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- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard : A site which focuses only on QPR and football and welcomes all perspectives! Comments which used to be posted on this blog, "should" now be posted on the Messageboard. - Posted Earlier: - Bernie Ecclestone Talking About Buying QPR, Football Finances and Going to Watch Chelsea
- See also: QPR and Bristol City Official Site Match Reports.... Photos from Game
- QPR Official Site - SOUSA: SPIRIT, CHARACTER & UNITY
- Paulo Sousa praised the spirit, character and unity of his side, as the R's made it two wins in a week with a 2-1 victory against Bristol City.
- Rangers picked up where they left off against Swansea City in midweek, as goals from Jordi Lopez and Adel Taarabt moved the R's on to 56 points - and just seven points adrift of the play-off's.
- "I'm very pleased for all my players," Sousa told www.qpr.co.uk.
- "We have had a lot of critics, so to win two games in a row is very important.
-"We made a great performance in midweek, showing a lot of effort, spirit and unity - and we did the same again today.
- "In the second half we continued to strive for the winner and at 1-1, we showed a very good reaction.
- "That shows we are in a good way and shows the spirit and the belief - it also shows that the players believe in my work.
- "Each team has one or two moments in a season where things go badly, but we have responded very well.
- "Our defensive and offensive organisation is excellent at the moment." QPR
SPORTING LIFE - SOUSA HAILS QPR SPIRIT
- Manager Paulo Sousa answered his doubters by leading QPR to a 2-1 victory at home to Bristol City - their second win in four days.
- A run of nine games without a win recently led to the coach's position coming under scrutiny after just four months in the job.
- But maximum points from games against the promotion-chasing Robins and Swansea have eased the pressure on the former Portugal international.
- Sousa said: "There have been a lot of critics, but now we have had two good results.
- "We have a good spirit and the players believe in me because I always say the same things - because I believe in what I'm saying.
- "During a season, every team has a moment where results are not good. We had that but the important thing is to show spirit and unity, which we did."
- On-loan Tottenham forward Adel Taarabt's late winner kept alive QPR's faint hopes of reaching the play-offs.
- The teenager stole the show along with Spanish midfielder Jordi Lopez, who had earlier put the home side ahead with a brilliant free-kick.
- Former Sevilla man Lopez struck midway through the second half, when he curled a 25-yard effort beyond goalkeeper Adriano Basso and into the top corner.
- Ivan Sproule crossed for Michael McIndoe to beautifully volley home a 77th-minute equaliser from the edge of the penalty area.
- But QPR's lead was restored when the lively Taarabt tucked away Damien Delaney's left-wing cross.
- Sousa said: "In the first half we were very good, showed a lot of effort and were tactically perfect.
- "Bristol City equalised but we showed the right reaction and went back in front. I am very pleased.
- "Two weeks ago people were saying we couldn't make the play-offs. We are still the same team now and I don't want to talk about the play-offs - I am just focusing on the quality of our work."
- The result dealt City a blow in their bid to finish in the top six and manager Gary Johnson admitted that QPR deserved to win.
- "Of course I'm disappointed with the outcome. We didn't do ourselves justice," said Johnson.
- "That wasn't our game we played out there. For some reason we kept lumping the ball forward. It was a poor game for us and I didn't recognise what we were doing.
- "The pitch wasn't great and it wasn't easy to play good football on it, but it's the same for both teams.
- "We didn't deserve anything from the game. We didn't do enough to win it, and that's that. The work rate was there but it was a bit misdirected at times. QPR were solid at the back and deserved this win in my opinion.
- "This result has dented our hopes, but we've got to look to the next game, try to win it and then see how the other teams around us do. Every week it changes in this division." Sporting Life
BristoL City Official Site - PLAY-OFF HOPES DENTED - GARY
- Gary Johnson says the 2-1 defeat at QPR has left a dent in the club's hopes of reaching the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs.
- A late Adel Taarabt goal condemned City to defeat, moments after Michael McIndoe had cancelled out Jordi Gomez's stunning
opener at Loftus Road.
- City have dropped to ninth in the Championship table, five points off Cardiff City in the final play-off position.
- Speaking after the 2-1 loss at QPR, Gary told Bristol City World: "Of course it puts a big dent in our play-off hopes.
- "I didn't think we had a good day and there wasn't enough quality. We lumped it a little bit, got it forward hoping to get something.
- "In the final third we didn't really create enough, apart from the goal, to score twice. We're all really disappointed.
- "We've got two weeks to turn that around, but today we didn't do enough. We didn't do anywhere near enough.
- "We've got liven ourselves up, I've got to liven myself up. That didn't look like one of my teams out there today."
"I didn't think we had a good day and there wasn't enough quality."
Gary Johnson
- City had two penalty appeals turned down in the first half as Dele Adebola and Nicky Maynard crashed to the ground in the area.
- "I think they were both penalties," said Gary. "We'll have to see them again on the video, but I'm sure you'll see they were both fouled.
- "Both Dele and Nicky are really disappointed with the decisions, especially Dele (who was cautioned). I think the referee had the early decision (when Adel Taarabt was booked for diving) in his mind."
- The manager concluded: "On the day it was a poor day. The lads know that and I course [I've] told them that.
- "We've still got the six games left. It's a big dent [to our hopes] but we'll keep going."
- Marvin Elliott made his return as a late substitute following an 11-game absence. Gary admitted he wasn't really ready and will now have the international break to get reserve matches under his belt. QPR
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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
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Another Victory for Queen's Park Rangers! Reports of QPR 2 Bristol City 1
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QPR 2 Bristol City 1
Before a crowd of just over 14,000 QPR narrowly defeated Bristol City. But a win is a win! Updated League Table: QPR have 56 points with six games remaining - 7 points away from a playoff spot. (Every fan can look back and do the math. But ultimately that's futile]
QPR Official Site
- QPR maintained hopes of a late play-off charge with a thoroughly deserved 2-1 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Bristol City.
- In the 65th minute, Jordi Lòpez struck from 25 yards with a wonderful free-kick for his first Rangers goal but when Michael McIndoe smashed home a leveller 12 minutes later it looked like a draw was in the offing.
- But Rangers refused to be deterred in their quest for the points, and after Damien Delaney went on a lung-busting run down the left, his cross fell perfectly for Adel Taarabt to sweep home and send R's fans into raptures.
- From the side that beat Swansea City in midweek, only Fitz Hall failed to retain his starting spot. In came Delaney at left-back, with Matt Connolly reverting to centre half alongside Kaspars Gorkss. Peter Ramage completed the back four.
- In midfield, skipper Mikele Leigertwood joined Spaniard Lòpez in central midfield, Matteo Alberti took up residence on the right and livewire duo Hogan Ephraim and Taarabt, so impressive together against the Swans, positioned themselves in the centre behind Samuel Di Carmine and the left hand side respectively.
- With players returning from various knocks and strains, the R's bench looked strong. Wayne Routledge and Lee Cook returned from their injuries, with Heidar Helguson, Gavin Mahon joining Rowan Vine, scorer for the Reserves in the week, completing the substitute line-up.
- A tentative opening saw City striker Nicky Maynard and Taarabt trade long-range efforts, both of which failed to test either Radek Cerny or Adriano Basso and flew wide.
- The R's went close soon after when Taarabt stole the ball in midfield and moved in on the Robins' goal, before releasing Di Carmine who had cleverly peeled out to the left. The Italian took a touch, before attempting to bend a shot around Basso.
- The Brazilian however, was equal to it, and palmed the shot away with a smart diving save to his left.
- Di Carmine tested Basso seconds later, but when he turned and fired from just inside the area following Delaney's pass, his deflected snap-shot bounced comfortably into the Robins keeper's hands.
- Rangers were counter-attacking with some considered style, and when Taarabt fed Ephraim after a poor City free-kick, the former West Ham man carried the ball over the half way line and at the last second before being closed down, released Alberti.
- The wide-man took a touch before thumping a low drive at Basso's near post. The Robins custodian got down well to save and held onto the ball in the process.
- Meanwhile, City were looking assured of their attacking quality, but after fine build-up play, Maynard blasted over from 12 yards when well-placed.
- Minutes before half-time, City won a free-kick 20 yards out, but Rangers organised well, and Jamie McAllister could only steer his attempt wide.
- Rangers entered the second half with a change in the ranks, Alberti making way for Routledge.
- And it was the home side that began the half the brighter. Fantastic football down the left saw Taarabt win back possession after losing out to Bradley Orr, and finding Ephraim tucked inside the box.
- The attacking midfielder looked for an angle but, failing to find one, instead teed up Lòpez. The Spaniard took it first time and side-footed a fine effort that looked to be heading into the top right-hand corner. Frustratingly however, it continued to rise and flew inches wide.
- Rangers were piling on the pressure. Taarabt, after a City clearance fell at his feet, tricked his way onto his favoured left foot and blazed his long-range strike high over the Robins' crossbar.
- The only thing missing from the R's play was that little bit of fortune, and their luck took a turn for the worst on the hour mark. Connolly went down injured, and had to be replaced by Helguson.
- The change meant Leigertwood dropped into the back four, and the Iceland striker joining Di Carmine up front.
- The change nearly paid off. When Helguson won a free-kick 25 yards out, Lòpez stepped up to bend a shot over the wall and down to Basso's right. The City keeper saved comfortably.
- He could do nothing with the next one. When Di Carmine won a free-kick in exactly the same spot, Lòpez went one better and curled a beautiful effort into the top left-hand corner to blow the roof off a noisy Loftus Road.
- Rangers were firmly in their stride. Taarabt escaped down the left, beat Orr and crossed with the outside of his right boot for Helguson. Having no time to take a touch, he took the shot on first time and sent a wickedly curling shot narrowly wide of the target.
- In order to keep the momentum going, whilst also protect the lead from the inevitable Robins fight-back, Manager Paulo Sousa introduced Cook for Di Carmine.
- The home side were rampant; Lòpez wriggled his way inside the box and held the ball up expertly waiting for support. That duly arrived in the shape of Helguson, but his shot was superbly blocked by a lunging red shirt.
- As is often the way when one team fails to put away it's chances, the opposition found an equaliser. When Ivan Sproule dispossessed Cook, he sent over a teasing cross from the right that evaded everyone except McIndoe, who thumped home a well-struck volley to level the scores.
- Refusing to lie down and accept a draw. Rangers fought back superbly to score again and regain the lead. Delaney broke down the left, and after a driving run fired over a tantalising cross that Taarabt did not need a second invitation to attack and he tapped home from close range for his first Rangers goal.
- Back came the Robins, but they found themselves up against a determined Hoops defence led superbly by Gorkss.
- And the R's even had chances to extend their lead. A Routledge volley was acrobatically saved by Basso. But neither side could add to the goals, and Rangers held on for another valuable three points.
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Leigertwood, Gorkss, Ramage, Connolly (Helguson 61), Lòpez, Alberti (Routledge 46), Di Carmine (Cook 73), Ephraim, Taarabt. Subs: Mahon, Vine.
Scorers: Lòpez (65), Taarabt (82) Bookings: Taarabt (15)
Bristol City: Basso, Orr, McAllister, Fontaine, McCombe, Maynard, McIndoe, Skuse, Adebola, Sproule (Styvar 86), Johnson (Elliot 87). Subs: Henderson, Wilson, John.
Scorers: McIndoe (77) Bookings: Adebola (45), Basso (90) Referee: Mr G K Hegley Attendance: 14,059 QPR
Bristol City Official Site - QPR 2-1 Bristol City
Adam Baker reports from Loftus Road
- City's play-off push was dealt a major blow as they were beaten 2-1 by Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
- All the goals came in the second half, with Jordi Lopez opening the scoring on 65 minutes through a stunning 25-yard free kick.
- Michael McIndoe looked to have bagged a point at least for City with a brilliant volleyed equaliser on 72 minutes.
- However, the hosts won it nine minutes from time when Taarabt converted from just six yards out - maintaining a 32-year long run without a league win at Loftus Road for City.- City's intentions were clear from the off when Nicky Maynard lashed a shot just over top inside 17 seconds.
- QPR quickly responded with a long range shot of their own moments later, Lopez lashing his 25-yard attempt inches wide of Adriano Basso's left-hand post.
-Two penalty appeals were waved away around the ten-minute mark. First, Jamie McCombe appealed that Lee Johnson's corner had been handled in the box as he prepared to head goalwards. At the other end Taarbat was cautioned for a disgraceful dive, as Liam Fontaine cleverly withdrew his challenge to make the QPR man look foolish.
Nicky Maynard went down in the box on 17 minutes after colliding with Kaspars Gorkss, but again referee Grant Hegley kept his whistle away from his lips.
The hosts wasted the first clear-cut opening of the match on 22 minutes as Tarrabt's pass put Samuel Di Carmine clear down the left. The striker cut in but couldn't find a way past Basso, who saved well with his legs.
Just before the half-hour mark City saw a good chance of their own come and go. Michael McIndoe's cross from the left picked out Ivan Sproule unmarked but the Northern Ireland winger scooped the ball over the top just when he seemed destined to score.
In quick succession Basso saved well from Matteo Alberti's angled shot, then Maynard volleyed over after neat build-up play by Adebola.
Clearly with the earlier Taarabt booking in his mind, Adebola was cautioned for simulation in first-half stoppage time as he went down in the box under a sliding challenge from Gorkss.
Adebola brushed off that caution to fire narrowly wide straight after the restart.
Lopez went close still for the home side on 53 minutes, coolly guiding a shot from the edge of the box inches wide of Basso's left upright.
A 25-yard free kick from Lopez forced Basso into an easy diving save on 63 minutes, but it proved just a warm-up effort for the Spaniard. Just 90 seconds later, after McCombe had been adjudged to have fouled Di Carmine, Lopez found the top corner from an identical position.
Substitute Heidar Helguson could have killed the game off moments later but his radar was off-target as he shot wide from 20 yards after good play from Taarabt.
Just when City looked to dead and buried, Sproule ran beyond his marker Matthew Connolly and watched on as his pinpoint cross was brilliantly volleyed in by McIndoe.
City were level for just nine minutes though, as Damien Devaney burst forward down the left and crossed to leave Taarabt with a simple six-yard finish.
Peter Styvar and Marvin Elliott - back after an 11-game lay off - were both introduced with time ticking away, but City couldn't find a late reply.
In the end Basso was forced into a stunning save to keep the score at 2-1, the Brazilian denying Wayne Routledge's driven volley. Bristol City
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QPR 2 Bristol City 1
Before a crowd of just over 14,000 QPR narrowly defeated Bristol City. But a win is a win! Updated League Table: QPR have 56 points with six games remaining - 7 points away from a playoff spot. (Every fan can look back and do the math. But ultimately that's futile]
QPR Official Site
- QPR maintained hopes of a late play-off charge with a thoroughly deserved 2-1 win over fellow promotion hopefuls Bristol City.
- In the 65th minute, Jordi Lòpez struck from 25 yards with a wonderful free-kick for his first Rangers goal but when Michael McIndoe smashed home a leveller 12 minutes later it looked like a draw was in the offing.
- But Rangers refused to be deterred in their quest for the points, and after Damien Delaney went on a lung-busting run down the left, his cross fell perfectly for Adel Taarabt to sweep home and send R's fans into raptures.
- From the side that beat Swansea City in midweek, only Fitz Hall failed to retain his starting spot. In came Delaney at left-back, with Matt Connolly reverting to centre half alongside Kaspars Gorkss. Peter Ramage completed the back four.
- In midfield, skipper Mikele Leigertwood joined Spaniard Lòpez in central midfield, Matteo Alberti took up residence on the right and livewire duo Hogan Ephraim and Taarabt, so impressive together against the Swans, positioned themselves in the centre behind Samuel Di Carmine and the left hand side respectively.
- With players returning from various knocks and strains, the R's bench looked strong. Wayne Routledge and Lee Cook returned from their injuries, with Heidar Helguson, Gavin Mahon joining Rowan Vine, scorer for the Reserves in the week, completing the substitute line-up.
- A tentative opening saw City striker Nicky Maynard and Taarabt trade long-range efforts, both of which failed to test either Radek Cerny or Adriano Basso and flew wide.
- The R's went close soon after when Taarabt stole the ball in midfield and moved in on the Robins' goal, before releasing Di Carmine who had cleverly peeled out to the left. The Italian took a touch, before attempting to bend a shot around Basso.
- The Brazilian however, was equal to it, and palmed the shot away with a smart diving save to his left.
- Di Carmine tested Basso seconds later, but when he turned and fired from just inside the area following Delaney's pass, his deflected snap-shot bounced comfortably into the Robins keeper's hands.
- Rangers were counter-attacking with some considered style, and when Taarabt fed Ephraim after a poor City free-kick, the former West Ham man carried the ball over the half way line and at the last second before being closed down, released Alberti.
- The wide-man took a touch before thumping a low drive at Basso's near post. The Robins custodian got down well to save and held onto the ball in the process.
- Meanwhile, City were looking assured of their attacking quality, but after fine build-up play, Maynard blasted over from 12 yards when well-placed.
- Minutes before half-time, City won a free-kick 20 yards out, but Rangers organised well, and Jamie McAllister could only steer his attempt wide.
- Rangers entered the second half with a change in the ranks, Alberti making way for Routledge.
- And it was the home side that began the half the brighter. Fantastic football down the left saw Taarabt win back possession after losing out to Bradley Orr, and finding Ephraim tucked inside the box.
- The attacking midfielder looked for an angle but, failing to find one, instead teed up Lòpez. The Spaniard took it first time and side-footed a fine effort that looked to be heading into the top right-hand corner. Frustratingly however, it continued to rise and flew inches wide.
- Rangers were piling on the pressure. Taarabt, after a City clearance fell at his feet, tricked his way onto his favoured left foot and blazed his long-range strike high over the Robins' crossbar.
- The only thing missing from the R's play was that little bit of fortune, and their luck took a turn for the worst on the hour mark. Connolly went down injured, and had to be replaced by Helguson.
- The change meant Leigertwood dropped into the back four, and the Iceland striker joining Di Carmine up front.
- The change nearly paid off. When Helguson won a free-kick 25 yards out, Lòpez stepped up to bend a shot over the wall and down to Basso's right. The City keeper saved comfortably.
- He could do nothing with the next one. When Di Carmine won a free-kick in exactly the same spot, Lòpez went one better and curled a beautiful effort into the top left-hand corner to blow the roof off a noisy Loftus Road.
- Rangers were firmly in their stride. Taarabt escaped down the left, beat Orr and crossed with the outside of his right boot for Helguson. Having no time to take a touch, he took the shot on first time and sent a wickedly curling shot narrowly wide of the target.
- In order to keep the momentum going, whilst also protect the lead from the inevitable Robins fight-back, Manager Paulo Sousa introduced Cook for Di Carmine.
- The home side were rampant; Lòpez wriggled his way inside the box and held the ball up expertly waiting for support. That duly arrived in the shape of Helguson, but his shot was superbly blocked by a lunging red shirt.
- As is often the way when one team fails to put away it's chances, the opposition found an equaliser. When Ivan Sproule dispossessed Cook, he sent over a teasing cross from the right that evaded everyone except McIndoe, who thumped home a well-struck volley to level the scores.
- Refusing to lie down and accept a draw. Rangers fought back superbly to score again and regain the lead. Delaney broke down the left, and after a driving run fired over a tantalising cross that Taarabt did not need a second invitation to attack and he tapped home from close range for his first Rangers goal.
- Back came the Robins, but they found themselves up against a determined Hoops defence led superbly by Gorkss.
- And the R's even had chances to extend their lead. A Routledge volley was acrobatically saved by Basso. But neither side could add to the goals, and Rangers held on for another valuable three points.
