself was put on gardening leave by Rangers' chairman Gianni Paladini towards the end of last season.
However, that situation is set to be resolved, and Holloway believes that Argyle will benefit from the input of his trusted lieutenants.
"They've both got to go back to QPR for their deals to be settled but they have agreed their contracts with us," said Holloway. "That's vital for me, and vital for us.
"Hopefully, they will be starting on September 1, providing their negotiations go okay with Gianni Paladini, which I'm sure they will.
"All I've been doing is trying to get my staff, my players - hopefully those two situations will be sorted in the next couple of days. I'm delighted."
FIFA 07
Plymouth
QPR Appoint Mackrell Chief Operating Officer (A Year to the Day after making CEO Position Redundant)
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GRAHAM MACKRELL'S QPR'S NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
The appointment of Graham Mackrell in the new position of QPR's Chief Operating Officer comes a year to the day after QPR's Board Meeting which saw Mark Devlin's position as Chief Operating Officer, made redundant (and of course also saw QPR Chairman Bill Power ousted).
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - GRAHAM MACKRELL APPOINT CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
QPR are delighted to announce the appointment of Graham Mackrell, as Chief Operating Officer.
A qualified accountant, Mackrell will offer assistance to the board, with the focus on improving the Club's off-the-field activities.
"I'm really looking forward to the challenge ahead,'' Mackrell told qpr.co.uk.
"QPR is a club with fantastic tradition and I'm excited about the prospect of working with the strong team we already have in place here.
"I'm here to add professionalism and my aim is to ensure the Club's off-the-field ambitions match those on it.''
Mackrell has worked in professional football for 25 years, including spells at Sheffield Wednesday, Luton Town, AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United.
He is also a Venue Director for UEFA.
Chairman Gianni Paladini is delighted to have Mackrell on board, commenting: "Graham will raise our profile within football thanks to his extensive work with UEFA and the League Managers Association.
"He is extremely well-known and respected within the game and also benefits from being a qualified accountant.
"I would like to wish Graham all the best and welcome him to QPR.''
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
League Managers Association Mini Profile
Graham Mackrell - Commercial Consultant
Graham is responsible for handling the Association's Commercial and Sponsorship relationships, including the LMA website.
He has spent over 25 years in professional football and worked in the game at all levels during his time at AFC Bournemouth, Luton Town, Sheffield Wednesday and West Ham United. In addition he has gained international Event Management experience with The Football Association and UEFA
A Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants and a Trustee of the Football League Pension Scheme, he is also a UEFA Venue Director in the Champions League and a Match Delegate in the Barclays Premiership
League Managers Association
Mackrell is - or was- listed as one of two directors of Sports Assets Management Ltd.
Graham Mackrell Company Secretary
West Ham Football Club Describing his job
YOU REALLY have to be a football fan to make the most of this job. However, by the same token you can't do the job properly if you aren't able to stand removed from the emotion of football. It's a very delicate balance. You need to have, and keep, strong business discipline in what is an extremely emotive sport. And the decisions you make are important ones, especially with salaries starting to accelerate in the way they are at the moment. Like Marks & Spencer, you are judged by the product you've got in the shops. But you have to balance that with what it'll cost you. You've also got to be a good communicator. Again, it's a question of balance - opinions need to be translated into language accessible to professionals and to the fans. Over the past few years Peter Robinson, vice-chairman of Liverpool, is the person who has brought the greatest amount of professionalism to the industry.
Independent
From Ten Years Ago
STOKED MACKRELL TAKES OVER NEW ROLE
Tuesday 24 December 1996
Sheffield Wednesday's growing in influence off the field in the corridors of football power can be seen by the appointment of secretary Graham Mackrell to yet another prestigious role.
During the summer he was the centre director for Euro 96 at Hillsborough and he has now been chosen as chairman of the Institute of Football Management and Administration.
There has been increasing speculation linking him with the top job of chief executive to the Premier League which is currently held by Rick Parry who will be soon joining Liverpool when his notice has been served.
Mackrell has been an important figure at the FA over the past few years and is tipped as a man to lead the FA into the millennium.
Graham Mackrell said: "It's quite an honour."
The areas of responsibility include four separate associations which govern the affairs of managers, commercial managers, administrators and management staff and its brief is also concerned with training and organisation.
This appointment adds to the role of Owls' chairman Dave Richards who is a member of the FA Council and was recently a Premier League candidate who contested the election to find a new FA Chairman.
Mackrell will take up the new appointment in the New Year.
4 The Game
Resignation from West Ham
Monday, 20 December, 1999,
Hammers' secretary resigns
West Ham company secretary Graham Mackrell has resigned in the wake of the Emmanuel Omoyimni affair.
Omoyimni played for the Hammers in their Worthington Cup quarter-final against Aston Villa, having already represented Gillingham in the same competition this season.
It was a little error but unfortunately it has had large consequences for the club.
Graham Mackrell
Mackrell said: "I thought it was the right decision to make. We acted upon information which was given to me that the player was eligible to play.
"It patently wasn't correct and as a result I'm responsible, and I felt the only honourable thing to do was to resign.
"The club have won a match and they're being forced to replay it.
"That's very unfortunate for the players and particularly our supporters."
Aston Villa have been given a second chance
It was revealed on Friday that the Hammers, who have not played at Wembley since 1981, had fielded an ineligible player.
Villa, who went out of the Worthington Cup after Gareth Southgate missed the crucial penalty, immediately demanded they be reinstated in the competition and on Saturday the Football League announced the game would be replayed at Upton Park next year.
Mackrell has been at the club for just six months after moving from Sheffield Wednesday. He will stay with West Ham until a new appointment is made.
Hammers' football secretary Alison O'Dowd has also resigned.
West Ham chairman Terence Brown said: "The board would like to thank Mr Mackrell for all his hard work on behalf of the club since his appointment in June.
"We feel Graham has made an honourable decision but it seems a high price to have to pay for what was a small and genuine administrative error."
BBC
GRAHAM MACKRELL'S QPR'S NEW CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
The appointment of Graham Mackrell in the new position of QPR's Chief Operating Officer comes a year to the day after QPR's Board Meeting which saw Mark Devlin's position as Chief Operating Officer, made redundant (and of course also saw QPR Chairman Bill Power ousted).
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - GRAHAM MACKRELL APPOINT CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
QPR are delighted to announce the appointment of Graham Mackrell, as Chief Operating Officer.
A qualified accountant, Mackrell will offer assistance to the board, with the focus on improving the Club's off-the-field activities.
"I'm really looking forward to the challenge ahead,'' Mackrell told qpr.co.uk.
"QPR is a club with fantastic tradition and I'm excited about the prospect of working with the strong team we already have in place here.
"I'm here to add professionalism and my aim is to ensure the Club's off-the-field ambitions match those on it.''
Mackrell has worked in professional football for 25 years, including spells at Sheffield Wednesday, Luton Town, AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United.
He is also a Venue Director for UEFA.
Chairman Gianni Paladini is delighted to have Mackrell on board, commenting: "Graham will raise our profile within football thanks to his extensive work with UEFA and the League Managers Association.
"He is extremely well-known and respected within the game and also benefits from being a qualified accountant.
"I would like to wish Graham all the best and welcome him to QPR.''
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
League Managers Association Mini Profile
Graham Mackrell - Commercial Consultant
Graham is responsible for handling the Association's Commercial and Sponsorship relationships, including the LMA website.
He has spent over 25 years in professional football and worked in the game at all levels during his time at AFC Bournemouth, Luton Town, Sheffield Wednesday and West Ham United. In addition he has gained international Event Management experience with The Football Association and UEFA
A Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants and a Trustee of the Football League Pension Scheme, he is also a UEFA Venue Director in the Champions League and a Match Delegate in the Barclays Premiership
League Managers Association
Mackrell is - or was- listed as one of two directors of Sports Assets Management Ltd.
Graham Mackrell Company Secretary
West Ham Football Club Describing his job
YOU REALLY have to be a football fan to make the most of this job. However, by the same token you can't do the job properly if you aren't able to stand removed from the emotion of football. It's a very delicate balance. You need to have, and keep, strong business discipline in what is an extremely emotive sport. And the decisions you make are important ones, especially with salaries starting to accelerate in the way they are at the moment. Like Marks & Spencer, you are judged by the product you've got in the shops. But you have to balance that with what it'll cost you. You've also got to be a good communicator. Again, it's a question of balance - opinions need to be translated into language accessible to professionals and to the fans. Over the past few years Peter Robinson, vice-chairman of Liverpool, is the person who has brought the greatest amount of professionalism to the industry.
Independent
From Ten Years Ago
STOKED MACKRELL TAKES OVER NEW ROLE
Tuesday 24 December 1996
Sheffield Wednesday's growing in influence off the field in the corridors of football power can be seen by the appointment of secretary Graham Mackrell to yet another prestigious role.
During the summer he was the centre director for Euro 96 at Hillsborough and he has now been chosen as chairman of the Institute of Football Management and Administration.
There has been increasing speculation linking him with the top job of chief executive to the Premier League which is currently held by Rick Parry who will be soon joining Liverpool when his notice has been served.
Mackrell has been an important figure at the FA over the past few years and is tipped as a man to lead the FA into the millennium.
Graham Mackrell said: "It's quite an honour."
The areas of responsibility include four separate associations which govern the affairs of managers, commercial managers, administrators and management staff and its brief is also concerned with training and organisation.
This appointment adds to the role of Owls' chairman Dave Richards who is a member of the FA Council and was recently a Premier League candidate who contested the election to find a new FA Chairman.
Mackrell will take up the new appointment in the New Year.
4 The Game
Resignation from West Ham
Monday, 20 December, 1999,
Hammers' secretary resigns
West Ham company secretary Graham Mackrell has resigned in the wake of the Emmanuel Omoyimni affair.
Omoyimni played for the Hammers in their Worthington Cup quarter-final against Aston Villa, having already represented Gillingham in the same competition this season.
It was a little error but unfortunately it has had large consequences for the club.
Graham Mackrell
Mackrell said: "I thought it was the right decision to make. We acted upon information which was given to me that the player was eligible to play.
"It patently wasn't correct and as a result I'm responsible, and I felt the only honourable thing to do was to resign.
"The club have won a match and they're being forced to replay it.
"That's very unfortunate for the players and particularly our supporters."
Aston Villa have been given a second chance
It was revealed on Friday that the Hammers, who have not played at Wembley since 1981, had fielded an ineligible player.
Villa, who went out of the Worthington Cup after Gareth Southgate missed the crucial penalty, immediately demanded they be reinstated in the competition and on Saturday the Football League announced the game would be replayed at Upton Park next year.
Mackrell has been at the club for just six months after moving from Sheffield Wednesday. He will stay with West Ham until a new appointment is made.
Hammers' football secretary Alison O'Dowd has also resigned.
West Ham chairman Terence Brown said: "The board would like to thank Mr Mackrell for all his hard work on behalf of the club since his appointment in June.
"We feel Graham has made an honourable decision but it seems a high price to have to pay for what was a small and genuine administrative error."
BBC
Remembering Barry Bridges: 38 Years Ago Today made his QPR Debut...
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Thirty-eight years ago today, QPR's 50,000 pound record signing from Birmingham, former England International (and ex-Chelsea) forward Barry Bridges made his QPR debut at home to the Champions, Manchester City. (QPR drew 1-1 with Bridges of course scoring). Bridges ended up joint top scorer (along with Mick Leach) with 8 goals in 27 appearances. In our first season back in the second division, Bridges scored 21 goals in 38 games, in a dynamic forward line of Marsh, Clarke and Bridges with Venables in midfield.
Then the following season, Bridges was sold to Millwall. His last QPR game was in September 1970: QPR's 6-2 defeat at Middlesbrough in which QPR were 2-0 in the first five minutes!
See Bridges
Wikipedia
Thirty-eight years ago today, QPR's 50,000 pound record signing from Birmingham, former England International (and ex-Chelsea) forward Barry Bridges made his QPR debut at home to the Champions, Manchester City. (QPR drew 1-1 with Bridges of course scoring). Bridges ended up joint top scorer (along with Mick Leach) with 8 goals in 27 appearances. In our first season back in the second division, Bridges scored 21 goals in 38 games, in a dynamic forward line of Marsh, Clarke and Bridges with Venables in midfield.
Then the following season, Bridges was sold to Millwall. His last QPR game was in September 1970: QPR's 6-2 defeat at Middlesbrough in which QPR were 2-0 in the first five minutes!
See Bridges
Wikipedia
Ex-QPR's Leroy Rosenoir Turns 42
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Leroy Rosenoir Turns 42
Signed by Jim Smith from Fulham in 1985, Rosenoir was with QPR for two seasons, playing 38 games scoring 7 goals. Was sold back to Fulham in 1987. Now currently manager at Brentford.
Rosenoir
Leroy Rosenoir Turns 42
Signed by Jim Smith from Fulham in 1985, Rosenoir was with QPR for two seasons, playing 38 games scoring 7 goals. Was sold back to Fulham in 1987. Now currently manager at Brentford.
Rosenoir
QPR's Boardroom "Coup" - One Year Later
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A Year ago, today, QPR's Boardroom "Coup" took place.
Some days after "The alleged Incident" at Loftus Road before the Sheffield United game, Dunga controversially flew in...The Board met...Bill Power and Mark Devlin went home...and Bill Power was controversially voted out and Mark Devlin was made redundant. But this was just the start of quite a year.
BBC- Power is removed as QPR chairman
Gianni Paladini has taken control at Loftus Road
Queens Park Rangers chairman Bill Power has been removed and chief executive Mark Devlin sacked.
Director Gianni Paladini, backed by Monaco-based groups that bought shares in Rangers last year, moved to oust Power at a board meeting on Wednesday.
Power, who was a close ally of the Italian before their relationship turned sour, was voted out and Devlin told he was being fired.
But Power and his supporters are likely to challenge the legality of the move.
Both Power and the Monaco groups were keen to increase their shareholding.
Power's camp were undone by former Brazil captain Carlos Dunga unexpectedly flying in from Japan to vote with Paladini.
Dunga represents one of the Monaco groups but little has been heard of him since he was made a director last summer.
Wednesday's board meeting was the first the World Cup winner has attended.
Power and Paladini joined forces to topple the previous board 14 months ago, but there have been bitter divisions since.
Paladini is now in control at Loftus Road and is likely to take over Devlin's duties.
A new chairman is expected to be named shortly.
BBC
QPR Official Statement - August 25, 2005
TATEMENT
The Board of QPR Holdings Ltd has decided that Mr Mark Devlin's position as Chief Executive Officer is to be made redundant with immediate effect.
Mr Bill Power is no longer Chairman of the Board but remains as a Director.
Mr Gualtiero Trucco has been appointed interim Chairman of the Board.
Bill Power and Director Kevin McGrath do not recognise the validity of these decisions which were taken at yesterday's Board meeting in their absence.
They are currently seeking legal advice with regards to these decisions
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
SPORTING LIFE - QPR POWER STRUGGLE GOES ON
QPR manager Ian Holloway has attacked the boardroom chaos threatening to derail the club - and admitted his future is uncertain.
Bill Power and Mark Devlin were ousted as Rangers chairman and chief executive respectively in a boardroom coup earlier this week, allowing director Gianni Paladini to seize effective control of the club.
Power continues to fight his demotion and is expected to mount a legal challenge, but manager Holloway could now be under pressure - former Rangers player and Aston Villa manager John Gregory was in the directors' box for Friday's home match against Sheffield Wednesday.
"We've had two bad results [at Coventry and Northampton], but whether I remain here is another matter," Holloway said.
"If they want me, great, if they don't then that's life.
"Hopefully the people in the boardroom can sort our their squabbles. They need to sort it out. They are directors - they need to direct the club."
Paladini attracted two Monaco-based groups of investors to the club when it was in dire financial straits last summer and one of their number - fellow Italian Gualtiero Trucco - has been installed as interim chairman.
Holloway led Rangers to 11th place in the Championship last term following their promotion from the old Division Two the previous season.
But Holloway has had to deal with boardroom instability throughout his reign - and he hinted he was growing tired of it.
"The supporters don't know the facts," he told BBC London 94.9 FM.
"It's not a nice situation to be in. I've been through three boards since I've been here and I'm not happy about that.
"We don't want to wash our dirty linen in public. QPR is a baton that's been handed around.
"When the board get fed up, when the supporters get fed up, they can get someone else."
Sporting Life
The Guardian -
Rangers raise a point despite boardroom chaos
"Arindam Rej at Loftus Road
Saturday August 27, 2005
The Guardian
Trouble is mounting at QPR. A boardroom power struggle has unsettled the club to such an extent that this result was peripheral for their fans. The sooner they find out who their next chairman is, the better.
Not that focusing on this point would have cheered them up. They failed to overcome a Wednesday side who picked up three injuries in 51 minutes and were reduced to 10 men for the final 15.
Bill Power is expected to mount a legal challenge after his removal as chairman, during a board meeting this week in which the chief executive Mark Devlin was also sacked. Rangers' director Gianni Paladini has taken control, with Gualtiero Trucco as the interim chairman.
