QPR 19th: Sheffield Wednesday 3 QPR 2 - Reports & Comments

-
TABLE: BOTTOM 8 of the Championship
Sunderland 13 16
Stoke 13 15
QPR 13 13
Sheff Wed 13 13
Barnsley 13 12
Southend 13 10
Leeds 13 10
Hull 13 9
Leage Table

QPR Official Site - John Gregory's Comments IT'S A DOGFIGHT
John Gregory readily admitted the R's are in a 'relegation dogfight' after the 3-2 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
A Marcus Tudgay brace and a controversial Steve MacLean spot-kick gave the Owls maximum points, after Rangers had fought back from 2-0 down thanks to a Dexter Blackstock double.
"There's still a lot to be worked on and make no mistake, we're in a dogfight,'' Gregory told www.qpr.co.uk.
"Thankfully some of the other results went for us today, but we need to return to winning ways - and quickly.''
Gregory was also keen to have his say on the controversial spot-kick, which led to the Owls winner.
"I thought it was a cast iron penalty from the touchline, but Jonah and the rest of the lads have assured me there was no contact,'' he said.
"Jonah told me he got a foot on the ball and their lad made the most of it.''
After conceding three more goals, Gregory is aware of the need to improve things in the defensive third.
"We were very nervy at times at the back. We've basically gifted them three goals by giving away possession in silly areas and you just can't afford to do that at this level.'' QPR Official Site

More Gregory Comment:
"...Rangers boss John Gregory was not convinced goalkeeper Paul Jones had touched the striker.
"Jonah said he didn't think it was a penalty," he said.
"He felt he got a foot on the ball and two or three of the defending players all said the same.
"But we gave the ball way in the middle of midfield and you can't do that against anybody.
"To lose the game in that manner was disappointing and we threw everything at them in the end - but we just couldn't that equaliser."
Gregory also accused Wednesday's players of failing to give 100% in previous games under Sturrock.
"I think they have been selling their previous manager short if they can put in that sort of performance today," he claimed.
"Paul Sturrock must sit there and feel a little bit aggrieved because those boys today gave everything for the cause.
"Marcus Tudgay, who I know from my time at Derby, was a real handful and took his two goals very well."
Sporting Life

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY MANAGER's PERSPECTIVE
McAuley: "Credit The Players"
Acting Wednesday manager Sean McAuley said the players should take all the credit for the Owls' 3-2 win over Queens Park Rangers following a difficult week at Hillsborough.
The hosts were pegged back from a 2-0 lead before winning the game through Steven MacLean's penalty and McAuley stressed that the three points should take precedence over everything else to do with the club.
The Sheffielder said: "We should focus on the performance of the players - they need to take all the credit. When somebody scores two against you in quick succession it can harm you. But they kept a belief in themselves and pushed on. It showed a lot of character and good mental strength."
McAuley said the way the Owls reacted to Dexter Blackstock's lightning brace was all the more impressive in the wake of their midweek thrashing at Colchester United: "We've got to remember what happened to the players on Wednesday night," he added.
Graham Coughlan missed out on the win with a hamstring injury and Deon Burton limped off with a calf strain, but not before he had played Marcus Tudgay in for his opening goal.
Tudgay went on to form a threatening partnership with MacLean, which pleased McAuley:
"Marcus went out and gave 100 per cent, and got his reward with the two goals," he said. "He formed a good relationship with Deon Burton and then Steven MacLean. That can only be good for the future for the club."
Sheffield Wednesday



