QPR vs Crystal Palace - Match Reports and Comments Compilation

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- See Also: Earlier QPR-Palace Match reports and Managerial Comments


Sunday Times/Wayne Vesse - Sousa takes a quick march
- PAULO SOUSA comes across as smoother than a Warren Beatty chat-up line but he is quickly growing familiar with the rough edges of management.
- The QPR manager’s matinee idol image was tarnished by the first red card of his coaching career at Loftus Road for the sin of leaving his technical area in protest at a challenge that drew blood from the face of Rangers striker Samuel Di Carmine.
- Then, in a postmatch revelation that suggests his hold on one of the warmest of managerial hot-seats is at risk, Sousa said the decision to let leading scorer Dexter Blackstock join Championship rivals Nottingham Forest on loan for the rest of the season was not his.
- Six points adrift of sixth-placed Cardiff with six games left, QPR’s faint promotion hopes have surely now gone.
- Speaking like a man who recognises the end could now be near – he is the club’s seventh manager since Ian Holloway left three years ago – Sousa said: “After our match against Bristol City two weeks ago, Dexter came to see me, said he wanted to go and [sporting director] Mr [Gianni] Paladini told me there was an agreement for him to leave. It is disappointing and frustrating but I just have to accept it.”
- Sousa was ordered from the touchline by referee Scott Mathieson after Di Carmine was on the receiving end of two hefty challenges from Palace’s hulking centre-half Claude Davis. The 2 0 - year - old striker appeared to be caught with an elbow early on and then got a boot to the face as Davis made a legitimate challenge for the ball shortly before half-time.
- That had Sousa sprinting down the touchline. “I did not say anything to the referee, because he was not there. I was dismissed on the say-so of the fourth official, maybe because I left my technical area.”
- Sousa received support in the form of rival manager Neil Warnock. “I just told him to calm down,” joked Warnock, who for once was on the right side of officialdom. “He didn’t do much. An experienced fourth official would not have sent him off. If he wants me to speak for him, I will. I know everybody on the commission.”
-- Sousa’s red card was the main talking point of a scrappy game pockmarked by few chances on a dire afternoon.
- Star man: Victor Moses (Crystal Palace)
- Yellow cards: Palace: Hill, Davis, Lawrence, Moses
- Referee: S Mathieson - Attendance: 15,234
- QPR: Cerny 7, Ramage 6, Gorkss 7, Connolly 7, Delaney 6, Leigertwood 6, Routledge 6, Taarabt 6 (Vine 73min), Miller 5 (Cook 45min, 7), Ephraim 6, Di Carmine 5 (Balanta 85min).
- PALACE: Speroni 6, Clyne 7, Lawrence 7, Davis 6, Hill 7 (Fonte 40min, 6) Carle 6, Danns 6, Derry 6, Moses 7, Kuqi 6 (Scowcroft 83min), Stokes 5 (Ifill 79min). Sunday Times


Sunday Mirror/Graham Otway- Warnock: I'll speak up for sent-off Paulo
- Neil Warnock offered to act as a defence witness if QPR manager Paulo Sousa is hauled up before the Football League on a disciplinary charge.
- Former Portugal midfielder Sousa was banished from the touchline just before halftime at Loftus Road.
- He had run on to the pitch after seeing his young striker Samuel Di Carmine kicked in the face by a challenge from Crystal Palace defender Claude Davis.
- But before he could get to his player referee Scott Mathieson, on the advice of the fourth official, ordered Sousa from the pitch.
- For once it was not Warnock at the centre of a refereeing controversy and he had full sympathy for his opponent.
- Warnock said: "Paulo was concerned about his lad and a more experienced official should have seen that. The referee should have just had a word with him.
- "If Paulo goes before the League I will speak up for him if he wants me to - I know everyone at the commission quite well."
- Sousa insisted he wanted nothing more that to check that his player was not seriously injured especially since Di Carmine had been laid out earlier in the game by an elbow from Davis.
- "He'd already got hit by an arm in the face and a second time with the leg," said Sousa.
- "I was worried about my striker so why should I go to the stand? "If I don't care about my players what can I do? "I am an emotional coach but was not thinking about anything else but Di Carmine, he had blood coming from his nose."
- The first-half flashpoint was the only moment of note as QPR were held to a goalless draw at home for the 10th time this season.
- And that was galling for Sousa too. For since their previous game against Bristol City he had seen his leading scorer Dexter Blackstock loaned out to Nottingham Forest behind his back.
- Sousa said: "I gave the players two days off after the game and when I came back I was told that Dexter had been loaned out.
- "I cannot complain about it, I just have to do my best with what I have left." With only Di Carmine up front Rangers created the better chances in the first half only to be denied by Palace keeper Julian Speroni.
- He got down quickly at his near post to beat away a shot from Liam Miller and then used his fingertips to thwart a fierce shot by Adel Taarabt after the Moroccan beat two men on the edge of the box.
- Palace did not have a shot on target until the second half and when Victor Moses tried his luck from 20 yards Radek Cerny was equal to it. Sunday Mirror


News of The World/Bob Harris - - Bad week for Paulo Sousa IT'S been a bad week for QPR boss Paulo Sousa - and it didn't get much better in a 10th goalless draw of the season.
- Sousa returned to London from a two-day break to discover his directors had loaned top goalscorer Dexter Blackstock to Nottingham Forest.
- He then discovered he was without international striker Heidar Helguson, injured in Iceland's midweek game with Scotland.
- And it went from bad to worse when Sousa, for only the second time in his career, was sent off by ref Scott Mathieson.
- It followed a row after a clash between Palace's tough defender Claude Davis and striker Samuel Di Carmine.
- A baffled Sousa said: "The players had two days off and the board told me that Blackstock was going to Forest on loan.
- "I can't understand the sending off. My player had blood on his face from a dangerous kick."
- Support
Sousa received unexpected support from opposite number Neil Warnock, who said: "I told the ref that he didn't say much.
- "If he wants me to speak for him I will, especially as I know everyone on the commission!"
- The biggest lift for Rangers was the return to action of sub Rowan Vine, out of action for almost a year after a double operation on a broken leg.
- Vine looked as good and lively as anyone in this frenetic game but even he was unable to end the stalemate.
- Palace had goalkeeper Julian Speroni to thank for their clean sheet.
- He made quality saves from Liam Miller and Adel Taarabt and a reflex stop from a deflection off team-mate Nathaniel Clyne. News Of The World