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Leigertwood, Gorkss, Ramage, Connolly (Helguson 61), Lòpez, Alberti (Routledge 46), Di Carmine (Cook 73), Ephraim, Taarabt. Subs: Mahon, Vine.
Scorers: Lòpez (65), Taarabt (82) Bookings: Taarabt (15)
Bristol City: Basso, Orr, McAllister, Fontaine, McCombe, Maynard, McIndoe, Skuse, Adebola, Sproule (Styvar 86), Johnson (Elliot 87). Subs: Henderson, Wilson, John.
Scorers: McIndoe (77) Bookings: Adebola (45), Basso (90) Referee: Mr G K Hegley Attendance: 14,059 QPR
Bristol City Official Site - QPR 2-1 Bristol City
Adam Baker reports from Loftus Road
- City's play-off push was dealt a major blow as they were beaten 2-1 by Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
- All the goals came in the second half, with Jordi Lopez opening the scoring on 65 minutes through a stunning 25-yard free kick.
- Michael McIndoe looked to have bagged a point at least for City with a brilliant volleyed equaliser on 72 minutes.
- However, the hosts won it nine minutes from time when Taarabt converted from just six yards out - maintaining a 32-year long run without a league win at Loftus Road for City.- City's intentions were clear from the off when Nicky Maynard lashed a shot just over top inside 17 seconds.
- QPR quickly responded with a long range shot of their own moments later, Lopez lashing his 25-yard attempt inches wide of Adriano Basso's left-hand post.
-Two penalty appeals were waved away around the ten-minute mark. First, Jamie McCombe appealed that Lee Johnson's corner had been handled in the box as he prepared to head goalwards. At the other end Taarbat was cautioned for a disgraceful dive, as Liam Fontaine cleverly withdrew his challenge to make the QPR man look foolish.
Nicky Maynard went down in the box on 17 minutes after colliding with Kaspars Gorkss, but again referee Grant Hegley kept his whistle away from his lips.
The hosts wasted the first clear-cut opening of the match on 22 minutes as Tarrabt's pass put Samuel Di Carmine clear down the left. The striker cut in but couldn't find a way past Basso, who saved well with his legs.
Just before the half-hour mark City saw a good chance of their own come and go. Michael McIndoe's cross from the left picked out Ivan Sproule unmarked but the Northern Ireland winger scooped the ball over the top just when he seemed destined to score.
In quick succession Basso saved well from Matteo Alberti's angled shot, then Maynard volleyed over after neat build-up play by Adebola.
Clearly with the earlier Taarabt booking in his mind, Adebola was cautioned for simulation in first-half stoppage time as he went down in the box under a sliding challenge from Gorkss.
Adebola brushed off that caution to fire narrowly wide straight after the restart.
Lopez went close still for the home side on 53 minutes, coolly guiding a shot from the edge of the box inches wide of Basso's left upright.
A 25-yard free kick from Lopez forced Basso into an easy diving save on 63 minutes, but it proved just a warm-up effort for the Spaniard. Just 90 seconds later, after McCombe had been adjudged to have fouled Di Carmine, Lopez found the top corner from an identical position.
Substitute Heidar Helguson could have killed the game off moments later but his radar was off-target as he shot wide from 20 yards after good play from Taarabt.
Just when City looked to dead and buried, Sproule ran beyond his marker Matthew Connolly and watched on as his pinpoint cross was brilliantly volleyed in by McIndoe.
City were level for just nine minutes though, as Damien Devaney burst forward down the left and crossed to leave Taarabt with a simple six-yard finish.
Peter Styvar and Marvin Elliott - back after an 11-game lay off - were both introduced with time ticking away, but City couldn't find a late reply.
In the end Basso was forced into a stunning save to keep the score at 2-1, the Brazilian denying Wayne Routledge's driven volley. Bristol City
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Teams: QPR vs Bristol City (No Hall, Stewart, Balanta)
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- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard : A site which focuses only on QPR and football and welcomes all perspectives! Comments which used to be posted on this blog, "should" now be posted on the Messageboard. - Posted Earlier: - Bernie Ecclestone Talking About Buying QPR, Football Finances and Going to Watch Chelsea
Today's Teams: QPR vs Bristol City
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Leigertwood, Gorkss, Ramage, Connolly, Lòpez, Alberti, Di Carmine, Ephraim, Taarabt. Subs: Mahon, Routledge, Vine, Cook, Helguson.
Bristol City: Basso, Orr, McAllister, Fontaine, McCombe, Maynard, McIndoe, Skuse, Adebola, Sproule, Johnson. Subs: Henderson, Styvar, Elliott, Wilson, John.
- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard : A site which focuses only on QPR and football and welcomes all perspectives! Comments which used to be posted on this blog, "should" now be posted on the Messageboard. - Posted Earlier: - Bernie Ecclestone Talking About Buying QPR, Football Finances and Going to Watch Chelsea
Today's Teams: QPR vs Bristol City
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Leigertwood, Gorkss, Ramage, Connolly, Lòpez, Alberti, Di Carmine, Ephraim, Taarabt. Subs: Mahon, Routledge, Vine, Cook, Helguson.
Bristol City: Basso, Orr, McAllister, Fontaine, McCombe, Maynard, McIndoe, Skuse, Adebola, Sproule, Johnson. Subs: Henderson, Styvar, Elliott, Wilson, John.
The Pressure is on QPR...Ecclestone on Buying QPR Rather than Chelsea, Liverpoool or Manchester United
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Visit the QPR Report Messageboard : A site which focuses only on QPR and football and welcomes all perspectives! Comments which used to be posted on this blog, "should" now be posted on the Messageboard.
- In the realm of "In case you missed it:" - Bernie Ecclestone Talking About Buying QPR, Football Finances and Going to Watch Chelsea
Western Daily Press - Lee Johnson: The pressure is on QPR
- If you think Bristol City's players are feeling the pressure ahead of this afternoon's Coca-Cola Championship fixture at Loftus Road, spare a thought for Queens Park Rangers.
- Co-owned by three of the richest businessman on the face of the planet, the West London club has been catapulted into a special category reserved for English football's nouveau riche.
- Pundits were quick to predict a rapid ascendancy to the Barclays Premier League after Italian motor racing magnate Flavio Briatore, Indian industrialist Lakshmi Mittal and Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone poured their millions into reviving the Superhoops.
- Naturally, they expect nothing less themselves and a succession of managers have tried and failed to deliver while occupying the warmest of hot-seats.
- Paulo Sousa is the seventh managerial incumbent since Ian Holloway was ditched just over three years ago and, thus far, he shows no sign of doing any better than his predecessors.
- Substantially backed to win promotion this season, Rangers have flattered to deceive. Tuesday's 1-0 victory over Swansea was the team's first in nine Championship outings and, with seven games remaining, their prospects of reaching the play-offs appear slim.
- One can only imagine how failure will be greeted by the owners and it seems reasonable to assume Sousa will go the way of Iain Dowie – sacked just three months into the season – should his side fall short of expectations.
- City midfielder Lee Johnson knows all about financially-induced expectation, having spent a short and inglorious spell in the West Lothian melting pot which is Hearts.
- Ruled by Russian oligarch Roman Romanov, the Edinburgh club was charged with the not inconsiderate task of breaking the Old Firm domination of the Scottish Premier League.
- When George Burley tried and failed to deliver, he was shown the door with unceremonious haste. His successor, former Arsenal and England midfielder Graham Rix, signed Johnson from Yeovil Town in January 2006 but fared little better and was replaced by Romanov's son a few torrid months later.
- Johnson made only four first team appearances that season and had plenty of opportunity to observe chaotic proceedings from the sidelines.
- "What happened at Hearts just goes to show you cannot always buy success," declared Johnson, who was eventually rescued from his Scottish hell by his father, Gary, who brought him to Ashton Gate eight months after his move north of the border.
"They tried it at Hearts but the money created so much pressure, they never really had a chance. Those putting up the cash always want instant results and that can be very hard to deliver in football. To be honest, I look at QPR and see a lot of similarities.
"I could give you £30million and you wouldn't be able to guarantee getting out of the Championship. It still wouldn't be enough to lure top Premier League players.
"It's different if you throw £100million at it, like some of the clubs who come down from the Premier League, but QPR haven't done that.
"Because of who owns them and the amount of money they have, they are expected to win promotion to the top flight. That makes life very hard and is the reason why there has been so much chopping and changing behind the scenes.
"You can't keep sacking the manager and changing players and hope to succeed. It's not worked for them this season and I don't think they are as good a side as when we played them at their place last year.
"There is a lot more pressure on QPR than there is on us. Anything less than promotion will be deemed a failure. What will they do then? Sack the manager and start all over again?"
According to Johnson, City are better-placed than their London rivals to win promotion, not only this season but in the future too.
He contends: "There are two ways of doing it; one is to spend an absolute fortune, the other is to build a team and then keep it together.
- "We have real stability at this club and there is a lot to be said for a settled squad and management team. That is what has got us where we are now and I wouldn't change the way our chairman does things for anything."
Sure enough, Steve Lansdown has spent sensibly and built steadily in his quest for a sustainable future at the higher level. But no amount of careful husbandry will be sufficient to bridge the four-point gap between City and the play-offs if the Robins lose in the capital today.
- Johnson agrees, insisting: "This is a massively important game. We can't afford to play for a draw – we have to go there and try to win the game.
- "We believe we can still reach the play-offs but we're going to have to win another four or five games to make it happen. In my opinion, the next two games – City host play-off rivals Preston North End on April 4 – will decide our fate one way or the other." Western Daily Press
- See Also: QPR vs Bristol City Preview
Visit the QPR Report Messageboard : A site which focuses only on QPR and football and welcomes all perspectives! Comments which used to be posted on this blog, "should" now be posted on the Messageboard.
- In the realm of "In case you missed it:" - Bernie Ecclestone Talking About Buying QPR, Football Finances and Going to Watch Chelsea
Western Daily Press - Lee Johnson: The pressure is on QPR
- If you think Bristol City's players are feeling the pressure ahead of this afternoon's Coca-Cola Championship fixture at Loftus Road, spare a thought for Queens Park Rangers.
- Co-owned by three of the richest businessman on the face of the planet, the West London club has been catapulted into a special category reserved for English football's nouveau riche.
- Pundits were quick to predict a rapid ascendancy to the Barclays Premier League after Italian motor racing magnate Flavio Briatore, Indian industrialist Lakshmi Mittal and Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone poured their millions into reviving the Superhoops.
- Naturally, they expect nothing less themselves and a succession of managers have tried and failed to deliver while occupying the warmest of hot-seats.
- Paulo Sousa is the seventh managerial incumbent since Ian Holloway was ditched just over three years ago and, thus far, he shows no sign of doing any better than his predecessors.
- Substantially backed to win promotion this season, Rangers have flattered to deceive. Tuesday's 1-0 victory over Swansea was the team's first in nine Championship outings and, with seven games remaining, their prospects of reaching the play-offs appear slim.
- One can only imagine how failure will be greeted by the owners and it seems reasonable to assume Sousa will go the way of Iain Dowie – sacked just three months into the season – should his side fall short of expectations.
- City midfielder Lee Johnson knows all about financially-induced expectation, having spent a short and inglorious spell in the West Lothian melting pot which is Hearts.
- Ruled by Russian oligarch Roman Romanov, the Edinburgh club was charged with the not inconsiderate task of breaking the Old Firm domination of the Scottish Premier League.
- When George Burley tried and failed to deliver, he was shown the door with unceremonious haste. His successor, former Arsenal and England midfielder Graham Rix, signed Johnson from Yeovil Town in January 2006 but fared little better and was replaced by Romanov's son a few torrid months later.
- Johnson made only four first team appearances that season and had plenty of opportunity to observe chaotic proceedings from the sidelines.
- "What happened at Hearts just goes to show you cannot always buy success," declared Johnson, who was eventually rescued from his Scottish hell by his father, Gary, who brought him to Ashton Gate eight months after his move north of the border.
"They tried it at Hearts but the money created so much pressure, they never really had a chance. Those putting up the cash always want instant results and that can be very hard to deliver in football. To be honest, I look at QPR and see a lot of similarities.
"I could give you £30million and you wouldn't be able to guarantee getting out of the Championship. It still wouldn't be enough to lure top Premier League players.
"It's different if you throw £100million at it, like some of the clubs who come down from the Premier League, but QPR haven't done that.
"Because of who owns them and the amount of money they have, they are expected to win promotion to the top flight. That makes life very hard and is the reason why there has been so much chopping and changing behind the scenes.
"You can't keep sacking the manager and changing players and hope to succeed. It's not worked for them this season and I don't think they are as good a side as when we played them at their place last year.
"There is a lot more pressure on QPR than there is on us. Anything less than promotion will be deemed a failure. What will they do then? Sack the manager and start all over again?"
According to Johnson, City are better-placed than their London rivals to win promotion, not only this season but in the future too.
He contends: "There are two ways of doing it; one is to spend an absolute fortune, the other is to build a team and then keep it together.
- "We have real stability at this club and there is a lot to be said for a settled squad and management team. That is what has got us where we are now and I wouldn't change the way our chairman does things for anything."
Sure enough, Steve Lansdown has spent sensibly and built steadily in his quest for a sustainable future at the higher level. But no amount of careful husbandry will be sufficient to bridge the four-point gap between City and the play-offs if the Robins lose in the capital today.
- Johnson agrees, insisting: "This is a massively important game. We can't afford to play for a draw – we have to go there and try to win the game.
- "We believe we can still reach the play-offs but we're going to have to win another four or five games to make it happen. In my opinion, the next two games – City host play-off rivals Preston North End on April 4 – will decide our fate one way or the other." Western Daily Press
- See Also: QPR vs Bristol City Preview
Friday, March 20, 2009
Bernie Ecclestone on Buying QPR, Interest in Chelsea and Football...Meanwhile QPR's Gianni Paladini Marks Five Years Since First Seeing QPR
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The National (UAE) - Ecclestone: bad enemy but a good friend
- ".....Then, without the slightest glimmer of a smile, he fixes me with an unblinking stare and avows: “What people should know about me is that I am a good and true friend – but I am a bad enemy.”- That is his mantra – and has been over the 30 years we have been friends – and in both instances there are many people who have good cause to remember his double-edged remark...."
- After throwing in off-handedly that he and Flavio Briatore, his friend and the Renault team principal, came close to bidding for the Premier League club Chelsea, before they bought Queen Park Rangers, and gave way to the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, he revealed he is now a confirmed football fan.- “We thought about buying Liverpool, too, and Manchester United,” he told me, “but I am a southern boy and having to travel up north, when I could get to QPR or Chelsea so easily, was a much more sensible plan and a better investment for us.”
- Now he is a frequent guest of Abramovich’s at Stamford Bridge – and returns the favours with VIP passes for the Monaco Grand Prix whenever the oligarch decides to park up his $200m yacht off Monte Carlo for a switch of sports.
- “Flavio and I were very serious about buying Chelsea,” says Ecclestone.
- “But it was really very complicated and would have taken too much time to go through the books.
- “And I certainly didn’t want to make it a battle with Abramovich and take him on at his own game, so I backed off.
- “In the final analysis it may not have been such a bad thing for the club – I am so tight-fisted with my money I wouldn’t have spent anywhere near the cash Roman has done in buying such fantastic players and that fantastic training facility in Surrey.
- “I used to say that if the two greatest football teams in the world were playing in my back garden I wouldn’t look through the window to watch – but now I am hooked.
0 “I love the game. I’ve even taken my own plane twice to Barcelona to watch Chelsea. And when I’m not at QPR I‘m at Stamford Bridge with Abramovich. His money has worked miracles for the club.
- “The game has been an eye-opener for me. When you get to see players like David Beckham you realise you are watching much more than just a footballer – and a great one at that – you are seeing a phenomenon with an extra ability to generate massive amounts of money and sponsorships.
- “And it is a case of....wow...I just wish he could drive a Formula One car. Maybe I should get one of the teams to give him a run out.”
At least he said that with the trace of a smile....The National
A Milestone for QPR's Sporting Director (and former Chairman) Gianni Paladini
- It's Five Years to the Day, since Gianni Paladini saw his First QPR Game: March 20, 2004, away to Wycombe in the second Division.
The QPR team: Camp, Forbes (sub HT Edghill), Carlisle, Gnohere, Rowlands, McLeod (sub 75 Cureton), Bircham (sub 86 Bean), Johnson, Gallen, Thorpe, Furlong - subs not used Day, Palmer Bookings: Carlisle (foul 42), Bircham (foul 59)
Scorers: Gallen (46), Rowlands (68) - Further Details: - Milestone for QPR's Sporting Director (and former Chairman) Gianni Paladini
- Recently Posted: Sousa: "I Will Stay and Lead Hoops To Premier League" ....A Brief Assessment of Dani Parejo Since His Real Madrid Return ... Rodney Marsh Remembers his QPR Debut.... Recalling John Gregory's Arrival as QPR Manager... QPR's 2006 AGM: A Re-read ... "Clubs Slash Ticket Prices as Recession Bites" (Also: Sousa as QPR Manager.
Visit the QPR Report Messageboard : A site which focuses only on QPR and football and welcomes all perspectives! Any comments which used to be posted on this blog, "should" now be posted on the Messageboard. Thanks)
The National (UAE) - Ecclestone: bad enemy but a good friend
- ".....Then, without the slightest glimmer of a smile, he fixes me with an unblinking stare and avows: “What people should know about me is that I am a good and true friend – but I am a bad enemy.”- That is his mantra – and has been over the 30 years we have been friends – and in both instances there are many people who have good cause to remember his double-edged remark...."
- After throwing in off-handedly that he and Flavio Briatore, his friend and the Renault team principal, came close to bidding for the Premier League club Chelsea, before they bought Queen Park Rangers, and gave way to the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, he revealed he is now a confirmed football fan.- “We thought about buying Liverpool, too, and Manchester United,” he told me, “but I am a southern boy and having to travel up north, when I could get to QPR or Chelsea so easily, was a much more sensible plan and a better investment for us.”
- Now he is a frequent guest of Abramovich’s at Stamford Bridge – and returns the favours with VIP passes for the Monaco Grand Prix whenever the oligarch decides to park up his $200m yacht off Monte Carlo for a switch of sports.
- “Flavio and I were very serious about buying Chelsea,” says Ecclestone.
- “But it was really very complicated and would have taken too much time to go through the books.
- “And I certainly didn’t want to make it a battle with Abramovich and take him on at his own game, so I backed off.
- “In the final analysis it may not have been such a bad thing for the club – I am so tight-fisted with my money I wouldn’t have spent anywhere near the cash Roman has done in buying such fantastic players and that fantastic training facility in Surrey.
- “I used to say that if the two greatest football teams in the world were playing in my back garden I wouldn’t look through the window to watch – but now I am hooked.
0 “I love the game. I’ve even taken my own plane twice to Barcelona to watch Chelsea. And when I’m not at QPR I‘m at Stamford Bridge with Abramovich. His money has worked miracles for the club.
- “The game has been an eye-opener for me. When you get to see players like David Beckham you realise you are watching much more than just a footballer – and a great one at that – you are seeing a phenomenon with an extra ability to generate massive amounts of money and sponsorships.
- “And it is a case of....wow...I just wish he could drive a Formula One car. Maybe I should get one of the teams to give him a run out.”
At least he said that with the trace of a smile....The National
A Milestone for QPR's Sporting Director (and former Chairman) Gianni Paladini
- It's Five Years to the Day, since Gianni Paladini saw his First QPR Game: March 20, 2004, away to Wycombe in the second Division.