Background worries are not unusual but this month the events have been scarcely believable. Paladini, whose long-held ambition is to run a football club, had his resignation demanded when he was threatened with a gun before the game with Sheffield United.
The club was further startled by this week's news. Power and Paladini had worked together to bring down the previous regime 14 months ago but relations have deteriorated to such an extent that Power, despite remaining a director, has lost his job. More bizarrely Power still claims he is chairman....
Guardian
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - August 30, 2005 -
BRIGHT FUTURE
Gianni Paladini has promised a bright future for Queens Park Rangers following the changes at Boardroom level last week.
Bill Power is no longer Chairman and Mark Devlin's position as Chief Executive was made redundant following a Board meeting at Loftus Road.
But the Director insists that the decisions taken were made with only the Club's interest at heart and he has played down suggestions of turmoil at the highest level.
"I am still friends with Bill. We go out for lunch and we talk on the phone every day. I have no problem with Bill.
"This is not about individuals or personalities, it is about the future of this great Club and all of us - Bill included -want nothing more than to see QPR continue to grow and improve."
Paladini is also sympathetic with supporters who may have been worried about the situation.
He appreciates that the supporters are concerned and has stressed that their feelings are at the forefront of his mind.
"The supporters are what makes this Club great and from the moment I arrived at Loftus Road I have been overwhelmed by their passion and devotion.
"All supporters will worry when they see change and I can understand that. But I believe that change was necessary for long term stability.
"The investors and directors are ambitious - I am ambitious - but we are not turning things upside down. We are going to make sensible steady progress and take Rangers back to where we belong - the Premiership."
Paladini also believes that the root of stability lies with the manager and that is why he hopes to sit down with Ian Holloway this week to discuss a new contract.
"Ollie is responsible for so much that has happened here during the past few years. Our successes on the pitch are down to him and he should be rewarded accordingly."
QPR
BILL POWER STATEMENT, QPR OFFICIAL SITE - September 1, 2005
Today following advice from my doctor and after lengthy discussions with my family and each member of the board I am confirming my departure as chairman of QPR.
I am well aware of the feelings of supporters having received literally hundreds of goodwill messages. But I must be selfish and think of my own health and also the health of two family members, both lifelong R's - my beautiful mum and my lovely father-in-law, who are both in hospital and not in the best of health.
I have been in discussions for the last two months with my fellow board members regarding who could, should or would 'pick up the baton'. I have told Gianni that he should become chairman with immediate effect to help focus everyone on going forward and I have advised him to meet with the supporters groups as quickly as he can.
As I write this, I have just enjoyed a day talking and having lunch with Gianni and on the phone with Ollie discussing possible new signings and things that we thought could take the club forward. I hope, and am sure, that those discussions and my advice will be acted upon and that we all see the benefits for ourselves .
In all honesty, and perhaps selfishly again, I must say it was like a weight being lifted from my shoulders having previously known that a decision I might make as Chairman could affect the hopes and dreams of so many fellow R's. Now it is time to let another friend push us forward. I am not leaving, just taking a well earned rest.
Words fail to express how much I have enjoyed my tenure as chairman, living every fan's dream of helping the club they love. I'm sure I will think of dozens of things I should have said, so for now I will just say a big thank you to everyone I have met and wish you all well.
Once again I ask you to get behind Gianni, Kevin, Ollie and the boys. I know that when we all pull together we are unstoppable.
Come on you R's.
QPR
QPR OFFICIAL STATEMENT - GIANNI PALADINI
Gianni Paladini has been appointed Chairman of Queens Park Rangers Football Club and QPR Holdings Ltd.
Interim Chairman Gualtiero Trucco has stepped down and the Board of Directors have unanimously chosen Paladini to take on the role on a full-time basis.
The changes were agreed at a Loftus Road Board Meeting on Wednesday afternoon and Paladini is delighted by the honour of this 'challenging but exciting' role.
"The Monaco investors have recommended that I be appointed Chairman and I am deeply honoured that the Directors have allowed me this opportunity.
"I hope now that after a period of instability we can all look forward to the brightest of futures at Loftus Road.
"We have a wonderful manager, an exciting and improving squad and a real opportunity to push for a place in the play-offs and even the Premiership.
"I believe these are wonderful times to be a QPR supporter and I just want to play whatever part I can in bringing both success and stability to this Club.
"I fully appreciate that supporters will have been a little bewildered by recent events and I wish that so much of what has happened could have happened differently.
"But I believe we now have the right people in place, both on the pitch and behind the scenes, to take this club forward.
"I would like to thank every single fan for their continued, passionate support for QPR and I would also like to pay tribute to all the staff here.
"Life hasn't been particularly easy for them recently either but every single one continues to work as hard as ever for the benefit of this club.
"It has never been clearer to me that, both in the stands and behind the scenes, this is a wonderful place full of very special people."
QPR
The Evening Standard offered this minute-by-minute account of the August 24 Board Meeting
A Year ago, today, QPR's Boardroom "Coup" took place.
Some days after "The alleged Incident" at Loftus Road before the Sheffield United game, Dunga controversially flew in...The Board met...Bill Power and Mark Devlin went home...and Bill Power was controversially voted out and Mark Devlin was made redundant. But this was just the start of quite a year.
BBC- Power is removed as QPR chairman
Gianni Paladini has taken control at Loftus Road
Queens Park Rangers chairman Bill Power has been removed and chief executive Mark Devlin sacked.
Director Gianni Paladini, backed by Monaco-based groups that bought shares in Rangers last year, moved to oust Power at a board meeting on Wednesday.
Power, who was a close ally of the Italian before their relationship turned sour, was voted out and Devlin told he was being fired.
But Power and his supporters are likely to challenge the legality of the move.
Both Power and the Monaco groups were keen to increase their shareholding.
Power's camp were undone by former Brazil captain Carlos Dunga unexpectedly flying in from Japan to vote with Paladini.
Dunga represents one of the Monaco groups but little has been heard of him since he was made a director last summer.
Wednesday's board meeting was the first the World Cup winner has attended.
Power and Paladini joined forces to topple the previous board 14 months ago, but there have been bitter divisions since.
Paladini is now in control at Loftus Road and is likely to take over Devlin's duties.
A new chairman is expected to be named shortly.
BBC
QPR Official Statement - August 25, 2005
TATEMENT
The Board of QPR Holdings Ltd has decided that Mr Mark Devlin's position as Chief Executive Officer is to be made redundant with immediate effect.
Mr Bill Power is no longer Chairman of the Board but remains as a Director.
Mr Gualtiero Trucco has been appointed interim Chairman of the Board.
Bill Power and Director Kevin McGrath do not recognise the validity of these decisions which were taken at yesterday's Board meeting in their absence.
They are currently seeking legal advice with regards to these decisions
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
SPORTING LIFE - QPR POWER STRUGGLE GOES ON
QPR manager Ian Holloway has attacked the boardroom chaos threatening to derail the club - and admitted his future is uncertain.
Bill Power and Mark Devlin were ousted as Rangers chairman and chief executive respectively in a boardroom coup earlier this week, allowing director Gianni Paladini to seize effective control of the club.
Power continues to fight his demotion and is expected to mount a legal challenge, but manager Holloway could now be under pressure - former Rangers player and Aston Villa manager John Gregory was in the directors' box for Friday's home match against Sheffield Wednesday.
"We've had two bad results [at Coventry and Northampton], but whether I remain here is another matter," Holloway said.
"If they want me, great, if they don't then that's life.
"Hopefully the people in the boardroom can sort our their squabbles. They need to sort it out. They are directors - they need to direct the club."
Paladini attracted two Monaco-based groups of investors to the club when it was in dire financial straits last summer and one of their number - fellow Italian Gualtiero Trucco - has been installed as interim chairman.
Holloway led Rangers to 11th place in the Championship last term following their promotion from the old Division Two the previous season.
But Holloway has had to deal with boardroom instability throughout his reign - and he hinted he was growing tired of it.
"The supporters don't know the facts," he told BBC London 94.9 FM.
"It's not a nice situation to be in. I've been through three boards since I've been here and I'm not happy about that.
"We don't want to wash our dirty linen in public. QPR is a baton that's been handed around.
"When the board get fed up, when the supporters get fed up, they can get someone else."
Sporting Life
The Guardian -
Rangers raise a point despite boardroom chaos
"Arindam Rej at Loftus Road
Saturday August 27, 2005
The Guardian
Trouble is mounting at QPR. A boardroom power struggle has unsettled the club to such an extent that this result was peripheral for their fans. The sooner they find out who their next chairman is, the better.
Not that focusing on this point would have cheered them up. They failed to overcome a Wednesday side who picked up three injuries in 51 minutes and were reduced to 10 men for the final 15.
Bill Power is expected to mount a legal challenge after his removal as chairman, during a board meeting this week in which the chief executive Mark Devlin was also sacked. Rangers' director Gianni Paladini has taken control, with Gualtiero Trucco as the interim chairman.
Background worries are not unusual but this month the events have been scarcely believable. Paladini, whose long-held ambition is to run a football club, had his resignation demanded when he was threatened with a gun before the game with Sheffield United.
The club was further startled by this week's news. Power and Paladini had worked together to bring down the previous regime 14 months ago but relations have deteriorated to such an extent that Power, despite remaining a director, has lost his job. More bizarrely Power still claims he is chairman....
Guardian
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - August 30, 2005 -
BRIGHT FUTURE
Gianni Paladini has promised a bright future for Queens Park Rangers following the changes at Boardroom level last week.
Bill Power is no longer Chairman and Mark Devlin's position as Chief Executive was made redundant following a Board meeting at Loftus Road.
But the Director insists that the decisions taken were made with only the Club's interest at heart and he has played down suggestions of turmoil at the highest level.
"I am still friends with Bill. We go out for lunch and we talk on the phone every day. I have no problem with Bill.
"This is not about individuals or personalities, it is about the future of this great Club and all of us - Bill included -want nothing more than to see QPR continue to grow and improve."
Paladini is also sympathetic with supporters who may have been worried about the situation.
He appreciates that the supporters are concerned and has stressed that their feelings are at the forefront of his mind.
"The supporters are what makes this Club great and from the moment I arrived at Loftus Road I have been overwhelmed by their passion and devotion.
"All supporters will worry when they see change and I can understand that. But I believe that change was necessary for long term stability.
"The investors and directors are ambitious - I am ambitious - but we are not turning things upside down. We are going to make sensible steady progress and take Rangers back to where we belong - the Premiership."
Paladini also believes that the root of stability lies with the manager and that is why he hopes to sit down with Ian Holloway this week to discuss a new contract.
"Ollie is responsible for so much that has happened here during the past few years. Our successes on the pitch are down to him and he should be rewarded accordingly."
QPR
BILL POWER STATEMENT, QPR OFFICIAL SITE - September 1, 2005
Today following advice from my doctor and after lengthy discussions with my family and each member of the board I am confirming my departure as chairman of QPR.
I am well aware of the feelings of supporters having received literally hundreds of goodwill messages. But I must be selfish and think of my own health and also the health of two family members, both lifelong R's - my beautiful mum and my lovely father-in-law, who are both in hospital and not in the best of health.
I have been in discussions for the last two months with my fellow board members regarding who could, should or would 'pick up the baton'. I have told Gianni that he should become chairman with immediate effect to help focus everyone on going forward and I have advised him to meet with the supporters groups as quickly as he can.
As I write this, I have just enjoyed a day talking and having lunch with Gianni and on the phone with Ollie discussing possible new signings and things that we thought could take the club forward. I hope, and am sure, that those discussions and my advice will be acted upon and that we all see the benefits for ourselves .
In all honesty, and perhaps selfishly again, I must say it was like a weight being lifted from my shoulders having previously known that a decision I might make as Chairman could affect the hopes and dreams of so many fellow R's. Now it is time to let another friend push us forward. I am not leaving, just taking a well earned rest.
Words fail to express how much I have enjoyed my tenure as chairman, living every fan's dream of helping the club they love. I'm sure I will think of dozens of things I should have said, so for now I will just say a big thank you to everyone I have met and wish you all well.
Once again I ask you to get behind Gianni, Kevin, Ollie and the boys. I know that when we all pull together we are unstoppable.
Come on you R's.
QPR
QPR OFFICIAL STATEMENT - GIANNI PALADINI
Gianni Paladini has been appointed Chairman of Queens Park Rangers Football Club and QPR Holdings Ltd.
Interim Chairman Gualtiero Trucco has stepped down and the Board of Directors have unanimously chosen Paladini to take on the role on a full-time basis.
The changes were agreed at a Loftus Road Board Meeting on Wednesday afternoon and Paladini is delighted by the honour of this 'challenging but exciting' role.
"The Monaco investors have recommended that I be appointed Chairman and I am deeply honoured that the Directors have allowed me this opportunity.
"I hope now that after a period of instability we can all look forward to the brightest of futures at Loftus Road.
"We have a wonderful manager, an exciting and improving squad and a real opportunity to push for a place in the play-offs and even the Premiership.
"I believe these are wonderful times to be a QPR supporter and I just want to play whatever part I can in bringing both success and stability to this Club.
"I fully appreciate that supporters will have been a little bewildered by recent events and I wish that so much of what has happened could have happened differently.
"But I believe we now have the right people in place, both on the pitch and behind the scenes, to take this club forward.
"I would like to thank every single fan for their continued, passionate support for QPR and I would also like to pay tribute to all the staff here.
"Life hasn't been particularly easy for them recently either but every single one continues to work as hard as ever for the benefit of this club.
"It has never been clearer to me that, both in the stands and behind the scenes, this is a wonderful place full of very special people."
QPR
The Evening Standard offered this minute-by-minute account of the August 24 Board Meeting
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Paul Jones & Garreth Ainsworth re Preston, Ipswich Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times
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Paul Jones Looking Forward to Ipswich & Looking Back on Preston - Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - August 23, 2006
"Jonah can give Jim the Blues"Kosky
Gareth Ainsworth on Preston & his New Contract
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - August 23, 2006
Kilburn Times
Paul Jones Looking Forward to Ipswich & Looking Back on Preston - Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - August 23, 2006
"Jonah can give Jim the Blues"Kosky
Gareth Ainsworth on Preston & his New Contract
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - August 23, 2006
Kilburn Times
Northampton 3 QPR 0 - A Year Ago, Today!
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Exactly a year ago, August 23, 2005, the score was a little different. Evatt made his debut (and was sent off)....Northampton 3 QPR 0. QPR's team that night was ...Royce, Ukah, Evatt, Shimmin, Milanese, Miller, Bircham (Baidoo 59), Bean, Brown (Bignot 46), Gallen, Moore. - Subs Not Used: Cole, Hislop, Bailey.
Photos from That Game
Sporting Life
August 23, 2005 - Northampton Town 3 QPR 0
Northampton romped to a convincing Carling Cup victory over a Rangers side that played for half the game with only 10 men after defender Ian Evatt was sent off in first half stoppage time.
Already trailing to Andy Kirk's first-half opener, Rangers had no answer to second-half strikes from Scott McGleish and a late Eric Sabin penalty.
Kirk gave Northampton a 19th minute lead, capitalising on a mistake from Ugo Ukah to coolly lob stranded 'keeper Simon Royce.
Evatt was dismissed in first-half stoppage time when he pulled back Kirk on the edge of the area to leave Rangers with an uphill task.
McLeish doubled Northampton's advantage in the 62nd minute with a spectacular overhead kick from a Josh Low free-kick.
And Sabin completed the scoring in the final minute, converting from the penalty spot after being brought down in the area.
Teams:
Northampton Bunn, Bojic, Dyche, Chambers, Crowe, Low (Gilligan 85), Hunt, Taylor, Jess, Kirk (Dudfield 81), McGleish (Sabin 72).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Galbraith.
Goals: Kirk 19, McGleish 62, Sabin 90 pen.
QPR Royce, Ukah, Evatt, Shimmin, Milanese, Miller, Bircham (Baidoo 59), Bean, Brown (Bignot 46), Gallen, Moore.
Subs Not Used: Cole, Hislop, Bailey.
Sent Off: Evatt (45).
Booked: Miller, Bean, Moore, Ukah.
Att: 4,537
Ref: A Hall (W Midlands).
Sporting Life
And Holloway's Comments from a year ago
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - AWFUL NIGHT
While a fuming Ian Holloway waited to talk to the referee at Sixfields, Tim Breacker spoke to qpr.co.uk about a night to forget.
Regulations require managers to wait until at least half an hour after a game before discussing matters of contention with match officials.
Ollie waited and waited but referee Andy Hall remained in his changing room, leaving Tim Breacker to pick the bones over a thoroughly forgettable night in Northampton.
The Cobblers deserved their win but Breacker felt that key decisions had gone against the Superhoops and expressed the coaching team's views in no uncertain terms.
"It might have been a foul at best but there was little in it", he said of Ian Evatt's red card. "The player's gone down easily , Ugo was in the way and yet he didn't even go to the linesman.
"He was 60 yards away - why didn't he consult his linesman?
