QPR's Win at Sheffield Wednesday - Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments

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Sheffield Wednesday 1 QPR 2

Newcastle 16 33
West Brom 16 31
Cardiff 16 27
QPR 16 27
Blackpool 16 27
Leicester 16 27 - Table/BBC


QPR Official Site - MAGILTON: 'AN UGLY WIN SUITS ME!'

Jim Magilton insisted it was a nice feeling to 'win ugly,' as the R's left it late to bag all three points against Sheffield Wednesday.

After Jay Simpson's early opener was cancelled out by Jermaine Johnson, Kaspars Gorkss stooped to head home Alejandro Faurlin's 82nd minute corner to seal maximum points.

"It was the perfect time to score," Magilton told www.qpr.co.uk.

"We have enough dead-ball specialists in our squad to provide the quality that's needed to score from set-pieces, so it was nice to win it through Gorkssy's header.

"We should probably score a lot more from dead balls than we do, but I can't fault the lads at all.

"It was an ugly win, but that's just as satisfying for me and the rest of the lads in the dressing room as it is winning four or five."

Magilton added: "It's a nice win for us heading into the international break.

"We've got an awful lot of credit this year for our attacking prowess, but today we had to dig in and the lads showed they have the quality to do that.

"Make no mistake about it, Hillsborough is a very difficult place to come and get a result.

"We knew we'd have to weather a storm with them kicking towards The Kop in the second half, but despite a few scares, we stood up to them and in the end our class shone through from the set-piece."

The win lifted Rangers in to fourth spot, but Magilton insists the hard work is very much ahead for his charges.

"We're by no means the finished article - not by a long stretch," he said.

"However, this is a very significant result for us and I couldn't be more delighted." QPR


Sheffield Wednesday Official Site - Laws left frustrated by Rangers loss
- Sheffield Wednesday manager, Brian Laws, rued the defeat at the hands of Queens Park Rangers, insisting his side deserved at least a point from an open affair at Hillsborough.

The R's ran out 2-1 winners courtesy of a late Kaspar Gorkks header, but only after surviving a sustained bout of pressure from the hosts.

Laws said: "Football can be cruel at times and I think we experienced that this afternoon. In the first ten minutes we were sloppy and I thought we gave them too much respect and they got one goal and could have got another. That was the warning sign but after that we got back into the game, scored a great goal and after that, we were in control. "

The Owls boss said his side enjoyed the better of the second period and Laws also noted an inconsistent performance from referee Nigel Miller.

"In the second half, we pinned them in, they didn't cause us too many problems at the back and I was delighted with the performance against a very good side, no question about it. So to lose the game in the manner that we did, from a corner that was not even a corner, probably typifies the referee.

"He was so inconsistent, we were all scratching our heads with disbelief at some of his decisions. But I don't want to talk too much about the referee, he can't take all of the blame, it was a basic corner and we have conceded direct. But I think everyone would say it was unjust."

Laws did take satisfaction from some aspects of the contest and picked out midfield man Tommy Miller for praise. Miller, who missed the early part of the season through injury and was recently one of a string of players laid low with a virus, stored another valuable 90 minutes and the gaffer noted the improvement in his play.

He added: "I thought Tommy Miller was excellent down that right hand side and tucked in when necessary. He's good with the ball, creative and has certainly done well over the last couple of games.

"He's only just come back from a virus and you could see towards the end, he was absolutely struggling, as was Jermaine Johnson and Frank Simek, so the substitutions were no brainers. They were forced upon us and we did lose a little momentum but I had to make the changes.

"I am disappointed for the players because they have put in a good shift and done enough to win the game. This is the second home game we have had our pockets pinched after the last game against Preston. It would be nice to go somewhere and pick someone else's pocket, so now it's up to us to respond." Sheffield Wednesday


The Sunday Times - Championship focus: Rangers maintain the pressure
QPR receive a boost their promotion prospects with a hard-fought victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough
Kaspars Gorkss headed an 82nd-minute winner as QPR boosted their promotion prospects with a hard-fought victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
Both sides created a host of opportunities in an entertaining clash, which seemed destined to finish level after Jermaine Johnson had cancelled out Jay Simpson’s early opener.
But Gorkss ensured Rangers claimed a fourth away win in six matches when he met a corner from substitute Alejandro Faurlin with a firm near-post header.
Simpson opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a left-footed finish after he had been released by Adel Taarabt. But Johnson pulled the Owls level within three minutes as he converted a left-wing cross from Darren Potter. Wednesday struck the woodwork twice and the visitors were also denied by the post.
Haynes ensures justice is done Sunday Times


PEOPLE/Andrew Collomosse - 8 November 2009 KASPARS HAS OWLS GASPING
- Kaspars Gorkss notched his first goal of the season to clinch all three points for Jim Magilton's promotion-chasing Rangers.
With nine minutes left and the odds on a draw, Gorkss strode forward to head in a corner from Alejandro Faurlin.
Rangers went in front in the 10th minute when a super pass from Adel Taarabt set up Jay Simpson for his seventh goal of the season.

Three minutes later Wayne Routledge saw his shot from another Taarabt pass rebound off a post and Wednesday swept downfield to equalise. Darren Potter found space on the left and his pass sent Jermaine Johnson galloping into the box to beat Radek Cerny with an angled shot.

Wednesday kept pushing forward and in the 23rd minute it was Luke Varney's turn to hit an upright before Ben Watson forced a fine save from Lee Grant.

Grant denied Routledge in first-half injury-time and Taarabt hit the side netting on the hour but Wednesday refused to lie down and four minutes later Tommy Miller saw his shot hit the post.

But Rangers landed a late knockout blow thanks to Gorkss.

Wednesday boss Brian Laws groaned: "Football can be a cruel game and we didn't deserve that result. Their goal was a warning sign to us but we got back into it and dominated after our equaliser."