The QPR team: Camp, Forbes (sub HT Edghill), Carlisle, Gnohere, Rowlands, McLeod (sub 75 Cureton), Bircham (sub 86 Bean), Johnson, Gallen, Thorpe, Furlong - subs not used Day, Palmer Bookings: Carlisle (foul 42), Bircham (foul 59)
Scorers: Gallen (46), Rowlands (68) - Further Details: - Milestone for QPR's Sporting Director (and former Chairman) Gianni Paladini
- Recently Posted: Sousa: "I Will Stay and Lead Hoops To Premier League" ....A Brief Assessment of Dani Parejo Since His Real Madrid Return ... Rodney Marsh Remembers his QPR Debut.... Recalling John Gregory's Arrival as QPR Manager... QPR's 2006 AGM: A Re-read ... "Clubs Slash Ticket Prices as Recession Bites" (Also: Sousa as QPR Manager.
Video of QPR's Win Over Swansea
-
Visit the QPR Report Messageboard : A site which focuses only on QPR and football and welcomes all perspectives! Any comments which used to be posted on this blog, "should" now be posted on the Messageboard. Thanks)
- Recently Posted: Sousa: "I Will Stay and Lead Hoops To Premier League" ....A Brief Assessment of Dani Parejo Since His Real Madrid Return....Milestone for QPR's Sporting Director (and former Chairman) Gianni Paladini ... Rodney Marsh Remembers his QPR Debut.... Recalling John Gregory's Arrival as QPR Manager... QPR's 2006 AGM: A Re-read ... "Clubs Slash Ticket Prices as Recession Bites" (Also: Sousa as QPR Manager.
- Video of QPR's Win Over Swansea
101 Great Goals -White Hart Loan II: Highlights of Tottenham’s Adel Taarabt (QPR) vs Swansea
Friday, March 20th, 2009
Earlier in the week we brought you highlights of Adel Taarabat’s first game for QPR since leaving Tottenham on loan, and now we are pleased to bring you footage from the 19-year-old Moroccan’s home debut for Rangers against Swansea midweek.
Compared to his run out at St. Mary’s (new highlights can be seen here), at Loftus Road Taarabt shined. Taarabt was voted man of the match under the watchful eye of Harry Redknapp, who was in attendance in the stands, as his fancy footwork was a constant threat against the Welshmen who were repeatedly bamboozled by the teenagers twinkle toes. Taarabt played on the left side of QPR’s midfield diamond, but was often seen drifting into a more central role given the opportunity.
Mikele Leigertwood was the match winner, netting the only goal to move Rangers within seven points of the Championship’s top six.
Highlights of QPR’s win over Swansea, with a heavy focus on the contribution of Taarabt, can be seen here. - 101 Great Goals
Visit the QPR Report Messageboard : A site which focuses only on QPR and football and welcomes all perspectives! Any comments which used to be posted on this blog, "should" now be posted on the Messageboard. Thanks)
- Recently Posted: Sousa: "I Will Stay and Lead Hoops To Premier League" ....A Brief Assessment of Dani Parejo Since His Real Madrid Return....Milestone for QPR's Sporting Director (and former Chairman) Gianni Paladini ... Rodney Marsh Remembers his QPR Debut.... Recalling John Gregory's Arrival as QPR Manager... QPR's 2006 AGM: A Re-read ... "Clubs Slash Ticket Prices as Recession Bites" (Also: Sousa as QPR Manager.
- Video of QPR's Win Over Swansea
101 Great Goals -White Hart Loan II: Highlights of Tottenham’s Adel Taarabt (QPR) vs Swansea
Friday, March 20th, 2009
Earlier in the week we brought you highlights of Adel Taarabat’s first game for QPR since leaving Tottenham on loan, and now we are pleased to bring you footage from the 19-year-old Moroccan’s home debut for Rangers against Swansea midweek.
Compared to his run out at St. Mary’s (new highlights can be seen here), at Loftus Road Taarabt shined. Taarabt was voted man of the match under the watchful eye of Harry Redknapp, who was in attendance in the stands, as his fancy footwork was a constant threat against the Welshmen who were repeatedly bamboozled by the teenagers twinkle toes. Taarabt played on the left side of QPR’s midfield diamond, but was often seen drifting into a more central role given the opportunity.
Mikele Leigertwood was the match winner, netting the only goal to move Rangers within seven points of the Championship’s top six.
Highlights of QPR’s win over Swansea, with a heavy focus on the contribution of Taarabt, can be seen here. - 101 Great Goals
Next: QPR vs Bristol City at Loftus Road
-
- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard : A site which focuses only on QPR and football and welcomes all perspectives! Any comments which used to be posted on this blog, "should" now be posted on the Messageboard. Thanks)
- Recently Posted: Sousa: "I Will Stay and Lead Hoops To Premier League" ...A Brief Assessment of Dani Parejo Since His Real Madrid Return....Milestone for QPR's Sporting Director (and former Chairman) Gianni Paladini ... Rodney Marsh Remembers his QPR Debut.... Recalling John Gregory's Arrival as QPR Manager... QPR's 2006 AGM: A Re-read ... "Clubs Slash Ticket Prices as Recession Bites" (Also: Sousa as QPR Manager.
QPR vs Bristol City
Next: QPR at home to promotion-chasing Bristol City (who have a great away record of 8 wins, 3 draws and 8 defeats. QPR's confidence meanwhile will have totally restored after their mid-week win.
- Bristol City Stats this season: Results, leading goalscorers, etc
- QPR vs Bristol City: Head to Head
Last Meeting: In August, Iain Dowie's QPR drew 1-1 at a then "recuperating" from not-winning-promotion, Bristol City. QPR had Ledesma sent off. QPR's team:Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Connolly, Delaney, Ledesma, Leigertwood, Mahon, Cook (Rowlands 54), Parejo (Agyemang 75), Blackstock.- Subs: Camp, Gorkss, Balanta.
- Bristol City vs QPR Match Reports and Dowie comments
QPR Official Site THE FRIDAY PREVIEW: ROBINS
- If you believe what pundits and Managers alike have to say, momentum is the key to any play-off charge, and tomorrow's visitors Bristol City have that component in abundance.
- As the clock ticks down to the business end of the Coca Cola Championship campaign, Gary Johnson's men - buoyed by a profitable run of results since their 4-2 win at Watford on Boxing Day - travel to W12 occupying eighth place in the division.
More importantly perhaps, they lie just four points adrift of the top-six, and having been here before at the same stage last season, few would be against the Robins gate-crashing the party in the final few weeks of the season.
- Last Sunday's 1-1 draw against fellow promotion hopefuls Cardiff City only served to heighten the expectation levels at Ashton Gate.
Nicky Maynard put City in front with a stunning drive from distance, only for Ross McCormack to hit back for the Bluebirds late on.
And Maynard - who has 10 league goals to his name in his first full season in the second tier - has called on his team-mates to start believing they have what it takes to book their place in the play-offs.
"I believe in myself, I believe in the team we've got here and I believe that we can make the play-offs still," Maynard told BBC Radio Bristol.
"The main thing is to get the points we need to get in the play-offs - that's my target for the moment."
Johnson echoed his star strikers' sentiments, commenting: "We're hanging on in there. We've got to be positive.
"We've got seven games left. We've got to go out to win them all and we're at our best when trying to go and win a game. Whatever happens, it's going to be a fantastic end to the season."
Whether Johnson sticks by that statement come ten to five tomorrow evening will probably be determined by the final scoreline - but win, lose or draw, the race for the top-six seems destined to go right to the very wire.
Team News
Skipper Louis Carey sits out the trip to W12 owing to a two-match suspension, whilst Gavin Williams (calf) is a major doubt for the Robins. QPR
- Bristol Evening Post - Know your opposition: QPR v Bristol City
- As managing director of Formula One team Renault, club co-owner Flavio Briatore has long subscribed to the theory that winning is everything.
So Tuesday's 1-0 victory over Swansea City at Loftus Road - QPR's first in nine Championship games - came just in the nick of time for first-team manager Paulo Sousa.
- Rangers have slid into mid-table since the turn of the year, naturally prompting speculation over Sousa's future.
He is the seventh manager to inhabit the warmest of hot seats since Ian Holloway departed just over three years ago and a failure to reach the play-offs, let alone secure promotion, is not likely to go down well with the club's hierarchy. Now seven points adrift of sixth place with seven games left, victory over Swansea at least allowed the London club to cling to their faint hopes. But anything less than three points from tomorrow's game against Bristol City will almost certainly signal the end of their play-off quest.
- "We have had a lot of criticism from outside the club and this win has been a long time coming," said Sousa, speaking in the aftermath of victory over the Swans, which dented the Welsh club's play-off hopes. Sousa must decide whether to retain a winning line-up or recall top scorer Dexter Blackstock and winger Wayne Routledge. - The pair were ruled out of Tuesday's game by injury but should be fit to face City.
- Rowan Vine is back in contention after recovering from the broken leg which has sidelined him for more than six months and was an unused substitute against Swansea. Bristol Evening Post
Bristol Evening Post - Bristol City can still control their own destiny, says Carey
- Louis Carey feels sure Bristol City's fate is still very much in their own hands.
Shrugging off the sense of despondency which descended upon Ashton Gate following Ross McCormack's last-gasp equaliser for Cardiff in Sunday's Sky-televised promotion clash at Ashton Gate, the long-serving captain sought to accentuate the positives.
Now four points and two places off the play-off zone with just seven games remaining, the Robins are in a position where they are relying upon other results going their way.
But Carey begs to differ and points to a series of fixtures against rival play-off contenders to make his point.
City still have to play Queens Park Rangers, Preston North End, Swansea, Ipswich and Burnley between now and the end of the season and Carey believes the fixture list improves the chances of he and his team-mates making the play-offs for a second year in succession.
- "Given the situation we are in, we want to be playing the teams around us in the table," argued the Bristolian.
"Winning those games will do us a massive favour and put pressure on our rivals. I know it's a cliche, but they really are six-pointers.
"Nottingham Forest are the only team we have to play who don't still have a chance of making the play-offs, so our fate is very much in our own hands.
"People will say we now need other teams to do us a favour, but I don't see it that way. If we win most of those games against our nearest rivals, we'll be there or thereabouts come the end."
He added: "A lot of the other play-off contenders still have to play one another and they'll be dropping points along the way.
"That will help us, providing we can win most of our games. We came on strong at the end of last season to reach the play-off final and we can definitely do it again."
Results elsewhere have certainly helped this week. One place beneath City in the table, Swansea lost their game in hand at QPR on Tuesday, while Crystal Palace lost at Barnsley and Ipswich and Burnley cancelled one another out.
"The play-off race goes all the way down to the teams in 11th and 12th place," said Carey.
"It's come down to a mini-league of about six or seven teams who are competing for the last couple of places and we have to make sure we win that league."
Victory over Queens Park Rangers in the capital tomorrow could potentially propel City back into the top six and will almost certainly end the London club's play-off challenge.
But Loftus Road has proved an especially unhappy hunting ground for the Robins and their captain in recent times. City have failed to win any of their last 10 games there and last beat Rangers away from home way back in 1977.
Carey has good reason to rue visits to west London.
He was injured when City last played at Loftus Road and watched from the stands as his team-mates crashed to a 3-0 defeat.
And he will again be consigned to a watching brief tomorrow, having incurred a two-match ban after accruing 10 yellow cards.
"I seem to be jinxed when it comes to games at QPR," joked Carey. "I ended up doing a radio commentary last season and it was a pretty painful afternoon.
"But this could be a better game to watch from our point of view. Although expectations are still high at QPR, I don't think they are the team they were last year.
"They've not had the best of runs since the turn of the year and have dropped down the table and out of contention."Although conceding a goal so late in the game against Cardiff was a real blow, we've been playing some good stuff and we're going into the next game in form."
Bristol Evening Post
- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard : A site which focuses only on QPR and football and welcomes all perspectives! Any comments which used to be posted on this blog, "should" now be posted on the Messageboard. Thanks)
- Recently Posted: Sousa: "I Will Stay and Lead Hoops To Premier League" ...A Brief Assessment of Dani Parejo Since His Real Madrid Return....Milestone for QPR's Sporting Director (and former Chairman) Gianni Paladini ... Rodney Marsh Remembers his QPR Debut.... Recalling John Gregory's Arrival as QPR Manager... QPR's 2006 AGM: A Re-read ... "Clubs Slash Ticket Prices as Recession Bites" (Also: Sousa as QPR Manager.
QPR vs Bristol City
Next: QPR at home to promotion-chasing Bristol City (who have a great away record of 8 wins, 3 draws and 8 defeats. QPR's confidence meanwhile will have totally restored after their mid-week win.
- Bristol City Stats this season: Results, leading goalscorers, etc
- QPR vs Bristol City: Head to Head
Last Meeting: In August, Iain Dowie's QPR drew 1-1 at a then "recuperating" from not-winning-promotion, Bristol City. QPR had Ledesma sent off. QPR's team:Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Connolly, Delaney, Ledesma, Leigertwood, Mahon, Cook (Rowlands 54), Parejo (Agyemang 75), Blackstock.- Subs: Camp, Gorkss, Balanta.
- Bristol City vs QPR Match Reports and Dowie comments
QPR Official Site THE FRIDAY PREVIEW: ROBINS
- If you believe what pundits and Managers alike have to say, momentum is the key to any play-off charge, and tomorrow's visitors Bristol City have that component in abundance.
- As the clock ticks down to the business end of the Coca Cola Championship campaign, Gary Johnson's men - buoyed by a profitable run of results since their 4-2 win at Watford on Boxing Day - travel to W12 occupying eighth place in the division.
More importantly perhaps, they lie just four points adrift of the top-six, and having been here before at the same stage last season, few would be against the Robins gate-crashing the party in the final few weeks of the season.
- Last Sunday's 1-1 draw against fellow promotion hopefuls Cardiff City only served to heighten the expectation levels at Ashton Gate.
Nicky Maynard put City in front with a stunning drive from distance, only for Ross McCormack to hit back for the Bluebirds late on.
And Maynard - who has 10 league goals to his name in his first full season in the second tier - has called on his team-mates to start believing they have what it takes to book their place in the play-offs.
"I believe in myself, I believe in the team we've got here and I believe that we can make the play-offs still," Maynard told BBC Radio Bristol.
"The main thing is to get the points we need to get in the play-offs - that's my target for the moment."
Johnson echoed his star strikers' sentiments, commenting: "We're hanging on in there. We've got to be positive.
"We've got seven games left. We've got to go out to win them all and we're at our best when trying to go and win a game. Whatever happens, it's going to be a fantastic end to the season."
Whether Johnson sticks by that statement come ten to five tomorrow evening will probably be determined by the final scoreline - but win, lose or draw, the race for the top-six seems destined to go right to the very wire.
Team News
Skipper Louis Carey sits out the trip to W12 owing to a two-match suspension, whilst Gavin Williams (calf) is a major doubt for the Robins. QPR
- Bristol Evening Post - Know your opposition: QPR v Bristol City
- As managing director of Formula One team Renault, club co-owner Flavio Briatore has long subscribed to the theory that winning is everything.
So Tuesday's 1-0 victory over Swansea City at Loftus Road - QPR's first in nine Championship games - came just in the nick of time for first-team manager Paulo Sousa.
- Rangers have slid into mid-table since the turn of the year, naturally prompting speculation over Sousa's future.
He is the seventh manager to inhabit the warmest of hot seats since Ian Holloway departed just over three years ago and a failure to reach the play-offs, let alone secure promotion, is not likely to go down well with the club's hierarchy. Now seven points adrift of sixth place with seven games left, victory over Swansea at least allowed the London club to cling to their faint hopes. But anything less than three points from tomorrow's game against Bristol City will almost certainly signal the end of their play-off quest.
- "We have had a lot of criticism from outside the club and this win has been a long time coming," said Sousa, speaking in the aftermath of victory over the Swans, which dented the Welsh club's play-off hopes. Sousa must decide whether to retain a winning line-up or recall top scorer Dexter Blackstock and winger Wayne Routledge. - The pair were ruled out of Tuesday's game by injury but should be fit to face City.
- Rowan Vine is back in contention after recovering from the broken leg which has sidelined him for more than six months and was an unused substitute against Swansea. Bristol Evening Post
Bristol Evening Post - Bristol City can still control their own destiny, says Carey
- Louis Carey feels sure Bristol City's fate is still very much in their own hands.
Shrugging off the sense of despondency which descended upon Ashton Gate following Ross McCormack's last-gasp equaliser for Cardiff in Sunday's Sky-televised promotion clash at Ashton Gate, the long-serving captain sought to accentuate the positives.
Now four points and two places off the play-off zone with just seven games remaining, the Robins are in a position where they are relying upon other results going their way.
But Carey begs to differ and points to a series of fixtures against rival play-off contenders to make his point.
City still have to play Queens Park Rangers, Preston North End, Swansea, Ipswich and Burnley between now and the end of the season and Carey believes the fixture list improves the chances of he and his team-mates making the play-offs for a second year in succession.
- "Given the situation we are in, we want to be playing the teams around us in the table," argued the Bristolian.
"Winning those games will do us a massive favour and put pressure on our rivals. I know it's a cliche, but they really are six-pointers.
"Nottingham Forest are the only team we have to play who don't still have a chance of making the play-offs, so our fate is very much in our own hands.
"People will say we now need other teams to do us a favour, but I don't see it that way. If we win most of those games against our nearest rivals, we'll be there or thereabouts come the end."
He added: "A lot of the other play-off contenders still have to play one another and they'll be dropping points along the way.
"That will help us, providing we can win most of our games. We came on strong at the end of last season to reach the play-off final and we can definitely do it again."
Results elsewhere have certainly helped this week. One place beneath City in the table, Swansea lost their game in hand at QPR on Tuesday, while Crystal Palace lost at Barnsley and Ipswich and Burnley cancelled one another out.
"The play-off race goes all the way down to the teams in 11th and 12th place," said Carey.
"It's come down to a mini-league of about six or seven teams who are competing for the last couple of places and we have to make sure we win that league."
Victory over Queens Park Rangers in the capital tomorrow could potentially propel City back into the top six and will almost certainly end the London club's play-off challenge.
But Loftus Road has proved an especially unhappy hunting ground for the Robins and their captain in recent times. City have failed to win any of their last 10 games there and last beat Rangers away from home way back in 1977.
Carey has good reason to rue visits to west London.
He was injured when City last played at Loftus Road and watched from the stands as his team-mates crashed to a 3-0 defeat.
And he will again be consigned to a watching brief tomorrow, having incurred a two-match ban after accruing 10 yellow cards.
"I seem to be jinxed when it comes to games at QPR," joked Carey. "I ended up doing a radio commentary last season and it was a pretty painful afternoon.
"But this could be a better game to watch from our point of view. Although expectations are still high at QPR, I don't think they are the team they were last year.
"They've not had the best of runs since the turn of the year and have dropped down the table and out of contention."Although conceding a goal so late in the game against Cardiff was a real blow, we've been playing some good stuff and we're going into the next game in form."
Bristol Evening Post
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Sousa as QPR Manager Report ("[A] giant colour photo of chairman Flavio Briatore adorns the pinboard behind [Sousa'] desk")
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- Posted Today: Rodney Marsh Remembers his QPR Debut.... Vine's Return....The Decline of Charlton: Very Interesting Article....QPR's 2006 AGM: A Reread... "Clubs Slash Ticket Prices as Recession Bites"
London Informer/Paul Warburton - Warbo's word: an undefinable 'moment'
- Had a 30-minute chat with Paulo Sousa this week - and very illuminating it was too.
- The QPR boss talks the talk, is very personable, and appears at ease in an office where a giant colour photo of chairman Flavio Briatore adorns the pinboard behind his desk.- He also believes he has been given the go-ahead to plan for next season, when he intends to make a push for the Premiership all the way from August.
- The reason why Rangers aren't in the Championship play-offs now,according to the manager,is down to new ideas, as well as missing 'eight important players' (it became 'five or six' a little later on in the interview).