"We had a weakened team out there and we've got four games in 10 days. But we could have beaten Northampton with that team if the red card hadn't ruined it."
Breacker said that Rangers were also angry with the penalty award in the last minute and a perceived lack of consistency.
"It was the most blatant dive and everyone could see it. It was never a penalty.
"But there player was clean through when he went down and Ugo wasn't sent off. If Ian Evatt deserved a red card, why not Ugo? Where's the consistency?"
Regardless of the refereeing controversies though, Tim Breacker admitted that the Rs had not played well.
"The performance was disappointing. This season we've tried to add to our squad so that when we are struggling with injuries we are more solid than last year.
"Some of these players were playing their first full games and we've learned plenty of things about them tonight."
Holloway
QPR OFFICIAL MATCH REPORT
COBBLERS 3 QPR 0
Rangers have fallen at the first hurdle in a cup competition once again, going down 3-0 to Northampton in Round One of the Carling Cup.
Goals from Andy Kirk, Scott McGleish and Eric Sabin ended the Rs' participation in this season's tournament and Ian Holloway's misery was compounded by an unfortunate debut day red card for Ian Evatt.
The centre back was given his marching orders by referee Andy Hall for 'preventing a goalscoring opportunity' by fouling Kirk, despite the close proximity of another Rangers defender.
This was the third time in less than 90 minutes that Hall had dismissed a Rangers player having sent off both Clarke Carlisle and Stephen Kelly in the second half of a Division Two fixture against Crewe in 2003.
This may have added to a general feeling of injustice in Rangers quarters but in truth a hooped side that lacked 10 players with League experience this season could not really argue with the result.
Ian Holloway began with an experimental 4-2-3-1 formation but with Northampton largely untroubled in the first quarter, Rangers settled on a more conventional formation after the goal went in.
The first genuine goal threat came from Rangers in the fourth minute. Mauro Milanese's floated free kick was headed across goal by Ugo Ukah and claimed well by Mark Bunn in the Cobblers goal before Stefan Moore could pounce.
But Northampton were hardly backward in coming forward themselves and Simon Royce needed to be alert on more than one occasion in the opening 10 minutes to deal with probing Northampton attacks.
Sloppy defending from Dominic Shimmin then almost let the home side in. The former Arsenal youngster gave away possession, allowing Northampton to build an attack which culminated in Scott McGleish hitting the post with a header from a fractionally offside position.
The game continued at a lively pace with both sides enjoying concerted periods of possession. But neither goalkeeper had been properly tested by a shot at goal before Northampton took the lead in the 29th minute.
David Hunt fired a long ball over the top for Andy Kirk to chase and yet just as it seemed that Ukah would shepherd the ball back to Royce, it cannoned off the defender's back in to the path of the Northampton striker who calmly lobbed home from the edge of the area.
As soon as the goal went in, and with Rangers' lack of real penetration in mind, Ian Holloway immediately pushed Kevin Gallen up front and reverted to 4-4-2.
But it was Northampton who continued to improve and grow in confidence and Royce was forced to head clear when Kirk looked to beat the offside trap and repeat the medicine of minutes before.
Rangers were wobbling but enjoyed one of their their best moments of the half so far with 13 minutes remaining. A mad scramble ended with Bunn gratefully clasping the ball but not before Shimmin had crossed for Gallen who turned neatly and was desperately unlucky not to get a shot away.
Rangers continued to press and Mauro Milanese saw a header cleared off the line from a corner before Gallen had another shot blocked by an increasingly busy Northampton defence.
The game appeared to be reaching the interval without further alarm at either end until Evatt's red card on the stroke of half time.
Holloway brought on Marcus Bignot for Aaron Brown for the second period but Northampton continued to press, looking for a killer blow against 10-man Rangers.
Nevertheless, neither side created another clear goalscoring opportunity before the hour mark, at which point Shabazz Baidoo replaced Marc Bircham with Gallen going back in to midfield.
But the young striker had no time to make any impact before a spectacular goal from Scott McGleish. The Cobblers front man fired home an acrobatic overhead kick from Josh Low's cross to double the home side's advantage and leave Rangers with a mountain to climb.
The Superhoops kept their heads up and midway through the half a wicked low cross from Marcus Bignot was only inches away from Baidoo's outstretched boot in front of goal. But in truth Northampton had the measure of Rangers by now and the more energetic football consistently came from the men in maroon.
With 13 minutes left a fierce Adam Miller free kick was tipped behind for a corner but moments later substitute Eric Sabin saw a header go narrowly wide at the other end.
Two minutes later another overhead kick, this time from Low, nestled in Simon Royce's goal only for the Assistant Referee to raise his flag for offside.
Then with three minutes left Sabin hit the post as the home side looked to end the game with a flourish.
That flourish duly came when Sabin was tugged back by Ukah in injury time and the former Ranger made no mistake from the spot.
Northampton: Bunn, Crowe, Chambers, Taylor, Kirk (Dudfield 80), McGleish (Sabin 72), Low (Gilligan 84), Jess, Hunt, Dyche, Bojic
unused subs: Harper, Galbraith
scorers: Kirk 29, McGleish 63, Sabin 90+1
bookings: -
Rangers: Royce, Ukah, Milanese, Shimmin, Evatt, Bircham (Baidoo 58), Bean, Miller, Brown (Bignot 46), Gallen, Moore
unused subs: Cole, Hislop, Bailey
scorers: -
bookings: Miller 27, Bean 34, Moore 39
sent off: Evatt 45+2
attendance: 4,537 (QPR 1,164)
referee: A Hall
Official Report
[And the time before that, November 9, 2002: QPR 0 Northampton 1:
...QPR
Clarke Carlisle, Terrell Forbes, Matthew Rose, Oliver Burgess, Doudou Ebeu Mbombo, Steve Palmer, Marc Bircham, Fraser Digby, Gino Padula, Simon Royce, Daniel Shittu, Tom Williams, Callum Willock, Karl Connolly, Andy Thomson
Northampton
Daryl Burgess, Richard Hope, Ian Sampson, Chris Carruthers, Christian Hargreaves, Nathan Abbey, Jeremy Gill, Lee Harper, Paul Harsley, Greg Lincoln, Paul Rickers, Paul Trollope, Derek Asamoah, Jamie Forrester, Marco Gabbiadini
Guardian
Exactly a year ago, August 23, 2005, the score was a little different. Evatt made his debut (and was sent off)....Northampton 3 QPR 0. QPR's team that night was ...Royce, Ukah, Evatt, Shimmin, Milanese, Miller, Bircham (Baidoo 59), Bean, Brown (Bignot 46), Gallen, Moore. - Subs Not Used: Cole, Hislop, Bailey.
Photos from That Game
Sporting Life
August 23, 2005 - Northampton Town 3 QPR 0
Northampton romped to a convincing Carling Cup victory over a Rangers side that played for half the game with only 10 men after defender Ian Evatt was sent off in first half stoppage time.
Already trailing to Andy Kirk's first-half opener, Rangers had no answer to second-half strikes from Scott McGleish and a late Eric Sabin penalty.
Kirk gave Northampton a 19th minute lead, capitalising on a mistake from Ugo Ukah to coolly lob stranded 'keeper Simon Royce.
Evatt was dismissed in first-half stoppage time when he pulled back Kirk on the edge of the area to leave Rangers with an uphill task.
McLeish doubled Northampton's advantage in the 62nd minute with a spectacular overhead kick from a Josh Low free-kick.
And Sabin completed the scoring in the final minute, converting from the penalty spot after being brought down in the area.
Teams:
Northampton Bunn, Bojic, Dyche, Chambers, Crowe, Low (Gilligan 85), Hunt, Taylor, Jess, Kirk (Dudfield 81), McGleish (Sabin 72).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Galbraith.
Goals: Kirk 19, McGleish 62, Sabin 90 pen.
QPR Royce, Ukah, Evatt, Shimmin, Milanese, Miller, Bircham (Baidoo 59), Bean, Brown (Bignot 46), Gallen, Moore.
Subs Not Used: Cole, Hislop, Bailey.
Sent Off: Evatt (45).
Booked: Miller, Bean, Moore, Ukah.
Att: 4,537
Ref: A Hall (W Midlands).
Sporting Life
And Holloway's Comments from a year ago
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - AWFUL NIGHT
While a fuming Ian Holloway waited to talk to the referee at Sixfields, Tim Breacker spoke to qpr.co.uk about a night to forget.
Regulations require managers to wait until at least half an hour after a game before discussing matters of contention with match officials.
Ollie waited and waited but referee Andy Hall remained in his changing room, leaving Tim Breacker to pick the bones over a thoroughly forgettable night in Northampton.
The Cobblers deserved their win but Breacker felt that key decisions had gone against the Superhoops and expressed the coaching team's views in no uncertain terms.
"It might have been a foul at best but there was little in it", he said of Ian Evatt's red card. "The player's gone down easily , Ugo was in the way and yet he didn't even go to the linesman.
"He was 60 yards away - why didn't he consult his linesman?
"We had a weakened team out there and we've got four games in 10 days. But we could have beaten Northampton with that team if the red card hadn't ruined it."
Breacker said that Rangers were also angry with the penalty award in the last minute and a perceived lack of consistency.
"It was the most blatant dive and everyone could see it. It was never a penalty.
"But there player was clean through when he went down and Ugo wasn't sent off. If Ian Evatt deserved a red card, why not Ugo? Where's the consistency?"
Regardless of the refereeing controversies though, Tim Breacker admitted that the Rs had not played well.
"The performance was disappointing. This season we've tried to add to our squad so that when we are struggling with injuries we are more solid than last year.
"Some of these players were playing their first full games and we've learned plenty of things about them tonight."
Holloway
QPR OFFICIAL MATCH REPORT
COBBLERS 3 QPR 0
Rangers have fallen at the first hurdle in a cup competition once again, going down 3-0 to Northampton in Round One of the Carling Cup.
Goals from Andy Kirk, Scott McGleish and Eric Sabin ended the Rs' participation in this season's tournament and Ian Holloway's misery was compounded by an unfortunate debut day red card for Ian Evatt.
The centre back was given his marching orders by referee Andy Hall for 'preventing a goalscoring opportunity' by fouling Kirk, despite the close proximity of another Rangers defender.
This was the third time in less than 90 minutes that Hall had dismissed a Rangers player having sent off both Clarke Carlisle and Stephen Kelly in the second half of a Division Two fixture against Crewe in 2003.
This may have added to a general feeling of injustice in Rangers quarters but in truth a hooped side that lacked 10 players with League experience this season could not really argue with the result.
Ian Holloway began with an experimental 4-2-3-1 formation but with Northampton largely untroubled in the first quarter, Rangers settled on a more conventional formation after the goal went in.
The first genuine goal threat came from Rangers in the fourth minute. Mauro Milanese's floated free kick was headed across goal by Ugo Ukah and claimed well by Mark Bunn in the Cobblers goal before Stefan Moore could pounce.
But Northampton were hardly backward in coming forward themselves and Simon Royce needed to be alert on more than one occasion in the opening 10 minutes to deal with probing Northampton attacks.
Sloppy defending from Dominic Shimmin then almost let the home side in. The former Arsenal youngster gave away possession, allowing Northampton to build an attack which culminated in Scott McGleish hitting the post with a header from a fractionally offside position.
The game continued at a lively pace with both sides enjoying concerted periods of possession. But neither goalkeeper had been properly tested by a shot at goal before Northampton took the lead in the 29th minute.
David Hunt fired a long ball over the top for Andy Kirk to chase and yet just as it seemed that Ukah would shepherd the ball back to Royce, it cannoned off the defender's back in to the path of the Northampton striker who calmly lobbed home from the edge of the area.
As soon as the goal went in, and with Rangers' lack of real penetration in mind, Ian Holloway immediately pushed Kevin Gallen up front and reverted to 4-4-2.
But it was Northampton who continued to improve and grow in confidence and Royce was forced to head clear when Kirk looked to beat the offside trap and repeat the medicine of minutes before.
Rangers were wobbling but enjoyed one of their their best moments of the half so far with 13 minutes remaining. A mad scramble ended with Bunn gratefully clasping the ball but not before Shimmin had crossed for Gallen who turned neatly and was desperately unlucky not to get a shot away.
Rangers continued to press and Mauro Milanese saw a header cleared off the line from a corner before Gallen had another shot blocked by an increasingly busy Northampton defence.
The game appeared to be reaching the interval without further alarm at either end until Evatt's red card on the stroke of half time.
Holloway brought on Marcus Bignot for Aaron Brown for the second period but Northampton continued to press, looking for a killer blow against 10-man Rangers.
Nevertheless, neither side created another clear goalscoring opportunity before the hour mark, at which point Shabazz Baidoo replaced Marc Bircham with Gallen going back in to midfield.
But the young striker had no time to make any impact before a spectacular goal from Scott McGleish. The Cobblers front man fired home an acrobatic overhead kick from Josh Low's cross to double the home side's advantage and leave Rangers with a mountain to climb.
The Superhoops kept their heads up and midway through the half a wicked low cross from Marcus Bignot was only inches away from Baidoo's outstretched boot in front of goal. But in truth Northampton had the measure of Rangers by now and the more energetic football consistently came from the men in maroon.
With 13 minutes left a fierce Adam Miller free kick was tipped behind for a corner but moments later substitute Eric Sabin saw a header go narrowly wide at the other end.
Two minutes later another overhead kick, this time from Low, nestled in Simon Royce's goal only for the Assistant Referee to raise his flag for offside.
Then with three minutes left Sabin hit the post as the home side looked to end the game with a flourish.
That flourish duly came when Sabin was tugged back by Ukah in injury time and the former Ranger made no mistake from the spot.
Northampton: Bunn, Crowe, Chambers, Taylor, Kirk (Dudfield 80), McGleish (Sabin 72), Low (Gilligan 84), Jess, Hunt, Dyche, Bojic
unused subs: Harper, Galbraith
scorers: Kirk 29, McGleish 63, Sabin 90+1
bookings: -
Rangers: Royce, Ukah, Milanese, Shimmin, Evatt, Bircham (Baidoo 58), Bean, Miller, Brown (Bignot 46), Gallen, Moore
unused subs: Cole, Hislop, Bailey
scorers: -
bookings: Miller 27, Bean 34, Moore 39
sent off: Evatt 45+2
attendance: 4,537 (QPR 1,164)
referee: A Hall
Official Report
[And the time before that, November 9, 2002: QPR 0 Northampton 1:
...QPR
Clarke Carlisle, Terrell Forbes, Matthew Rose, Oliver Burgess, Doudou Ebeu Mbombo, Steve Palmer, Marc Bircham, Fraser Digby, Gino Padula, Simon Royce, Daniel Shittu, Tom Williams, Callum Willock, Karl Connolly, Andy Thomson
Northampton
Daryl Burgess, Richard Hope, Ian Sampson, Chris Carruthers, Christian Hargreaves, Nathan Abbey, Jeremy Gill, Lee Harper, Paul Harsley, Greg Lincoln, Paul Rickers, Paul Trollope, Derek Asamoah, Jamie Forrester, Marco Gabbiadini
Guardian
Further Reports & Comments re QPR vs Northampton
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Sporting Life
WADDOCK KEEPS FEET ON GROUND
QPR boss Gary Waddock backed super-sub Ray Jones to keep his feet on the ground after the teenager's first career goal sent the Hoops into the second round of the Carling Cup.
Rangers blew a two-goal lead, courtesy of deflected strikes from Lee Cook and Kevin Gallen, as Jerome Watt and Andy Kirk hauled slick League One side Northampton back into the game at Loftus Road.
But Jones, who has been earning some rave reviews for his performances this season, climbed off the bench to head Rangers into the next round with a 3-2 win to avenge a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of the Cobblers at the same stage of the competition last year.
"His life couldn't be much better over the past couple of weeks," said Waddock. "He's had a lot of attention but he's been exactly the same.
"He made his debut this season and everyone was raving but he didn't score, and now he has.
"He's a very talented young man. Young players can reach a certain level but we hope he will develop into a better player."
Waddock admitted Northampton had provided a scare for his side but was full of praise for his players' character.
"Credit to Northampton, they are a good footballing side," he added. "But at 2-2 we could have folded, and last season we might well have done, so that is credit to the players."
Opposite number John Gorman felt hard done by, however, although he too saluted his side's resilience.
"It was a great game and a good advert for the cup," said Gorman. "I don't think we deserved to lose, but then I didn't think we deserve to be two goals down, both to deflected shots.
"Their second goal wasn't a free-kick but then I don't think we got a decision all night.
"But I'm proud of my players, we came back from two goals down, took the game to QPR and created lots of chances for an away team."
Sporting Life
See Also: QPR Net/Simon Skinner Match Report
QPR Rivals/Jawad Laouira Match Report
Sporting Life
WADDOCK KEEPS FEET ON GROUND
QPR boss Gary Waddock backed super-sub Ray Jones to keep his feet on the ground after the teenager's first career goal sent the Hoops into the second round of the Carling Cup.
