Additional QPR-Scunthorpe Reports...Chelsea Memories...QPR's Indian International Signing...Football Snippets Sunday

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MSN - Chhetri's English dream over, work permit denied
- New Delhi: Indian striker Sunil Chhetri's dream of playing for English Championship side Queen's Park Rangers ended prematurely after the British government denied him work permit.
- Chhetri had signed a three-year contract with QPR a few weeks back, although it was kept under wraps.
- The club has been working to get Chhetri's work permit to play in England but on Friday, the Delhi lad's agent informed him that it was rejected by the British government.
- According to the newly launched website of Football Players Association of India, Chhetri was denied permit since India is not in the top 70 in the FIFA rankings and the British government does not grant permit to non-European Union players whose country is ranked below 70.
- Queen's Park Rangers, which is partly owned by steel magnate Laxmi Mittal, had been following Chhetri's career for over a year and were happy with his development as a player.
- QPR CEO had also come down to see Chhetri in Barcelona where the Indian national team had a month-long training tour recently in preparation for the ongoing Nehru Cup.
- Asked why he kept the contract with QPR under wraps, Chhetri said, "I had signed with QPR few weeks back and I knew I still would have had to wait for a work permit. So with lots of stories about me playing in Europe and with having a bad experience with the media in the Coventry case, I was skeptical," Chhetri said.
- "I am disappointed because the work permit is something that I can't do anything about, being so close and not getting it is indeed disappointing. But it's not the end of the world. I will still continue to work hard for my country and my club Dempo, who have been very supportive," he added.
- Indian captain and his strike partner in the national team, Bhaichung Bhutia said, "Sunil (Chhetri) would surely have done well in Queen's Park. He has the ability to play even in the premiership with one or two years of experience in the championship with QPR.
- "It's sad that Indian team does not play enough international matches and that is a big set back for our ranking as well as our development. This is also a reason why today Sunil is not playing in England," added Bhutia, who was the first Indian to have played in English professional league for Bury FC from 1999-2002. Report

- Additional Stories and background re Chhetri and his Agent. Earlier this month, Celtic supposedly were interesed in Chhetri, who trialed with Coventry in January

- Profile of Indian Striker,Sunil Chhetri

- Ex-QPR Giles Coke Talking

- The QPR-Chelsea Connection: Past QPR vs Chelsea Games. Past Joint QPR & Chelsea Players

- QPR Away to Chelsea in the Carling Cup, September 21 or 22.

- Past QPR Financial Information

- Routledge Linked to Cardiff Return

- Two Goals for ex-QPR Scott Donnelly (praised by Gary Waddock)

- On This Day, four years, three years and two years, then-QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini

- Problem of Fan Hooliganism

- A black football pioneer playing in England a century ago

- John Terry's Contract Supposedly Guarantees Him Consideration as Chelsea Manager (Hope gets job!)

- Nottingham Forest Nathan Tyson could be in trouble for his action

- Axed: Barnsley Manager Simon Davey

- QPR's Win at Scunthorpe: Compilation of Reports and Managerial Comments


ADDITIONAL MATCH REPORTS

Sunday People/Steve Bott - LET-OFF MURPHY COMES UNSTUCK WITH TAAR

Loan star Adel Taarabt's solo strike gave Rangers their first away win in the Championship this season, but it was overshadowed by more refereeing controversy.

Graham Salisbury bottled out of sending off home keeper Joe Murphy in the first minute.

He later booked Rangers' Wayne Routledge for allegedly diving in a bid to win an 87thminute penalty as Murphy went down at his feet in the box. The incident led to Rangers manager Jim Magilton being ordered to the stands after an altercation with the fourth official over that "diving" decision.

"Once again, it was an incidence of a fourth official getting involved needlessly in a nothing incident," said Magilton.

"I was upset over Wayne's booking and thought it was a penalty and my chewing gum flew out of my mouth as I was making my feelings known."

Despite all that, Rangers held on for three precious points and they looked good value for it as Taarabt, on loan from Spurs, strolled into the box and coolly slotted the ball past Murphy.

Murphy was lucky to be on the pitch because two minutes earlier, in the first minute, he had charged off his line and on to the left wing to scythe down Rangers' Jay Simpson, who is on loan from Arsenal.

The impressive Mikele Leigertwood should have scored later in the first half but he lobbed the ball just over the far post after a quicksilver turn in the box.

Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins put things into perspective after a week in which referees and diving have been in the spotlight.

"At the end of the day, the referee's decision is final and you have got to respect that," said Scunthorpe boss.