- You might think it strange it's taken this long for the QPR manager to open up - but month to get a word, even though the Portuguese arrived last November.
- Sousa will take no phone calls; has limited time available to the media, and genial as he was even when pushed, reckoned the reason why Rangers aren't scoring regular-ly (three 0-0s in a row before Tuesday night) is down to the 'moment'.
- This 'moment' it appears is undefinable.
- Rangers, he says, have most of the possession in games, pass more than the opposition it seems, but can't stick the ball in the back of the net.
- QPR practise 20 minutes a day doing just that pleads the manager - but it just isn't happening for them at the moment.
- Is it mental? 'Sometimes', the manager reckoned.
- Could it also be that a man who has played at the highest level in football, both with the likes of Inter,Juve, Benfica and Portugal alongside the likes of Luis Figo, just doesn't get what the English second tier is all about? And just before anyone thinks some of this was lost in translation, the 38-year-old has a command of English that puts my foreign language skills to shame.
- I think Sousa's arrival at QPR has come as a shock to the man. And I also believe some of the tactics he's employed has confused his team.
- No one yet is breaking ranks on this one - but the idea he will be around next season if Rangers slip down the table might provoke another 'moment' - the one where he becomes the seventh QPR manager in two years to sort out his severance cheque.
London Informer
- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard : A site which focuses only on QPR and football and welcomes all perspectives! Comments about postes which used to be posted on this blog, "should" now be posted on the Messageboard. Thanks)
- Posted Today: Rodney Marsh Remembers his QPR Debut.... Vine's Return....The Decline of Charlton: Very Interesting Article....QPR's 2006 AGM: A Reread... "Clubs Slash Ticket Prices as Recession Bites"
London Informer/Paul Warburton - Warbo's word: an undefinable 'moment'
- Had a 30-minute chat with Paulo Sousa this week - and very illuminating it was too.
- The QPR boss talks the talk, is very personable, and appears at ease in an office where a giant colour photo of chairman Flavio Briatore adorns the pinboard behind his desk.- He also believes he has been given the go-ahead to plan for next season, when he intends to make a push for the Premiership all the way from August.
- The reason why Rangers aren't in the Championship play-offs now,according to the manager,is down to new ideas, as well as missing 'eight important players' (it became 'five or six' a little later on in the interview).
- You might think it strange it's taken this long for the QPR manager to open up - but month to get a word, even though the Portuguese arrived last November.
- Sousa will take no phone calls; has limited time available to the media, and genial as he was even when pushed, reckoned the reason why Rangers aren't scoring regular-ly (three 0-0s in a row before Tuesday night) is down to the 'moment'.
- This 'moment' it appears is undefinable.
- Rangers, he says, have most of the possession in games, pass more than the opposition it seems, but can't stick the ball in the back of the net.
- QPR practise 20 minutes a day doing just that pleads the manager - but it just isn't happening for them at the moment.
- Is it mental? 'Sometimes', the manager reckoned.
- Could it also be that a man who has played at the highest level in football, both with the likes of Inter,Juve, Benfica and Portugal alongside the likes of Luis Figo, just doesn't get what the English second tier is all about? And just before anyone thinks some of this was lost in translation, the 38-year-old has a command of English that puts my foreign language skills to shame.
- I think Sousa's arrival at QPR has come as a shock to the man. And I also believe some of the tactics he's employed has confused his team.
- No one yet is breaking ranks on this one - but the idea he will be around next season if Rangers slip down the table might provoke another 'moment' - the one where he becomes the seventh QPR manager in two years to sort out his severance cheque.
London Informer
Rodney Marsh Remembers His QPR Debut...Ephraim Flourishing
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- Posted Today: Vine's Return....The Decline of Charlton: Very Interesting Article....QPR's 2006 AGM: A Reread... "Clubs Slash Ticket Prices as Recession Bites"
Rodney Marsh QPR Debut
As noted earlier today on QPR Report: Forty-Three years ago today, March 19, 1966,Rodney Marsh began his QPR Career.
- Just signed from Fulham, Marsh made his debut away to Peterborough. Drew 1-1 and didn't score.The team for Marsh's debut: Peter Springett -Langley, Hunt Sibley Watson - Lazarus, Keen, Roger Morgan, Allen, Collins Marsh.
- In response to a (QPR Report) query today on his blog about whether he remembered his debut, Rodney Marsh responded:
- "Remember it very well. I was useless! QPR were in the third division and it was my first game outside of the top league. As a twenty one year old it took me time to adjust!"
[Looking back, don't think it took Marsh very long at all to adjust and to flourish!]
BBC - Ephraim not getting carried away
-Ephraim joined QPR from West Ham in January last year
Hogan Ephraim has vowed to keep his feet on the ground after Paulo Sousa tipped him for international honours.
The QPR forward, who qualifies to play for England, Nigeria and the Republic of Ireland, was praised by coach Sousa after his team's win against Swansea.
Ephraim, 20, said: "It makes me very proud that he said that.
"But I won't let it go to my head, because I know if I have a bad game on Saturday he'll be the first one telling me how bad I was."
Ephraim has spent much of his Rangers career so far as a winger, but has mostly played through the middle under Sousa.
“He isn’t a winger. For me he has played in the middle and this is his role," Sousa insisted.
"Hogan can play fantastically there and he is a player for the national team in my opinion.
“He has made a lot of progress in the last month and I don’t have a doubt he is a player who can progress a lot more. He can be a much better player than he is at this moment.”
Ephraim added: “It’s nice to hear that and I do appreciate it, but I’ve just got to keep performing and see what happens.
"For him (Sousa) to say that about me is really nice because the man has played the game at the very highest level and with him in charge I feel I can only flourish.
“The manager feels I play best through the middle and I’ve put in some good performances so I’m happy there, although I’ll play anywhere if I’m performing.” BBC
- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard : A site which focuses only on QPR and football and welcomes all perspectives! Comments about postes which used to be posted on this blog, "should" now be posted on the Messageboard. Thanks)
- Posted Today: Vine's Return....The Decline of Charlton: Very Interesting Article....QPR's 2006 AGM: A Reread... "Clubs Slash Ticket Prices as Recession Bites"
Rodney Marsh QPR Debut
As noted earlier today on QPR Report: Forty-Three years ago today, March 19, 1966,Rodney Marsh began his QPR Career.
- Just signed from Fulham, Marsh made his debut away to Peterborough. Drew 1-1 and didn't score.The team for Marsh's debut: Peter Springett -Langley, Hunt Sibley Watson - Lazarus, Keen, Roger Morgan, Allen, Collins Marsh.
- In response to a (QPR Report) query today on his blog about whether he remembered his debut, Rodney Marsh responded:
- "Remember it very well. I was useless! QPR were in the third division and it was my first game outside of the top league. As a twenty one year old it took me time to adjust!"
[Looking back, don't think it took Marsh very long at all to adjust and to flourish!]
BBC - Ephraim not getting carried away
-Ephraim joined QPR from West Ham in January last year
Hogan Ephraim has vowed to keep his feet on the ground after Paulo Sousa tipped him for international honours.
The QPR forward, who qualifies to play for England, Nigeria and the Republic of Ireland, was praised by coach Sousa after his team's win against Swansea.
Ephraim, 20, said: "It makes me very proud that he said that.
"But I won't let it go to my head, because I know if I have a bad game on Saturday he'll be the first one telling me how bad I was."
Ephraim has spent much of his Rangers career so far as a winger, but has mostly played through the middle under Sousa.
“He isn’t a winger. For me he has played in the middle and this is his role," Sousa insisted.
"Hogan can play fantastically there and he is a player for the national team in my opinion.
“He has made a lot of progress in the last month and I don’t have a doubt he is a player who can progress a lot more. He can be a much better player than he is at this moment.”
Ephraim added: “It’s nice to hear that and I do appreciate it, but I’ve just got to keep performing and see what happens.
"For him (Sousa) to say that about me is really nice because the man has played the game at the very highest level and with him in charge I feel I can only flourish.
“The manager feels I play best through the middle and I’ve put in some good performances so I’m happy there, although I’ll play anywhere if I’m performing.” BBC
QPR's Vice Chairman Amit Bhatia - Premiership By 2011/2012...Everything Going According to Plan
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- Posted Today: Vine's Return....The Decline of Charlton: Very Interesting Article....QPR's 2006 AGM: A Reread... "Clubs Slash Ticket Prices as Recession Bites"
QPR Official Site
- "The countdown is underway to the launch of Issue Two of our popular new quarterly publication, QPR: The Official Magazine.....Amit Bhatia comes under the spotlight in our exclusive centre-fold spread, with the QPR Holdings Ltd Vice-Chairman looking back on his first year or so in W12, as well as revealing his thoughts on the future at Loftus Road.
-Bhatia says: "Do we need promotion to be measured as a success? Yes, we do. By 2011/12, I would like us to be a Premiership side. Is that putting pressure on us? Yes, but I think that most good things perform well under pressure.
- "Some people thought we wanted it over night, but we believe in having a strong foundation, building from the base up. If it will take two or three years, that's fine. We need to make sure that when we get there we are competitive at that level as well.
- "So far, I'd like to think that everything is going according to plan. We're becoming a better team, and so long as we keep doing that we'll continue to be competitive and we'll get promotion..." QPR
- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard : A site which focuses only on QPR and football and welcomes all perspectives! Comments about postes which used to be posted on this blog, "should" now be posted on the Messageboard. Thanks)
- Posted Today: Vine's Return....The Decline of Charlton: Very Interesting Article....QPR's 2006 AGM: A Reread... "Clubs Slash Ticket Prices as Recession Bites"
QPR Official Site
- "The countdown is underway to the launch of Issue Two of our popular new quarterly publication, QPR: The Official Magazine.....Amit Bhatia comes under the spotlight in our exclusive centre-fold spread, with the QPR Holdings Ltd Vice-Chairman looking back on his first year or so in W12, as well as revealing his thoughts on the future at Loftus Road.
-Bhatia says: "Do we need promotion to be measured as a success? Yes, we do. By 2011/12, I would like us to be a Premiership side. Is that putting pressure on us? Yes, but I think that most good things perform well under pressure.
- "Some people thought we wanted it over night, but we believe in having a strong foundation, building from the base up. If it will take two or three years, that's fine. We need to make sure that when we get there we are competitive at that level as well.
- "So far, I'd like to think that everything is going according to plan. We're becoming a better team, and so long as we keep doing that we'll continue to be competitive and we'll get promotion..." QPR
QPR Support The "Professional Football Against Hunger Campaign" This Weekend
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- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard : A site which focuses only on QPR and football and welcomes all perspectives! Comments about postes which used to be posted on this blog, "should" now be posted on the Messageboard. Thanks)
- Posted Today: Vine's Return....The Decline of Charlton: Very Interesting Article....QPR's 2006 AGM: A Reread... "Clubs Slash Ticket Prices as Recession Bites"
QPR Official Site - CLUBS OFFER FOOD FOR THOUGHT
- This weekend will see Football League Clubs give their support to the 'Professional Football Against Hunger' campaign.
- The campaign, which will encompass hundreds of Clubs and millions of supporters across European football, is intended to raise awareness of the plight of the 963 million people who suffer from hunger and malnutrition and are without adequate access to food.
- The 'Professional Football against Hunger' campaign was launched in October by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Association of European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), of which The Football League is an associate member.
- The EPFL is made up of 29 member and associated members leagues and comprises more than 900 professional Football Clubs across Europe.
- Funds raised during the football weekend will help to finance anti-hunger micro-projects around the world, that have been designed to provide immediate and lasting solutions to poor families and communities by enabling them to produce their own food.
- The micro projects, which are funded to a maximum of €7,000 each, are used to finance tangible resources such as fishing equipment, seeds and agricultural implements. They vary enormously, from helping families raise pigs in Venezuela, to creating school gardens in Cape Verde and Mauritania and providing school lunches in Uganda.
- As well as matches in The Football League, The 'Professional Football Against Hunger' weekend will also include major games in the Premier League, Italian Lega Calcio and Pro Lega, German Bundesliga, , Spanish La Liga, Portuguese League, Dutch Eredivisie, Scottish Premier League, Bulgarian League and Welsh Premier League.
- To find out more about the campaign click here - QPR
European Professional Football LEagues (EPFL) Professional Football Against Hunger weekend 20–22 March
European Professional Football Leagues and FAO join forces for anti-hunger match weekend
12 March 2009, Nyon – The European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) join forces to organize first ever Europe-wide football campaign against hunger, being held from 20 to 22 March, in the stadiums of the European Leagues.
Aimed at raising awareness about the urgent need to fight hunger and poverty, exacerbated by the current economic crisis, funds raised during the football weekend will help to finance anti-hunger micro-projects around the world.
The match weekend is part of a “Professional Football against Hunger” campaign launched on 15 October 2008 by FAO and the EPFL, on the occasion of the celebration of the World Food Day at FAO headquarters in Rome.
Ever more hungry people
The “Professional Football against Hunger” campaign is intended to raise awareness of the plight of the 963 million people who suffer from hunger and malnutrition and who do not have adequate access to food.
The money raised in the campaign will serve to finance FAO TeleFood microprojects designed to provide immediate and lasting solutions to poor families and communities and enable them to produce their own food.
Earlier this year, a high-level delegation of EPFL Executives and football players from Italy, Germany, Spain and Portugal visited micro projects in Egypt ,as part of the preparations for the EPFL/FAO Professional Football anti-hunger match weekend.
The micro projects, funded for a maximum of €7 000 each, are used to finance tangible resources such as fishing equipment, seeds and agricultural implements. They vary enormously, from helping families raise pigs in Venezuela, through creating school gardens in Cape Verde and Mauritania or providing school lunches in Uganda and teaching children to grow food, to raising fish in a leper community in India.
Participating Leagues on the 20 – 22 March 2009 MatchDay against hunger
The Professional Football against Hunger weekend will include, among others, major matches from Italian Lega Calcio and Pro Lega, German Bundesliga, English Premier League, Spanish League, Portuguese League, Dutch Eredivisie, Scottish Premier League, Bulgarian League and Welsh Premier League. In Portugal the 2009 Carlsberg CUP Final is included among the main games supporting the FAO/EPFL campaign.
For more information, please visit the official “Professional Football Against Hunger” campaign web pages on: www.epfl-europeanleagues.com/fao
Contacts:
EPFL
Alberto Colombo
Communication, Marketing and Event Manager
Mob: +41 79 237 5104
E: alberto.colombo@epfl-europeanleagues.com
FAO
World Food Day and Special Initiatives Branch (KCIW)
Tel: +390657055238
Fax +39 0657053210
E: world-food-day@fao.org
E: telefood@fao.org
See Also: Football/Hunger
- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard : A site which focuses only on QPR and football and welcomes all perspectives! Comments about postes which used to be posted on this blog, "should" now be posted on the Messageboard. Thanks)
- Posted Today: Vine's Return....The Decline of Charlton: Very Interesting Article....QPR's 2006 AGM: A Reread... "Clubs Slash Ticket Prices as Recession Bites"
QPR Official Site - CLUBS OFFER FOOD FOR THOUGHT
- This weekend will see Football League Clubs give their support to the 'Professional Football Against Hunger' campaign.
- The campaign, which will encompass hundreds of Clubs and millions of supporters across European football, is intended to raise awareness of the plight of the 963 million people who suffer from hunger and malnutrition and are without adequate access to food.
- The 'Professional Football against Hunger' campaign was launched in October by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Association of European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), of which The Football League is an associate member.
- The EPFL is made up of 29 member and associated members leagues and comprises more than 900 professional Football Clubs across Europe.
- Funds raised during the football weekend will help to finance anti-hunger micro-projects around the world, that have been designed to provide immediate and lasting solutions to poor families and communities by enabling them to produce their own food.
- The micro projects, which are funded to a maximum of €7,000 each, are used to finance tangible resources such as fishing equipment, seeds and agricultural implements. They vary enormously, from helping families raise pigs in Venezuela, to creating school gardens in Cape Verde and Mauritania and providing school lunches in Uganda.
- As well as matches in The Football League, The 'Professional Football Against Hunger' weekend will also include major games in the Premier League, Italian Lega Calcio and Pro Lega, German Bundesliga, , Spanish La Liga, Portuguese League, Dutch Eredivisie, Scottish Premier League, Bulgarian League and Welsh Premier League.
- To find out more about the campaign click here - QPR
European Professional Football LEagues (EPFL) Professional Football Against Hunger weekend 20–22 March
European Professional Football Leagues and FAO join forces for anti-hunger match weekend
12 March 2009, Nyon – The European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) join forces to organize first ever Europe-wide football campaign against hunger, being held from 20 to 22 March, in the stadiums of the European Leagues.
Aimed at raising awareness about the urgent need to fight hunger and poverty, exacerbated by the current economic crisis, funds raised during the football weekend will help to finance anti-hunger micro-projects around the world.
The match weekend is part of a “Professional Football against Hunger” campaign launched on 15 October 2008 by FAO and the EPFL, on the occasion of the celebration of the World Food Day at FAO headquarters in Rome.
Ever more hungry people
The “Professional Football against Hunger” campaign is intended to raise awareness of the plight of the 963 million people who suffer from hunger and malnutrition and who do not have adequate access to food.
The money raised in the campaign will serve to finance FAO TeleFood microprojects designed to provide immediate and lasting solutions to poor families and communities and enable them to produce their own food.
Earlier this year, a high-level delegation of EPFL Executives and football players from Italy, Germany, Spain and Portugal visited micro projects in Egypt ,as part of the preparations for the EPFL/FAO Professional Football anti-hunger match weekend.
The micro projects, funded for a maximum of €7 000 each, are used to finance tangible resources such as fishing equipment, seeds and agricultural implements. They vary enormously, from helping families raise pigs in Venezuela, through creating school gardens in Cape Verde and Mauritania or providing school lunches in Uganda and teaching children to grow food, to raising fish in a leper community in India.
Participating Leagues on the 20 – 22 March 2009 MatchDay against hunger
The Professional Football against Hunger weekend will include, among others, major matches from Italian Lega Calcio and Pro Lega, German Bundesliga, English Premier League, Spanish League, Portuguese League, Dutch Eredivisie, Scottish Premier League, Bulgarian League and Welsh Premier League. In Portugal the 2009 Carlsberg CUP Final is included among the main games supporting the FAO/EPFL campaign.
For more information, please visit the official “Professional Football Against Hunger” campaign web pages on: www.epfl-europeanleagues.com/fao
Contacts:
EPFL
Alberto Colombo
Communication, Marketing and Event Manager
Mob: +41 79 237 5104
E: alberto.colombo@epfl-europeanleagues.com
FAO
World Food Day and Special Initiatives Branch (KCIW)
Tel: +390657055238
Fax +39 0657053210
E: world-food-day@fao.org
E: telefood@fao.org
See Also: Football/Hunger
"On This Day" - Total QPR Humiliation...Rodney Marsh Began His QPR Career....Four QPR Birthdays
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- Visit the QPR Report Messageboard : A site which focuses only on QPR and football and welcomes all perspectives! Comments about postes which used to be posted on this blog, "should" now be posted on the Messageboard. Thanks)
- Posted Today: Vine's Return....The Decline of Charlton: Very Interesting Article....QPR's 2006 AGM: A Reread
Forty Years Ago: Humiliation for QPR
- March 19, 1969: Humiliation! Manchester United 8 QPR 1 (Marsh scored for QPR - one of four he scored that season!) AsI recall, the half time score was Man Ut 1 QPR 0 (or 2-1). Manchester United scored 4 of their goals in the last 15 minutes. It was a terrible season for QPR but this result was the worst!
