Compilation of QPR - Sheffield United Reports....QPR Supposed Interest in Spurs Loan (Not Parrett)?

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QPR 0 Sheffield United 0

Brian Glanville/The Sunday Times - QPR grateful for Radek Cerny brillianceQPR 0 Sheffield Utd 0Brian Glanville at Loftus Road
TWO excellent goalkeepers ensured that this match ended goalless. In the first half, Sheffield United’s Paddy Kenny kept the home side at bay and in the second, Rangers’ Radek Cerny, the former Tottenham player, defied a series of efforts from the visitors.
- When the game began, Sheffield United were in fourth position, QPR in 10th. Their ambitions, consequently, are somewhat different. United’s manager, Kevin Blackwell, said afterwards: “Thirteen matches to go” and clearly believed that promotion remained a distinct possibility.
- Paulo Sousa, the QPR manager, once such a gifted Portuguese international, looked optimistically to the future. “We want to build for the future,” he said, “and the future is the Premier League. And of course next season, we are becoming much much better.” Although, he admitted: “It’s not an easy moment for us to score goals.”
- His ambition this season “is to build something solid for next season, to be looking forward to the Premier League. I think this season is starting to get stronger as a team in looking for the first places”.
- Sousa was fully entitled to lament the loss of the Hungarian playmaker, Akos Buzsaky, one of the most talented footballers in the division but out through injury, as well as Rowan Vine and Martin Rowlands. These three, especially Buzsaky, would surely guarantee greater skill and sophistication.
- It was somewhat puzzling, however, to see little Wayne Routledge, who began as so lively and promising a winger at Crystal Palace but sank out of sight at Tottenham, switched at half-time from the right flank, where he had sparkled, to the left, where he failed and saw little of the ball.
- Early in the first half Kenny twice thwarted Dexter Blackstock, first when the striker was far too fast for centre-back Matthew Kilgallon. Two minutes later the goalkeeper - who at one stage had seemed likely to leave the club –turned Blackstock’s fierce left-footer from out of the blue away for a corner. By half-time you wondered when United were going to have a shot on goal.
- The answer was not too long. On 48 minutes Danny Webber turned the ball back to Nick Montgomery, whose drive was kept out by Cerny. Nine minutes later Montgomery returned the favour to his teammate and Cerny resourcefully saved Webber’s shot.
- On a playing surface that Blackwell described as hard and difficult, QPR were not as incisive as they had been before the break, although, when Blackstock crossed accurately from the left, Matteo Alberti should have done better than drive high over the Sheffield United bar.
- That was on 63 minutes and on 65, Cerny turned behind an attempt by the ever-active Kyle Naughton. With 10 minutes left the Czech keeper saved from almost point-blank range at his left post from substitute Craig Beattie, who had been introduced surprisingly late by Blackwell as United’s second striker.
Star man: Radek Cerny (QPR)
Yellow card: QPR: Sterwart
Referee: N Swarbrick
Attendance:13,718
- QPR: Cerny 8, Delaney 6, Steward 7, Leigertwood 6 (Ephraim) 81min, Routledge 6, Blackstock 7, Gorkss 7, Connolly 6, Miller 6 (Alberti 52min, 6), Lopez 6, Di Carmine 6 (Balanta 75min)
- SHEFFIELD UTD: Kenny 8, Halford 6, Naysmith 6, Morgan 7, Kilgallon 6, Henderson 6 (O’Toole 81min), Webber 6 (Beattie 68min), Montgomery 6, Howard 6 (Ward 59min, 6), Quinn 6, Naughton 7 - The Sunday Times


NEWS OF THE WORLD/Steve Goodman - Kevin Blackwell's Blades made to sweat for new record
- SHEFFIELD UNITED took their club record run to 13 consecutive away games unbeaten — but QPR made the Kevin Blackwell's men sweat.
- United keeper Paddy Kenny made a string of saves to deny Dexter Blackstock a first-half hat-trick.
- And Rangers substitute Matteo Alberti missed the chance of the game, firing Blackstock’s cross high over the bar from eight yards out.
- United’s best opening was midfielder Nick Montgomery’s 20-yarder which was well saved by Radek Cerny.
- QPR have not won in seven games — and have scored just twice at home in seven matches. It means their hopes of making the play-offs are all but doomed. News of The World