Scunthorpe: Murphy 7 - Spence 7, Byrne 6, Mirfin 6, Williams 6 - Sparrow 6 (Thompson 6, 70 mins), Togwell 5 (McCann 6, 60min), O'Connor 6 (*WRIGHT, 60mins, 8), Woolford 5 - Hayes 5, Hooper 5.

QPR: Cerny 6 - Ramage 7, Hall 7, Connolly 7, Borrowdale 6 - Routledge 6, *LEIGERTWOOD 8, Faurlin 6 (Mahon, 81mins), Taarabt 7 (Vine 6, 56mins), Ephraim 6 - Simpson 7 (Helguson 6, 70mins). Referee: G Salisbury 5. Sunday People


BBC - Scunthorpe 0 - 1 QPR

Adel Taarabt's early goal gave Queens Park Rangers their first league victory under manager Jim Magilton.

Taarabt, on loan from Tottenham, glided past a couple of defenders and rolled the ball beyond keeper Joe Murphy.

Scunthorpe's Cliff Byrne headed over and Grant McCann's free-kick was saved by Rangers keeper Radek Cerny as the home side rallied after the break.

Rangers thought they should have had a late penalty when Wayne Routledge was brought down by Murphy.

Routledge was booked for diving - to the disbelief of Magilton, who was sent to the stands for his protests.

Magilton's side could have won by a greater margin as they had a number of first-half chances after Taarabt put them ahead.

Mikele Leigertwood almost made it two but Murphy did well to block the midfielder's shot, before Rangers' Hogan Ephraim drove wide and on-loan Arsenal forward Jay Simpson headed Routledge's cross wide of the target.

After weathering the early storm without conceding a second goal, Scunthorpe got a foothold in the game and Paul Hayes, Gary Hooper and Jordan Spence all had shots saved by Cerny.

But Rangers were on top again after the interval and their Argentine midfielder Alejandro Faurlin fired narrowly wide before Simpson turned well in the area only to scuff his shot.

Murphy kept his side in the game on the hour mark with a fine save from Fitz Hall's volley, before Leigertwood again went close.

Byrne then had a chance and McCann was denied by Cerny, before referee Graham Salisbury ignored Scunthorpe's appeals for a penalty after Hayes went down in the area.

Rowan Vine had a late chance to cap Rangers' victory, but he blazed over.

Scunthorpe manager Nigel Adkins:
"It was a good performance but we did not get the result that we wanted.

"We paid the penalty for a slow start. That was just what we did not want. We knew the dangers that Rangers possessed but we had a couple of players who switched off, did not do their jobs, and we were a goal behind.

"It's difficult to come back from that sort of thing at Championship level and that is a lesson we have got to learn.

"We pressed strongly for an equaliser but in truth we did not test their goalkeeper often enough and that is down to Rangers' defence, who produced several good blocks to deny us."

QPR manager Jim Magilton:
"We got a bit nervous towards the end but we're finally up and running, and that's important.

"People were already looking at the league table and seeing us without that first victory, but this eases the pressure. And the good news is that we will get better.

"I thought the quality of our play in the first 10 to 15 minutes was very good. We'd also taken the lead during that time with a wonderful goal.

"But I did then think that we took our foot off the pedal and allowed Scunthorpe back into the game.

"This is a difficult enough place to come to without offering them that opportunity." BBC


Star/Steve Morgan - ADEL BOY IS WINNER WITH JIM

ADEL Taarabt helped Jim Magilton celebrate his first league victory as Queens Park Rangers manager with an early strike at Glanford Park.

Taarabt scored what proved to be the decisive goal after just two minutes as The Iron crashed to their third straight defeat.

The Spurs loanee waltzed past three Scunthorpe defenders before beating Joe Murphy with a low drive.

Mikele Leigertwood and Jay Simpson, on loan from Arsenal, both went close as Rangers threatened to run riot.

The home side went on to dominate for large spells, without creating many clear-cut chances.

Their best efforts fell to Gary Hooper and substitute Grant McCann who both forced fine saves out of Radek Cerny in the Rangers goal.

But Rangers were always in control and Murphy produced a stunning save to deny Fitz Hall before substitute Rowan Vine missed the best chance of the second half with nine minutes remaining. Star


News of The World/Nick Bradshaw - SCUNTHORPE 0 QPR 1
Adel Taarabt strike gives Rangers first league win of the season

BOSS Nigel Adkins was left fuming after his shot-shy Scunthorpe side failed to break down a battling QPR defence.

Adkins' team have struggled in front of goal since winning promotion from League One - netting just three goals in five games in the Championship.