QPR's Team vs Man Ut
Spratley
Clement Hazell Hunt Watson
Glover I.Morgan Sibley
Clarke Marsh Leach
Sub: Keetch for Clarke
Manchester United Scorers: Willie Morgan 3, George Best 2, John Aston, Brian Kidd and Nobby Stiles got the goals.
Man Ut's Team included: Stepney, Fitzpatrick, Dunne, Crerand, James, Stiles, Morgan, Kidd, Aston, Law, Best.
- See Also: Recalling The Terrible (but also historic and unforgettable 1968/1969 Season)
On the brighter side... Forty-Three years ago today, Rodney Marsh began his QPR Career:
- March 19, 1966: Marsh made his debut away to Peterborough. Drew 1-1 and didn't score.The team for Marsh's debut: Peter Springett -Langley, Hunt Sibley Watson - Lazarus, Keen, Roger Morgan, Allen, Collins Marsh.
Four Ex-QPR Birthdays Today: Mike Keen, Andy Sinton and Roy Wegerle and Warren Barton-
1967 Hero and Captain, Mike Keen, turns 69
Born March 19, 1940. Keen made more than 400 QPR appearances from 1959 to 1968/1969, midfielder/winghalf and Captain, Mike Keen. Captained QPR from 3rd to 1st Division and in the League Cup Final.
Keen was probably not very well treated by QPR at the end. He was sold to Alec Stock's Luton when we were in our Relegation Fight...and Keen then proceeded to lead Luton to promotion out of Division 3 (and returned to Loftus Road with Luton in 1970/71, scoring the winning goal!). Keen then joined Watford. Managed Watford and Northampton and then-non-League Wycombe,. Was briefly a coach at QPR when Frank Sibley was manager. His son played for West Ham and Wolves. Keen was recently back at Loftus Road with several members of the 1967 squad.
From Sunday Times, April 6 2003 "Where are they now"
"Mike Keen - One of the old school of half-backs Keen was a skilful player who enjoyed delivering long passes, and he was a strong, clinical tackler. He was a QPR stalwart who joined the club in 1958, and played in 393 League matches. After a change of managers, he moved to Luton before finishing his playing career at Watford. He was appointed manager at Vicarage Road and enjoyed four years at the club, where he set about engendering the spirit he had experienced as a player at Loftus Road. He managed Northampton for a year before taking charge of Wycombe part-time and then Marlow while he concentrated on running Sport and Ski, a shop in Wycombe. He lives in Flackwell Heath in Buckinghamshire, and is manager of a shop in Oxfordshire that sells outdoor gear and ski equipment." Paper
See Also: Photo (Front row, sitting next to Chairman, Jim Gregory)
Andy Sinton Turns 43:
Born, March 19, 1966 (the day of Marsh's debut!)
Signed by Trevor Francis from Brentford for 350,000 pounds. Sold 4 years later to Sheffield Wednesday for almost 3 million pouns
Roy Wegerle Turns 45
- Born March 19, 1964 Wegerle's Record - Don Howe's first signing when he became QPR manager. Signed from Luton for 1 million pounds. Sold a couple of years later by Gerry Francis to Blackburn for just over a million pounds.
Brief QPR Signing, Warren Barton -
Barton born March 19, 1969 (the day of QPR's humiliating loss to Manchester United!)
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- Posted Today: Vine's Return....The Decline of Charlton: Very Interesting Article....QPR's 2006 AGM: A Reread
Forty Years Ago: Humiliation for QPR
- March 19, 1969: Humiliation! Manchester United 8 QPR 1 (Marsh scored for QPR - one of four he scored that season!) AsI recall, the half time score was Man Ut 1 QPR 0 (or 2-1). Manchester United scored 4 of their goals in the last 15 minutes. It was a terrible season for QPR but this result was the worst!
QPR's Team vs Man Ut
Spratley
Clement Hazell Hunt Watson
Glover I.Morgan Sibley
Clarke Marsh Leach
Sub: Keetch for Clarke
Manchester United Scorers: Willie Morgan 3, George Best 2, John Aston, Brian Kidd and Nobby Stiles got the goals.
Man Ut's Team included: Stepney, Fitzpatrick, Dunne, Crerand, James, Stiles, Morgan, Kidd, Aston, Law, Best.
- See Also: Recalling The Terrible (but also historic and unforgettable 1968/1969 Season)
On the brighter side... Forty-Three years ago today, Rodney Marsh began his QPR Career:
- March 19, 1966: Marsh made his debut away to Peterborough. Drew 1-1 and didn't score.The team for Marsh's debut: Peter Springett -Langley, Hunt Sibley Watson - Lazarus, Keen, Roger Morgan, Allen, Collins Marsh.
Four Ex-QPR Birthdays Today: Mike Keen, Andy Sinton and Roy Wegerle and Warren Barton-
1967 Hero and Captain, Mike Keen, turns 69
Born March 19, 1940. Keen made more than 400 QPR appearances from 1959 to 1968/1969, midfielder/winghalf and Captain, Mike Keen. Captained QPR from 3rd to 1st Division and in the League Cup Final.
Keen was probably not very well treated by QPR at the end. He was sold to Alec Stock's Luton when we were in our Relegation Fight...and Keen then proceeded to lead Luton to promotion out of Division 3 (and returned to Loftus Road with Luton in 1970/71, scoring the winning goal!). Keen then joined Watford. Managed Watford and Northampton and then-non-League Wycombe,. Was briefly a coach at QPR when Frank Sibley was manager. His son played for West Ham and Wolves. Keen was recently back at Loftus Road with several members of the 1967 squad.
From Sunday Times, April 6 2003 "Where are they now"
"Mike Keen - One of the old school of half-backs Keen was a skilful player who enjoyed delivering long passes, and he was a strong, clinical tackler. He was a QPR stalwart who joined the club in 1958, and played in 393 League matches. After a change of managers, he moved to Luton before finishing his playing career at Watford. He was appointed manager at Vicarage Road and enjoyed four years at the club, where he set about engendering the spirit he had experienced as a player at Loftus Road. He managed Northampton for a year before taking charge of Wycombe part-time and then Marlow while he concentrated on running Sport and Ski, a shop in Wycombe. He lives in Flackwell Heath in Buckinghamshire, and is manager of a shop in Oxfordshire that sells outdoor gear and ski equipment." Paper
See Also: Photo (Front row, sitting next to Chairman, Jim Gregory)
Andy Sinton Turns 43:
Born, March 19, 1966 (the day of Marsh's debut!)
Signed by Trevor Francis from Brentford for 350,000 pounds. Sold 4 years later to Sheffield Wednesday for almost 3 million pouns
Roy Wegerle Turns 45
- Born March 19, 1964 Wegerle's Record - Don Howe's first signing when he became QPR manager. Signed from Luton for 1 million pounds. Sold a couple of years later by Gerry Francis to Blackburn for just over a million pounds.
Brief QPR Signing, Warren Barton -
Barton born March 19, 1969 (the day of QPR's humiliating loss to Manchester United!)
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Briatore Planning to Stay at QPR Talks About QPR's Prospects
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BBC- Briatore committed to QPR future
- QPR's joint-owner Flavio Briatore says he plans to stay at the club for the long haul and believes Rangers will be in the Premier League in three years.
- Rangers are currently seven points off the play-offs and the Italian told BBC London 94.9 it has been a tough season.
- "The football is a bit disappointing. We have had a lot of players out, like Rowan Vine and Ákos Buzsaky," he said.
- "But when we started this programme we were talking about four years - we've only had one year."
- QPR began the Championship season as favourites at the bookmakers to win promotion, but Briatore thinks expectations are too high and success will take a little time.
- "Last year we were bankrupt, we paid all the debt and the stadium is ours, 100%. We have put a lot of money behind the club.
- "When you are building a house you start from the base, not the roof. Little by little we're improving the stadium, the company, the image - and I'm sure we're improving the football as well.
- "We have a good squad, so let's see what happens next season."
- QPR face fellow promotion-chasers Bristol City at Loftus Road on Saturday. BBC
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BBC- Briatore committed to QPR future
- QPR's joint-owner Flavio Briatore says he plans to stay at the club for the long haul and believes Rangers will be in the Premier League in three years.
- Rangers are currently seven points off the play-offs and the Italian told BBC London 94.9 it has been a tough season.
- "The football is a bit disappointing. We have had a lot of players out, like Rowan Vine and Ákos Buzsaky," he said.
- "But when we started this programme we were talking about four years - we've only had one year."
- QPR began the Championship season as favourites at the bookmakers to win promotion, but Briatore thinks expectations are too high and success will take a little time.
- "Last year we were bankrupt, we paid all the debt and the stadium is ours, 100%. We have put a lot of money behind the club.
- "When you are building a house you start from the base, not the roof. Little by little we're improving the stadium, the company, the image - and I'm sure we're improving the football as well.
- "We have a good squad, so let's see what happens next season."
- QPR face fellow promotion-chasers Bristol City at Loftus Road on Saturday. BBC
Vine and Balanta Play Tonight
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The QPR team to play Charlton tonight: QPR: Crowther, Wright, Ilesanmi, Maguire, Harris, Brown, Parker, Oastler, Vine, Balanta. Subs: Sylvan-Vanterpool, German, Rose, Ainsworth.
Charlton Official Site - Charlton Second XI host Hoops
Charlton reserves will look to continue their recent good form when they host Queens Park Rangers at Ebbsfleet United on Wednesday evening (7pm).
- The most high-profile inclusions in Damian Matthew's starting XI are goalkeeper Nicky Weaver and striker Svetoslav Todorov.
- Weaver hasn't played for the Adthingys in 2009, but will get some more match action under his belt in the totesport.com Combination Central League clash with Rangers at Stonebridge Road.
- Bulgarian Todorov, meanwhile, last featured for the Adthingys' first team as a late substitute in the 3-2 defeat to Watford at The Valley.
- Other players with first-team experience included in Matthew's side are Scott Wagstaff, Josh Wright and Rashid Yussuff, while right-back Ashley Miller, a trialist from West Ham United, lines up in defence.
- Jack Clark, who was recently told he would be offered professional terms with the club, starts at left-back, with Yado Mambo and Carl Jenkinson at centre-half.
- In midfield, Wagstaff is named on the right, with Chris Solly partnering Wright in the centre and Yussuff on the left. Todorov will start alongside youngster Tamer Tuna in attack.
- The bench is made up of Alex Stavrinou, Harry Pell, Ben Davisson and goalkeeper Harry Lee.
- QPR's team will include striker Rowan Vine as he begins his comeback from a fractured leg, as well as Colombian Angelo Balanta, with player-coach Gareth Ainsworth on the bench.
- Charlton are unbeaten in their last four games and earned a 3-2 win over Gillingham in a behind-closed-doors fixture at Sparrows Lane last week.
- The reserves have already played QPR twice this season, earning a 0-0 draw at Loftus Road in a totesportcasino.com Combination Cup Group B tie in September, before going down to a 2-0 defeat in West London at the start of January.
- A Romone Rose effort and a Solly own goal earned Rangers the win, but the Adthingys were unfortunate not to come away with at least a point, with R's goalkeeper Jake Cole producing several fine stops and Mambo seeing a shot crash back off the woodwork.
- A full match report from Ebbsfleet will be available on www.cafc.co.uk overnight.
- Charlton: Weaver, Miller, Clark, Solly, Mambo, Jenkinson, Wagstaff, Wright, Todorov, Tuna, Yussuff. Subs: Stavrinou, Pell, Davisson, Lee.
- QPR: Crowther, Wright, Ilesanmi, Maguire, Harris, Brown, Parker, Oastler, Vine, Balanta. Subs: Sylvan-Vanterpool, German, Rose, Ainsworth. Charlton Official Site
QPR Official Site - IN RESERVE: VINE SET TO START
Rowan Vine is set to make his long-awaited comeback from a fractured leg injury, when the R's second string lock horns with Charlton Athletic Reserves tonight (Wednesday).
Vine, who was an unused substitute against Swansea City on Tuesday evening, has been named in a relatively inexperienced squad, which includes half a dozen or so Youth team players.
Speaking to www.qpr.co.uk, Ressies boss Gareth Ainsworth said: "It was always our intention to bring Rowan back at Reserve team level, which is pretty much standard procedure with any long-term injury.
- "Injuries to one or two forced us to bring him back into the squad last night, but thankfully the result went our way and we didn't need to risk him and we've managed to stick to the protocol."
The match, which kicks off at 7.00pm, will be played at Stonebridge Road - the home of Blue Square Conference outfit Ebbsfleet Town FC.
QPR Reserves (from): Crowther, Wright, Ilesanmi, Parker, Brown, Oastler, Maguire, Smith, Harris, Vine, Balanta, Vanterpool, German, Rose, Ainsworth. QPR
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The QPR team to play Charlton tonight: QPR: Crowther, Wright, Ilesanmi, Maguire, Harris, Brown, Parker, Oastler, Vine, Balanta. Subs: Sylvan-Vanterpool, German, Rose, Ainsworth.
Charlton Official Site - Charlton Second XI host Hoops
Charlton reserves will look to continue their recent good form when they host Queens Park Rangers at Ebbsfleet United on Wednesday evening (7pm).
- The most high-profile inclusions in Damian Matthew's starting XI are goalkeeper Nicky Weaver and striker Svetoslav Todorov.
- Weaver hasn't played for the Adthingys in 2009, but will get some more match action under his belt in the totesport.com Combination Central League clash with Rangers at Stonebridge Road.
- Bulgarian Todorov, meanwhile, last featured for the Adthingys' first team as a late substitute in the 3-2 defeat to Watford at The Valley.
- Other players with first-team experience included in Matthew's side are Scott Wagstaff, Josh Wright and Rashid Yussuff, while right-back Ashley Miller, a trialist from West Ham United, lines up in defence.
- Jack Clark, who was recently told he would be offered professional terms with the club, starts at left-back, with Yado Mambo and Carl Jenkinson at centre-half.
- In midfield, Wagstaff is named on the right, with Chris Solly partnering Wright in the centre and Yussuff on the left. Todorov will start alongside youngster Tamer Tuna in attack.
- The bench is made up of Alex Stavrinou, Harry Pell, Ben Davisson and goalkeeper Harry Lee.
- QPR's team will include striker Rowan Vine as he begins his comeback from a fractured leg, as well as Colombian Angelo Balanta, with player-coach Gareth Ainsworth on the bench.
- Charlton are unbeaten in their last four games and earned a 3-2 win over Gillingham in a behind-closed-doors fixture at Sparrows Lane last week.
- The reserves have already played QPR twice this season, earning a 0-0 draw at Loftus Road in a totesportcasino.com Combination Cup Group B tie in September, before going down to a 2-0 defeat in West London at the start of January.
- A Romone Rose effort and a Solly own goal earned Rangers the win, but the Adthingys were unfortunate not to come away with at least a point, with R's goalkeeper Jake Cole producing several fine stops and Mambo seeing a shot crash back off the woodwork.
- A full match report from Ebbsfleet will be available on www.cafc.co.uk overnight.
- Charlton: Weaver, Miller, Clark, Solly, Mambo, Jenkinson, Wagstaff, Wright, Todorov, Tuna, Yussuff. Subs: Stavrinou, Pell, Davisson, Lee.
- QPR: Crowther, Wright, Ilesanmi, Maguire, Harris, Brown, Parker, Oastler, Vine, Balanta. Subs: Sylvan-Vanterpool, German, Rose, Ainsworth. Charlton Official Site
QPR Official Site - IN RESERVE: VINE SET TO START
Rowan Vine is set to make his long-awaited comeback from a fractured leg injury, when the R's second string lock horns with Charlton Athletic Reserves tonight (Wednesday).
Vine, who was an unused substitute against Swansea City on Tuesday evening, has been named in a relatively inexperienced squad, which includes half a dozen or so Youth team players.
Speaking to www.qpr.co.uk, Ressies boss Gareth Ainsworth said: "It was always our intention to bring Rowan back at Reserve team level, which is pretty much standard procedure with any long-term injury.
- "Injuries to one or two forced us to bring him back into the squad last night, but thankfully the result went our way and we didn't need to risk him and we've managed to stick to the protocol."
The match, which kicks off at 7.00pm, will be played at Stonebridge Road - the home of Blue Square Conference outfit Ebbsfleet Town FC.
QPR Reserves (from): Crowther, Wright, Ilesanmi, Parker, Brown, Oastler, Maguire, Smith, Harris, Vine, Balanta, Vanterpool, German, Rose, Ainsworth. QPR
Blackstock and Routledge Minor Injuries...Taarabt on QPR But NOT Staying...Giving Youth a Chance....Ephraim for England?...Langley on Vine and QPR
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QPR Official Site - DEX & WAYNE 'NOT SERIOUS'
- Paulo Sousa has revealed that the injuries that sidelined influential duo Wayne Routledge and Dexter Blackstock against Swansea City last night are 'not too serious.'
The pair were both ruled out of the R's 1-0 victory at Loftus Road, but the Rangers boss played down fears that the injuries were long-term, commenting: "Dexter has a hamstring injury, that he picked up against Southampton. It is a muscle injury, so we need to assess it day by day.
"Also, Wayne took a kick on his knee that swelled up. We took him for a scan and it is nothing to worry us, so we have three days to get him ready for Bristol City this weekend." QPR
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - It'll be adieu to Adel in the summer
- LOAN signing Adel Taarabt has confirmed he has no intention of staying with QPR beyond the end of the season.
The Tottenham midfielder chose to join Rangers over rival Championship sides after speaking to former team-mate Radek Cerny, but he views the move purely as an opportunity for match practice.
"Harry Redknapp called me on Thursday and said because Tottenham are not in a good position he couldn't give a chance to a young player now," Taarabt told the Times.
"But QPR wanted me, so I could go and play some games and I think it will be good experience. In January a lot of clubs wanted me and I didn't want to go to the Championship.
"People were saying to me 'it's not the league for you because it's more physical and they kick you'. But this time I said 'OK, I'll go so I can get fit and come back more strong.'
"I have a World Cup qualification game soon, then there are only six games left, so I want to play as much as I can. Then I hope I can go back in pre-season and have a chance with Tottenham."
Cerny, who lives close to Taarabt in Essex, convinced the Moroccan youngster to make the temporary switch in an 11pm telephone call and Rangers sealed the deal the following day.
"If it wasn't in London I wouldn't have gone on loan because I wanted to stay living in Chigwell," added Taarabt, who has two years left on his Tottenham contract.
"But I know Radek and he told me QPR was a good club, it was an opportunity and I should go.
"Wayne [Routledge] also played with me before and I know him well, so it doesn't take so much time to know the players. If this was for six or eight months it might be different."
The 19-year-old playmaker, who joined Spurs from Lens in 2007, has made 15 first-team appearances for the north London side - all as substitute.
Rangers also made an inquiry about Taarabt's Tottenham colleague Giovani Dos Santos, but the Mexican international opted for a loan move to Ipswich instead. Kilburn Times
Evening Standard/Dean Jones - Taarabt is spurred on to prove a point at Rangers
- Adel Taarabt has revealed that he wants to use his loan spell at Queens Park Rangers as a platform to launch his career with Tottenham.
The 19-year-old made his full debut last night as Mikele Leigertwood netted the only goal to move Rangers within seven points of the Championship's top six.
The Moroccan international has joined until the end of the season and showed moments of brilliance that set him apart from his colleagues.
Since joining Spurs from French side Lens in 2007, the midfielder has made just 15 appearances - and none of them were starts. Harry Redknapp has now told him to use his time at QPR to prove that he can handle English football.
"This match was good for me, I really enjoyed it," explained Taarabt after completing his first full 90 minutes of competitive football in this country. "Since coming over here I am used to playing 15 or 20 minutes but this is a chance for me to play regularly and build my confidence.
"It hasn't been frustrating at Spurs, Harry just told me to come here and make the most of it. That is what I will do and I will kick on after this."
