"Since Paulo Sousa took charge....[QPR] have discovered a swagger and a substance"....Meanwhile Vinnie Jones Arrested After Bar Fight

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The Sunday Times/Richard Lewis - Paolo Sousa orchestrates QPR march up table
- IN THE two weeks since Paulo Sousa took charge of Queen’s Park Rangers, they have discovered a swagger and a substance that yesterday proved too much for the Championship leaders.
- A match played at a frenetic pace - you did not need to guess that the home team are owned by Formula One bosses, such was the speed with which they attacked - was decided by a brilliant goal by Martin Rowlands.
- Rowlands replaced the suspended Mikele Ligertwood while on-loan striker Heidur Helguson marked his home debut with a start.
- Across London, at Totten-ham Hotspur , the j u r y remains out on their error-prone Brazilian goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, but in the opening 15 minutes of this second-half, the man who left Spurs for QPR in the summer proved decisive. Radek Cerny, the QPR goalkeeper, made two excellent saves from David Jones and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, to prevent Wolverhampton Wanderers taking the lead, and by the 63rd minute it was the home team that were ahead.
- A quick move saw the ball find its way to Rowlands 20 yards out. The Rangers captain scored his second goal of the season, unleashing a spectacular shot that gave Wayne Hennessey, the Wolves goalkeeper, no chance as the ball dipped over him.
- It was exactly what Rangers deserved on what had been a difficult evening for Wolves from the start.
- Beforehand, Mick McCarthy, the Wolves manager, warned how tricky a match it might be, even though QPR started 18 points behind the side at the top.
- The appointment of Sousa, the former Portugal midfielder, has brought with it a fresh optimism and QPR’s intent to attack was evident from the start.- Patrick Agyemang was clean through after only seven minutes but drove his shot at Hennessey before then having another shot go wide.
- Lee Cook had Rangers’ best chance of the first half when, five minutes before the break, he was unmarked 12 yards out. But his low drove was pushed out by Hennessey.
- Two minutes after the restart the Wolves goalkeeper saved well with his legs as Helguson, making his full debut on loan from Bolton, broke clear.
- Rangers’ pressure paid off, and such was the command of their defence that by the 77th minute McCarthy had replaced both his strikers, the men whose 25 goals between them had seen his side arrive at Loftus Road unbeaten in eight matches.
- But Sam Vokes, who came on for the inform Chris Iwelumo, could not find a way through, forcing Cerny into another fine stop, the goalkeeper diving to his left to catch the ball.
- It was a superb result for Sousa. In the three matches for which he has had control of the team they have remained unbeaten and they were so close to adding a second in stoppage time as Samuel Di Carmine drove just wide.
- Within seconds the final whistle went, for a win that puts Rangers seventh in the table.
Star man:Radek Cerny
QUEENS PARK RANGERS:Cerny 8, Ramage 7, Stewart 7, Gorkss 7, Delaney 7, Ephraim 6, Mahon 6, Rowlands 7, Helguson 6 (Tommasi,77min; Agyemang 5, Blackstock 5 (Cook, 26min, 6, Di Carmine 89min)
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS:Hennessey 6, Foley 5, Stearman 6, Mancienne 6, Ward 6, Edwards 5, Jones 6 (Jarvis 57min 5), Henry 6, Kightly 6, Ebanks-Blake 5 (Keogh 77min 5), Iwelumo 5 (Vokes, 73min 5)
Referee:I Williamson Attendance:13,416 Sunday Times


INDEPENDENT/Conrad Leach - Rowlands scorcher so sweet for Sousa
-Paulo Sousa has only been the Queens Park Rangers manager for a fortnight, but on the back of an unbeaten start, crowned by this impressive and deserved win over the Championship leaders, he has started to instil some belief in his players and supporters.
-The Portuguese had kept the west London club on the coattails of the play-off zone with a win and draw in his first two games and, thanks to this win, they now stand just outside it, on goal difference, thanks to Martin Rowlands' goal.
-With 63 minutes gone, the hosts had just survived Wolverhampton's best chance when Sylvan Ebanks-Blake glanced a header six yards out that should have had more power.
-However, Radek Cerny still had to make a good save, diving backwards and stopping the ball on the line. From the ensuing break, Rowlands received the ball 20 yards out and thumped his shot over Wayne Hennessey in the visitors' goal.
-Sousa was rightfully happy. "This was a great performance but more than that, we won three points. This was very important and near perfection. Beating the team top of the league was even more impressive," he said.
-It was the least QPR deserved for having dominated Mick McCarthy's Wolves, whose six-point lead at the top of the table at the start of the day was trimmed to three by Birmingham's victory against Watford. Not that McCarthy was about to get too down. "We played badly for 55 minutes but well for the rest. We are top and people want to beat us."
-This was Wolves' first defeat in nine league games. They were hesitant in defence, epitomised by Michael Mancienne, the promising central defender on loan from Chelsea, who was nervous throughout, including letting a pass slip under his foot which should have seen Patrick Agyemang score.
-After half-time, Wolves perked up, with Cerny pushing a David Jones free-kick on to the post and the Czech then dived full length to keep out two long-range efforts from substitute Sam Vokes but it was Rowlands whose aim was truest from distance." Independent