Rangers blew a two-goal lead, courtesy of deflected strikes from Lee Cook and Kevin Gallen, as Jerome Watt and Andy Kirk hauled slick League One side Northampton back into the game at Loftus Road.
But Jones, who has been earning some rave reviews for his performances this season, climbed off the bench to head Rangers into the next round with a 3-2 win to avenge a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of the Cobblers at the same stage of the competition last year.
"His life couldn't be much better over the past couple of weeks," said Waddock. "He's had a lot of attention but he's been exactly the same.
"He made his debut this season and everyone was raving but he didn't score, and now he has.
"He's a very talented young man. Young players can reach a certain level but we hope he will develop into a better player."
Waddock admitted Northampton had provided a scare for his side but was full of praise for his players' character.
"Credit to Northampton, they are a good footballing side," he added. "But at 2-2 we could have folded, and last season we might well have done, so that is credit to the players."
Opposite number John Gorman felt hard done by, however, although he too saluted his side's resilience.
"It was a great game and a good advert for the cup," said Gorman. "I don't think we deserved to lose, but then I didn't think we deserve to be two goals down, both to deflected shots.
"Their second goal wasn't a free-kick but then I don't think we got a decision all night.
"But I'm proud of my players, we came back from two goals down, took the game to QPR and created lots of chances for an away team."
Sporting Life
See Also: QPR Net/Simon Skinner Match Report
QPR Rivals/Jawad Laouira Match Report
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Reports & Comments on QPR 3 Northampton 2
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QPR OFFICIAL SITE - MATCH REPORT
A first goal in senior football from Ray Jones finally finished off the Cobblers in a thrilling first round tie.
The R's second half substitute headed home in the 87th minute to clinch the Hoops a deserved place in round two.
In a free-flowing second half, Kevin Gallen handed the R's a dream start with the second goal of the game inside the opening two minutes.
Dexter Blackstock's foray down the left flank resulted in a Rangers free-kick and the skipper curled a low shot past the unsighted Bunn.
But the Cobblers refused to lie down and second half substitute Jerome Watt pulled a goal back seven minutes later with a 25-yard thunderbolt.
And when Andy Kirk pulled the Cobblers level 13 minutes from time, extra time loomed large.
But Jones had other ideas, sparking huge celebrations and the prospect of a plum Premiership draw in round two with a stunning late winner.
Earlier, Rangers led 1-0 at the break courtesy of Lee Cook's 17th minute solo goal.
In an R's side showing wholesale changes from the 1-1 draw with Preston North End on Saturday, Cook repaid the faith shown in him by gaffer Gary Waddock by opening the scoring at a sparse Loftus Road.
Those that did make the effort to attend were duly rewarded when Cook's jinking run and shot was deflected past Mark Bunn to hand the R's a deserved advantage.
In all, Waddock made seven changes for the visit of the League One outfit to Loftus Road - the most significant of which saw 18 year-old Andrew Howell come in for his first team debut.
Jake Cole, Marcus Bignot, Marc Bircham, Stefan Bailey, Shabazz Baidoo and skipper Kevin Gallen were also given their chance, as the R's boss played 'tinkerman' with one eye on the visit of Ipswich Town on Friday night.
It was the returning Gallen who was gifted with Rangers' first chance, when an out-swinging cross from Bignot wasn't dealt with by the Cobblers back three.
Unfortunately for the R's veteran, his impromptu header cannoned off the back of Luke Chambers, before being hacked to safety.
Cole spared the hosts' blushes on five minutes, diving full stretch to his left to claw James Quinn's half volley round for a corner.
It was a Rangers regular that almost opened the scoring six minutes later.
Cook was gifted far too much time and space on the edge of the box and the R's left winger duly let fly, unlucky to see his fizzing 22-yard drive fall narrowly wide of Bunn's left hand post with the keeper seemingly beaten.
Dexter Blackstock's perseverance almost paid dividends on 15 minutes, but after his superb run and cross from the by-line, Gallen's looping header finished inches wide of the post.
The hosts' impressive start deserved a goal and it duly arrived on 17 minutes, courtesy of that man Cook.
Gallen's hooked clearance on the edge of his own box found Blackstock and when he fed Cook, the winger tricked his way past two Cobblers defenders before his deflected shot completely wrong-footed Bunn.
Cook was being gifted the freedom of the park by the League One side and when the Cobblers defenders continued to back off in the 24th minute, only the width of the post stood between the left winger doubling his and his side's tally.
Baidoo - playing in an unorthodox right midfield role - almost got in on the act in the 30th minute, only to see Bunn save his header from the edge of the six-yard box.
The hosts continued to probe as the half reached its conclusion, with the lively Blackstock heading high and wide from an acute angle and Gallen seeing two efforts in as many minutes saved by the overworked Bunn.
Northampton front-man Kirk fired a brief warning shot to the R's when his right footed purler fizzed off the post on the stroke of half-time, but in truth that was as good as it got for the Cobblers in a one-sided first period.
The Cobblers made one change at the break, with Watt entering the fray at the expense of Bradley Johnson.
But the substitution failed to reap dividends for John Gorman's men and it was Rangers who were soon celebrating goal number two on 47 minutes.
Club captain Gallen marked his first start of the season with a goal, curling a daisy-cutter free-kick from an acute angle round the wall and past a static Bunn.
Baidoo was proving a constant menace at the start of the second half, turning his marker inside-out before blasting a fearsome 12-yard shot inches wide of Bunn's left hand post.
Despite the one-way traffic, Northampton refused to lie down and substitute Watt handed them an avenue back into the tie with a speculative long range shot on 54 minutes.
Cole appeared to be in the perfect position as he dived down low to his right, but the ball somehow found its way past him to the delight of the travelling Cobblers faithful.
Blackstock's pace continued to cause problems for the Cobblers defence and when Bailey fed him in an unfamiliar right midfield role, the former Southampton striker' first time shot was gathered at the second attempt by Bunn.
In truth, Rangers were huffing and puffing their way into the next round, until the returning Bircham sprung them into life on 71 minutes.
His fine sliding tackle and cross found Baidoo and the former Arsenal trainee was unlucky to see his stinging shot fire straight at Bunn.
Egutu Oliseh was handed his first start in English football with 16 minutes to go, but it was an opening to forget for the Nigerian, who was on the pitch for just 15 seconds when the Cobblers equalised.
Kirk's superb turn and shot from 15-yards gave Cole absolutely no chance, as all of Rangers' earlier hard work went to waste.
Remarkably, there was still time for a fifth and final goal and it was Ray Jones who leapt off the bench to score it.
The 17 year-old rose tallest on the edge of the six-yard box to head home Bignot's inch-perfect cross, to finally finish off a plucky performance from the Cobblers.
QPR: Cole, Bignot, Stewart (Kanyuka 90), Rehman, Howell, Baidoo, Bircham (R Jones 84), Bailey, Cook, Gallen (Oliseh 76), Blackstock.
Subs: PJones, Donnelly.
Scorers: Cook 17, Gallen 47, R Jones 87
Bookings:
Red Cards:
Northampton Town: Bunn, Crowe, Chambers, Kirk, Aiston, Jess, Burnell, Brett Johnson (Bojic 68), Dyche, Bradley Johnson (Watt 46), Quinn (Gilligan 85).
Subs: Harper, Cross.
Scorers: Watt 54, Kirk 77
Bookings:
Red Cards:
Attendance: 4,569
Referee: P Miller
QPR
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - WADDOCK's POST MATCH COMMENTS
GREAT CHARACTER
Gary Waddock praised the character and mental toughness of his side after the 3-2 victory against the Cobblers in the Carling Cup.
"A lot of credit has to go to the lads who kept plugging away and got the result we deserved over the 90 minutes.
"We showed great character and resilience and if we continue to show that throughout the season, we'll be difficult to beat.''
Waddock continued: "Tonight was a great example of the never-say-die attitude I'm loooking for from my players and I'm just delighted we've progressed.''
Lee Cook, Kevin Gallen and match-winner Ray Jones bagged the all-important goals, to the delight of the R's gaffer.
"It's great that we're sharing the goals around. That breeds confidence and that is the recipe for success.''
The thrilling 3-2 victory also ended a two year run without a victory in Cup competitions for the R's.
"Two years is a long time without a Cup win but we've buried the hatchet tonight.
"I'm absolutely ecstatic that we're in the hat for the next round.''
Waddock spared a final work for the R's youngsters, who again shone.
"It was fantastic for Ray, but all the young lads did well.
"Andrew Howell had an accomplished debut and it bodes well for the future of this football club that we're continuing to bring these players through the ranks.''
QPR Official Site
NORTHAMPTON MANAGER, GORMAN POST MATCH COMMENTS
Gorman praises "magnificent" effort
John Gorman was full of praise for his team after Tuesday's Carling Cup tie at Loftus Road.
"I thought we were magnificent," he said.
"We played fantastic football and I am proud of the players. We had 4 senior lads missing and we put some young players out there but I am proud of every one of them. Our front two were magnificent and we created well from midfield. I thought we caused them a lot of problems and how we were 2-0 down at one stage I will never know.
"Jerome Watt seems to have this terrible problem of scoring every time we play him! Andy Kirk was tremendous and could have had four goals - he scored one and hit the post and looked a class act. QPR left some of their players out but they still had a lot of quality players out there
"We have lost and again the luck deserted us, but some of our play was from a higher league. We passed the ball with a quality and purpose and with a tempo and that is the way we want to play. We might have lost and we are disappointed to be out of the cup, but we can take confidence from the performance and we can look forward to the league games coming up.
"Their first two goals came from deflections and that sums up the way things went. I did not start Jerome Watt because I did not want to put him under too much pressure but now we will talk terms with him and see what we can come up with.
"We played fantastic football and I am proud of the players," - John Gorman
"We have some real quality in our team and I am very pleased with the way the lads played. We were worthy of at least extra time and I would have fancied us if the game had gone that far.
"James Quinn and Andy Kirk linked up well and looked a very good partnership. James was a little under the weather and that's why we took him off but he had a very good game holding the ball up.
"It was an end to end encounter and a thrilling game. There were no league points at stake and we wanted to go and entertain and we did that. We wanted to get through as well and I am so sorry for the lads and the fans that we didn't. They all deserved more for their efforts."
NORTHAMPTON OFFICIAL SITE
NORTHAMPTON MATCH REPORT
* QPR DID NOT CONFIRM THE NUMBER OF COBBLERS FANS IN ATTENDANCE
Northampton Town made the short journey down to London for the first time this season to take on Queens Park Rangers in the first round of the Carling Cup. The Cobblers had claimed the scalp of the R's at this stage of the competition last season, and this time around John Gorman took the opportunity to hand first starts of the season to Brett Johnson, Bradley Johnson and Eoin Jess. Jerome Watt and Scott Cross were among the substitutes, meaning that 8 of the matchday sixteen were in their teens or early twenties. An ankle injury ruled out Andy Holt, a dead leg accounted for Chris Doig and Ian Taylor was rested.
The Cobblers started brightly, and James Quinn was a whisker away from his first Cobblers goal after six minutes. Neat build up play from Joe Burnell found Eoin Jess and his deep cross was met by Quinn on the volley, but Jake Cole made a superb stop at the near post.
Lee Cook had the first effort of the evening for the home side, but his low skimming 25 yard effort was narrowly wide of Mark Bunn's left hand post after twelve minutes.
Rangers had the lead after eighteen minutes. A speedy break out of defence was finished off by Lee Cook, whose low drive appeared to take a deflection beyond Mark Bunn, wrong footing the Cobblers keeper in the process.
Bunn saved well with his feet to deny Kevin Gallen following a short corner routine, before Andy Kirk tried to capitalise on a slip from Damion Stewart. The QPR man's loose pass was picked up by Kirk thirty yards from goal and although he sent in a powerful shot, Cole was equal to the task.
The Cobblers enjoyed a good spell just before half time. Sam Aiston did well to commit a number of defenders before sliding a ball through to James Quinn whose dangerous cross-shot was deflected over the bar by Andrew Howell, and moments later the former Tranmere man was creating another chance, but again Kirk's shot was held by Cole.
John Gorman's side continued their purple patch, and after James Quinn had played Andy Kirk into the area, Kirk saw his shot bounce back off the post with Cole beaten. Bradley Johnson and then Eoin Jess drove over the bar as the first half came to a close, but the Cobblers really did not want the half time whistle to blow, having spent the last 15 minutes of the half firmly in control against their Championship opponents.
The Cobblers made a change at half time with Jerome Watt replacing Bradley Johnson. The recent Sixfields arrival was quickly into the action, releasing Sam Aiston down the left hand side who supplied a cross that was inches away from the head of Andy Kirk.
Against the run of play, Rangers doubled their lead four minutes after half time. Jason Crowe was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball close to the edge of the penalty area, and the angle gave Kevin Gallen the perfect opportunity to drive a low finish into the far corner, again with the help of a deflection.
Shabazz Baidoo twisted and turned and fired a shot just wide of Mark Bunn's left hand post, before Jerome Watt wasted no time in making his mark, deservedly halving the deficit. Just nine minutes after coming on as a half time substitute he drove at the Rangers defence before firing home a low twenty five yard finish beyond Jake Cole.
Baidoo was proving a real threat to the Cobblers defence, and he forced a low save out of Mark Bunn as the game reached the hour mark, before Pedj Bojic replaced Brett Johnson as John Gorman made his second change.
Kevin Gallen was withdrawn to be replaced by Egutu Oliseh with thirteen minutes to play in a defensive switch, but just moments later the Cobblers equalised. The ball was played into the penalty area and after James Quinn had laid the ball back, Andy Kirk sent a curling finish in beyond the reach of Cole.
James Quinn's flick from an eighty second minute corner seemed to be stopped by the hand of a home defender but the referee waved play on, while Ray Jones replaced Marc Bircham for QPR. John Gorman then introduced Ryan Gilligan for James Quinn.
Bunn made the latest in a number of good stops when he parried away from Dexter Blackstock, but it wasn't long before the home side had the lead once more. A cross into the Cobblers box from Marcus Bignot was headed home by Ray Jones.
The Cobblers may have exited the Carling Cup in the first round, but this result was harsh on John Gorman's side, who more than played their part in a thrilling night of cup football.
NORTHAMPTON
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - MATCH REPORT
A first goal in senior football from Ray Jones finally finished off the Cobblers in a thrilling first round tie.
The R's second half substitute headed home in the 87th minute to clinch the Hoops a deserved place in round two.
In a free-flowing second half, Kevin Gallen handed the R's a dream start with the second goal of the game inside the opening two minutes.
Dexter Blackstock's foray down the left flank resulted in a Rangers free-kick and the skipper curled a low shot past the unsighted Bunn.
But the Cobblers refused to lie down and second half substitute Jerome Watt pulled a goal back seven minutes later with a 25-yard thunderbolt.
And when Andy Kirk pulled the Cobblers level 13 minutes from time, extra time loomed large.
But Jones had other ideas, sparking huge celebrations and the prospect of a plum Premiership draw in round two with a stunning late winner.
Earlier, Rangers led 1-0 at the break courtesy of Lee Cook's 17th minute solo goal.
In an R's side showing wholesale changes from the 1-1 draw with Preston North End on Saturday, Cook repaid the faith shown in him by gaffer Gary Waddock by opening the scoring at a sparse Loftus Road.
Those that did make the effort to attend were duly rewarded when Cook's jinking run and shot was deflected past Mark Bunn to hand the R's a deserved advantage.
In all, Waddock made seven changes for the visit of the League One outfit to Loftus Road - the most significant of which saw 18 year-old Andrew Howell come in for his first team debut.
Jake Cole, Marcus Bignot, Marc Bircham, Stefan Bailey, Shabazz Baidoo and skipper Kevin Gallen were also given their chance, as the R's boss played 'tinkerman' with one eye on the visit of Ipswich Town on Friday night.
It was the returning Gallen who was gifted with Rangers' first chance, when an out-swinging cross from Bignot wasn't dealt with by the Cobblers back three.
Unfortunately for the R's veteran, his impromptu header cannoned off the back of Luke Chambers, before being hacked to safety.
Cole spared the hosts' blushes on five minutes, diving full stretch to his left to claw James Quinn's half volley round for a corner.
It was a Rangers regular that almost opened the scoring six minutes later.
Cook was gifted far too much time and space on the edge of the box and the R's left winger duly let fly, unlucky to see his fizzing 22-yard drive fall narrowly wide of Bunn's left hand post with the keeper seemingly beaten.
Dexter Blackstock's perseverance almost paid dividends on 15 minutes, but after his superb run and cross from the by-line, Gallen's looping header finished inches wide of the post.
The hosts' impressive start deserved a goal and it duly arrived on 17 minutes, courtesy of that man Cook.
Gallen's hooked clearance on the edge of his own box found Blackstock and when he fed Cook, the winger tricked his way past two Cobblers defenders before his deflected shot completely wrong-footed Bunn.
Cook was being gifted the freedom of the park by the League One side and when the Cobblers defenders continued to back off in the 24th minute, only the width of the post stood between the left winger doubling his and his side's tally.
