QPR vs Norwich - Further Reports & Comments

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BBC- QPR & NORWICH MANAGERS'COMMENTS
QPR manager John Gregory:
"We gifted our three goals, which is something that was becoming a habit here.
"If everything had been perfect, they wouldn't have brought me here in the first place - but the players showed great spirit."
Norwich caretaker boss Martin Hunter on the decision to add five minutes of injury time:
"I asked the fourth official if he was counting the time on a sundial.
"The five minutes gave the home crowd a lift. But there are some proud players in that dressing room, and we showed more steel today.
"The division is very tight. No-one will run away with it this season."
BBC

INDEPENDENT - QPR 3 Norwich City 3: Rowlands ruins Hunter's brief reign
By Jonathan Wilson at Loftus Road
A mayfly, the TV ad says, having a life span of only 24 hours, tries to make the most of every second. Martin Hunter, similarly, lived life to the full in his one game in charge of Norwich before Peter Grant takes over as Nigel Worthington's full-time successor tomorrow.
"Frustrating," was Hunter's one-word summary, but that was far from the full story.
"It was the old end-to-end football, to use the cliché," he added. "A great one for the spectators, but it was horrible sat on the bench. There were some very good pieces of play and some poor defending."
That pattern was evident as early as the fourth minute, as Lee Croft touched Dickson Etuhu's pass on to Darren Huckerby, who calmly tucked his finish under Paul Jones. Having conceded five while playing for Wales against Slovakia last Saturday, the keeper would have been forgiven for fearing another embarrassing afternoon, but he made a superb save plunging to his right to keep out a Rob Earnshaw header six minutes later, and that seemed to spark QPR into life.
Jimmy Smith equalised midway through the half, cleverly dropping off as Norwich's back four retreated and sidefooting a firm finish after gathering Lee Cook's pass in space just outside the area. Martin Rowlands then thumped in a free-kick to put the home side ahead in first-half injury time.
The introduction of the 37-year-old Dion Dublin turned things back Norwich's way, the veteran - who eight years ago was signed for Aston Villa by the QPR manager, John Gregory - levelling from an Andy Hughes cut-back with 18 minutes remaining. When Zesh Rehmann then hauled down Huckerby to earn a penalty that Rob Earnshaw converted, Norwich were dreaming of a first away win of the season.
Hunter bafflingly spoke of them having shown more "steel" than previously this season, but the announcement of five minutes of injury time induced panic. QPR swept forward, a half-blocked shot fell for Rowlands, and his first-time effort from a narrow angle squirted in off Paul Gallagher to extend Gregory's unbeaten start to life at Loftus Road to three. Independent

SUNDAY TIMES - QPR 3 Norwich City 3: Norwich squanders lead
Barry Flatman at Loftus Road
Anyone looking for a perfect illustration in the chasm of quality between the Premiership and Championship need look no further than this error strewn draw. However a week after experiencing the sort of humiliation which might drive lesser 39 year-olds directly into retirement, no blame could possibly be attributed to the ill-fated Paul Jones.
True the veteran Welshman conceded another three goals to add to the five scored by the Slovak Republic that will be lodged prominently in his conscience for the rest of his life. But all could be attributed to the inept defensive qualities of the men playing in front of him and if not for two morale boosting saves from international colleague Robert Earnshaw, he could again be looking at the sort of scoreline to promote more nightmares.
Norwich’s newly appointed manager Peter Grant has much on which to ponder before addressing the players tomorrow afternoon; not less the fact they twice squandered a lead and have still to win away in the league this season. But as Martin Hunter, caretaker for just one match and unsure what the future holds pointed out: “The two defining moments of the match were both wonderful saves from Paul Jones.”
QPR manager John Gregory, unbeaten in three matches since taking charge but by his own admission fortunate to pondering on a point concurred. But he had sympathy for Jones who was dropped from the Wales side that rebounded to beat Cyprus on Wednesday. “I put my arm around him when he came back on Thursday and had previously been on the phone to him,” said Gregory. “I assured him he would be playing today “He did very well for us. There was nothing he could do about any of the goal and we left him exposed for all of them.”
Only three minutes had elapsed when a deft touch by Lee Croft exposed the immobility of central defenders Zesh Rehman and Damion Stewart and allowed Darren Huckerby the simplest of chances to sidefoot a shot past an appalled and distinctly helpless Jones.
But the keeper’s stoicism was illustrated as he made a spectacular reflex stop from Earnshaw as the little striker was allowed immeasurable space in the penalty area for a free header from Croft’s cross. Early in the second half Earnshaw eluded his markers again and hit a rising right footed drive that was palmed over the crossbar.
In between QPR had snatched the lead with Jimmy Smith, loaned by Chelsea, scoring with a vicious 20 yard volley after neat play by Lee Cook and Martin Rowland following up with an equally well struck right footed drive to connect with Marc Bircham’s free kick.
Gregory seemed set for a third win in as many games until 37 year-old Dion Dublin was introduced as substitute and within four minutes had began and finished a neat move that again mocked QPR’s defending. Then Rehman made an indisputably bad day worse when he wrestled Huckerby to the floor and this time Earnshaw finally got the better of his Welsh compatriot with penalty.
The sight of an additional time board that showed five minutes was sufficient inspiration for QPR to fight back again and Rowlands took a chance with an angled drive from wide on the right and Paul Gallagher could only fumble the shot into the net at the near post. The length of the pitch distant stood Jones, magnanimous to the last, looking on with a mixture of happiness and sympathy.
Queens Park Rangers: P Jones, Lomas, Rehman, Stewart, Bignot, Rowlands, Bircham, Smith, Cook, R Jones, Blackstock
Norwich: Gallacher, Colin, Fleming, Shackell, Drury, Etuhu, Robinson, Hughes, Croft, Earnshaw, Huckerby Sunday Times