QPR OFFICIAL SITE - Match Report
Dexter Blackstock's second half double counted for nothing, as a Steve MacLean spot-kick gave managerless Wednesday all three points.
Trailing 2-0 at the break, Blackstock had sparked hopes of a memorable Rangers comeback when he scored two goals in four second half minutes to put the R's on terms.
But his efforts ultimately proved in vein, when Paul Jones was adjudged to have sent MacLean tumbling to ground inside the box on 67 minutes and the same player converted to seal the hosts' victory.
Rangers somehow found themselves trailing 2-0 at the break, despite dominating for long spells at Hillsborough. Marcus Tudgay capitalised on a rare misplaced pass from Jimmy Smith to break the deadlock on12 minutes, before adding a second on the stroke of half-time.
In truth, the R's could have been three goals to the good by the time Tudgay opened his account for the afternoon, with Dexter Blackstock twice testing Brad Jones and Lee Cook letting fly from fully 25-yards.
But having failed to take their chances, the R's paid the ultimate price on 45 minutes, whenTudgay headed home unmarked at the back post.
John Gregory named the same starting XI for the third match in succession, which meant Chelsea loanee Smith continued his flourishing partnership with skipper Marc Bircham in the heart of the R's midfield.
His Blues team-mate Michael Mancienne was again named amongst the substitutes, alongside Simon Royce, Matthew Rose, Nicky Ward and Kevin Gallen.
The Owls - under the guidance of Caretaker Manager Sean McAuley - included Deon Burton, who found the net in the 1-1 draw at Hillsborough last season.
Despite all the pre-match protests from the Wednesday fans, Rangers were by no means overawed by the hostile home crowd, creating a chance inside the opening 60 seconds.
Unsurprisingly, it was Cook who sparked them into life, smashing a fierce drive on target, which Middlesbrough loanee Brad Jones did well to tip away for a corner.
The R's were enjoying the lion's share of possession in the opening stages and when Cook's jinking run ended with a neat pass to Blackstock, the Rangers front-man forced Jones into a fine parry from 12-yards.
The same two players combined again on seven minutes, with Blackstock heading straight at Jones from another inch-perfect Cook delivery.
Yet despite Rangers' solid start, it was the Owls who took the lead on 12 minutes, with their first attack of the contest.
A rare misplaced pass from Smith fell perfectly into the path of Burton, who in turn slid a slide-rule pass through to Tudgay.
The Wednesday front-man made no mistake from 12-yards, holding off Zesh Rehman and finishing with aplomb into the left hand corner.
Undeterred, Rangers were soon back on the front foot, only for Martin Rowlands to get his angles all wrong, curling the ball high and wide from the edge of the box.

Damion Stewart was at full stretch to prevent Burton from heading into an empty net after fine wide play from Frank Simek on 26 minutes, before Marcus Bignot received a yellow card when he hacked down the advancing Wade Small.

And from the resultant free-kick, Smith joined him in the referee's notebook, for presumably failing to retreat the full 10-yards as Chris Brunt shaped up to let fly.

At the other end, Ray Jones' stinging drive from an acute angle brought out the best in his namesake Brad Jones, as the R's continued to create the better opportunities.

But it was Wednesday winger Small who spurned the next golden opportunity, slicing his far post strike into the Kop from little more than eight-yards.

As the half neared its conclusion, a trademark free-kick from Cook was easily gathered by Jones, while Brunt's speculative volley - albeit from a ridiculous angle -flew into Row Z!

R's skipper Bircham was forced from the fray on 44 minutes, with debutant Mancienne taking his place. Steve Lomas reverted to his more accomplished midfield role, but just seconds later Rangers conceded a second.

Tudgay arrived bang on cue to head home Brunt's cross and send the Wednesday fans into ecstasy.

Hope of a Rangers revival loomed large four minutes into the second half, when Blackstock met Cook's piercing centre and thrashed an unstoppable close range finish past Jones.

The R's attack only arose after a poor piece of defending involving the Owls keeper and skipper Madjid Bougherra, but the visitors duly took full advantage.

If Rangers fans were buoyed by that, they were in dreamland three minutes later, when Blackstock added his second.

Cook again played provider, floating an inch-perfect cross on to the head of the former Saints striker, who duly beat Jones from six-yards.

Gregory was forced into his second change on 66 minutes, as Rowlands made way for Nicky Ward.