Baidoo - playing in an unorthodox right midfield role - almost got in on the act in the 30th minute, only to see Bunn save his header from the edge of the six-yard box.
The hosts continued to probe as the half reached its conclusion, with the lively Blackstock heading high and wide from an acute angle and Gallen seeing two efforts in as many minutes saved by the overworked Bunn.
Northampton front-man Kirk fired a brief warning shot to the R's when his right footed purler fizzed off the post on the stroke of half-time, but in truth that was as good as it got for the Cobblers in a one-sided first period.
The Cobblers made one change at the break, with Watt entering the fray at the expense of Bradley Johnson.
But the substitution failed to reap dividends for John Gorman's men and it was Rangers who were soon celebrating goal number two on 47 minutes.
Club captain Gallen marked his first start of the season with a goal, curling a daisy-cutter free-kick from an acute angle round the wall and past a static Bunn.
Baidoo was proving a constant menace at the start of the second half, turning his marker inside-out before blasting a fearsome 12-yard shot inches wide of Bunn's left hand post.
Despite the one-way traffic, Northampton refused to lie down and substitute Watt handed them an avenue back into the tie with a speculative long range shot on 54 minutes.
Cole appeared to be in the perfect position as he dived down low to his right, but the ball somehow found its way past him to the delight of the travelling Cobblers faithful.
Blackstock's pace continued to cause problems for the Cobblers defence and when Bailey fed him in an unfamiliar right midfield role, the former Southampton striker' first time shot was gathered at the second attempt by Bunn.
In truth, Rangers were huffing and puffing their way into the next round, until the returning Bircham sprung them into life on 71 minutes.
His fine sliding tackle and cross found Baidoo and the former Arsenal trainee was unlucky to see his stinging shot fire straight at Bunn.
Egutu Oliseh was handed his first start in English football with 16 minutes to go, but it was an opening to forget for the Nigerian, who was on the pitch for just 15 seconds when the Cobblers equalised.
Kirk's superb turn and shot from 15-yards gave Cole absolutely no chance, as all of Rangers' earlier hard work went to waste.
Remarkably, there was still time for a fifth and final goal and it was Ray Jones who leapt off the bench to score it.
The 17 year-old rose tallest on the edge of the six-yard box to head home Bignot's inch-perfect cross, to finally finish off a plucky performance from the Cobblers.
QPR: Cole, Bignot, Stewart (Kanyuka 90), Rehman, Howell, Baidoo, Bircham (R Jones 84), Bailey, Cook, Gallen (Oliseh 76), Blackstock.
Subs: PJones, Donnelly.
Scorers: Cook 17, Gallen 47, R Jones 87
Bookings:
Red Cards:
Northampton Town: Bunn, Crowe, Chambers, Kirk, Aiston, Jess, Burnell, Brett Johnson (Bojic 68), Dyche, Bradley Johnson (Watt 46), Quinn (Gilligan 85).
Subs: Harper, Cross.
Scorers: Watt 54, Kirk 77
Bookings:
Red Cards:
Attendance: 4,569
Referee: P Miller
QPR
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - WADDOCK's POST MATCH COMMENTS
GREAT CHARACTER
Gary Waddock praised the character and mental toughness of his side after the 3-2 victory against the Cobblers in the Carling Cup.
"A lot of credit has to go to the lads who kept plugging away and got the result we deserved over the 90 minutes.
"We showed great character and resilience and if we continue to show that throughout the season, we'll be difficult to beat.''
Waddock continued: "Tonight was a great example of the never-say-die attitude I'm loooking for from my players and I'm just delighted we've progressed.''
Lee Cook, Kevin Gallen and match-winner Ray Jones bagged the all-important goals, to the delight of the R's gaffer.
"It's great that we're sharing the goals around. That breeds confidence and that is the recipe for success.''
The thrilling 3-2 victory also ended a two year run without a victory in Cup competitions for the R's.
"Two years is a long time without a Cup win but we've buried the hatchet tonight.
"I'm absolutely ecstatic that we're in the hat for the next round.''
Waddock spared a final work for the R's youngsters, who again shone.
"It was fantastic for Ray, but all the young lads did well.
"Andrew Howell had an accomplished debut and it bodes well for the future of this football club that we're continuing to bring these players through the ranks.''
QPR Official Site
NORTHAMPTON MANAGER, GORMAN POST MATCH COMMENTS
Gorman praises "magnificent" effort
John Gorman was full of praise for his team after Tuesday's Carling Cup tie at Loftus Road.
"I thought we were magnificent," he said.
"We played fantastic football and I am proud of the players. We had 4 senior lads missing and we put some young players out there but I am proud of every one of them. Our front two were magnificent and we created well from midfield. I thought we caused them a lot of problems and how we were 2-0 down at one stage I will never know.
"Jerome Watt seems to have this terrible problem of scoring every time we play him! Andy Kirk was tremendous and could have had four goals - he scored one and hit the post and looked a class act. QPR left some of their players out but they still had a lot of quality players out there
"We have lost and again the luck deserted us, but some of our play was from a higher league. We passed the ball with a quality and purpose and with a tempo and that is the way we want to play. We might have lost and we are disappointed to be out of the cup, but we can take confidence from the performance and we can look forward to the league games coming up.
"Their first two goals came from deflections and that sums up the way things went. I did not start Jerome Watt because I did not want to put him under too much pressure but now we will talk terms with him and see what we can come up with.
"We played fantastic football and I am proud of the players," - John Gorman
"We have some real quality in our team and I am very pleased with the way the lads played. We were worthy of at least extra time and I would have fancied us if the game had gone that far.
"James Quinn and Andy Kirk linked up well and looked a very good partnership. James was a little under the weather and that's why we took him off but he had a very good game holding the ball up.
"It was an end to end encounter and a thrilling game. There were no league points at stake and we wanted to go and entertain and we did that. We wanted to get through as well and I am so sorry for the lads and the fans that we didn't. They all deserved more for their efforts."
NORTHAMPTON OFFICIAL SITE
NORTHAMPTON MATCH REPORT
* QPR DID NOT CONFIRM THE NUMBER OF COBBLERS FANS IN ATTENDANCE
Northampton Town made the short journey down to London for the first time this season to take on Queens Park Rangers in the first round of the Carling Cup. The Cobblers had claimed the scalp of the R's at this stage of the competition last season, and this time around John Gorman took the opportunity to hand first starts of the season to Brett Johnson, Bradley Johnson and Eoin Jess. Jerome Watt and Scott Cross were among the substitutes, meaning that 8 of the matchday sixteen were in their teens or early twenties. An ankle injury ruled out Andy Holt, a dead leg accounted for Chris Doig and Ian Taylor was rested.
The Cobblers started brightly, and James Quinn was a whisker away from his first Cobblers goal after six minutes. Neat build up play from Joe Burnell found Eoin Jess and his deep cross was met by Quinn on the volley, but Jake Cole made a superb stop at the near post.
Lee Cook had the first effort of the evening for the home side, but his low skimming 25 yard effort was narrowly wide of Mark Bunn's left hand post after twelve minutes.
Rangers had the lead after eighteen minutes. A speedy break out of defence was finished off by Lee Cook, whose low drive appeared to take a deflection beyond Mark Bunn, wrong footing the Cobblers keeper in the process.
Bunn saved well with his feet to deny Kevin Gallen following a short corner routine, before Andy Kirk tried to capitalise on a slip from Damion Stewart. The QPR man's loose pass was picked up by Kirk thirty yards from goal and although he sent in a powerful shot, Cole was equal to the task.
The Cobblers enjoyed a good spell just before half time. Sam Aiston did well to commit a number of defenders before sliding a ball through to James Quinn whose dangerous cross-shot was deflected over the bar by Andrew Howell, and moments later the former Tranmere man was creating another chance, but again Kirk's shot was held by Cole.
John Gorman's side continued their purple patch, and after James Quinn had played Andy Kirk into the area, Kirk saw his shot bounce back off the post with Cole beaten. Bradley Johnson and then Eoin Jess drove over the bar as the first half came to a close, but the Cobblers really did not want the half time whistle to blow, having spent the last 15 minutes of the half firmly in control against their Championship opponents.
The Cobblers made a change at half time with Jerome Watt replacing Bradley Johnson. The recent Sixfields arrival was quickly into the action, releasing Sam Aiston down the left hand side who supplied a cross that was inches away from the head of Andy Kirk.
Against the run of play, Rangers doubled their lead four minutes after half time. Jason Crowe was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball close to the edge of the penalty area, and the angle gave Kevin Gallen the perfect opportunity to drive a low finish into the far corner, again with the help of a deflection.
Shabazz Baidoo twisted and turned and fired a shot just wide of Mark Bunn's left hand post, before Jerome Watt wasted no time in making his mark, deservedly halving the deficit. Just nine minutes after coming on as a half time substitute he drove at the Rangers defence before firing home a low twenty five yard finish beyond Jake Cole.
Baidoo was proving a real threat to the Cobblers defence, and he forced a low save out of Mark Bunn as the game reached the hour mark, before Pedj Bojic replaced Brett Johnson as John Gorman made his second change.
Kevin Gallen was withdrawn to be replaced by Egutu Oliseh with thirteen minutes to play in a defensive switch, but just moments later the Cobblers equalised. The ball was played into the penalty area and after James Quinn had laid the ball back, Andy Kirk sent a curling finish in beyond the reach of Cole.
James Quinn's flick from an eighty second minute corner seemed to be stopped by the hand of a home defender but the referee waved play on, while Ray Jones replaced Marc Bircham for QPR. John Gorman then introduced Ryan Gilligan for James Quinn.
Bunn made the latest in a number of good stops when he parried away from Dexter Blackstock, but it wasn't long before the home side had the lead once more. A cross into the Cobblers box from Marcus Bignot was headed home by Ray Jones.
The Cobblers may have exited the Carling Cup in the first round, but this result was harsh on John Gorman's side, who more than played their part in a thrilling night of cup football.
NORTHAMPTON
Northampton's Manager Looks at QPR Game
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NORTHAMPTON OFFICIAL SITE"Priority is the league, but we still want to win," says Cobblers boss
John Gorman
John Gorman has said he will be taking the Carling Cup tie at QPR seriously.
"We are treating the game properly and we want to go out and win," he said.
"We got the win on Saturday but we know we have played better than that but that's just football. To be honest we played very well in our two home games yet came out with nothing.
"We know we are in for a hard game. QPR went to Preston on Saturday and got a point so we aren't kidding ourselves and we know we are going up against a very good team.
"I've always enjoyed going to QPR, it's a nice stadium and a nice pitch and it's a chance to move on to the next round of the cup if we can.
"We go into the game a bit more relaxed because there are no points at stake but this club has done well in the cups over the last few years and we would love for that to continue.
"If I'm totally honest our priority is always going to be the league, it's been dog eat dog so far in this division and the more points you can get on the board the sooner the better.
"The players have been nice and bright in training and we are all looking forward to the game.
"I was very proud on Saturday that we finished the game with a lot of young players out on the field and they saw us through. That for me is a great plus, the spirit in the camp is really good and hopefully now we can take on the win we got on Saturday."
Northampton
NORTHAMPTON OFFICIAL SITE
Gorman waiting on Doig injury
John Gorman will delay selection for Tuesday's Carling Cup game at QPR after checking on one or two injuries.
"We have got a couple of injuries and we will check on those before making a decision on the team," he confirmed.
"Ian Taylor was fantastic on Saturday but we could consider resting him but because we are not playing another game until next Tuesday I think he would be OK to play.
"If we were playing on Friday this week we would have to be a little bit more careful and that could be the case next week because we play on Tuesday and Friday.
"Chris Doig came off on Saturday but I don't think it's anything serious. He didn't train on Monday but we will have a look at it again on Tuesday and we are quite hopeful that he will be OK to play.
"Joe Burnell got a knock on his calf but I think he should be OK as well.
"We have got a lot of good youngsters here and we may well give Jerome Watt a chance against QPR. He has done so well for us so far and I'd like to see him in a proper game. That's not to say that if he doesn't do well we'll forget about him because he has already proved to us that he can be a very good player."
Northampton
NORTHAMPTON OFFICIAL SITE"Priority is the league, but we still want to win," says Cobblers boss
John Gorman
John Gorman has said he will be taking the Carling Cup tie at QPR seriously.
"We are treating the game properly and we want to go out and win," he said.
"We got the win on Saturday but we know we have played better than that but that's just football. To be honest we played very well in our two home games yet came out with nothing.
"We know we are in for a hard game. QPR went to Preston on Saturday and got a point so we aren't kidding ourselves and we know we are going up against a very good team.
"I've always enjoyed going to QPR, it's a nice stadium and a nice pitch and it's a chance to move on to the next round of the cup if we can.
"We go into the game a bit more relaxed because there are no points at stake but this club has done well in the cups over the last few years and we would love for that to continue.
"If I'm totally honest our priority is always going to be the league, it's been dog eat dog so far in this division and the more points you can get on the board the sooner the better.
"The players have been nice and bright in training and we are all looking forward to the game.
"I was very proud on Saturday that we finished the game with a lot of young players out on the field and they saw us through. That for me is a great plus, the spirit in the camp is really good and hopefully now we can take on the win we got on Saturday."
Northampton
NORTHAMPTON OFFICIAL SITE
Gorman waiting on Doig injury
John Gorman will delay selection for Tuesday's Carling Cup game at QPR after checking on one or two injuries.
"We have got a couple of injuries and we will check on those before making a decision on the team," he confirmed.
"Ian Taylor was fantastic on Saturday but we could consider resting him but because we are not playing another game until next Tuesday I think he would be OK to play.
"If we were playing on Friday this week we would have to be a little bit more careful and that could be the case next week because we play on Tuesday and Friday.
"Chris Doig came off on Saturday but I don't think it's anything serious. He didn't train on Monday but we will have a look at it again on Tuesday and we are quite hopeful that he will be OK to play.
"Joe Burnell got a knock on his calf but I think he should be OK as well.
"We have got a lot of good youngsters here and we may well give Jerome Watt a chance against QPR. He has done so well for us so far and I'd like to see him in a proper game. That's not to say that if he doesn't do well we'll forget about him because he has already proved to us that he can be a very good player."
Northampton
For Kevin Gallen, a Decade since THE Injury at Portsmouth
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For Kevin Gallen, who hopefully plays tonight against Northampton...It's exactly a DECADE (minus a day)since Gallen got that terrible injury playing at Portsmouth. August 23rd 1996. Definitely a black day for Gallen and QPR
After scoring on opening day at home to Oxford, Gallen scored twice in QPR's first away game at Portsmouth. Unfortunately in scoring that second goal, he got injured with a cruciate knee injury; missed the rest of the season. And to a great extent was never quite the same again.
For Gallen, approaching 31 (born September 25, 1975), it's 12 years since he made his debut at Manchester United as an 18 year old youth/reserve goal-scoring machine, alongside Les Ferdinand. Capped at England U-21 Level (chosing England over Ireland), Gallen was widely tipped for big-time success, with QPR rejecting big offers for him.
Gallen was eventually given a free transfer by Gerry Francis in the summer of 2000. He joined Huddersfield and then Barnsley. And rejoined QPR on a free in November 2001. In his two stints at QPR, has played more than 300 games and scored almost 90 league goals. (He's one short of a century of a league goals, including his Barnsley and Huddersfield period)
Playing Record
BBC "Gallen Back at QPR"
Even see Gallen Website
For Kevin Gallen, who hopefully plays tonight against Northampton...It's exactly a DECADE (minus a day)since Gallen got that terrible injury playing at Portsmouth. August 23rd 1996. Definitely a black day for Gallen and QPR
After scoring on opening day at home to Oxford, Gallen scored twice in QPR's first away game at Portsmouth. Unfortunately in scoring that second goal, he got injured with a cruciate knee injury; missed the rest of the season. And to a great extent was never quite the same again.
For Gallen, approaching 31 (born September 25, 1975), it's 12 years since he made his debut at Manchester United as an 18 year old youth/reserve goal-scoring machine, alongside Les Ferdinand. Capped at England U-21 Level (chosing England over Ireland), Gallen was widely tipped for big-time success, with QPR rejecting big offers for him.
Gallen was eventually given a free transfer by Gerry Francis in the summer of 2000. He joined Huddersfield and then Barnsley. And rejoined QPR on a free in November 2001. In his two stints at QPR, has played more than 300 games and scored almost 90 league goals. (He's one short of a century of a league goals, including his Barnsley and Huddersfield period)
Playing Record
BBC "Gallen Back at QPR"
Even see Gallen Website
Marcus Bignot Turns 32...Ex-Loanee, Lee Camp Turns 22
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Marcus Bignot Turns 32
Born August 22, 1974
Holloway's first signing from Bristol Rovers when he took over from Gerry Francis in QPR's 2000-2001 relegation season. Played in our first season in Division "Two." Then went to Rushden Diamonds for a couple of seasons, before being signed back on Deadline eve, in our 2002-2003 Promotion season.