Taarabt played on the left side of QPR's midfield diamond but pushed into a central role whenever possible. He was a thorn in the side of Swansea's back line and came within inches of a goal as he curled a brilliant long-range effort just off target in the second half.
Taarabt admits the idea of playing in the Championship has never had huge appeal to him in the past but does realise the benefits now that he is here. "I am here for two months and it will help me," he admitted.
"French football is very different and more technical. Here you have to work very hard.
"One of the good things about QPR is that they are an attacking side and I don't like to defend. I like to make assists and to score.
"Spurs send scouts to watch, they were here for this one and will watch me closely."
Manager Paulo Sousa admitted afterwards that he was impressed by Taarabt's display but he will also have been pleased with the manner in which his side collected these points.
Swansea are one of the best teams in the League but rarely did they threaten the QPR goal. It helped that top goalscorer Jason Scotland was given a rest and only featured for the final 20 minutes.
However, home supporters saw their side grind out a win - courtesy of Leigertwood's 30th-minute header - that suggests they really might still have an outside chance of sneaking into the top six. Taarabt insisted he will do everything he can to make it happen and added: "While I am here we are going to try to make the play-offs.
"After that I'll try to break through at Spurs but there is a lot of competition. This season we have had it hard so there has not really been a chance to use the young players.
"The squad is strong, we have about 35 players. It's difficult for me to play but I'm confident I'll get there eventually because that's my aim.
"Maybe I'm just lacking a bit of experience, so I can get that here."
The victory ends a nine-match winless run and Rangers must now tackle promotion rivals Bristol City on Saturday.
"I don't care about opponents when we are looking at reaching the play-offs," said manager Sousa as he reflected on his side's position last night. "I believe in our work and we can get great results.
"We have had critics from outside the club but we have a team with union who are trying to get three points every time they go out there."
The critics will be few and far between if Taarabt and Rangers make it to Wembley in May. This is London
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Give the kids a chance
- PAULO Sousa has pledged to throw more youngsters into the firing line for QPR's remaining games this season if they impress in training.
- Sousa gave 17-year-old striker Antonio German his senior debut against Southampton last Saturday and has also utilised Angelo Balanta and Romone Rose in recent games.
- And, with Rangers' play-off challenge fading to no more than a statistical possibility, the Loftus Road boss is keen to see what else the youth team can offer as he begins preparing for next season.
- "First of all they have to have ability," Sousa declared. "But we need to think they will become better and in the future they can help us to get to our target.
- "Because we lost players to injury, I've already given opportunities to some young players. For instance, I brought Romone in for the game against Burnley in the FA Cup and he played fantastic.
- "He could have scored two goals and it would have been the best trophy for him, but the Burnley keeper made good saves. I'm always looking to push the younger players.
- "But first we need a solid team to help them grow. It's not for the youngsters to push the older ones to play a better game - it should be the other way round.
- "Players will get more opportunities if they give me the feeling in training they can be useful and better than the others. It's not about 'younger' or 'older' - it's about what he can give the coach."
- Understandably, Sousa declined to single out individuals, but admitted he already has firm views as to which current members of the Rs' youth set-up have first-team potential.
- Overall, the Rangers coach intends to make few changes to his squad in the close season - a digression from the club's recent policy of chopping, changing and attempting to stockpile as many players as possible.
- "We're without six or seven important players and most of them won't be fit until pre-season," Sousa admitted. "With the players back from injury, we will have a strong team, I have no doubt about that.
- "There will be small adjustments. We'll look at what kind of players we need and also which ones to let go - I think we will not make so many changes."
- Those adjustments to the squad will include decisions on whether to offer longer contracts to midfielders Jordi Lopez and Liam Miller, both of whom are on deals that expire at the end of the season.
- But QPR are unlikely to attempt to keep striker Samuel Di Carmine, who is on a year-long loan from Fiorentina, but has made it clear that he plans to return home to Italy at the end of the season. Kilburn Times
Kilburn Times/Ben Kosky - Hogan can be a hero for England
- HOGAN Ephraim has been tipped as a future England star after inspiring QPR to their first win in 10 games.
Ephraim sparkled in the centre of midfield and linked up well with loan signing Adel Taarabt as Rangers overcame play-off hopefuls Swansea City at Loftus Road on Tuesday.
Although the 20-year-old started his career as a striker at West Ham and was deployed wide when he first came to Loftus Road, Rs boss Paulo Sousa believes he could gain international honours in a central role.
"He's not a winger," said Sousa. "From the moment I came here he's worked in the middle. He's a player for the national team, in my opinion.
"He's made a lot of progress and he can be a much better player, but I don't have any doubt."
London-born Ephraim, the son of an Irish mother and Nigerian father, has already represented England from under-16 through to under-19 level.
Meanwhile, Sousa confirmed that Wayne Routledge (knee) and striker Dexter Blackstock (hamstring) are both struggling to be fit for Saturday's clash with Bristol City. Kilburn Times
Richard Langley/Kilburn Times
- IN what looks like a fast approaching anti-climax to the season, the return of Rowan Vine will have fans hoping he might be the one to add spice up front. If QPR are planning a final attack on the top six, this is the man we need to get into his stride extremely quickly.
- First off I must congratulate Rowan, who is due to make his comeback this week, having been out since last April with a complicated leg break.
- Many people say that footballers are all overpaid for what they do and to a certain extent I could agree with their arguments.
- But this great job is accompanied by incredible lows. What is overlooked is how testing times are after sustaining a long-term injury - this is the lowest point in a player's career and I can pay testimony to that first hand.
- I have spoken to Rowan throughout his rehab and it has been full of ups and downs. His mental strength, commitment and dedication to recovering is hard to describe accurately enough to give him the praise he deserves. Form might not come instantly but I know from my own experience that QPR fans will be patient.
- Having played with him for a season at Luton, I can say that his infectious 'will to win' attitude will have been sorely missed. It is something that is quite apparent when you watch him play - and traits very similar to those of Martin Rowlands, which I personally feel have been missing at QPR.
- I think that the abundance of money is great, but there needs to remain a backbone of players in the team who really have an affiliation with the club, be it inherent in players like Lee Cook or Rowlands, or acquired like Viney. These are the players that wear their heart on their sleeve.
- The team needs to be built around players who know what it means to play for the club, following the likes of Chelsea, with Lampard and Terry, and Liverpool, with Carragher and Gerrard.
- It might be too soon to be hailing Rowan as the saviour for our promotion push, as I don't think we will really see his best until next season. But we do have a player who will fight for the cause and drive on players alongside him.
- It is hard to see much light at the end of the tunnel, with games running out quickly but, with the return of a player like Viney, anything is possible.
- IF you have any questions or comments to put to Richard, you can email us at nwl.sport@archant.co.uk - Kilburn Times
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QPR Official Site - DEX & WAYNE 'NOT SERIOUS'
- Paulo Sousa has revealed that the injuries that sidelined influential duo Wayne Routledge and Dexter Blackstock against Swansea City last night are 'not too serious.'
The pair were both ruled out of the R's 1-0 victory at Loftus Road, but the Rangers boss played down fears that the injuries were long-term, commenting: "Dexter has a hamstring injury, that he picked up against Southampton. It is a muscle injury, so we need to assess it day by day.
"Also, Wayne took a kick on his knee that swelled up. We took him for a scan and it is nothing to worry us, so we have three days to get him ready for Bristol City this weekend." QPR
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - It'll be adieu to Adel in the summer
- LOAN signing Adel Taarabt has confirmed he has no intention of staying with QPR beyond the end of the season.
The Tottenham midfielder chose to join Rangers over rival Championship sides after speaking to former team-mate Radek Cerny, but he views the move purely as an opportunity for match practice.
"Harry Redknapp called me on Thursday and said because Tottenham are not in a good position he couldn't give a chance to a young player now," Taarabt told the Times.
"But QPR wanted me, so I could go and play some games and I think it will be good experience. In January a lot of clubs wanted me and I didn't want to go to the Championship.
"People were saying to me 'it's not the league for you because it's more physical and they kick you'. But this time I said 'OK, I'll go so I can get fit and come back more strong.'
"I have a World Cup qualification game soon, then there are only six games left, so I want to play as much as I can. Then I hope I can go back in pre-season and have a chance with Tottenham."
Cerny, who lives close to Taarabt in Essex, convinced the Moroccan youngster to make the temporary switch in an 11pm telephone call and Rangers sealed the deal the following day.
"If it wasn't in London I wouldn't have gone on loan because I wanted to stay living in Chigwell," added Taarabt, who has two years left on his Tottenham contract.
"But I know Radek and he told me QPR was a good club, it was an opportunity and I should go.
"Wayne [Routledge] also played with me before and I know him well, so it doesn't take so much time to know the players. If this was for six or eight months it might be different."
The 19-year-old playmaker, who joined Spurs from Lens in 2007, has made 15 first-team appearances for the north London side - all as substitute.
Rangers also made an inquiry about Taarabt's Tottenham colleague Giovani Dos Santos, but the Mexican international opted for a loan move to Ipswich instead. Kilburn Times
Evening Standard/Dean Jones - Taarabt is spurred on to prove a point at Rangers
- Adel Taarabt has revealed that he wants to use his loan spell at Queens Park Rangers as a platform to launch his career with Tottenham.
The 19-year-old made his full debut last night as Mikele Leigertwood netted the only goal to move Rangers within seven points of the Championship's top six.
The Moroccan international has joined until the end of the season and showed moments of brilliance that set him apart from his colleagues.
Since joining Spurs from French side Lens in 2007, the midfielder has made just 15 appearances - and none of them were starts. Harry Redknapp has now told him to use his time at QPR to prove that he can handle English football.
"This match was good for me, I really enjoyed it," explained Taarabt after completing his first full 90 minutes of competitive football in this country. "Since coming over here I am used to playing 15 or 20 minutes but this is a chance for me to play regularly and build my confidence.
"It hasn't been frustrating at Spurs, Harry just told me to come here and make the most of it. That is what I will do and I will kick on after this."
Taarabt played on the left side of QPR's midfield diamond but pushed into a central role whenever possible. He was a thorn in the side of Swansea's back line and came within inches of a goal as he curled a brilliant long-range effort just off target in the second half.
Taarabt admits the idea of playing in the Championship has never had huge appeal to him in the past but does realise the benefits now that he is here. "I am here for two months and it will help me," he admitted.
"French football is very different and more technical. Here you have to work very hard.
"One of the good things about QPR is that they are an attacking side and I don't like to defend. I like to make assists and to score.
"Spurs send scouts to watch, they were here for this one and will watch me closely."
Manager Paulo Sousa admitted afterwards that he was impressed by Taarabt's display but he will also have been pleased with the manner in which his side collected these points.
Swansea are one of the best teams in the League but rarely did they threaten the QPR goal. It helped that top goalscorer Jason Scotland was given a rest and only featured for the final 20 minutes.
However, home supporters saw their side grind out a win - courtesy of Leigertwood's 30th-minute header - that suggests they really might still have an outside chance of sneaking into the top six. Taarabt insisted he will do everything he can to make it happen and added: "While I am here we are going to try to make the play-offs.
"After that I'll try to break through at Spurs but there is a lot of competition. This season we have had it hard so there has not really been a chance to use the young players.
"The squad is strong, we have about 35 players. It's difficult for me to play but I'm confident I'll get there eventually because that's my aim.
"Maybe I'm just lacking a bit of experience, so I can get that here."
The victory ends a nine-match winless run and Rangers must now tackle promotion rivals Bristol City on Saturday.
"I don't care about opponents when we are looking at reaching the play-offs," said manager Sousa as he reflected on his side's position last night. "I believe in our work and we can get great results.
"We have had critics from outside the club but we have a team with union who are trying to get three points every time they go out there."
The critics will be few and far between if Taarabt and Rangers make it to Wembley in May. This is London
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Give the kids a chance
- PAULO Sousa has pledged to throw more youngsters into the firing line for QPR's remaining games this season if they impress in training.
- Sousa gave 17-year-old striker Antonio German his senior debut against Southampton last Saturday and has also utilised Angelo Balanta and Romone Rose in recent games.
- And, with Rangers' play-off challenge fading to no more than a statistical possibility, the Loftus Road boss is keen to see what else the youth team can offer as he begins preparing for next season.
- "First of all they have to have ability," Sousa declared. "But we need to think they will become better and in the future they can help us to get to our target.
- "Because we lost players to injury, I've already given opportunities to some young players. For instance, I brought Romone in for the game against Burnley in the FA Cup and he played fantastic.
- "He could have scored two goals and it would have been the best trophy for him, but the Burnley keeper made good saves. I'm always looking to push the younger players.
- "But first we need a solid team to help them grow. It's not for the youngsters to push the older ones to play a better game - it should be the other way round.
- "Players will get more opportunities if they give me the feeling in training they can be useful and better than the others. It's not about 'younger' or 'older' - it's about what he can give the coach."
- Understandably, Sousa declined to single out individuals, but admitted he already has firm views as to which current members of the Rs' youth set-up have first-team potential.
- Overall, the Rangers coach intends to make few changes to his squad in the close season - a digression from the club's recent policy of chopping, changing and attempting to stockpile as many players as possible.
- "We're without six or seven important players and most of them won't be fit until pre-season," Sousa admitted. "With the players back from injury, we will have a strong team, I have no doubt about that.
- "There will be small adjustments. We'll look at what kind of players we need and also which ones to let go - I think we will not make so many changes."
- Those adjustments to the squad will include decisions on whether to offer longer contracts to midfielders Jordi Lopez and Liam Miller, both of whom are on deals that expire at the end of the season.
- But QPR are unlikely to attempt to keep striker Samuel Di Carmine, who is on a year-long loan from Fiorentina, but has made it clear that he plans to return home to Italy at the end of the season. Kilburn Times
Kilburn Times/Ben Kosky - Hogan can be a hero for England
- HOGAN Ephraim has been tipped as a future England star after inspiring QPR to their first win in 10 games.
Ephraim sparkled in the centre of midfield and linked up well with loan signing Adel Taarabt as Rangers overcame play-off hopefuls Swansea City at Loftus Road on Tuesday.
Although the 20-year-old started his career as a striker at West Ham and was deployed wide when he first came to Loftus Road, Rs boss Paulo Sousa believes he could gain international honours in a central role.
"He's not a winger," said Sousa. "From the moment I came here he's worked in the middle. He's a player for the national team, in my opinion.
"He's made a lot of progress and he can be a much better player, but I don't have any doubt."
London-born Ephraim, the son of an Irish mother and Nigerian father, has already represented England from under-16 through to under-19 level.
Meanwhile, Sousa confirmed that Wayne Routledge (knee) and striker Dexter Blackstock (hamstring) are both struggling to be fit for Saturday's clash with Bristol City. Kilburn Times
Richard Langley/Kilburn Times
- IN what looks like a fast approaching anti-climax to the season, the return of Rowan Vine will have fans hoping he might be the one to add spice up front. If QPR are planning a final attack on the top six, this is the man we need to get into his stride extremely quickly.
- First off I must congratulate Rowan, who is due to make his comeback this week, having been out since last April with a complicated leg break.
- Many people say that footballers are all overpaid for what they do and to a certain extent I could agree with their arguments.
- But this great job is accompanied by incredible lows. What is overlooked is how testing times are after sustaining a long-term injury - this is the lowest point in a player's career and I can pay testimony to that first hand.
- I have spoken to Rowan throughout his rehab and it has been full of ups and downs. His mental strength, commitment and dedication to recovering is hard to describe accurately enough to give him the praise he deserves. Form might not come instantly but I know from my own experience that QPR fans will be patient.
- Having played with him for a season at Luton, I can say that his infectious 'will to win' attitude will have been sorely missed. It is something that is quite apparent when you watch him play - and traits very similar to those of Martin Rowlands, which I personally feel have been missing at QPR.
- I think that the abundance of money is great, but there needs to remain a backbone of players in the team who really have an affiliation with the club, be it inherent in players like Lee Cook or Rowlands, or acquired like Viney. These are the players that wear their heart on their sleeve.
- The team needs to be built around players who know what it means to play for the club, following the likes of Chelsea, with Lampard and Terry, and Liverpool, with Carragher and Gerrard.
- It might be too soon to be hailing Rowan as the saviour for our promotion push, as I don't think we will really see his best until next season. But we do have a player who will fight for the cause and drive on players alongside him.
- It is hard to see much light at the end of the tunnel, with games running out quickly but, with the return of a player like Viney, anything is possible.
- IF you have any questions or comments to put to Richard, you can email us at nwl.sport@archant.co.uk - Kilburn Times
Victory! QPR Get That Long-Awaited, Much-Anticipated, Greatly-Appreciated Win - Reports and Comments of QPR's Swansea Success
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QPR 1 Swansea 0
Sousa's Post-Match Comments/Official Site - QPR Official Site TACTICAL PERFECTION
- Paulo Sousa hailed each and every one on his players as the R's registered a timely 1-0 victory against Swansea City.
- Playing in an effective 4-1-4-1 formation, Mikele Leigertwood handed Rangers all three points with a stunning first half header, to the delight of the R's boss.
- "Tactically, we were perfect tonight, because each and every player did their jobs to a very high standard.
- "We've had a lot of critics and a lot of adversities with injuries - but we showed tonight that if you believe, you will succeed.
- "We showed great unity this evening and that is what is required against a side like Swansea, who - as I've said from my first week in the job - play the best football in the division.
- "It is an important victory - and a very pleasing one given the way we played."
- The victory - Rangers' first in 10 outings - lifted the R's on to 53 points, prompting Sousa to add: "It is not relief tonight, because I have great confidence in what I am trying to achieve here.
- "I believe in my work and my players and as I have said before, with every player fit, we are a very, very good side." QPR
BBC - Managerial Comments - QPR manager Paulo Sousa:
- "We have had a lot of critics from outside and a lot of adversities but we are a team with a lot of unity, who were trying to get three points against the best football team.
- "They are not easy to beat - you have to be very good to beat a team like Swansea.
- "We have nine or 10 players injured, but I keep believing in what we can achieve with hard work."
Swansea manager Roberto Martinez:
- "It was disappointing not to get the result we were looking for.
- "We lost to a soft goal from a set-piece, and to lose in that way hurts.
- "The boys showed the right reaction in the second half, and we deserved to get something out of the game.
- "Overall, I don't think anyone deserved to win the game. A draw would have been a fair result, but Rangers took advantage of one set-piece." BBC
SKY SPORT - Sousa delighted with win
Sousa pleased while Martinez thought his side deserved a point
- QPR manager Paulo Sousa was delighted with his side's 1-0 win over Swansea, a team he believes to be the best footballing side in the Championship.
- A Mikele Leigertwood goal was enough to give the hosts the win and condemn the Swans to their second successive defeat.
- The former Sheffield United man's header on 30 minutes was QPR's first goal in five matches and was enough to curtail a miserable run.
- Such poor form is likely to have cost them a play-off place come the end of the season, with Sousa's men now seven points off the top six.
- "We have had a lot of critics from outside and a lot of adversities but we are a team with a lot of unity, who were trying to get three points against the best football team," Sousa said
- "They are not easy to beat - you have to be very good to beat a team like Swansea."
- Sousa gave a full debut to on-loan Tottenham youngster Adel Taarabt, and the Moroccan put in a classy performance in front of the watching Spurs boss Harry Redknapp - almost conjuring up a second with a curler which flew just wide.
- "He brought great quality to the team; he helped the team to achieve an important victory and he got involved with the team in playing good football," he added
- "We have nine or 10 players injured, but I keep believing in what we can achieve with hard work."
- The defeat meant that the Swans have won just once in six league games but they still find themselves in the play-off hunt with just three points separating themselves and the top six.
