Luton Defeat QPR 2-0

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Luton Official Site

Luton recorded their first victory over QPR in 15 games as Markus Heikkinen and Steve Howard both found the target at Kenilworth Road.
Heikkinen had given Luton an early first-half lead but the match wasn't made totally safe until Howard hit his 99th goal for the club, five minutes from the end.
The home-side also had two goals disallowed, one through Howard and the other by Warren Feeney, as Mike Newell's team recorded only their second win in nine games.
Luton went into the game boosted by the news that Howard was fit to play despite struggling throughout the week with an ankle injury that had made him a doubt in the pre-match build-up.
Howard's inclusion meant Newell named the same starting line-up that was defeated by Wolves last Friday with Enoch Showunmi continuing his role in central midfield and recent signing David Bell remaining on the bench.
Likewise, Ian Holloway, the QPR manager, named an unchanged starting line-up from last week's victory over Southampton with Georges Santos recovering from an ankle injury.
Both sides made a nervous start to the game but Luton almost made the breakthrough in bizarre circumstances within five minutes. Kevin Foley's surging run down the right saw the Luton full-back twice try and whip in a cross into the area with his second attempt hitting the heel of Matthew Rose and striking the crossbar.
QPR almost broke the deadlock themselves on nine minutes when Marcus Bignot wormed his way past two Luton defenders to cut a pass inside the area that Gareth Ainsworth fired over the crossbar from 15-yards.
Luton were beginning to see more of the play and a dangerous corner from Kevin Nicholls helped the home-side opening the scoring on 12 minutes. The Luton skipper picked out Chris Coyne at the far post and after a bit of head tennis in the penalty area, Paul Underwood nodded on for Heikkinen to head past Simon Royce from close range.
AFTER 15 MINS: Luton 1 v 0 QPR
The visitors continued to look dangerous going forward and Lee Cook should have found the target on 20 minutes when the midfielder split open Luton's midfield to drill a left footed shot narrowly wide of Marlon Beresford's goal.
Showunmi almost doubled Luton's advantage on 25 minutes when he flicked Underwood's near-post corner towards goal. The Nigerian rose highest in a packed penalty area and showed tremendous aerial strength to almost beat Royce from an acute angle.
AFTER 30 MINS: Luton 1 v 0 QPR
Rangers continued to find space in Luton's penalty area and, on 39 minutes, Richard Langley should have found the target from 15-yards but squandered his effort after the home-side's defence were caught napping from a set piece.
The visitors were dominating the midfield battle with Rangers able to press forward with ease. Bignot had an opportunity for Rangers on 43 minutes but his shot flew straight into the arms of Beresford.
Luton thought they had taken a two-goal lead when Howard had the ball in the back of the net on the stroke of half-time. The former Northampton striker rose highest to beat Royce and head home Rowan Vine's right wing cross but referee Richard Beeby adjudged the striker had impeded the Rangers goalkeeper in the penalty area, which resulted in the Northamptonshire official leaving to a chorus of boos at half-time.
AT HALF TIME: LUTON 1 V 0 QPR
QPR came storming out of the block after the restart with Luton quickly under the cosh in the early stages of the second-half. Paul Furlong almost brought the visitors back on level terms on 50 minutes but couldn't guide a near post header on target after Ainsworth's cross from the right.
Rangers began to boss proceedings with Luton's midfield, at times, looking lost and unable to cope with the visitors' pace. Langley saw a glimpse of goal on 59 minutes but failed to trouble Beresford with a 10-yard shot that travelled straight into the arms of the Luton goalkeeper.
AFTER 60 MINS: Luton 1 QPR 0
Beresford was called upon to make a smart save on 62 minutes when he denied Furlong from close range. After collecting a short pass from Ainsworth, Furlong turned instantly to see his shot from six-yards that was blocked by the Luton goalkeeper.
To try and strengthen the midfield, Newell threw Leon Barnett into the fold as Showunmi, who had been struggling throughout, was replaced.
For the second time in the game Luton had an effort ruled out when Feeney was deemed to be standing in an offside position after striking home a loose ball. Howard and Carlos Edwards both saw shots saved by ex-Hatter Royce but as the ball broke into Feeney's path, the linesman was quick to raise his flag.
AFTER 75 MIN: Luton 1 QPR 0
Fenney almost got his name on the score sheet on 79 minutes when the Northern Ireland striker struck a ferocious shot across the face of QPR's goal after striking his effort first time from Edwards' pass.
With Luton beginning to dominate possession a goal was always possible and the home side made the match safe as Howard stroked home his 11th goal of the season. The striker was in the right place as Edwards dragged the ball back, after a powerful run down the flank, for Howard to side-foot home.
AT FULL TIME: Luton 2 QPR 0
Luton: Beresford, Foley, Coyne, Underwood, Edwards, Nicholls, Vine (Feeney 65), Showunmi (Barnett 64), Brkovic (Morgan 74), Howard, Heikkinen
Subs not used: Bell, Brill,
Bookings: Feeney (69)
QPR: Royce, Bignot (Taylor 83), Shittu, Rose, Ainsworth (Moore 79), Santos, Cook, Baidoo (Nygaard h/t), Furlong, Lomas, Langley
Subs not used: Milanese, Donnelly,
Bookings: Shittu (56), Langley (84)
Referee: Mr R J Beeby
Attendance: 9,797 (1,800 from QPR)
http://www.lutontown.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10372~30658,00.html