Birthday
Lee Camp Turns 22
Goalie Lee Camp joined QPR on loan from Derby in our 2002-2003 Promotion season. Played in our last 12 games which saw us gain promotion. Efforts to sign him failed.
Marcus Bignot Turns 32
Born August 22, 1974
Holloway's first signing from Bristol Rovers when he took over from Gerry Francis in QPR's 2000-2001 relegation season. Played in our first season in Division "Two." Then went to Rushden Diamonds for a couple of seasons, before being signed back on Deadline eve, in our 2002-2003 Promotion season.
Birthday
Lee Camp Turns 22
Goalie Lee Camp joined QPR on loan from Derby in our 2002-2003 Promotion season. Played in our last 12 games which saw us gain promotion. Efforts to sign him failed.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Early Look at Northampton
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Northampton, managed by John Gorman are currently 15th in Division One....got their first win of the season on Saturday, winning 1-0 at Gillingham. (Their other games an opening 2-2 draw at Crewe: 0-1 defeats at home to Brentford and Nottingham Forest)
Northampton's Squad includes of course, ex-QPR goalie, Lee Harper
QPR OFFICIAL SITE PREVIEW OF NORTHAMPTON
"....Cobblers, no it's true...for the second year running, Rangers lock horns with League One side Northampton Town in the first round of the Carling Cup.
It will mean a spot of revenge could be on the cards for Gary Waddock's men after the R's succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at Sixfields last season.
In fact, the R's are without a victory against the Cobblers since 1962 when both clubs were in the old Division Three...."
BBC Injury News -
Northampton Official Site re Lee Harper, out of the team, Made Available for Loan
Northampton, managed by John Gorman are currently 15th in Division One....got their first win of the season on Saturday, winning 1-0 at Gillingham. (Their other games an opening 2-2 draw at Crewe: 0-1 defeats at home to Brentford and Nottingham Forest)
Northampton's Squad includes of course, ex-QPR goalie, Lee Harper
QPR OFFICIAL SITE PREVIEW OF NORTHAMPTON
"....Cobblers, no it's true...for the second year running, Rangers lock horns with League One side Northampton Town in the first round of the Carling Cup.
It will mean a spot of revenge could be on the cards for Gary Waddock's men after the R's succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at Sixfields last season.
In fact, the R's are without a victory against the Cobblers since 1962 when both clubs were in the old Division Three...."
BBC Injury News -
Northampton Official Site re Lee Harper, out of the team, Made Available for Loan
"Fire Alarm" Neil McNamara's April Jail Sentence
A (non-QPR related) news item from April re "Hotel Fire Alarm" Neil Macnamara which didn't at the time get noticed by QPR Report.
BBC - April 1, 2006
Ex-minder is jailed for tax dodge
An ex-minder of Cardiff City FC's owner has been jailed for using fake business names to avoid a £100,000 tax bill.
Cardiff Crown Court heard Neil MacNamara paid no income tax, national insurance or VAT on money for providing security services to pubs and clubs.
McNamara, 42, from Nantgarw, south Wales was sacked in 2002 as Sam Hammam's bodyguard after it emerged he was a convicted football hooligan.
He was jailed for a year after admitting cheating the Inland Revenue.
Prosecutor Timothy Godfrey told the court on Friday that MacNamara "was in effect cloning the identity of four legitimate companies.
"He issued invoices in these companies' names but the company addresses were false."
The offence is so serious you will have to go to prison.
Judge David Wynn Morgan
Mr Godfrey said that over three tax years, between 2000 and 2003, MacNamara had made a profit of more than £160,000.
The interest on his unpaid tax bill had now reached £17,000 bringing the total owed to the Inland Revenue to £117,000. MacNamara pleaded guilty to four counties of cheating the Inland Revenue.
Defending, Richard Twomlow, said the father-of-three did not profit very much from his fraud.
"He is not a rich man," he said. "He owes money and did not become wealthy from this scheme."
In 1999 MacNamara began working for security firm Unisec but his employment ceased after "widespread and unfair coverage" of a criminal damage conviction, Mr Twomlow said.
MacNamara was found guilty in 2003 of causing criminal damage and giving a false fire alarm at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport.
The life-long Cardiff City football fan was given a five-year match ban after magistrates in Abergavenny decided that the crime was intended to disrupt rivals Queens Park Rangers before their play-off game against Cardiff City.
But after his appeal Cardiff Crown Court later said there was insufficient evidence to prove the incident was connected to football and lifted the ban.
Mr Twomlow said MacNamara had decided to set up a legitimate company, Guardian Security, after he was jailed in 2002 for six months for driving a stolen sports car and for possession of a can of CS gas.
'Sophisticated cover'
But the court was told the Inland Revenue was already investigating MacNamara's business dealings and he was arrested in 2004.
MacNamara was sacked from the Cardiff City security team when details of his previous convictions emerged in 2002.
Judge David Wyn Morgan told MacNamara: "The offence is so serious you will have to go to prison.
"It was a relatively sophisticated cover using the names of legitimate companies to keep £100,000 of the Inland Revenue's money."
BBC
REMEMBERING...
From BBC June 19, 2003
Ex-soccer minder admits hoax
"...A former minder of Cardiff City Football Club owner Sam Hammam has admitted setting off a fire alarm in the hotel where a rival team was sleeping before a crucial match.
Neil MacNamara, 39, of Nantgarw, south Wales, set off a fire alarm at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, in the early hours of 25 May.
Queens Park Rangers players were staying at the hotel before their Division Two play-off final against Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium later that day.
MacNamara pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and giving a false fire alarm.
But he denied the offence was football-related in the hearing at Newport Magistrates Cour.
Paul Moore, prosecuting, said: "There will be legal argument as to whether the offence was football-related.
"It will be the prosecution's suggestion this was football-related and we will invite a banning order.
"This will be opposed by the defence."
He was released on unconditional bail to reappear at the court on 16 July, when another hearing will decide whether the hoax was aimed at the QPR players.
Some 200 people had to leave the Celtic Manor while the alarm was investigated.
The QPR players were able to stay inside as they were sleeping in a different wing of the hotel.
The alarm went off at 0300 BST, 12 hours before QPR's play-off final kicked off at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, which the London team lost 1-0 in extra time. ...
BBC
And the Celtic Manor Hotel
BBC - April 1, 2006
Ex-minder is jailed for tax dodge
An ex-minder of Cardiff City FC's owner has been jailed for using fake business names to avoid a £100,000 tax bill.
Cardiff Crown Court heard Neil MacNamara paid no income tax, national insurance or VAT on money for providing security services to pubs and clubs.
McNamara, 42, from Nantgarw, south Wales was sacked in 2002 as Sam Hammam's bodyguard after it emerged he was a convicted football hooligan.
He was jailed for a year after admitting cheating the Inland Revenue.
Prosecutor Timothy Godfrey told the court on Friday that MacNamara "was in effect cloning the identity of four legitimate companies.
"He issued invoices in these companies' names but the company addresses were false."
The offence is so serious you will have to go to prison.
Judge David Wynn Morgan
Mr Godfrey said that over three tax years, between 2000 and 2003, MacNamara had made a profit of more than £160,000.
The interest on his unpaid tax bill had now reached £17,000 bringing the total owed to the Inland Revenue to £117,000. MacNamara pleaded guilty to four counties of cheating the Inland Revenue.
Defending, Richard Twomlow, said the father-of-three did not profit very much from his fraud.
"He is not a rich man," he said. "He owes money and did not become wealthy from this scheme."
In 1999 MacNamara began working for security firm Unisec but his employment ceased after "widespread and unfair coverage" of a criminal damage conviction, Mr Twomlow said.
MacNamara was found guilty in 2003 of causing criminal damage and giving a false fire alarm at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport.
The life-long Cardiff City football fan was given a five-year match ban after magistrates in Abergavenny decided that the crime was intended to disrupt rivals Queens Park Rangers before their play-off game against Cardiff City.
But after his appeal Cardiff Crown Court later said there was insufficient evidence to prove the incident was connected to football and lifted the ban.
Mr Twomlow said MacNamara had decided to set up a legitimate company, Guardian Security, after he was jailed in 2002 for six months for driving a stolen sports car and for possession of a can of CS gas.
'Sophisticated cover'
But the court was told the Inland Revenue was already investigating MacNamara's business dealings and he was arrested in 2004.
MacNamara was sacked from the Cardiff City security team when details of his previous convictions emerged in 2002.
Judge David Wyn Morgan told MacNamara: "The offence is so serious you will have to go to prison.
"It was a relatively sophisticated cover using the names of legitimate companies to keep £100,000 of the Inland Revenue's money."
BBC
REMEMBERING...
From BBC June 19, 2003
Ex-soccer minder admits hoax
"...A former minder of Cardiff City Football Club owner Sam Hammam has admitted setting off a fire alarm in the hotel where a rival team was sleeping before a crucial match.
Neil MacNamara, 39, of Nantgarw, south Wales, set off a fire alarm at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, in the early hours of 25 May.
Queens Park Rangers players were staying at the hotel before their Division Two play-off final against Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium later that day.
MacNamara pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and giving a false fire alarm.
But he denied the offence was football-related in the hearing at Newport Magistrates Cour.
Paul Moore, prosecuting, said: "There will be legal argument as to whether the offence was football-related.
"It will be the prosecution's suggestion this was football-related and we will invite a banning order.
"This will be opposed by the defence."
He was released on unconditional bail to reappear at the court on 16 July, when another hearing will decide whether the hoax was aimed at the QPR players.
Some 200 people had to leave the Celtic Manor while the alarm was investigated.
The QPR players were able to stay inside as they were sleeping in a different wing of the hotel.
The alarm went off at 0300 BST, 12 hours before QPR's play-off final kicked off at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, which the London team lost 1-0 in extra time. ...
BBC
And the Celtic Manor Hotel
Coming August 28 in Monaco: "The Golden Foot Award"
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Coming, August 28, 2006 - The Golden Foot Award
Besides being Chairman of QPR Holdings, Antonio Caliendo also heads the Monaco-based Worlds Champions Club
Each year, World Champions Club cosponsors "The Golden Foot Award" (Description of the Award from the Golden Foot website:
About the Golden Foot Award
"The Golden Foot award is an international award to the career only for at least 29-year-old football players, who stand out for their sport results (both as single players and with their team), for their personality and for the esteem of the public and football experts. The winner is chosen out of a ten nominees list decided by a jury consisting of the Golden Foot media partners representatives and of the fans from all over the world who give their preferential vote through the official site. The peculiarity of this award is that the winner leaves a permanent mould of his footprints on "The Champions Promenade", a sort of "Walk of Fame" of the international football on the seafront of the Principality of Monaco. Therefore, a football player can win the Golden Foot award only once. The 2006 Golden Foot event will take place on 28 August 2006."
The Ten Nominees
Golden Foot August 28 - Schedule of Events
Golden Foot Jury
Organizing Committee
2005 Interview/Press release with Golden Foot's/World Champions Club's Patrizia Pighini
Coming, August 28, 2006 - The Golden Foot Award
Besides being Chairman of QPR Holdings, Antonio Caliendo also heads the Monaco-based Worlds Champions Club
Each year, World Champions Club cosponsors "The Golden Foot Award" (Description of the Award from the Golden Foot website:
About the Golden Foot Award
"The Golden Foot award is an international award to the career only for at least 29-year-old football players, who stand out for their sport results (both as single players and with their team), for their personality and for the esteem of the public and football experts. The winner is chosen out of a ten nominees list decided by a jury consisting of the Golden Foot media partners representatives and of the fans from all over the world who give their preferential vote through the official site. The peculiarity of this award is that the winner leaves a permanent mould of his footprints on "The Champions Promenade", a sort of "Walk of Fame" of the international football on the seafront of the Principality of Monaco. Therefore, a football player can win the Golden Foot award only once. The 2006 Golden Foot event will take place on 28 August 2006."
The Ten Nominees
Golden Foot August 28 - Schedule of Events
Golden Foot Jury
Organizing Committee
2005 Interview/Press release with Golden Foot's/World Champions Club's Patrizia Pighini
QPR's Season Openers...Forty Years Ago...Thirty...Twenty...Ten
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Forty years ago, (yesterday) QPR's March to Glory began with a 2-2 home draw at Swindon - Les Allen and ROdney Marsh scoring. The team that day. Peter Springett - Watson Hunt Sibley Hazell,Keen, Collins Lazarus, Marsh, Allen R. Morgan
Sanderson replacing Collins and Langley coming in for Watson. (A week later, QPR's "run' Continued with a 0-1 loss at Watford!)
30 Years ago...1976/77, the unbelievable opening result. Four months after finishing the season as "Champions" (for 10 days) by beating Leeds, virtually the same team lost the opening game, August 21 0-4 at home to Everton.
Twenty Years ago...(August 23) QPR, with David Seaman making his QPR debut, Jim Smith's QPR lost 5-1 at Southampton (with future QPR forward Colin Clarke making his Southampton Debut)
And a decade ago (August 17), QPR had just beaten Oxford United 2-1 at Loftus Road.
Forty years ago, (yesterday) QPR's March to Glory began with a 2-2 home draw at Swindon - Les Allen and ROdney Marsh scoring. The team that day. Peter Springett - Watson Hunt Sibley Hazell,Keen, Collins Lazarus, Marsh, Allen R. Morgan
Sanderson replacing Collins and Langley coming in for Watson. (A week later, QPR's "run' Continued with a 0-1 loss at Watford!)
30 Years ago...1976/77, the unbelievable opening result. Four months after finishing the season as "Champions" (for 10 days) by beating Leeds, virtually the same team lost the opening game, August 21 0-4 at home to Everton.
Twenty Years ago...(August 23) QPR, with David Seaman making his QPR debut, Jim Smith's QPR lost 5-1 at Southampton (with future QPR forward Colin Clarke making his Southampton Debut)
And a decade ago (August 17), QPR had just beaten Oxford United 2-1 at Loftus Road.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Ex-QPR Birthdays Today....Ex-Manager, Stewart Houston & Lee Charles
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Stewart Houston TURNS 57
Born August 20, 1949.
Houston was appointed QPR Manager exactly a decade ago. Took over from Ray Wilkins and was QPR Manager for just over a year, forming a partnership with Bruce Rioch. Among the players he signed for QPR: John Spencer, Gavin Peacock, Matt Rose, Steve Morrow, Lee Harper and Mike Sheron.
Lee Charles TURNS 35
Born August 20, 1971...
Charles was signed by Ray Wilkins from non-League. Charles made a few appearances in QPR's relegation season and the following season, before moving on to Barnet.
Charles
Stewart Houston TURNS 57
Born August 20, 1949.
Houston was appointed QPR Manager exactly a decade ago. Took over from Ray Wilkins and was QPR Manager for just over a year, forming a partnership with Bruce Rioch. Among the players he signed for QPR: John Spencer, Gavin Peacock, Matt Rose, Steve Morrow, Lee Harper and Mike Sheron.
Lee Charles TURNS 35
Born August 20, 1971...
Charles was signed by Ray Wilkins from non-League. Charles made a few appearances in QPR's relegation season and the following season, before moving on to Barnet.
Charles
Preston 1 QPR 1 - Additional Reports & Comments
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Photos from Preston
WADDOCK'S POST-MATCH COMMENTS - QPR OFFICIAL SITE
Gary Waddock's Rangers were upset in more ways than one up at Preston after falling victim to a late equaliser.
Not only was the late Paul McKenna goal a blow to the emotions, but Rangers had found their shape upset early on after an injury to Martin Rowlands.
It was certainly a tough test up at Deepdale, but Gareth Ainsworth's early strike had given Rangers every chance of coming away from the North West with the three points.
But Preston didn't give up the chase and equalised late on through a Paul McKenna header to undo all of Rangers' hard graft.
Waddock said: "I'm a bit disappointed that we didn't hold out for the three points, we should have had the win.
"They had a lot of possession but they didn't break us down that often and we're building on getting those wins.
"To lose Martin Rowlands so early on in the game changed our game plan and it did upset the balance a little bit, but we had Steve Lomas available to come on and he is a complete professional.
"We'll have to assess Rowly's injury tomorrow, so we won't know any more until then.
"The players are disappointed in there, they were after the Burnley game and then today it shows you what can happen within a small period of time."
"People can keep tipping us for relegation but we've set our targets in house and the squad know what's expected of them
"We've had three good games now, so let's build on that and see where that takes us."
Former Preston man Ainsworth got on the scoresheet and Waddock had words of praise for his captain.
"Gareth always does well. He was captain today and he puts in a great performance week in week out.
"Nick Ward has also settled in really quickly but as a team I don't feel that we've completely gelled yet and there is still more to come."
And as for the opposition?
"David Nugent is a quality player but I felt our back four dealt with him really well. He didn't have many chances, one before half time and a header than Jonah saved, but Zesh and Damion did well with him."
QPR QPR OFFICIAL SITE
PRESTON MANAGER'S POST MATCH ASSESSEMENT
Frustrating
North End boss Paul Simpson endured a frustrating afternoon as he saw his side encounter their second consecutive home draw.