SUNDAY MIRROR RANGERS SNATCH A SHARE Ian Gibb At Loftus Road
WHAT a difference a week makes. Rangers keeper Paul Jones trudged from the Millennium Stadium pitch humiliated after his nightmare display in Wales's 5-1 defeat by Slovakia.
Yet the 39-year-old departed Loftus Road yesterday a hero after vital saves helped QPR salvage a precious point.
Jones clawed away a Rob Earnshaw header then turned another effort from his compatriot over the bar.
But it took Martin Rowlands' late second goal to earn a point against a Norwich side managed for the first and only time by caretaker Martin Hunter, before Peter Grant takes over tomorrow.
QPR boss John Gregory said: "Paul made two great saves to keep us in it.
"I just had a word when he came back on Thursday and told him he was starting today. I wanted to end any doubts because in our last two games he has done nothing wrong."
On a day of crazy defending, Rangers went behind when Darren Huckerby was left alone in the fourth minute to tuck the ball under Jones.
But Jimmy Smith, a 19-year-old midfielder on loan from Chelsea, hit a spectacular 24th-minute equaliser.
Then Rowlands fired a free-kick through the Norwich wall to make it 2-1 just before half-time.
Veteran Dion Dublin started and finished a brilliant 72nd-minute move before rolling in the equaliser. And six minutes from time, Zech Rahman tripped Huckerby in the box - Earnshaw scored from the spot.
But in added time Rowlands squeezed home an angled drive.
HOW THEY RATED
QPR - Jones 7, Lomas 5 (Rose 5), Rehman 4, Stewart 6, Bignot 7, ROWLANDS 8, Smith 7, Bircham 7, Cook 7, Blackstock 6, Jones 7 (Gallen 6).
MANAGER Gregory 6
NORWICH - Gallagher 6, Colin 6, Fleming 6, Shackell 6, Drury 5, Croft 6 (McVeigh 5), Hughes 6 (Safri 5), Robinson 6 (Dublin 7), Etuhu 7, Huckerby 8, Earnshaw 7.
MANAGER Hunter 7
REFEREE A Marinner 6
MAN OF THE MATCH
MARTIN ROWLANDS
Two goals, including the injury-time point-saver
Mirror

PEOPLE - GOOD ROW SUITS GREGORY IN END By Tony Stevens
PETER GRANT looked on as his new team Norwich grabbed a share of the spoils in this six-goal thriller.
Just days after he replaced Nigel Worthington as manager, the Canaries looked a different team to the tame outfit thumped 4-1 at home by Burnley a fortnight ago.
They took the lead after four minutes when Darren Huckerby caught the home defence cold to slot home a Dickson Etuhu pass.
But QPR are a changed team too under John Gregory, and after two wins out of two prior to this game, the new manager has given the Londoners belief. This showed as they fought back throughout the rest of the first half to be in front by the end of it.
Gregory's only signing so far, Jimmy Smith - on a month's loan from Chelsea - scored the equaliser with a first-time shot from the edge of the box on 24 minutes.
At the heart of most of Rangers' hard work was winger Martin Rowlands, and he was rewarded with the second goal on 45 minutes, unleashing an unstoppable free-kick from 20 yards.
Gregory's men could not keep the momentum up in the second half, though, and Dion Dublin's 72nd-minute equaliser was followed by a Robert Earnshaw penalty six minutes from time.
Grant would not have been happy to see Rowlands equalise in the dying seconds, but must have been encouraged by the improvement.
QPR: P Jones 7 - Lomas 6 (Rose, 90mins), Stewart 7, Rehman 5, Bignot 6 - *ROWLANDS 9 - Smith 8, Bircham 7, Cook 8 - R Jones 7 (Gallen, 77mins), Blackstock 8.
NORWICH: Gallagher 8 - Colin 7, *FLEMING 9, Shackell 8, Drury 6 - Croft 7 (McVeigh, 87mins), Hughes 5 (Safri, 75mins), Robinson 6 (Dublin, 67mins, 7), Etuhu 8, Huckerby 7 - Earnshaw 7. Ref: A Marriner 6.
People