QPR OFFICIAL SITE

Rangers' four match unbeaten league run came to an end at Kenilworth Road.
Goals in each half from Markus Heikkinen and Steve Howard clinched a 2-0 victory for the hosts, who jumped above the Hoops in the Championship table as a result of the three point haul.
Defeat was a tad harsh on Rangers, who enjoyed a lot of attacking possession, but ultimately failed to make the most of their chances.
Heikkinen's 13th minute header had given Luton a 1-0 lead, before Howard's six-yard strike sealed the win late on.The half-time scoreline was rather harsh on the Hoops, who enjoyed the lion's share of possession and crafted a hatful of goalscoring opportunities.
But the visitors were the own worst enemies for the goal they conceded, failing to clear their lines sufficiently from a corner and gifting Heikkinen acres of space to head home.
Ian Holloway named an unchanged line up, with Georges Santos overcoming an ankle injury to retain his place alongside Dan Shittu in the heart of the Hoops back four.
Marc Nygaard returned from injury to take his place on the Rangers substitute's bench, but there was no place in the 16 for new signing Marcin Kus.
After an encouraging opening for Rangers, it was Luton who came within a lick of paint of taking a fourth minute lead when Kevin Foley's strike was deflected off Matthew Rose and struck the face of Simon Royce's left hand post.
But Rangers were soon on the front foot with Gareth Ainsworth flashing a right footed strike a yard wide of Marlon Beresford's right post.
From their very next attack Lee Cook was sent tumbling to ground and Richard Langley's resultant free kick forced Beresford into a fine save with the ball destined for the back of the net.
Marcus Bignot was the surprise provider for Rangers' next effort on goal, but after his fine solo run down the right flank, the onrushing Ainsworth was unable to apply the finishing touch, blazing over from the edge of the six-yard box.
But it was Luton who took the lead against the run of play on 13 minutes when, after Rangers failed to clear their lines sufficiently from a corner, Marcus Heikkinen was gifted time and space to plant his header past the static Royce from just inside the six-yard box.
Undeterred, Rangers continued to take the game to their hosts, with the lively Cook ghosting past Carlos Edwards and Enoch Showunmi before firing just wide of the post.
Luton's biggest threat continued to be from set-pieces, with the gangly Showunmi glancing a near post header just wide on 25 minutes.
Rangers finished the half in the ascendancy, with the impressive Bignot firing a fizzing right footed strike straight at Beresford.
But it was Luton who felt hard done by on the stroke of half-time, when Steve Howard's header was ruled out for a foul on Royce, when it appeared as though there was very little contact between the pair.
Holloway introduced Nygaard at the expense of Baidoo on the resumption and the big man soon ruffled a few feathers in the Luton back four, linking up well with Cook to earn Rangers a corner.
But it was Nygaard's strike partner Paul Furlong that squandered a golden chance to put Rangers on terms soon after, when, after good work on the right flank from Ainsworth, the veteran striker's near post header flashed over the bar.
Furlong was proving a constant threat in the air and on 54 minutes the powerhouse front-man glanced Cook's corner narrowly wide.
Shittu entered the referee's notebook for a clumsy foul on Howard a minute later, but the resultant free-kick came to nothing.
Luton's first attack of note arrived on the hour, but after a fine flick on from Howard, Rowan Vine's finish lacked conviction.
Rangers should've been on terms a minute later. Ainsworth's run at the heart of the hosts defence eventually saw him pull the ball back for Furlong, who having turned his man with ease, was only denied by an outstanding Beresford stop.
Luton had a second goal chalked out on 67 minutes, when second half substitute Warren Feeney, who was booked for his protests, was adjudged to have been in an offside position after Edwards and Howard were earlier denied by Royce.
Feeney's introduction certainly seemed to have the desired effect for Mike Newell, who saw his Northern Ireland hit-man glance a near post header inches wide on 70 minutes.
Matthew Rose was getting forward regularly and when his cross found Nygaard, the Rangers faithful behind the goal were waiting for the net to bulge, only for Beresford to produce a comfortable save.
At the other end, Feeney fired wide, before Ainsworth made way for Stefan Moore and Andy Taylor replaced Bignot.
Victory was all but sealed for the Hatters on 84 minutes, when Howard poached home from the edge of the six-yard box after a fine solo run from Trinidad and Tobago international Edwards.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~771938,00.html


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