Paul Simpson
"We definitely deserved at least a point, we had a lot of possession, we had opportunities but the big thing that let us down today was the final ball into the box," Simpson said in the aftermath of the 1-1 draw with QPR.
"It was frustrating at times, we were getting into good areas but too many times there were half-hearted balls going in where the goalkeeper was allowed to come in and take the cross, calm them down and set them on an attack."
It was Paul McKenna's 86th minute header which rescued a point for the Lilywhites after former PNE midfielder Gareth Ainsworth had given the London club a fifth minute lead.
"You can say saved in the nick of time, we have given a goal away sloppily in the first half and we didn't defend the long ball through and we should have cleared our lines earlier with that.
"We didn't do our jobs at the set-piece, it was a horrible goal to look at and concede and from there we are chasing the game.
"Fair play to QPR, they came and they got players supporting Blackstock and Jones quickly and they defended very strongly. If we had had better quality on the crosses we could have caused them more problems but I thought it was a well worked goal that we scored and a goal that we deserved to get."
North End endured more bad news on the injury front with Kelvin Wilson suffering medial ligament damage and he could be out for some time - Alan McCormack deputised very well once Wilson had departed.
Simpson said: "You have to say that we are going through a very unlucky period with Kelvin Wilson getting injured today, we think there is medial knee ligament damage so we don't know how long he is going to be out.
"Alan's not played many and I bet he's not made many as a right-back either, he did very well, I was delighted with Alan McCormack.
"I thought he came and gave us a bit of enthusiasm more than anything, unfortunately Alan was probably a bit guilty more than anybody of putting crosses into the goalkeeper's hands but I thought a lot of the stuff that he did was very good.
"He went in and won tackles and that is something that we have got to get right through the side, too many times I felt that we weren't strong enough going into challenges and when you get supporters turning up week in-week out you have to show them that you have got that real desire to go and win the ball and to win tackles and it something that we have definitely got to improve on."
Preston
BBC
Preston 1-1 QPR
Paul McKenna denied QPR their first away points of the season with a late equaliser for Preston.
Gareth Ainsworth gave Rangers the lead after just five minutes, volleying in Nick Ward's cross from six yards out.
But Preston found their feet in the second half, the lively Danny Pugh twice going close before missing an easy header.
But the hosts finally got their deserved equaliser moments later through McKenna's header.
#Preston boss Paul Simpson:
"It makes it important to get new people into the squad. I am still waiting for players to come back to me at the moment.
"I'll just have to keep being patient. The list is endless of first team players unavailable for selection.
"Today I had 14 outfield players for this game, plus one."
#
QPR boss Gary Waddock:
"Gareth Ainsworth leads by example. He has put in another good performance. He always does that, week-in week-out.
"He gives 100% whether on the training ground, or in a Championship game.
"He's a character in the dressing room, he gets everyone going. He wears his heart on his sleeve, he is a rock and roller and put in a captain's display."
Preston: Nash, Hill (Lewis Neal 73), St. Ledger, Chilvers, Wilson (McCormack 41), Sedgwick (Agyemang 80), McKenna, Jarrett, Pugh, Nugent, Whaley.
Subs Not Used: Lonergan, Stock.
Booked: McKenna.
Goals: McKenna 86.
QPR: Paul Jones, Rowlands (Lomas 12), Rose, Rehman, Milanese, Ainsworth (Baidoo 90), Stewart, Blackstock, Cook, Ray Jones (Gallen 82), Ward.
Subs Not Used: Cole, Kanyuka.
Goals: Ainsworth 5.
Att: 11,879
Ref: M Pike (Cumbria)
BBC
SPORTING LIFE
Paul McKenna denied QPR their first away win of the season as his late equaliser earned Preston a deserved 1-1 draw at Deepdale.
Gareth Ainsworth had given Rangers the lead after just five minutes of the first half and Gary Waddock's men showed steely resolve to hold onto their lead, only to have their hopes of a win dashed by McKenna's late header.
Early pressure from the visitors centred around midfielder Ainsworth, who pulled the strings as QPR won an early corner.
Nick Ward swung the corner dangerously into the centre of the Preston box and Ainsworth was on the end of it, poking the ball home on the volley from six yards out with his right foot, past the flailing arms of North End goalkeeper Carlo Nash.
The visitors continued to control possession of the ball as Preston struggled to get into the contest but Rangers suffered an early blow when Martin Rowlands limped off injured and was replaced by Steve Lomas.
The enforced substitution failed to swing the flow of the game in Preston's favour and some neat play from Rangers striker Dexter Blackstock presented a chance for Ward but the midfielder fired wide from the edge of the box.
Preston finally began to make inroads in attack as Danny Pugh's probing runs caused QPR a number of problems and Paul Simpson's side registered their first shot when David Nugent drove a right-footed effort towards goal from 30 yards, only to see it cleared by Zesh Rehman.
The afternoon saw its second early substitution when an injury to Preston midfielder Kelvin Wilson forced Simpson to replace him with Alan McCormack.
However, the half ended with North End in the ascendancy and a Nugent header forced Jones into an athletic, diving save before Pugh's cross teed the England Under-21s striker up again but he found Jones at full stretch and in fine form.
The second half picked up where the first left off, as Preston pushed forward and Simon Whalley crashed a right-footed shot towards goal from 25 yards, into the arms of Jones.
Pugh threatened to bring Preston an equaliser and he struck a pair of shots within a minute of each other, the first being saved by Jones and the second flying just wide from 20 yards.
Having survived a spell of pressure, QPR pushed forwards after the hour mark and it was Ainsworth again at the centre of their endeavours.
Lee Cook's inswinging corner found the goal-scorer in a similar position to that from which he netted earlier, but his left-footed shot flashed wide of the post.
As the game entered its closing quarter, Preston finally began to show the kind of form that saw them beat Wolves a week earlier and Lewis Neal's introduction as a replacement for Matthew Hill proved key to their recovery.
Pugh should have scored with a header after Neal sent over a superb cross but the miss was forgotten moments later as the scores were levelled.
Neal again looped the ball into the penalty area and this time he found McKenna, who nodded the ball downwards beyond Jones and into the net to clinch a point.
SPORTING LIFE
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/08/19/SOCCER_Preston.html
Photos from Preston
WADDOCK'S POST-MATCH COMMENTS - QPR OFFICIAL SITE
Gary Waddock's Rangers were upset in more ways than one up at Preston after falling victim to a late equaliser.
Not only was the late Paul McKenna goal a blow to the emotions, but Rangers had found their shape upset early on after an injury to Martin Rowlands.
It was certainly a tough test up at Deepdale, but Gareth Ainsworth's early strike had given Rangers every chance of coming away from the North West with the three points.
But Preston didn't give up the chase and equalised late on through a Paul McKenna header to undo all of Rangers' hard graft.
Waddock said: "I'm a bit disappointed that we didn't hold out for the three points, we should have had the win.
"They had a lot of possession but they didn't break us down that often and we're building on getting those wins.
"To lose Martin Rowlands so early on in the game changed our game plan and it did upset the balance a little bit, but we had Steve Lomas available to come on and he is a complete professional.
"We'll have to assess Rowly's injury tomorrow, so we won't know any more until then.
"The players are disappointed in there, they were after the Burnley game and then today it shows you what can happen within a small period of time."
"People can keep tipping us for relegation but we've set our targets in house and the squad know what's expected of them
"We've had three good games now, so let's build on that and see where that takes us."
Former Preston man Ainsworth got on the scoresheet and Waddock had words of praise for his captain.
"Gareth always does well. He was captain today and he puts in a great performance week in week out.
"Nick Ward has also settled in really quickly but as a team I don't feel that we've completely gelled yet and there is still more to come."
And as for the opposition?
"David Nugent is a quality player but I felt our back four dealt with him really well. He didn't have many chances, one before half time and a header than Jonah saved, but Zesh and Damion did well with him."
QPR QPR OFFICIAL SITE
PRESTON MANAGER'S POST MATCH ASSESSEMENT
Frustrating
North End boss Paul Simpson endured a frustrating afternoon as he saw his side encounter their second consecutive home draw.
Paul Simpson
"We definitely deserved at least a point, we had a lot of possession, we had opportunities but the big thing that let us down today was the final ball into the box," Simpson said in the aftermath of the 1-1 draw with QPR.
"It was frustrating at times, we were getting into good areas but too many times there were half-hearted balls going in where the goalkeeper was allowed to come in and take the cross, calm them down and set them on an attack."
It was Paul McKenna's 86th minute header which rescued a point for the Lilywhites after former PNE midfielder Gareth Ainsworth had given the London club a fifth minute lead.
"You can say saved in the nick of time, we have given a goal away sloppily in the first half and we didn't defend the long ball through and we should have cleared our lines earlier with that.
"We didn't do our jobs at the set-piece, it was a horrible goal to look at and concede and from there we are chasing the game.
"Fair play to QPR, they came and they got players supporting Blackstock and Jones quickly and they defended very strongly. If we had had better quality on the crosses we could have caused them more problems but I thought it was a well worked goal that we scored and a goal that we deserved to get."
North End endured more bad news on the injury front with Kelvin Wilson suffering medial ligament damage and he could be out for some time - Alan McCormack deputised very well once Wilson had departed.
Simpson said: "You have to say that we are going through a very unlucky period with Kelvin Wilson getting injured today, we think there is medial knee ligament damage so we don't know how long he is going to be out.
"Alan's not played many and I bet he's not made many as a right-back either, he did very well, I was delighted with Alan McCormack.
"I thought he came and gave us a bit of enthusiasm more than anything, unfortunately Alan was probably a bit guilty more than anybody of putting crosses into the goalkeeper's hands but I thought a lot of the stuff that he did was very good.
"He went in and won tackles and that is something that we have got to get right through the side, too many times I felt that we weren't strong enough going into challenges and when you get supporters turning up week in-week out you have to show them that you have got that real desire to go and win the ball and to win tackles and it something that we have definitely got to improve on."
Preston
BBC
Preston 1-1 QPR
Paul McKenna denied QPR their first away points of the season with a late equaliser for Preston.
Gareth Ainsworth gave Rangers the lead after just five minutes, volleying in Nick Ward's cross from six yards out.
But Preston found their feet in the second half, the lively Danny Pugh twice going close before missing an easy header.
But the hosts finally got their deserved equaliser moments later through McKenna's header.
#Preston boss Paul Simpson:
"It makes it important to get new people into the squad. I am still waiting for players to come back to me at the moment.
"I'll just have to keep being patient. The list is endless of first team players unavailable for selection.
"Today I had 14 outfield players for this game, plus one."
#
QPR boss Gary Waddock:
"Gareth Ainsworth leads by example. He has put in another good performance. He always does that, week-in week-out.
"He gives 100% whether on the training ground, or in a Championship game.
"He's a character in the dressing room, he gets everyone going. He wears his heart on his sleeve, he is a rock and roller and put in a captain's display."
Preston: Nash, Hill (Lewis Neal 73), St. Ledger, Chilvers, Wilson (McCormack 41), Sedgwick (Agyemang 80), McKenna, Jarrett, Pugh, Nugent, Whaley.
Subs Not Used: Lonergan, Stock.
Booked: McKenna.
Goals: McKenna 86.
QPR: Paul Jones, Rowlands (Lomas 12), Rose, Rehman, Milanese, Ainsworth (Baidoo 90), Stewart, Blackstock, Cook, Ray Jones (Gallen 82), Ward.
Subs Not Used: Cole, Kanyuka.
Goals: Ainsworth 5.
Att: 11,879
Ref: M Pike (Cumbria)
BBC
SPORTING LIFE
Paul McKenna denied QPR their first away win of the season as his late equaliser earned Preston a deserved 1-1 draw at Deepdale.
Gareth Ainsworth had given Rangers the lead after just five minutes of the first half and Gary Waddock's men showed steely resolve to hold onto their lead, only to have their hopes of a win dashed by McKenna's late header.
Early pressure from the visitors centred around midfielder Ainsworth, who pulled the strings as QPR won an early corner.
Nick Ward swung the corner dangerously into the centre of the Preston box and Ainsworth was on the end of it, poking the ball home on the volley from six yards out with his right foot, past the flailing arms of North End goalkeeper Carlo Nash.
The visitors continued to control possession of the ball as Preston struggled to get into the contest but Rangers suffered an early blow when Martin Rowlands limped off injured and was replaced by Steve Lomas.
The enforced substitution failed to swing the flow of the game in Preston's favour and some neat play from Rangers striker Dexter Blackstock presented a chance for Ward but the midfielder fired wide from the edge of the box.
Preston finally began to make inroads in attack as Danny Pugh's probing runs caused QPR a number of problems and Paul Simpson's side registered their first shot when David Nugent drove a right-footed effort towards goal from 30 yards, only to see it cleared by Zesh Rehman.
The afternoon saw its second early substitution when an injury to Preston midfielder Kelvin Wilson forced Simpson to replace him with Alan McCormack.
However, the half ended with North End in the ascendancy and a Nugent header forced Jones into an athletic, diving save before Pugh's cross teed the England Under-21s striker up again but he found Jones at full stretch and in fine form.
The second half picked up where the first left off, as Preston pushed forward and Simon Whalley crashed a right-footed shot towards goal from 25 yards, into the arms of Jones.
Pugh threatened to bring Preston an equaliser and he struck a pair of shots within a minute of each other, the first being saved by Jones and the second flying just wide from 20 yards.
Having survived a spell of pressure, QPR pushed forwards after the hour mark and it was Ainsworth again at the centre of their endeavours.
Lee Cook's inswinging corner found the goal-scorer in a similar position to that from which he netted earlier, but his left-footed shot flashed wide of the post.
As the game entered its closing quarter, Preston finally began to show the kind of form that saw them beat Wolves a week earlier and Lewis Neal's introduction as a replacement for Matthew Hill proved key to their recovery.
Pugh should have scored with a header after Neal sent over a superb cross but the miss was forgotten moments later as the scores were levelled.
Neal again looped the ball into the penalty area and this time he found McKenna, who nodded the ball downwards beyond Jones and into the net to clinch a point.
SPORTING LIFE
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/08/19/SOCCER_Preston.html
Saturday, August 19, 2006
QPR Draw 1-1 at Preston - Reports & Comments
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QPR Official Site
Rangers were unable to hold on to a lead that practically lasted the entire game after Gareth Ainsworth had put Rangers ahead early on.
The former Preston man gave Rangers the lead in the fourth minute after the visitors had enjoyed the opening exchanges and were looking particularly lively.
His conversion of Lee Cook's corner was no more than Rangers deserved based on their early work rate.
But Preston began to take hold of the game and Paul McKenna's late header was a cruel blow to Rangers after having led for so long, but in truth, gave a more realistic scoreline to the proceedings.
Gary Waddock named an unchanged side for the Championship fixture against Preston North End.
Rangers flew out of the traps, failing to hide their intentions that they were here for a win.
Gareth Ainsworth steamed down the right wing of his old stomping ground, robbed his man of the ball and whipped a telling ball into the box.
There was no one there to meet it on this occasion, so the winger took matters into his own hands moments later when he put Rangers in the lead.
With just four minutes on the clock, Ainsworth scurried into as much space as he could muster and jabbed home Lee Cook's corner.
But jubilation turned to despair minutes later when Martin Rowlands went to ground unchallenged and signalled to the bench immediately.
Steve Lomas replaced the midfielder and set to commanding his area straight away.
The balls were flying in to the Preston 18 yard box; this time Cook whipped it in and forced Carlo Nash to fly off his line and punch away.
And when Nick Ward let fly from outside the area, the Preston fans voiced their frustrations at their team. At the other end of the field however, "We are QPR" could be heard ringing around the ground.
Any previous fears of Ward being unable to adapt to the tough tackling Championship were proving to become more and more unfounded as the game progressed. In fact, the Australian seemed to be relishing the physical side of football.
Preston then enjoyed their spell in the sun, but squandered their best chance of the game when David Nugent blasted over the bar.
Mauro Milanese then had to be on his guard to head over a Simon Whaley cross as Preston continued to push Rangers at the back.
But when Ray Jones was pushed flat on his face 20 yards out, Rangers were able to regain their composure and enjoy a breather before Cook's free kick.
Although his effort beat the wall, the midfielder also cleared the cross bar.
Preston then suffered an injury worry of their own when Kelvin Wilson was stretchered off, forcing Alan McCormack to take his place.
That led to five minutes of injury time being played out at the end of the first half, which brought on a few jangling nerves as if it were the end of the full 90.
Rangers didn't rest on their lead though and Dexter Blackstock fired a 25 yard shot into the arms of Nash.
Play immediately swung to the other end and Preston had looked certain to equalise when David Nugent's header made its way towards goal, only to be tipped round the post by Paul Jones.
That man Nugent was again causing chaos at the back for Rangers when he ran on to a Matty Hill cross, and despite looking certain to score, he blazed his shot over the bar on the stroke of half time.
With the second half only a minute old, Whaley showed what Preston's intentions were when he sent a low drive straight at Jones.
