QPR's Win Against Southend - Monday Reports

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The Times

August 14, 2006


Blackstock emerges from shadow of Walcott
By Ron Lewis

Queens Park Rangers 2 Southend United 0


WHEN DEXTER BLACKSTOCK LAST played at Loftus Road, he was one talented teenager in a Southampton side that also featured Theo Walcott. That was Walcott’s last club match before he was signed by Arsenal and taken to the World Cup finals by England. The past seven months for Blackstock, however, have been somewhat less memorable. He found himself out of favour at Southampton and signed for Queens Park Rangers last week. At least he got to play when he moved to London.
Blackstock, 20, was a key member of a QPR side that produced a brilliant first-half display. He is part of an injection of youth that has been made by Gary Waddock, the manager, to a creaking QPR squad. Particularly impressive was Ray Jones, a 17-year-old beanpole of a striker who was brought to the club a year ago having slipped past the scouts for London’s more fashionable outfits. Jones and Blackstock looked a dangerous partnership.



“When you are that age there is no fear, you have nothing to lose, it’s like it was with Theo,” Blackstock said. “I think there has been way too much hype [around Walcott], a ridiculous amount of expectation for a 16, 17-year-old.”

QPR had carved Southend open several times by the time Martin Rowlands gave them the lead on 31 minutes with a thunderbolt of a free kick from 25 yards. Ten minutes later, after Blackstock’s cross from the right, Jones beat Darryl Flahavan, the Southend United goalkeeper, to the high ball and Nick Ward, a 21-year-old Australian, tapped in the loose ball.

This was QPR’s first win at Loftus Road since Waddock’s first match as caretaker manager against Millwall more than six months ago. “It’s a fantastic feeling,” Waddock said. “I want to achieve things here.”

Times


TELEGRAPH - Blackstock has winning start
By Matthew Leach -14/08/2006

Queens Park Rangers (2) 2 Southend United (0) 0

Queens Park Rangers claimed their first win of the season thanks in no small part to the performances of debutant Dexter Blackstock and his tall strike-partner Ray Jones, just 17.

Blackstock, 20, who signed from Southampton on Wed-nesday and trained with the squad for the first time on Friday, even had time to give support to another 17-year-old, Theo Walcott, of Arsenal, his former Saints team-mate.

"Theo's got a big year ahead of him, like myself. There was way too much pressure and hype around him [over his England selection]. Let him play in the Under 21s and I'm sure he'll be back in the senior squad. He's going to be a great star."

A thunderous 25-yard free kick from Martin Rowlands in the 31st minute, after Lee Cook's touch back, gave Southend's keeper Darryl Flahavan no chance and helped Rangers to relax. Ten minutes later Nick Ward had an easy tap-in after good work by Blackstock and Jones.

Gary Waddock, the QPR manager and former youth team coach, celebrated his first home win in six months by emphasising that his young players will get their chance. "They can see Ray Jones and Shabazz [Baidoo] pushing through. They know if they're good enough, I'll put them in." After a bright start to the season for Steve Tilson's promoted Southend, two successive losses have highlighted the harsh reality of Championship football.

Despite clever probings by Jamal Campbell-Ryce and the efforts of strikers Freddy Eastwood and Lee Bradbury, there was no way past goal-keeper Paul Jones.

However, Tilson remains upbeat. "The second half has shown we can compete in this league."
Telegraph

Compilation of Match Reports on the Official Site

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