- Undeserved
- Despite the defeat Martinez insisted that his side deserved to get something out of the game.- "It was disappointing not to get the result we were looking for," Martinez said.
"We lost to a soft goal from a set-piece, and to lose in that way hurts. The boys showed the right reaction in the second half, and we deserved to get something out of the game.
"Overall, I don't think anyone deserved to win the game. A draw would have been a fair result, but Rangers took advantage of one set-piece." Sky Sports
ITV.COM - Sousa prizes Swans scalp
- QPR boss Paulo Sousa claims his side's 1-0 success against Swansea was a victory over the best footballing team in the Coca-Cola Championship....
- But Sousa said: "We have had a lot of critics from outside and a lot of adversities but we are a team with a lot of unity, who were trying to get three points against the best football team.
- "They are not easy to beat - you have to be very good to beat a team like Swansea..."
- Sousa gave a full debut to on-loan Tottenham youngster Adel Taarabt, and the Moroccan put in a classy performance in front of the watching Spurs boss Harry Redknapp - almost conjuring up a second with a curler which flew just wide.
- "He brought great quality to the team; he helped the team to achieve an important victory and he got involved with the team in playing good football," added Sousa.
- "We have nine or 10 players injured, but I keep believing in what we can achieve with hard work." ITV.com
The Times/Tom Dart - Mikele Leigertwood keeps QPR dream alive
- Formula One decided yesterday that winning is everything and Flavio Briatore, managing director of the Renault team, has long subscribed to that idea in his guise as joint-owner of Queens Park Rangers. So last night’s workmanlike victory was vital for Paulo Sousa, the QPR manager. The West London side had gone nine games without a win and have slid into mid-table in the Coca-Cola Championship, naturally prompting speculation about Sousa’s future.
- Sousa is the seventh manager to inhabit the warmest of hot-seats since Ian Holloway departed just over three years ago and a failure to reach the play-offs, let alone secure promotion, is not likely to go down well with the club’s hierarchy. Now seven points adrift of sixth place with seven games left, this result at least allowed QPR to cling to their faint hopes. Swansea City stay three points below sixth place but their prospects are fading. - Roberto Martínez spring-cleaned his line-up, making five changes from the team that lost 3-1 to Crystal Palace on Saturday, with Jason Scotland, the Trinidad & Tobago striker and scorer of 21 goals this campaign, dropped to the bench. However, Swansea were second-best in the opening period and created too little.
- Still, if short on clear-cut chances, the first half was entertaining enough, played at the typically hyperactive Championship tempo but garnished with moves of greater originality than are usually found at this level.
- Adel Taarabt, the midfield player on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and making his first start for QPR, was the most beguiling source of invention. The 19-year-old paced the pitch with the self-assured air of one who believes he is too good for his surroundings. And he is probably right. With the ball at his feet he appeared able to saunter past defenders at will.
- There was nothing enlightened about the home side’s goal after half an hour, but there is beauty in simplicity. Jordi López fizzed in a free kick from the right and Mikele Leigertwood headed powerfully into the top corner from ten yards. Swansea had drifted into standby mode after Leigertwood’s header but they pressed the “on” switch right from the start of the second half.
- Thirty seconds after kick-off, Guillem Bauzà set Gorka Pintado through on goal and the striker fashioned room for a shot, finding strength but not direction. Had Pintado aimed for the far post he would surely have scored but his effort was to the near side of Radek Cerny’s net and the goalkeeper made a decent save.
- You could tell Taarabt is something of a maverick from his decision to wear gloves and short sleeves yesterday: not a fashion statement you ever see made by tough-tackling centre backs. Then there was the Morocco player’s fetish for stepovers and other sleights of foot; even if it seemed to confuse his team-mates as much as it baffled opponents.
- Despite Taarabt’s Cristiano Ronaldo tribute act, QPR struggled to carve out opportunities. It did not appear much of a problem because Swansea were impotent at the other end after their brief flurry of pressure. Perspiration was now trumping inspiration.
- Queens Park Rangers (4-1-4-1): R Cerny — P Ramage, F Hall (sub: D Delaney, 83min), K Gorkss, M Connolly — J López (sub: L Miller, 87) — M Alberti, M Leigertwood, H Ephraim, A Taarabt — S Di Carmine (sub: H Helguson, 74). Substitutes not used: R Vine, A German. Booked: Leigertwood.
- Swansea City (4-2-1-3): D de Vries — A Rangel, G Monk, A Williams, A Serran — J Allen (sub: L Britton, 87), D Pratley — G Bauzà — J Gómez (sub: N Dyer, 62), G Pintado (sub: J Scotland, 69), T Butler. Substitutes not used: A Orlandi, M Collins. Booked: Pratley.
- Referee: G Horwood. The Times
The Independent/Conrad Leach - Hope for Sousa as winless run ends
- As players of the same age group, there was no comparison between Paulo Sousa and Roberto Martinez, the former being the famed Portugal international with Champions League winner's medals from two consecutive seasons in the mid-Nineties, with two different clubs, the latter a Spaniard who became famous, in Wigan at least, thanks to his work in the bottom two divisions with Wigan Athletic.
- As managers, there has been some sort of role reversal, to judge by the Championship table, although Sousa is newer to this part of the game. But this victory last night showed that Sousa, the Queen's Park Rangers manager, has designs on besting his fellow Iberian there, too. He showed how proud he was of this result, when he said: "We've had a lot of critics and adversity inside and outside the club, but we beat the best football-playing team in the division, who have had the same manager for four years. As for the play-offs, we keep trying to win every game. But we have 10 players out injured."
- Not that one victory in 10 games is any reason yet for the former Juventus and Borussia Dortmund midfielder to claim he has mastered the art of management, although it lifted Rangers to within four points of Swansea City and seven points shy of the play-offs. Martinez has certainly mastered the art of not taking defeat kindly, blaming the bumpy pitch for affecting his players, but an 11th game in 36 days is as good a reason as any for his side failing to push into the top six.
- There was never likely to be much more than a single-goal margin at Loftus Road. After all, Swansea have drawn more games than anyone else in the division and Rangers had not scored in their previous four matches. Take away Dexter Blackstock, Rangers' top scorer with 12 goals, as the result of a hamstring injury, and the odds were even shorter.
- Curiously, Martinez did likewise with his main attacking threat, Jason Scotland, leaving him on the bench. He did introduce the striker later, but he was unable to provide an equaliser.
- The closest the hosts came to scoring early on was when Adel Taarabt appeared to be brought down in the penalty area, although the referee ignored all claims. There seemed to be less danger in the 30th minute when Jordi Lopez curled in a free-kick from 40 yards out, but then Mikele Leigertwood got in front of his marker to head past Dorus De Vries to foster some late-season optimism in west London.
- Queen's Park Rangers (4-5-1): Cerny; Ramage, Hall (Delaney, 84), Gorkss, Connolly; Alberti, Ephraim, Lopez (Miller, 87), Leigertwood, Taarabt; Di Carmine (Helguson, 74). Substitutes not used: Vine, German.
- Swansea City (4-4-2): De Vries; Rangel, Monk, Williams, Serran; Gomez (Dyer, 62), Allen (Britton, 87), Pratley, Butler; Pintado (Scotland, 69), Bauza. Substitutes not used: Orlandi, Collins. Referee: G Horwood (Bedfordshire). The Independent
The Sun/Paul Jiggins
- PAULO SOUSA never feared for his job as QPR boss before ending a nine-game winless streak.
- And the Portuguese coach is full of belief in his methods as he eyes the play-offs after Mikele Leigertwood nodded in a 30th-minute winner.
- Sousa’s future has been the subject of debate in recent weeks but he now reckons his Hoops can make up a seven-point gap that separates them from the top six.
- He said: “We have had critics from outside the club but we have a team with union who try to get three points every match.
- “The board has always been supportive. I don’t care about opponents when we’re looking at reaching the play-offs.
- “It’s not easy to deal with everything here but I believe in our work. This victory has been a long time coming.”
- Swans have now lost to Charlton, Crystal Palace, Watford and QPR on the road and are three points outside the play-off spots.
- There is certainly still hope for manager Roberto Martinez, but if they do miss out on a place in the top six he will look back on nights like this.
- Martinez left 21-goal top scorer Jason Scotland on the bench and it was not until he came on with 20 minutes left that Swans looked like scoring.
- He said: “We did make changes due to fatigue. We’re paying the price for the run of games we’ve had in a short time.
- “If we want to arrive in the play-offs to challenge, we must arrive fresh and at the top of our ability.” The Sun
Daily Mail/Graham Otway - Leigertwood eases the pressure on Sousa
- Mikele Leigertwood’s powerful header on the half-hour was enough to end QPR’s run of nine matches without a win. The midfielder nodded home Jordi Lopez’s free-kick, but it was very much against the run of play.
- Swansea manager Roberto Martinez said: ‘No-one deserved to win that game. We
didn’t play up to our standards and Rangers achieved three points with a very average performance.’
- Hoop dreams: QPR players mob Leigertwood (second left)
The Welsh side had controlled the match up until the goal, with Radek Cerny having to make two fine saves to keep out long-range efforts by Jordi Gomez.
- Clear chances were at a premium, though, with Swansea missing the influence of top scorer Jason Scotland, who was left on the bench.
- QPR manager Paulo Sousa insisted: ‘You have to play well to beat a quality team like Swansea.’ Mail
Mirror MIKE FIRES UP SOUSA
- Mikele Leigertwood gave QPR their first win in 10 games last night to ease the pressure on coach Paulo Sousa.
- Leigertwood headed home a Hogan Ephraim free-kick on 30 minutes, but the unconvincing victory and poor crowd showed the Rangers boss still has work to do.
- Sousa declared: "We are working to win every game. We kept trying in the past and we will keep trying in the future."
- Swansea boss Roberto Martinez said: "We are paying the price for the amount of games we have been playing." Mirror
SWANSEA OFFICIAL SITE Match Report
-The Swans were condemned to yet another defeat in London as QPR clinched all three points with a solitary first-half goal.
- It fell to midfielder Mikele Leigertwood who found space inside the area to head home Jordi Lopez's free-kick on the half-hour mark.
- The Swans did have the odd effort but rarely threatened their hosts in a far from entertaining clash in Shepherd's Bush.
- Roberto made five changes to his starting line-up for the match at Loftus Road.
- There was a return at the back for skipper Garry Monk who replaced Albert Serran, but the Spanish defender slotted in at left-back in place of the injured Alan Tate.
- Joe Allen and Guillem Bauza came in to midfield in place of Leon Britton and Jordi Gomez, who moved out wide to replace Nathan Dyer, while Mark Gower made way for Tom Butler.
- The final change came in attack where Gorka Pintado, who was on target in the loss against Crystal Palace, took the place of Jason Scotland....
- It took some time for Roberto's side to get themselves into this game as the hosts did well at keeping the ball, but the Swans did carve out two fine opportunities in quick succession with five minutes played.
- Firstly, Gorka Pintado, making his first league start since November, raced on to the end of Angel Rangel's long ball forward but lost out inside the area, while Jordi Gomez tested Radek Cerny from 20-yards.
- The Spanish playmaker also fancied his chances from just outside the box on the angle with 17 minutes played, taking a touch before curling a wicked strike towards goal, one that Cerny fumbled inside his six-yard area only to safely collect it moments later.
- QPR continued to dominate in the middle of the park, however, and with 30 minutes played two of Rangers' midfielders combined to break the deadlock.
- Darren Pratley was penalised for handball 15-yards outside of the area, Jordi Lopez whipped the free-kick into the heart of the area and Mikele Leigertwood was first to the ball to head past Dorus de Vries.
- The visitors struggled to break down the strong home defence as and just couldn't get the rhythm going as the remainder of the half passed by with neither side creating any clear cut chances.
- Half-Time: QPR 1 Swans 0
- The Swans burst out of the blocks at the start of the second-half and within 50 seconds could have found themselves level as Gorka Pintado latched on to the end of Guillem Bauza's ball over the top, El Toro cut inside Peter Ramage and, from point blank range, forced an excellent stop from Cerny.
- Ramage then cleared along the byline to Tom Butler, who cut inside and sent a curling effort in to the safe hands of the goalkeeper.
- Chances were few and far between for both sides as the game approached the hour mark. Roberto made his first change of the evening shortly after as Nathan Dyer came on to replace Jordi Gomez - the on loan Southampton winger took up residence on the left-hand side while Tom Butler moved over to the right.
- And after five minutes he fired his first attempt at goal from inside the area and receiving the ball from Butler on the right.
- Jason Scotland was thrown on for the final 20 or so minutes in place of Gorka Pintado who rarely threatened in front of goal during his time on the pitch.
- A series of Swansea City corners was followed by the next clear cut effort 10 minutes from time as Bauza intercepted a pass from Serran, took the ball into the area and forced Cerny into making a save low to his right.
- Hoops' substitute Heidar Helguson squandered a chance from close-range while Angel Rangel fired across goal and straight at Cerny, but the home side held on to condemn the Swans to yet another defeat in London. Swansea Official
QPR Official Site - Match Report
- A bullet header from Mikele Leigertwood meant QPR returned to winning ways as they impressively triumphed over a spirited Swansea City side at Loftus Road.
- Jordi Lòpez's beautifully taken free-kick on the half hour found the airborne skipper who arrowed a header into the far corner to hand Rangers their first win in 10 matches.
- The home side dominated throughout and could've added to their lead had Adel Taarabt been a touch more accurate with his long range piledriver, and Heidar Helguson had a little more time.
- Yet despite the absence of up to eight First Team squad members through injury, Paulo Sousa's side outclassed one of the finer footballing sides in the division.
- The win will come as welcome relief to fans and management alike, and may breathe new life into thoughts of a late play-off charge.
- Looking at the team sheet for the home side and it was safe to say one name stood out - Rowan Vine made his long-awaited comeback from a broken leg to take up a seat on the bench and resume First Team duties.
- He was joined by fellow absentee Helguson, recent First Team debutant Antonio German, and Ireland duo Damien Delaney and Liam Miller.
- Four changes to the starting eleven saw Taarabt, on-loan from Tottenham Hotspur, make his full debut after his cameo appearance against Southampton last time out, and a return to the side for Italian striker Samuel Di Carmine.
- Matteo Alberti regained a starting berth at right midfield, with Taarabt on the left, Hogan Ephraim tucked in behind Di Carmine, and Jordi Lòpez and stand-in skipper Leigertwood completed the midfield.
- The final change could be found in the heart of the defence. In came Fitz Hall, alongside Kaspars Gorkss, with Matt Connolly and Peter Ramage taking the full-back spots.
- Swans' Manager Roberto Martinez felt he could do without leading scorer Jason Scotland and winger Nathan Dyer, with both making the bench.
- There were starts, however, for Spaniard Jordi Gomez, fellow midfielder Darren Pratley and Garry Monk at the back.
- And it was the impressive Gomez who had the first attempt on target. Shrugging off Ephraim, he let a bouncing ball fall to his desired height and volleyed a speculative effort straight at R's keeper Radek Cerny, who gratefully caught with ease.
- Cerny had a little more difficulty with another long range Gomez shot. When the Spaniard picked up possession in the inside right position, he moved the ball to his left foot before cracking a drive goal-bound. Slightly lower than the first, Cerny spilled the ball, but dived forward to smother at the second attempt.
- Rangers, not to be outdone on their home turf, followed Swansea's example, but when Ephraim broke through the middle and fed Leigertwood, the latter picked out Ramage. The right back attempted a curling left-footer that took a heavy deflection into the path of Taarabt, who in turn smashed his drive well over.
- With half an hour gone, Rangers opened the scoring for the evening. Leigertwood won a free-kick at the expense of Pratley, and when Lòpez produced a cross of the finest quality, the R's captain was on hand to meet it with a thumping header and powered the ball home beyond Dorus de Vries and into the far corner.
- Eager to overturn the deficit, Swansea raced out of the blocks in the second half. Thomas Butler released Gorka Pintado down the left and the Spanish striker cut inside Hall and, with only Cerny to beat, was denied by a fantastic stop by the R's Czech stopper.
- Following up, Pintado was only denied a second bite of the cherry by a lunging Gorkss, who knocked the ball away for corner in the nick of time.
From then on, it was the visitors who largely dominated possession, but they found themselves up against a resolute blue and white defence.
Having said that, when Taarabt was found on the left and treated the crowd to some quick feet and trickery, his eventual pass found Ephraim, who had no hesitation in trying his luck from the edge of the box. His curling shot, however, was straight down the throat of de Vries.
Now it was the turn of the home side to assert their authority on proceedings but Connolly, usually so assured in possession, almost handed Swansea a lifeline. After Gorkss had cleared a long ball, the left back inexplicably headed the ball back towards the R's goal where Swans substitute Dyer was lurking.
- Taking control, the diminutive winger shrugged off his marker and snapped off a shot which, luckily for Connolly, failed to trouble Cerny.
- But despite the minor fright, Rangers were in full flow. Alberti drilled a pass to Di Carmine who laid it off for Taarabt on 69 minutes, but the Moroccan's well-hit drive arrowed narrowly wide.
- With little over quarter of an hour left to play, boss Paulo Sousa made his first change. The tiring Di Carmine made way for Helguson.
- By this time, Scotland had come on for the Swans, and he was only denied a clear shot on goal by a fine block by Gorkss, with Hall rescuing his defensive partner by hacking the loose ball away before the Trinidad & Tobago striker could pick the scraps.
- Swansea were looking to find a way back into the match, but when a corner broke down, the ball found its way to Taarabt on the right, who held the ball up and played in Ephraim, who beat a man before fizzing a right-wing cross into the box. Monk, looking to beat the rampaging Helguson to the ball, almost did the work for the Icelander, skewing the ball very nearly into his own net.
- Not long after that chance, Rangers were forced to make their second change of the evening. Hall, who had taken a knock, failed to shake it off and was replaced with Delaney.
- Another chance for the home side came and went seconds later, as Ephraim and Taarabt combined to set Helguson free through the middle. But with two defenders closing him down, his hurried shot flew over the bar.
- But it proved to be Rangers' day, and they held on to claim a victory that, by the celebrations amongst the players and staff alike at the final whistle, meant so much to them.... Attendance: 12,288 QPR
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QPR 1 Swansea 0
Sousa's Post-Match Comments/Official Site - QPR Official Site TACTICAL PERFECTION
- Paulo Sousa hailed each and every one on his players as the R's registered a timely 1-0 victory against Swansea City.
- Playing in an effective 4-1-4-1 formation, Mikele Leigertwood handed Rangers all three points with a stunning first half header, to the delight of the R's boss.
- "Tactically, we were perfect tonight, because each and every player did their jobs to a very high standard.
- "We've had a lot of critics and a lot of adversities with injuries - but we showed tonight that if you believe, you will succeed.
- "We showed great unity this evening and that is what is required against a side like Swansea, who - as I've said from my first week in the job - play the best football in the division.
- "It is an important victory - and a very pleasing one given the way we played."
- The victory - Rangers' first in 10 outings - lifted the R's on to 53 points, prompting Sousa to add: "It is not relief tonight, because I have great confidence in what I am trying to achieve here.
- "I believe in my work and my players and as I have said before, with every player fit, we are a very, very good side." QPR
BBC - Managerial Comments - QPR manager Paulo Sousa:
- "We have had a lot of critics from outside and a lot of adversities but we are a team with a lot of unity, who were trying to get three points against the best football team.
- "They are not easy to beat - you have to be very good to beat a team like Swansea.
- "We have nine or 10 players injured, but I keep believing in what we can achieve with hard work."
Swansea manager Roberto Martinez:
- "It was disappointing not to get the result we were looking for.
- "We lost to a soft goal from a set-piece, and to lose in that way hurts.
- "The boys showed the right reaction in the second half, and we deserved to get something out of the game.