But in keeping with the theme of this end to end game, it was then Rangers who were on the attack as Ward put his low effort wide of the post.
The second half certainly didn't have as much pace as the first, but considering the Preston pressure Rangers had recently been subjected to, the visitors looked glad of the respite.
Jones was again called into action when Danny Pugh shot from outside the box, but it was bread and butter for the Welsh international.
He was however tested further when Pugh again got his shot in after pushing his way through a crowded six yard box.
Luckily for Rangers, he was again without his shooting boots and the visitors were handed a let off.
The only Preston man who didn't seem to have any haste about him was Carlo Nash, who was only too happy to take his time over free kicks and goal kicks - much to the Rangers' delight.
Ainsworth then almost scored a copycat goal when once again he was on the end of a knock down from a Cook corner.
But a deflection saw his effort land on the roof of the net.
Jason Jarrett then stormed through the Rangers midfield, only to waste his possession by skying his effort into the stand.
With ten minutes left to go, Rangers upped the ante in a bid to secure the three points and exerted yet more pressure on the Preston goal.
And then the tide turned and it was Rangers who were under the kosh, fielding strike after strike from Preston before conceding a free kick which Pugh had deflected over the bar.
A knock to Ray Jones then saw Kevin Gallen replace the youngster as Rangers looked to fend off the late pressure from the home side.
Immediately he set to work on his task of making the ball stick at the 'correct' end of the field, firing a shot wide of the upright.
Patrick Agyemang then had Rangers fans catching their breath, only to slip in the box.
But there was no stopping Paul McKenna when he rose up in the box to head past Jones late, late on.
It was cruel for Rangers, but in truth, no more than Preston deserved.
Shabazz Baidoo then replaced the Rangers goalscorer, but even his super sub presence couldn't help find a way back for Rangers.
Preston: Nash, Pugh, Jarrett, Sedgwick (Agyemang 85), Nugent, St Ledger, Chilvers, Whaley, McKenna, Hill (Neal 78), Wilson (McCormack 40)
Subs: Lonergan, Stock
Scorers: McKenna 87
Bookings:
QPR: P Jones, Milanese, Stewart, Rehman, Rose, Ainsworth (Baidoo 90), Ward, Rowlands (Lomas 10), Cook, R Jones (Gallen 86), Blackstock
Subs: Cole, Kanyuka, Baidoo
Scorers: Ainsworth 4,
Bookings:
Att: 11,879
Ref: M Pike
QPR OFFICIAL
PRESTON OFFICIAL SITE
A Paul McKenna goal four minutes from time gave North End a well deserved point and they could so well have taken all three after having the better of the chances against Gary Waddock's QPR.
The goal cancelled out an early strike by former Preston man Gareth Ainsworth who opened the scoring after just five minutes but there was more injury drama as Kelvin Wilson was stretchered off in the first half
North End started brightly, with a new look pairing of Nugent and Whaley in attack, it wasn't new to the players though who started plenty of games together as they both came through the ranks at Bury.
With Danny Dichio ruled out through injury the goascoring mantle was on the shoulders of the two youngsters and Chris Sedgwick was handed his first start of the season on the right wing.
After the impressive 3-1 win at Wolves just over a week ago confidence was high in the squad but it was the visitors who were ahead after just five minutes, Gareth Ainsworth scoring against his former club.
The Rangers midfielder, who spent three separate spells at Deepdale was on the end of a flick on by Jones, from a left wing corner, to stab the ball past Nash. There was plenty of pushing and shoving in the area while everyone waited for the corner to come in and Ainsworth certainly looked to be holding off Hill as he netted the opener.
The visitors were forced into an early change when Martin Rowlands limped off after just 11 minutes, to be replaced by Steve Lomas.
It was the visitors who were asking all the questions early on and Nicky Ward went close with a shot that whistled just wide of the left hand post on 16 minutes.
Just seconds later North End won their first corner of the match, Nugent putting Rehman under pressure but they didn't make it count and the effort was cleared at the first attempt.
Jason Jarrett decided to take the game by the scruff of the neck on 27 minutes, after period of sustained possession by North End. The former Norwich man picked the ball up 30 yards from goals and went for it weaving his way into the area before his deflected cross was put behind for a corner.
North End were certainly beginning to dominate after settling down and playing the ball around on the floor but despite the possession Paul Jones, in the QPR goal, was a virtual spectator.
Paul McKenna was the first man in the book a minute later, booked for a late challenge on Blackstock, which left the former Southampton man in a heap on the floor.
Things went from bad to worse for Paul Simpson on 39 minutes when Kelvin Wilson was stretchered off, with his leg in a brace, and with no other defenders available Alan McCormack came on at right back.
Five minutes of injury time was played at the end of the first half and North End could have gone in at the break 2-1 up.
First of all McCormack, playing in an unfamiliar role at right back, linked up well with Sedgwick and whipped in an excellent ball for Nugent in the middle, he rose well to send a header towards the bottom eft hand corner but Jones made a superb save to tip the ball round the post.
With half time edging closer Nugent had another excellent chance, this time the ball coming in from the left, where Hill and Pugh were beginning to form a good partnership. It was Pugh who drilled the ball in and beat two men at the near post before Nugent blazed the ball over the bar.
A snap shot from Whaley, just 45 seconds after the restart, tested Paul Jones in the visitors net but the veteran keeper got down quickly to make the save.
A long range effort from Pugh on the hour mark, was the next action of any real note in a game where conditions of teaming rain did little to help the quality. The former Leeds winger hit a left footed shot from the edge of the area but Jones made the save with relative ease.
Pugh, almost got the home side back on level terms a minute later after some terriorlike play from Nugent, the North End front man was being marked by as many as five Rangers players at times but he did well to shake the majority of them off before laying the ball back for Pugh, he hit a first time effoty which finished just wide of the right hand post.
Lewis Neal replaced Matt Hill on 73 minutes and Agyemang replaced Sedgwick just minutes later as Preston tried in vain to get something out of this one.
North End were camped in the Rangers third as they desperately went in search of the equaliser, from a corner the left Sean St Ledger went close to netting his first for North End. The first ball in was half cleared but Paul McKenna played it back into the mix, it was missed by everyone in the area, including Paul Jones and St Ledger did well at the far post to keep the ball in but he couldn't make it count.
Paul McKenna got North End back on level terms in fine style on 86 minutes, with his first of the season.
Lewis Neal hit a superb first time cross with expert precision to pick out to inrushing Paul McKenna who powered a header beyond Jones into the bottom right hand corner.
In the end a hard fought point at Deepdale to keep the momentum going and now attentions turn to the League Cup and a trip to Port Vale on Wednesday.
PNE LINEUP: Nash, Wilson (McCormack 41), Hill (Neal 73) Chilvers, St Ledger, Sedgwick (Agyemang 80), Jarrett, McKenna, Pugh, Whaley, Nugent
Subs: Lonergan, Agyemang, Stock, McCormack, Neal
QPR LINEUP: Jones, Milanese, Rehman, Rose, Ward, Ainsworth (Shabazz Baidoo 89), Rowlands (Lomas 11), Cook, Stewart, Jones (Gallen 82), Blackstock
Subs: Cole, Gallen, Lomas, Baidoo, Kanyuka
Attendance:11,879
Preston
QPR Official Site
Rangers were unable to hold on to a lead that practically lasted the entire game after Gareth Ainsworth had put Rangers ahead early on.
The former Preston man gave Rangers the lead in the fourth minute after the visitors had enjoyed the opening exchanges and were looking particularly lively.
His conversion of Lee Cook's corner was no more than Rangers deserved based on their early work rate.
But Preston began to take hold of the game and Paul McKenna's late header was a cruel blow to Rangers after having led for so long, but in truth, gave a more realistic scoreline to the proceedings.
Gary Waddock named an unchanged side for the Championship fixture against Preston North End.
Rangers flew out of the traps, failing to hide their intentions that they were here for a win.
Gareth Ainsworth steamed down the right wing of his old stomping ground, robbed his man of the ball and whipped a telling ball into the box.
There was no one there to meet it on this occasion, so the winger took matters into his own hands moments later when he put Rangers in the lead.
With just four minutes on the clock, Ainsworth scurried into as much space as he could muster and jabbed home Lee Cook's corner.
But jubilation turned to despair minutes later when Martin Rowlands went to ground unchallenged and signalled to the bench immediately.
Steve Lomas replaced the midfielder and set to commanding his area straight away.
The balls were flying in to the Preston 18 yard box; this time Cook whipped it in and forced Carlo Nash to fly off his line and punch away.
And when Nick Ward let fly from outside the area, the Preston fans voiced their frustrations at their team. At the other end of the field however, "We are QPR" could be heard ringing around the ground.
Any previous fears of Ward being unable to adapt to the tough tackling Championship were proving to become more and more unfounded as the game progressed. In fact, the Australian seemed to be relishing the physical side of football.
Preston then enjoyed their spell in the sun, but squandered their best chance of the game when David Nugent blasted over the bar.
Mauro Milanese then had to be on his guard to head over a Simon Whaley cross as Preston continued to push Rangers at the back.
But when Ray Jones was pushed flat on his face 20 yards out, Rangers were able to regain their composure and enjoy a breather before Cook's free kick.
Although his effort beat the wall, the midfielder also cleared the cross bar.
Preston then suffered an injury worry of their own when Kelvin Wilson was stretchered off, forcing Alan McCormack to take his place.
That led to five minutes of injury time being played out at the end of the first half, which brought on a few jangling nerves as if it were the end of the full 90.
Rangers didn't rest on their lead though and Dexter Blackstock fired a 25 yard shot into the arms of Nash.
Play immediately swung to the other end and Preston had looked certain to equalise when David Nugent's header made its way towards goal, only to be tipped round the post by Paul Jones.
That man Nugent was again causing chaos at the back for Rangers when he ran on to a Matty Hill cross, and despite looking certain to score, he blazed his shot over the bar on the stroke of half time.
With the second half only a minute old, Whaley showed what Preston's intentions were when he sent a low drive straight at Jones.
But in keeping with the theme of this end to end game, it was then Rangers who were on the attack as Ward put his low effort wide of the post.
The second half certainly didn't have as much pace as the first, but considering the Preston pressure Rangers had recently been subjected to, the visitors looked glad of the respite.
Jones was again called into action when Danny Pugh shot from outside the box, but it was bread and butter for the Welsh international.
He was however tested further when Pugh again got his shot in after pushing his way through a crowded six yard box.
Luckily for Rangers, he was again without his shooting boots and the visitors were handed a let off.
The only Preston man who didn't seem to have any haste about him was Carlo Nash, who was only too happy to take his time over free kicks and goal kicks - much to the Rangers' delight.
Ainsworth then almost scored a copycat goal when once again he was on the end of a knock down from a Cook corner.
But a deflection saw his effort land on the roof of the net.
Jason Jarrett then stormed through the Rangers midfield, only to waste his possession by skying his effort into the stand.
With ten minutes left to go, Rangers upped the ante in a bid to secure the three points and exerted yet more pressure on the Preston goal.
And then the tide turned and it was Rangers who were under the kosh, fielding strike after strike from Preston before conceding a free kick which Pugh had deflected over the bar.
A knock to Ray Jones then saw Kevin Gallen replace the youngster as Rangers looked to fend off the late pressure from the home side.
Immediately he set to work on his task of making the ball stick at the 'correct' end of the field, firing a shot wide of the upright.
Patrick Agyemang then had Rangers fans catching their breath, only to slip in the box.
But there was no stopping Paul McKenna when he rose up in the box to head past Jones late, late on.
It was cruel for Rangers, but in truth, no more than Preston deserved.
Shabazz Baidoo then replaced the Rangers goalscorer, but even his super sub presence couldn't help find a way back for Rangers.
Preston: Nash, Pugh, Jarrett, Sedgwick (Agyemang 85), Nugent, St Ledger, Chilvers, Whaley, McKenna, Hill (Neal 78), Wilson (McCormack 40)
Subs: Lonergan, Stock
Scorers: McKenna 87
Bookings:
QPR: P Jones, Milanese, Stewart, Rehman, Rose, Ainsworth (Baidoo 90), Ward, Rowlands (Lomas 10), Cook, R Jones (Gallen 86), Blackstock
Subs: Cole, Kanyuka, Baidoo
Scorers: Ainsworth 4,
Bookings:
Att: 11,879
Ref: M Pike
QPR OFFICIAL
PRESTON OFFICIAL SITE
A Paul McKenna goal four minutes from time gave North End a well deserved point and they could so well have taken all three after having the better of the chances against Gary Waddock's QPR.
The goal cancelled out an early strike by former Preston man Gareth Ainsworth who opened the scoring after just five minutes but there was more injury drama as Kelvin Wilson was stretchered off in the first half
North End started brightly, with a new look pairing of Nugent and Whaley in attack, it wasn't new to the players though who started plenty of games together as they both came through the ranks at Bury.
With Danny Dichio ruled out through injury the goascoring mantle was on the shoulders of the two youngsters and Chris Sedgwick was handed his first start of the season on the right wing.
After the impressive 3-1 win at Wolves just over a week ago confidence was high in the squad but it was the visitors who were ahead after just five minutes, Gareth Ainsworth scoring against his former club.
The Rangers midfielder, who spent three separate spells at Deepdale was on the end of a flick on by Jones, from a left wing corner, to stab the ball past Nash. There was plenty of pushing and shoving in the area while everyone waited for the corner to come in and Ainsworth certainly looked to be holding off Hill as he netted the opener.
The visitors were forced into an early change when Martin Rowlands limped off after just 11 minutes, to be replaced by Steve Lomas.
It was the visitors who were asking all the questions early on and Nicky Ward went close with a shot that whistled just wide of the left hand post on 16 minutes.
Just seconds later North End won their first corner of the match, Nugent putting Rehman under pressure but they didn't make it count and the effort was cleared at the first attempt.
Jason Jarrett decided to take the game by the scruff of the neck on 27 minutes, after period of sustained possession by North End. The former Norwich man picked the ball up 30 yards from goals and went for it weaving his way into the area before his deflected cross was put behind for a corner.
North End were certainly beginning to dominate after settling down and playing the ball around on the floor but despite the possession Paul Jones, in the QPR goal, was a virtual spectator.
Paul McKenna was the first man in the book a minute later, booked for a late challenge on Blackstock, which left the former Southampton man in a heap on the floor.
Things went from bad to worse for Paul Simpson on 39 minutes when Kelvin Wilson was stretchered off, with his leg in a brace, and with no other defenders available Alan McCormack came on at right back.
Five minutes of injury time was played at the end of the first half and North End could have gone in at the break 2-1 up.
First of all McCormack, playing in an unfamiliar role at right back, linked up well with Sedgwick and whipped in an excellent ball for Nugent in the middle, he rose well to send a header towards the bottom eft hand corner but Jones made a superb save to tip the ball round the post.
With half time edging closer Nugent had another excellent chance, this time the ball coming in from the left, where Hill and Pugh were beginning to form a good partnership. It was Pugh who drilled the ball in and beat two men at the near post before Nugent blazed the ball over the bar.
A snap shot from Whaley, just 45 seconds after the restart, tested Paul Jones in the visitors net but the veteran keeper got down quickly to make the save.
A long range effort from Pugh on the hour mark, was the next action of any real note in a game where conditions of teaming rain did little to help the quality. The former Leeds winger hit a left footed shot from the edge of the area but Jones made the save with relative ease.
Pugh, almost got the home side back on level terms a minute later after some terriorlike play from Nugent, the North End front man was being marked by as many as five Rangers players at times but he did well to shake the majority of them off before laying the ball back for Pugh, he hit a first time effoty which finished just wide of the right hand post.
Lewis Neal replaced Matt Hill on 73 minutes and Agyemang replaced Sedgwick just minutes later as Preston tried in vain to get something out of this one.
North End were camped in the Rangers third as they desperately went in search of the equaliser, from a corner the left Sean St Ledger went close to netting his first for North End. The first ball in was half cleared but Paul McKenna played it back into the mix, it was missed by everyone in the area, including Paul Jones and St Ledger did well at the far post to keep the ball in but he couldn't make it count.
Paul McKenna got North End back on level terms in fine style on 86 minutes, with his first of the season.
Lewis Neal hit a superb first time cross with expert precision to pick out to inrushing Paul McKenna who powered a header beyond Jones into the bottom right hand corner.
In the end a hard fought point at Deepdale to keep the momentum going and now attentions turn to the League Cup and a trip to Port Vale on Wednesday.
PNE LINEUP: Nash, Wilson (McCormack 41), Hill (Neal 73) Chilvers, St Ledger, Sedgwick (Agyemang 80), Jarrett, McKenna, Pugh, Whaley, Nugent
Subs: Lonergan, Agyemang, Stock, McCormack, Neal
QPR LINEUP: Jones, Milanese, Rehman, Rose, Ward, Ainsworth (Shabazz Baidoo 89), Rowlands (Lomas 11), Cook, Stewart, Jones (Gallen 82), Blackstock
Subs: Cole, Gallen, Lomas, Baidoo, Kanyuka
Attendance:11,879
Preston
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