And strikers Gary Hooper and Paul Hayes were guilty of missing chances for the Iron as on-loan Tottenham playmaker Adel Taarabt netted the only goal for the Hoops after three minutes.

Adkins said: "I'm bitterly disappointed, because we should have got something from the game.

"We started badly and conceded a poor goal from our point of view.

"We were well aware about the threat QPR had from playing a man in the hole, but haven't dealt with him (Taarabt) from the throw-in.

"It changed the complexion of the game and, while we dominated in the second half, we didn't get the fortune that we needed.

"We didn't test their keeper enough either and the top and bottom of it is we've gone and got beaten 1-0."

Scunthorpe had bounced back from a shaky start to the season to record an impressive 2-1 victory over Swansea in the Carling Cup in midweek.

But their familiar jitters returned as QPR - searching for their first league win of the season under Jim Magilton - took the lead.

Taarabt slid beyond a static Iron defence before hammering the ball into the back of the net to send a timely reminder to Spurs boss Harry Redknapp about his undoubted talent.

Almost immediately after the goal, Mikele Leigertwood was denied by keeper Joe Murphy's chest after a chipped cross had found the midfielder with time and space at the far post.

With Wayne Routledge looking lively down the right, the Hoops controlled the match. Scunthorpe were forced to change their shape, operating with a three-man midfield, in a bid to stifle Rangers' play - a tactic which seemed to work.

But, although it restricted them to just one more effort - Jay Simpson firing wide after easily turning Cliff Byrne four yards out - it did not help them going forward.

The Iron's best chance of forcing their way back before the interval came in the 34th minute. Hooper and Matt Sparrow combined to send Martyn Woolford racing down the left but, after he had cut inside, his low cross into the middle was too far ahead of Sparrow, allowing defender Gary Borrowdale to clear.

Scunthorpe had plenty of endeavour but lacked quality, allowing central defenders Fitz Hall and Matthew Connolly to dominate.

The Iron were indebted to keeper Murphy for a flying save to deny Hall on the volley after an hour.

Then Leigertwood chipped the ball over the bar after Marcus Williams had failed to clear.

Sub Rowan Vine squandered the last chance by firing over from 18 yards after great work by fellow replacement Heidar Helguson.

Rangers thought they should have had a late penalty when Routledge was brought down by Murphy.

Routledge was booked for diving - to the disbelief of Magilton, who was sent to the stands for his protests.

Boss Magilton said: "I'm going to reserve judgment on the penalty decision. There has been a lot in the Press about diving this week and, if certain things are mentioned in the Press, people are going to be more aware of them.

"The assessor has maybe said 'Be careful' or 'Watch out for people going over too easily'.

"They have to be careful, though, when they are judging players as being over-dramatic because those decisions can cost you." News of The World

P GD Pnts
West Brom 5 4 11
Cardiff 5 7 10
Middlesbrough 5 6 10
Newcastle 4 6 10
Bristol City 5 0 10
Preston 5 5 9
Sheff Utd 5 4 9
Sheff Wed 5 5 8
Leicester 4 2 8
Blackpool 5 3 7
Derby 5 0 7
Coventry 5 -1 7
Watford 5 0 6
Doncaster 5 0 6
QPR 5 0 6
Nottm Forest 5 -2 5
Reading 5 -3 5
Swansea 5 -3 5
Crystal Palace 4 -1 4
Scunthorpe 5 -10 3
Plymouth 5 -5 2
Ipswich 5 -5 2
Peterborough 4 -4 1
Barnsley 5 -8 1 - Table


PREVIOUSLY POSTED

- Q&A With Jim Magilton

- Ex-QPR's Fraser Digby Voted Swindon's greatest-ever goalkeeper

- VIDEO of QPR's 1979 Massacre of Burnley

- Danny Dichio Update

- John Spencer Honoured Today

- Portsmouth Finances Examined

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- "What's Wrong With Football Clubs Breaking Even?"

- Two More Big Sousa Signings for Swansea

- Chelsea PR Offensive Ends in Jeers

- Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) Action Week (October 15-27)

- Fans Asked to Vote on Favourite League Cup Memories

- Interesting Ranking of Premiership Clubs for "Fan Stewardship" - How well owners are building for their club's future. Five categories: - putting the club first, 'long-termism', clarity of role and purpose, engagement of fans and passion"

- New Book re QPR "Hooped Dreams -Billionaires, QPR and the Premiership Promised Land." By Mick Kelly. (Foreword by Rodney Marsh) - Book Description