Sunday Mirror/John Gubba 0 Kenny the hero as Blackwell's record breakers grab point
- The blades extended their club-record run to 13 matches unbeaten on the road-but QPR let themoff thehook as they somehow failed to find the net.
- Dexter Blackstock spurned the best chances to give the Hoops their first home win since December, as Paddy Kenny emerged the Blades herowitha defiant display thatearnedglowing praise from manager Kevin Blackwell.
- "To break a record that is 120 years old takes some doing, and Paddy pulled off two fine saves," said Blackwell, who is delighted his keeper is staying at Bramall Lane.
- "I never wanted him to go anywhere and he's been brilliant for us.
- "I rate him as one of the best goalkeepers around and he's the best in the Championship."
- There was no doubt Blackwell's men were below their best against a side that has forgotten how to win or score.
But it was the visitors' hardworkoff theball that impressed Rangers boss Paulo Sousa.
"They are a very tough team to play against and theyworkhard, especially when they lose the ball," said Sousa, who refuses to throw in the towel in the race for the play-offs but concedes next season is a more realistic bet.
He said: "We have improved in the last year and a half and next season we will be much, much better."
Sousa added he was not feeling the pressure, despite Rangers' Italian owner Flavio Briatore's record of hiring and firing.
"He's a very ambitious person but he knows we are in a good way," he said.
The Yorkshiremen were certainly there for the taking yesterday and Rangers so nearly made the breakthrough on the hour as they squandered two gilt-edged chances.
- Seconds after a chaotic scramble that ended with Kaspars Gorkss failing to beat Kenny, the ball was somehow struck over the bar by substitute Matteo Alberti when it looked easier for him to score.
- Without a win in seven matches that have yielded just four goals and four points, the Hoops badly neededa lift. And it looked like Blackstock would provide it.
- The frontman was too quick for Matt Kilgallon when he outpaced the defenderandtested Paddy Kenny with an early effort.
- Then minutes later the Blades keeper had to be at his best to turn wide a more venomous strike by Blackstock.
- The Blades, beaten just twice in 19 League matches, did not threaten until the half-hour mark, when Kyle Naughton's free-kick saw Blackstock loop a header on to his own crossbar and Chris Morgan slid the follow up into the side-netting.
- But Blackwell's men did have chances to make Rangers pay for their wasteful finishing, with Danny Webber, Naughton and Morgan all going agonisingly close in the second half.
- HOW THEY RATED

QPR SHEFF UTD
7 Cerny Kenny 8
6 Connolly Halford 6
6 Stewart Naysmith 6
7 Gorkss Morgan 7
6 Delaney Kilgallon 6
6 Lopez Howard 6
6 Leigertwood S Quinn 6
6 Miller Naughton 6
6 Routledge Montgomery 7
6 Di Carmine Henderson 6
7 Blackstock Webber 6
SUBSTITUTES
Alberti (Miller) 5,
Balanta (Di Carmine) 5,
Ephraim (Leigertwood) 5
Ward (Howard) 5,
Beattie (Webber) 5,
O'Toole (Henderson) 5
MANAGERS
6 P SOUSA K BLACKWELL 6
MAN OF THE MATCH
8 PADDY KENNY
Solid display by the keeper extended Blades unbeaten run away from home
Referee: N Swarbrick 6 - Sunday Mirror


SHEFFIELD UNITED OFFICIAL SITE - BLACKWELL's VIEW - Well-earned point
- The goalless draw at Queens Park Rangers extended the Blades undefeated away run to thirteen matches and left Kevin Blackwell reasonably satisfied.
- Loftus Road was not an easy prospect, not least because the home team were desperate to climb out of their slump, and the playing surface didn't help either side:
- "The pitch was so bobbly that we realised after the first 45 minutes that there was no way that we could get the ball down and play.- "It just wasn't conducive to good football and their manager, Paulo Sousa, agreed the pitch's tendency to dry out too quickly is one of the problems they have there.
- "But the energy and determination of the lads was first-class and they showed real desire to keep a clean sheet.
- They were resilient, defended when we had to, and when we got the chance to attack we created chances."
-United came under pressure early in the second-half but finished the stronger and it seemed likely that one goal either way would be decisive:
- "We expected a tough game and got one. There were chance at both ends and both goalkeepers make some first-class saves so I suppose that a draw was affair result.
- "It could have ended 2-2 but on the road it is important that if you don't score, you don't get beat, and it is nice to have extended our record to thirteen without loss away from home."
- The United boss had restored Danny Webber and Greg Halford at the expense of Leigh Bromby and David Cotterill and explained that in one case, at least, local knowledge played a part:
- "I left Cotterill out not because he was injured but because we just thought that the pitch would be deadly for him. When you see how a class winger like Wayne Routledge was ineffective for them because he was dealing with the ball round his neck all afternoon I think the decision was justified."
- Blackwell took stock of the situation and remained positive of the shape his squad is in, ahead of a vital two successive home game spell:
- "We have taken seven points from nine this week - Birmingham and two away games - and I would have taken that if I was offered it. That's four tough games in about twelve days and we have done well.
- "Now we have two homes this week and we have to be positive in our approach. The lads and I need Bramall Lane rocking and I appeal for our supporters to get along there and be our twelfth man." Sheffield United