THE PEOPLE/Jack Steggles - QPR 1-0 WOLVES
- Wolves had their march at the top of the Championship brought to a halt by Paulo Sousa and his rapidly-improving Rangers.
- Acracking 63rd-minute dipping strike from Martin Rowlands condemned the men from the Molineux to their first defeat in nine games, and only their fourth of the season.
- And although the Mick McCarthy's men staged a strong finish - forcing three fine saves from Rangers keeper Radek Cerny - they can't really complain about the outcome.
- Wolves did not start playing until it was too late. The Hoops had the upper hand for much of the contest and deserved their victory.
- Table-topping Wolves went into the match with an impressive record of seven wins and a draw from their previous eight games.
- They had won four on the spin away from home and presented Rangers' new boss Sousa with his toughest test so far.
- But Sousa - a product of Portugal's golden age - is making a big impression at Loftus Road after only four matches in charge.
- And Rangers had the first chance after two minutes. It fell to Heidar Helguson, making his full debut after joining on loan from Bolton.
- But the striker, guilty of a horror miss after getting on as a sub at Palace last week, fired over with a left-foot shot on the turn.
- Rangers were much the livelier side and had another great chance after seven minutes.
- This one fell to Patrick Agyemang, sent clear on a through pass from skipper Rowlands.
- Keeper Wayne Hennessey dashed from his line to get Wolves out of jail by spreading himself and saving with his legs.
- Dexter Blackstock was next up as the Hoops piled forward, but the striker spooned a left-foot shot weakly off target when under no pressure.
- Despite the home side's domination, Wolves went close to grabbing the lead in the 24th minute, midfielder David Jones shaving the far post with a left-foot shot after a free-kick was rolled to him.
- Sousa showed he was a man of action by dragging off the disappointing Blackstock midway through the first half and sending on winger Lee Cook in his place.
- And Cook forced Wales international Hennessey into action with a left-foot effort that produced a fine save as Rangers continued to call the shots.
- Sousa's men emerged from the break in determined fashion and Hennessey came to Wolves' rescue again by saving from Helguson.
- Wolves also owed a big debt to Richard Stearman, outstanding at the heart of their defence.
- McCarthy's team were still second best.
- But they came close to sneaking the lead when another effort from Jones brought a fine save from Cerny.
- Cerny also saved again - this time from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake before Rowlands gave Rangers a richly deserved lead with a 63rd-minute rocket.
- The midfielder picked up the ball 25 yards out and unleashed a vicious shot straight down the middle of the goal which dipped wickedly to beat Hennessey.
- Qpr: *CERNY 8* - Ramage 6, Stewart 6, Gorkss 6, Delaney 6 - Rowlands 7, Mahon 7, Ephraim 6 - Helguson 6 (Tommasi, 78mins) - Blackstock 4 (Cook, 27mins, 6; Di Camine, 89mins), Agyemang 8.
Wolves: Hennessey 7 - Foley 6, *STEARMAN 7, Mancienne 5, Ward 5 - Kightly 6, Henry 6, Jones 6 (Jarvis, 58mins, 6), Edwards 6 - Ebanks-Blake 5 (Keogh, 78mins), Iwelumo 5 (Vokes, 71mins). Referee: I Williamson 6 The People


NEWS OF THE WORLD/Bob Harris - QPR 1, WOLVES 0 - Martin Rowland stuns high-flying Wolves
- MARTIN ROWLANDS stunned Wolves with the goal that inflicted their first defeat in nine games.
- Yet Wanderers boss Mick McCarthy was not at all depressed — even though his side’s lead at the top of the table is now down to just three points.
- He said: “It seems that teams are fired up by the fact we are top and, naturally, want to beat us.
“I am not saying we are the best but it does inspire others to play against us.
“We did not play well for 50 minutes but when I put Matt Jarvis on we had our best spell of the game. Unfortunately, he was not fit enough to start but I knew I could get 40 minutes out of him. We needed two wingers out there.
“I can’t remember when it was easy to come to QPR and now they’ve a very classic guy in charge in Paulo Sousa, a wonderful footballer.”
McCarthy’s Wales international keeper Wayne Hennessey, standing in for the injured Carl Ikeme, suffered a nightmare first half.
Nervy Hennessey came and missed crosses, fumbled shots and was fortunate to go in at the break with the score goalless.
Meanwhile his defenders suffered a torrid time in trying to keep out big striker Patrick Agyemang, as Rangers showed why they are such a good side at Loftus Road.
Indeed, if Rangers could take this form on their travels they would be challenging Wolves and Birmingham at the top of the table.
This game was crucial to Rangers if they were to lift themselves into play-off contention and they frittered away a succession of early chances.
The lively Agyemang might have had a couple by the interval.
By comparison, Wolves, who have racked up seven away wins already this season, spent much of the half on their heels.
Yet they showed their ability when Dave Edwards shot across the face of goal, while a David Jones effort, this time from a free-kick following a handball by Gavin Mahon, had keeper Radek Cerny going the wrong way.
Heidar Helguson, on loan from Bolton, then forced Hennessey into fumbling his shot before pulling the ball back for Lee Cook to force a scrambled save.
Rangers maintained their frenetic pace at the start of the second half, with Helguson blundering again after being put clean through.
Last week at Crystal Palace he shot wide of an empty net with his first touch and this time he somehow managed to fire against Hennessey’s legs.
McCarthy hurried Jarvis off the bench for his first action since tearing a hamstring in September. Soon after a Sylvan Ebanks-Blake’s shot was kept out once more by Cerny.
Then, out of nowhere, Rowlands, another player back from injury, suddenly unleashed a fierce 63rd-minute shot from the edge of the box which dipped over the unfortunate Hennessey to give Rangers the lead they merited — and kept. News of the World


See Also:

- Earlier QPR-Wolves Match Reports and Managerial Comments

- Clive Whittingham/LoftforWords Match Report