- "Overall, I don't think anyone deserved to win the game. A draw would have been a fair result, but Rangers took advantage of one set-piece." BBC
SKY SPORT - Sousa delighted with win
Sousa pleased while Martinez thought his side deserved a point
- QPR manager Paulo Sousa was delighted with his side's 1-0 win over Swansea, a team he believes to be the best footballing side in the Championship.
- A Mikele Leigertwood goal was enough to give the hosts the win and condemn the Swans to their second successive defeat.
- The former Sheffield United man's header on 30 minutes was QPR's first goal in five matches and was enough to curtail a miserable run.
- Such poor form is likely to have cost them a play-off place come the end of the season, with Sousa's men now seven points off the top six.
- "We have had a lot of critics from outside and a lot of adversities but we are a team with a lot of unity, who were trying to get three points against the best football team," Sousa said
- "They are not easy to beat - you have to be very good to beat a team like Swansea."
- Sousa gave a full debut to on-loan Tottenham youngster Adel Taarabt, and the Moroccan put in a classy performance in front of the watching Spurs boss Harry Redknapp - almost conjuring up a second with a curler which flew just wide.
- "He brought great quality to the team; he helped the team to achieve an important victory and he got involved with the team in playing good football," he added
- "We have nine or 10 players injured, but I keep believing in what we can achieve with hard work."
- The defeat meant that the Swans have won just once in six league games but they still find themselves in the play-off hunt with just three points separating themselves and the top six.
- Undeserved
- Despite the defeat Martinez insisted that his side deserved to get something out of the game.- "It was disappointing not to get the result we were looking for," Martinez said.
"We lost to a soft goal from a set-piece, and to lose in that way hurts. The boys showed the right reaction in the second half, and we deserved to get something out of the game.
"Overall, I don't think anyone deserved to win the game. A draw would have been a fair result, but Rangers took advantage of one set-piece." Sky Sports
ITV.COM - Sousa prizes Swans scalp
- QPR boss Paulo Sousa claims his side's 1-0 success against Swansea was a victory over the best footballing team in the Coca-Cola Championship....
- But Sousa said: "We have had a lot of critics from outside and a lot of adversities but we are a team with a lot of unity, who were trying to get three points against the best football team.
- "They are not easy to beat - you have to be very good to beat a team like Swansea..."
- Sousa gave a full debut to on-loan Tottenham youngster Adel Taarabt, and the Moroccan put in a classy performance in front of the watching Spurs boss Harry Redknapp - almost conjuring up a second with a curler which flew just wide.
- "He brought great quality to the team; he helped the team to achieve an important victory and he got involved with the team in playing good football," added Sousa.
- "We have nine or 10 players injured, but I keep believing in what we can achieve with hard work." ITV.com
The Times/Tom Dart - Mikele Leigertwood keeps QPR dream alive
- Formula One decided yesterday that winning is everything and Flavio Briatore, managing director of the Renault team, has long subscribed to that idea in his guise as joint-owner of Queens Park Rangers. So last night’s workmanlike victory was vital for Paulo Sousa, the QPR manager. The West London side had gone nine games without a win and have slid into mid-table in the Coca-Cola Championship, naturally prompting speculation about Sousa’s future.
- Sousa is the seventh manager to inhabit the warmest of hot-seats since Ian Holloway departed just over three years ago and a failure to reach the play-offs, let alone secure promotion, is not likely to go down well with the club’s hierarchy. Now seven points adrift of sixth place with seven games left, this result at least allowed QPR to cling to their faint hopes. Swansea City stay three points below sixth place but their prospects are fading. - Roberto Martínez spring-cleaned his line-up, making five changes from the team that lost 3-1 to Crystal Palace on Saturday, with Jason Scotland, the Trinidad & Tobago striker and scorer of 21 goals this campaign, dropped to the bench. However, Swansea were second-best in the opening period and created too little.
- Still, if short on clear-cut chances, the first half was entertaining enough, played at the typically hyperactive Championship tempo but garnished with moves of greater originality than are usually found at this level.
- Adel Taarabt, the midfield player on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and making his first start for QPR, was the most beguiling source of invention. The 19-year-old paced the pitch with the self-assured air of one who believes he is too good for his surroundings. And he is probably right. With the ball at his feet he appeared able to saunter past defenders at will.
- There was nothing enlightened about the home side’s goal after half an hour, but there is beauty in simplicity. Jordi López fizzed in a free kick from the right and Mikele Leigertwood headed powerfully into the top corner from ten yards. Swansea had drifted into standby mode after Leigertwood’s header but they pressed the “on” switch right from the start of the second half.
- Thirty seconds after kick-off, Guillem Bauzà set Gorka Pintado through on goal and the striker fashioned room for a shot, finding strength but not direction. Had Pintado aimed for the far post he would surely have scored but his effort was to the near side of Radek Cerny’s net and the goalkeeper made a decent save.
- You could tell Taarabt is something of a maverick from his decision to wear gloves and short sleeves yesterday: not a fashion statement you ever see made by tough-tackling centre backs. Then there was the Morocco player’s fetish for stepovers and other sleights of foot; even if it seemed to confuse his team-mates as much as it baffled opponents.
- Despite Taarabt’s Cristiano Ronaldo tribute act, QPR struggled to carve out opportunities. It did not appear much of a problem because Swansea were impotent at the other end after their brief flurry of pressure. Perspiration was now trumping inspiration.
- Queens Park Rangers (4-1-4-1): R Cerny — P Ramage, F Hall (sub: D Delaney, 83min), K Gorkss, M Connolly — J López (sub: L Miller, 87) — M Alberti, M Leigertwood, H Ephraim, A Taarabt — S Di Carmine (sub: H Helguson, 74). Substitutes not used: R Vine, A German. Booked: Leigertwood.
- Swansea City (4-2-1-3): D de Vries — A Rangel, G Monk, A Williams, A Serran — J Allen (sub: L Britton, 87), D Pratley — G Bauzà — J Gómez (sub: N Dyer, 62), G Pintado (sub: J Scotland, 69), T Butler. Substitutes not used: A Orlandi, M Collins. Booked: Pratley.
- Referee: G Horwood. The Times
The Independent/Conrad Leach - Hope for Sousa as winless run ends
- As players of the same age group, there was no comparison between Paulo Sousa and Roberto Martinez, the former being the famed Portugal international with Champions League winner's medals from two consecutive seasons in the mid-Nineties, with two different clubs, the latter a Spaniard who became famous, in Wigan at least, thanks to his work in the bottom two divisions with Wigan Athletic.
- As managers, there has been some sort of role reversal, to judge by the Championship table, although Sousa is newer to this part of the game. But this victory last night showed that Sousa, the Queen's Park Rangers manager, has designs on besting his fellow Iberian there, too. He showed how proud he was of this result, when he said: "We've had a lot of critics and adversity inside and outside the club, but we beat the best football-playing team in the division, who have had the same manager for four years. As for the play-offs, we keep trying to win every game. But we have 10 players out injured."
- Not that one victory in 10 games is any reason yet for the former Juventus and Borussia Dortmund midfielder to claim he has mastered the art of management, although it lifted Rangers to within four points of Swansea City and seven points shy of the play-offs. Martinez has certainly mastered the art of not taking defeat kindly, blaming the bumpy pitch for affecting his players, but an 11th game in 36 days is as good a reason as any for his side failing to push into the top six.
- There was never likely to be much more than a single-goal margin at Loftus Road. After all, Swansea have drawn more games than anyone else in the division and Rangers had not scored in their previous four matches. Take away Dexter Blackstock, Rangers' top scorer with 12 goals, as the result of a hamstring injury, and the odds were even shorter.
- Curiously, Martinez did likewise with his main attacking threat, Jason Scotland, leaving him on the bench. He did introduce the striker later, but he was unable to provide an equaliser.
- The closest the hosts came to scoring early on was when Adel Taarabt appeared to be brought down in the penalty area, although the referee ignored all claims. There seemed to be less danger in the 30th minute when Jordi Lopez curled in a free-kick from 40 yards out, but then Mikele Leigertwood got in front of his marker to head past Dorus De Vries to foster some late-season optimism in west London.
- Queen's Park Rangers (4-5-1): Cerny; Ramage, Hall (Delaney, 84), Gorkss, Connolly; Alberti, Ephraim, Lopez (Miller, 87), Leigertwood, Taarabt; Di Carmine (Helguson, 74). Substitutes not used: Vine, German.
- Swansea City (4-4-2): De Vries; Rangel, Monk, Williams, Serran; Gomez (Dyer, 62), Allen (Britton, 87), Pratley, Butler; Pintado (Scotland, 69), Bauza. Substitutes not used: Orlandi, Collins. Referee: G Horwood (Bedfordshire). The Independent
The Sun/Paul Jiggins
- PAULO SOUSA never feared for his job as QPR boss before ending a nine-game winless streak.
- And the Portuguese coach is full of belief in his methods as he eyes the play-offs after Mikele Leigertwood nodded in a 30th-minute winner.
- Sousa’s future has been the subject of debate in recent weeks but he now reckons his Hoops can make up a seven-point gap that separates them from the top six.
- He said: “We have had critics from outside the club but we have a team with union who try to get three points every match.
- “The board has always been supportive. I don’t care about opponents when we’re looking at reaching the play-offs.
- “It’s not easy to deal with everything here but I believe in our work. This victory has been a long time coming.”
- Swans have now lost to Charlton, Crystal Palace, Watford and QPR on the road and are three points outside the play-off spots.
- There is certainly still hope for manager Roberto Martinez, but if they do miss out on a place in the top six he will look back on nights like this.
- Martinez left 21-goal top scorer Jason Scotland on the bench and it was not until he came on with 20 minutes left that Swans looked like scoring.
- He said: “We did make changes due to fatigue. We’re paying the price for the run of games we’ve had in a short time.
- “If we want to arrive in the play-offs to challenge, we must arrive fresh and at the top of our ability.” The Sun
Daily Mail/Graham Otway - Leigertwood eases the pressure on Sousa
- Mikele Leigertwood’s powerful header on the half-hour was enough to end QPR’s run of nine matches without a win. The midfielder nodded home Jordi Lopez’s free-kick, but it was very much against the run of play.
- Swansea manager Roberto Martinez said: ‘No-one deserved to win that game. We
didn’t play up to our standards and Rangers achieved three points with a very average performance.’
- Hoop dreams: QPR players mob Leigertwood (second left)
The Welsh side had controlled the match up until the goal, with Radek Cerny having to make two fine saves to keep out long-range efforts by Jordi Gomez.
- Clear chances were at a premium, though, with Swansea missing the influence of top scorer Jason Scotland, who was left on the bench.
- QPR manager Paulo Sousa insisted: ‘You have to play well to beat a quality team like Swansea.’ Mail
Mirror MIKE FIRES UP SOUSA
- Mikele Leigertwood gave QPR their first win in 10 games last night to ease the pressure on coach Paulo Sousa.
- Leigertwood headed home a Hogan Ephraim free-kick on 30 minutes, but the unconvincing victory and poor crowd showed the Rangers boss still has work to do.
- Sousa declared: "We are working to win every game. We kept trying in the past and we will keep trying in the future."
- Swansea boss Roberto Martinez said: "We are paying the price for the amount of games we have been playing." Mirror
SWANSEA OFFICIAL SITE Match Report
-The Swans were condemned to yet another defeat in London as QPR clinched all three points with a solitary first-half goal.
- It fell to midfielder Mikele Leigertwood who found space inside the area to head home Jordi Lopez's free-kick on the half-hour mark.
- The Swans did have the odd effort but rarely threatened their hosts in a far from entertaining clash in Shepherd's Bush.
- Roberto made five changes to his starting line-up for the match at Loftus Road.
- There was a return at the back for skipper Garry Monk who replaced Albert Serran, but the Spanish defender slotted in at left-back in place of the injured Alan Tate.
- Joe Allen and Guillem Bauza came in to midfield in place of Leon Britton and Jordi Gomez, who moved out wide to replace Nathan Dyer, while Mark Gower made way for Tom Butler.
- The final change came in attack where Gorka Pintado, who was on target in the loss against Crystal Palace, took the place of Jason Scotland....
- It took some time for Roberto's side to get themselves into this game as the hosts did well at keeping the ball, but the Swans did carve out two fine opportunities in quick succession with five minutes played.
- Firstly, Gorka Pintado, making his first league start since November, raced on to the end of Angel Rangel's long ball forward but lost out inside the area, while Jordi Gomez tested Radek Cerny from 20-yards.
- The Spanish playmaker also fancied his chances from just outside the box on the angle with 17 minutes played, taking a touch before curling a wicked strike towards goal, one that Cerny fumbled inside his six-yard area only to safely collect it moments later.
- QPR continued to dominate in the middle of the park, however, and with 30 minutes played two of Rangers' midfielders combined to break the deadlock.
- Darren Pratley was penalised for handball 15-yards outside of the area, Jordi Lopez whipped the free-kick into the heart of the area and Mikele Leigertwood was first to the ball to head past Dorus de Vries.
- The visitors struggled to break down the strong home defence as and just couldn't get the rhythm going as the remainder of the half passed by with neither side creating any clear cut chances.
- Half-Time: QPR 1 Swans 0
- The Swans burst out of the blocks at the start of the second-half and within 50 seconds could have found themselves level as Gorka Pintado latched on to the end of Guillem Bauza's ball over the top, El Toro cut inside Peter Ramage and, from point blank range, forced an excellent stop from Cerny.
- Ramage then cleared along the byline to Tom Butler, who cut inside and sent a curling effort in to the safe hands of the goalkeeper.
- Chances were few and far between for both sides as the game approached the hour mark. Roberto made his first change of the evening shortly after as Nathan Dyer came on to replace Jordi Gomez - the on loan Southampton winger took up residence on the left-hand side while Tom Butler moved over to the right.
- And after five minutes he fired his first attempt at goal from inside the area and receiving the ball from Butler on the right.
- Jason Scotland was thrown on for the final 20 or so minutes in place of Gorka Pintado who rarely threatened in front of goal during his time on the pitch.
- A series of Swansea City corners was followed by the next clear cut effort 10 minutes from time as Bauza intercepted a pass from Serran, took the ball into the area and forced Cerny into making a save low to his right.
- Hoops' substitute Heidar Helguson squandered a chance from close-range while Angel Rangel fired across goal and straight at Cerny, but the home side held on to condemn the Swans to yet another defeat in London. Swansea Official
QPR Official Site - Match Report
- A bullet header from Mikele Leigertwood meant QPR returned to winning ways as they impressively triumphed over a spirited Swansea City side at Loftus Road.
- Jordi Lòpez's beautifully taken free-kick on the half hour found the airborne skipper who arrowed a header into the far corner to hand Rangers their first win in 10 matches.
- The home side dominated throughout and could've added to their lead had Adel Taarabt been a touch more accurate with his long range piledriver, and Heidar Helguson had a little more time.
- Yet despite the absence of up to eight First Team squad members through injury, Paulo Sousa's side outclassed one of the finer footballing sides in the division.
- The win will come as welcome relief to fans and management alike, and may breathe new life into thoughts of a late play-off charge.
- Looking at the team sheet for the home side and it was safe to say one name stood out - Rowan Vine made his long-awaited comeback from a broken leg to take up a seat on the bench and resume First Team duties.
- He was joined by fellow absentee Helguson, recent First Team debutant Antonio German, and Ireland duo Damien Delaney and Liam Miller.
- Four changes to the starting eleven saw Taarabt, on-loan from Tottenham Hotspur, make his full debut after his cameo appearance against Southampton last time out, and a return to the side for Italian striker Samuel Di Carmine.
- Matteo Alberti regained a starting berth at right midfield, with Taarabt on the left, Hogan Ephraim tucked in behind Di Carmine, and Jordi Lòpez and stand-in skipper Leigertwood completed the midfield.
- The final change could be found in the heart of the defence. In came Fitz Hall, alongside Kaspars Gorkss, with Matt Connolly and Peter Ramage taking the full-back spots.
- Swans' Manager Roberto Martinez felt he could do without leading scorer Jason Scotland and winger Nathan Dyer, with both making the bench.
- There were starts, however, for Spaniard Jordi Gomez, fellow midfielder Darren Pratley and Garry Monk at the back.
- And it was the impressive Gomez who had the first attempt on target. Shrugging off Ephraim, he let a bouncing ball fall to his desired height and volleyed a speculative effort straight at R's keeper Radek Cerny, who gratefully caught with ease.
- Cerny had a little more difficulty with another long range Gomez shot. When the Spaniard picked up possession in the inside right position, he moved the ball to his left foot before cracking a drive goal-bound. Slightly lower than the first, Cerny spilled the ball, but dived forward to smother at the second attempt.
- Rangers, not to be outdone on their home turf, followed Swansea's example, but when Ephraim broke through the middle and fed Leigertwood, the latter picked out Ramage. The right back attempted a curling left-footer that took a heavy deflection into the path of Taarabt, who in turn smashed his drive well over.
- With half an hour gone, Rangers opened the scoring for the evening. Leigertwood won a free-kick at the expense of Pratley, and when Lòpez produced a cross of the finest quality, the R's captain was on hand to meet it with a thumping header and powered the ball home beyond Dorus de Vries and into the far corner.
- Eager to overturn the deficit, Swansea raced out of the blocks in the second half. Thomas Butler released Gorka Pintado down the left and the Spanish striker cut inside Hall and, with only Cerny to beat, was denied by a fantastic stop by the R's Czech stopper.
- Following up, Pintado was only denied a second bite of the cherry by a lunging Gorkss, who knocked the ball away for corner in the nick of time.
From then on, it was the visitors who largely dominated possession, but they found themselves up against a resolute blue and white defence.
Having said that, when Taarabt was found on the left and treated the crowd to some quick feet and trickery, his eventual pass found Ephraim, who had no hesitation in trying his luck from the edge of the box. His curling shot, however, was straight down the throat of de Vries.
Now it was the turn of the home side to assert their authority on proceedings but Connolly, usually so assured in possession, almost handed Swansea a lifeline. After Gorkss had cleared a long ball, the left back inexplicably headed the ball back towards the R's goal where Swans substitute Dyer was lurking.
- Taking control, the diminutive winger shrugged off his marker and snapped off a shot which, luckily for Connolly, failed to trouble Cerny.
- But despite the minor fright, Rangers were in full flow. Alberti drilled a pass to Di Carmine who laid it off for Taarabt on 69 minutes, but the Moroccan's well-hit drive arrowed narrowly wide.
- With little over quarter of an hour left to play, boss Paulo Sousa made his first change. The tiring Di Carmine made way for Helguson.
- By this time, Scotland had come on for the Swans, and he was only denied a clear shot on goal by a fine block by Gorkss, with Hall rescuing his defensive partner by hacking the loose ball away before the Trinidad & Tobago striker could pick the scraps.
- Swansea were looking to find a way back into the match, but when a corner broke down, the ball found its way to Taarabt on the right, who held the ball up and played in Ephraim, who beat a man before fizzing a right-wing cross into the box. Monk, looking to beat the rampaging Helguson to the ball, almost did the work for the Icelander, skewing the ball very nearly into his own net.
- Not long after that chance, Rangers were forced to make their second change of the evening. Hall, who had taken a knock, failed to shake it off and was replaced with Delaney.
- Another chance for the home side came and went seconds later, as Ephraim and Taarabt combined to set Helguson free through the middle. But with two defenders closing him down, his hurried shot flew over the bar.
- But it proved to be Rangers' day, and they held on to claim a victory that, by the celebrations amongst the players and staff alike at the final whistle, meant so much to them.... Attendance: 12,288 QPR
See also:
- Clive Whittingham/LoftforWords Match Report
- Please post any comments you may have on the QPR Report Messageboard. Thanks)
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