YORKSHIRE POST - QPR 0 Sheffield United 0- Sheffield United pocketed another point towards their promotion bid - but Dexter Blackstock must be wondering how as QPR were held at Loftus Road.
Rangers created a host of chances for Blackstock but each time Blades keeper Paddy Kenny kept the home striker at bay.
- United extended their club-record unbeaten run on the road to 13 matches, and although second-placed Birmingham won this was definitely a point gained.
- Rangers boss Paulo Sousa had his players in for extra shooting practice this week in a bid to boost their flagging play-off hopes, but they drew another blank and have still not won at home since December.
- Wayne Routledge had already blasted a shot high over the crossbar before, in the 10th minute, Blackstock raced onto Mikele Leigertwood's long ball only to fire too close to Kenny.
- Blackstock came even closer moments later when he collected Liam Miller's pass on the edge of the area, turned and shot in one movement and saw Kenny tip an awkward, bouncing ball over the top.
- Routledge then teased Gary Naysmith before crossing for Blackstock to volley at goal, only for Greg Halford to block the shot. The home fans shouted for handball, but Halford's bloody nose suggested otherwise.
- At the other end, Kyle Naughton's free-kick was headed onto the top of his own crossbar by Blackstock, and Chris Morgan slid the loose ball into the side-netting.
- The visitors did liven up after the break and Nick Montgomery's fierce strike from 20 yards forced a smart stop from Radek Cerny in the Rangers goal.
- Cerny was in action again in the 54th minute, beating away Danny Webber's angled shot, but the resulting corner was cleared and from the subsequent Rangers attack, Leigertwood's cross was headed inches wide by Blackstock.
- Rangers then missed two gilt-edged chances within a minute.
- First, Jordi Lopez's mis-hit shot found Samuel Di Carmine on the angle of the six-yard box and his sliced effort back across goal was met by Blackstock.
- But Kenny kept out his header at point-blank range before referee Neil Swarbrick blew for a foul.
- Moments later Blackstock crossed for substitute Matteo Alberti, but the midfielder snatched at his shot from 12 yards and the ball flew over.
- The Blades finished the stronger, with Craig Beattie introduced from the bench, but could not nick a late winner. Yorkshire Post


- See also: QPR vs Sheffield United - Managerial Comments and Match Reports and Updated Championship League Table


News of the World: Spurs Defender, Chris Gunter?
- "....Meanwhile another Tottenham defender, Chris Gunter, is a target for QPR. The 19-year-old has been told he can go out on loan after failing to cement a regular first-team place.
- Welshman Gunter had already fallen down the pecking order with the return to Spurs of Pascal Chimbonda.
- And with Hutton set to return, Redknapp said: “It would do him good to go out on loan but he is a young player who we hope has got a big future here." News of the World


[And a Repost:]
Daily Mail - Sacked Blackburn manager Paul Ince could make a return at QPR- Paul Ince is expected to make a dramatic return to management with Championship billionaires Queens Park Rangers.
- Ince, sacked by Blackburn Rovers in December, is the top target for Rangers chairman and good friend Gianni Palladini as the pressure mounts on current boss Paulo Sousa.
- Sousa's job is in jeopardy following a dismal run which, after yesterday's goalless draw with Sheffield United, has seen Rangers take four points out of a possible 21.
- Sousa admitted to friends he fears he is about to lose his job less than four months after arriving at Loftus Road." Daily Mail


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