Sixty seconds later, the R's conceded a penalty when Paul Jones was adjudged to have sent Steve MacLean to ground inside the box, after Ward had conceded possession all too easily in the heart of the Rangers midfield.

The Rangers keeper was lucky to escape with just a booking, but there was to be no second reprieve, as MacLean picked himself up, brushed himself down and sent the Welsh custodian the wrong way from the spot.

Bougherra nearly made it four on 79 minutes, but thankfully for the R's, the outstanding Cook was in the right place at the right time, to clear the ball off the line.

Moments later MacLean should have doubled his tally for the afternoon - only to blast over with the goal gaping.
The introduction of Kevin Gallen on 85 minutes prompted a tactical reshuffle, yet despite the R's best efforts in four minutes of added time - when Cook twice tested Jones - it was not to be.
Sheffield Wednesday: Jones, Lunt, Tudgay (Talbot 90), Burton (MacLean 39), Brunt, Hills, Small, Simek, Bougherra, Folly, Spurr.
Subs: Adamson, Bullen, Whelan.
Scorers: Tudgay 12, Tudgay 45, MacLean 67
Bookings: Simek 52
QPR: P Jones, Lomas, Stewart, Rehman, Bignot (Gallen 85), Rowlands (Ward 66), Bircham (Mancienne 44), Smith, Cook, Blackstock, R Jones.
Subs: Royce, Rose.
Scorers: Blackstock 49, Blackstock 53
Bookings: Bignot 28, Smith 29, P Jones 67, Lomas 86
Referee: Mr K Hill
Attendance: 23, 813
QPR Official Site

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY OFFICIAL SITE
A penalty from Steven MacLean earned the Owls their third win of the season, as they recovered from losing a two-goal lead to beat Queens Park Rangers.

Marcus Tudgay had scored a first-half double to put Wednesday in the driving seat but that advantage was cancelled out by Dexter Blackstock's brace after the interval.

However MacLean popped up to convert a 70th minute penalty after being fouled, giving the Owls a second successive home triumph.

Brad Jones had a save to make with just over a minute played, turning Lee Cook's drive over the top after a jinking run by the Rangers man. Another burst from Cook saw the Owls keeper dive to hold Blackstock's effort and the pair teamed up again with Jones stopping Blackstock's diving header.

But it was the Owls who broke the deadlock with the clock showing 13 minutes, as Tudgay ran onto a Deon Burton throughball and coolly steered his left-foot shot into the far corner of Paul Jones' net.

A timely interception from Damion Stewart denied Tudgay a shot at a second goal when the centre-back headed Wade Small's cross to safety as the Wednesday man lurked at the far post. And the Owls saw a double opportunity go begging as John Hills' cross evaded Kenny Lunt's lunge and Small sliced his shot off the side of his boot.

Brunt then fired Small's centre well over the top and a timely block from Blackstock halted Tudgay as he looked to turn onto Lunt's low drive. But the former Derby man had been sniffing another goal since his opener and it came in first half stoppage time, as he met Hills' deep cross with a downward back post header past Paul Jones.

However Wednesday's lead evaporated within eight minutes of the restart, as Blackstock converted two Cook crosses to bring the Londoners level. First he sidefooted home in the 50th minute before glancing a header into Brad Jones' far corner three minutes later.

A lull in scoring chances then transpired before Wednesday got back in front with 20 minutes to go. MacLean got in behind the R's defence and rounded Paul Jones before the veteran stopped tripped him. The Scotsman stepped up to plant his kick into the left-hand corner of the keeper's net, sending him the wrong way.

Small fired over from MacLean's lay-off and Madjid Bougherra - captaining the side in Graham Coughlan's absence - had a headed nodded off the line by Cook as the Owls looked for a fourth.

MacLean then looped the ball over the top after Small failed to connect cleanly with Frank Simek's cross. The visitors had a chance when Cook drove across goal in injury time and the winger also tested Paul Jones from distance but the Owls held for the points.
Sheffield Wednesday