Qpr chief Magilton said: "We have been getting a lot of credit for our free-flowing football this season.

"But the lads have enjoyed this one just as much because there was a lot of grit out there today."

Sheff Wed: Grant 7 - Simek 6 (Wood, 71mins), Hinds 6, Buxton 7, Spurr 6 - Miller 6 (McAllister, 71mins), Potter 6, O'Connor 6, *JOHNSON 8 (Clarke, 75mins) - Tudgay 6, Varney 6.
Qpr: Cerny 6 - Leigertwood 6, Hall 6 (Connolly, 28mins, 6), Gorkss 7, Ramage 6 - Routledge 6, Watson 7, Mahon 7, Buzsaky 6 (Faurlin, 68mins 6,) - *TAARABT 8 (Vine, 87mins) - Simpson 7. -- Referee: N Miller 5. PEOPLE


MIRROR - High-flying QPR emerged triumphant by the odd goal in three from an entertaining clash at Hillsborough on Saturday.

Owls summer loan target Jay Simpson fired the R's into an early lead but Wednesday hit back with Jermaine Johnson's fifth goal of the season to restore parity.

But after both sides had also struck the woodwork, the visitors sealed victory in the closing stages through Kaspars Gorkss to leave the Owls without a win in four games.

Brian Laws kept faith with the same starting line-up that earned a point at Bristol City last time out, although the manager reverted back to a 4-4-2 formation as opposed to the 4-3-3 deployed against the Robins.

After a cagey opening, during which neither side imposed any real authority on the game, the contest suddenly burst into life, with two goals and a flurry of activity inside three minutes.

Rangers burst into the lead in the tenth minute after Akos Buzsaky found space just outside the penalty area and played an inch-perfect ball in to Simpson, who turned to drill a low drive past Lee Grant in front of the Kop.

And the R's should have doubled their lead two minutes later when Wayne Routledge sprang clear down the right and cut inside to place across Grant but the ball clipped the post and rolled to safety.

That miss worked in Wednesday's favour as the hosts promptly broke upfield on 13 minutes and scored from their first attack. Darren Potter sent Johnson racing free down the left and the Jamaican advanced on goal before aiming a precision shot into the far corner off the post.

The pendulum began to switch in Wednesday's favour and Luke Varney had a half-shout for a penalty refused after tumbling under a challenge by Fitz Hall.

Varney was at the centre of the action again on 23 minutes and came within a whisker of sending the Owls into the lead. The loanee striker skipped his way past two lunging tackles and came face to face with Cerny, who breathed a sigh of relief when Varney's close range shot smacked the foot of the post.

Rangers responded with a Ben Watson drive from distance that Grant safely parried before Johnson drove wide following some trademark JJ trickery in the box.

Routledge then brought the best out of Grant from close range just before the half time whistle and in truth, it would have been harsh on either side had the other gone down the tunnel in front.

Wednesday came back out on the offensive as Rangers struggled to move the ball out of their own half. Potter went close with a free kick on the edge of the box and Johnson continued to cause concern in the visitors' backline.

But Rangers did look dangerous when they did break out, as Adel Taarabt and Simpson had snapshots that reminded the Owls of the Londoners' threat.

Wednesday, however, almost edged in front on 64 minutes, with the woodwork again coming to Rangers' rescue. A slick passing move ended with the ball landing at Tommy Miller's feet just outside the penalty area and his curling shot beat Cerny but struck the outside of the post.

Routledge fed Watson a perfect ball from the right but the midfielder screwed wide from six yards while substitute Leon Clarke almost made an immediate impact with a driven effort deflected into the side netting.

But it was Rangers that stole the points nine minutes from time through Gorkss. Substitute Alejandro Faurlin swung over a corner that the Latvian international headed powerfully beyond Grant and the R's returned to the capital having cemented their slot in the play-offs Mirror


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - Sheffield Wednesday 1 QPR 2

Kaspars Gorkss' late header clinched all three points for the R's, as Jim Magilton's side cemented their place in the top-six.

The Latvian international defender headed home eight minutes from time to cap another fine individual performance.

Earlier, Jay Simpson gave Rangers an early lead with his seven goal of the season, only for the Owls to draw level courtesy of Jermaine Johnson.

In truth, the R's could be thankful to second half substitute Alejandro Faurlin, whose introduction 22 minutes from time, proved pivotal in Rangers' late, late show.

R's chief Magilton made two changes from the side that drew 2-2 at home to Crystal Palace on Tuesday evening.

After coming down with a stomach bug, Gary Borrowdale was ruled out and replaced by Peter Ramage.

Elsewhere, Gavin Mahon returned after a hip injury in place of Faurlin.

There was positive news elsewhere too, as Matt Connolly took his place on the subs bench after a recent bout of Glandula Fever.

Radek Cerny started in goal for the R's.

Gorkss joined Fitz Hall in central defence, whilst Mikele Leigertwood and Ramage occupied the full-back positions.

Adel Taarabt and Akos Buzsaky began the game out wide, with Mahon and Ben Watson in the Rangers midfield engine room.

Wayne Routledge partnered Jay Simpson in attack.

Intent on maintaining their league position within the top six in the Coca-Coca Championship, Rangers - as is the norm these days - went on the attack from the first whistle.

After good work down the right from Mahon and Taarabt, the latter squared for Buzsaky on the edge of the area, but the Magical Magyar could only blast high and wide of the target.

The R's were enjoying far more possession on the ball, and were rewarded when they took a 10th minute lead.

Taarabt's sublime reverse through ball found Simpson, and the Arsenal loanee did the rest, calmly tucking the ball into the far corner with a fierce left-footed strike.

Buoyed by their goal Rangers could - and perhaps should - have made it two a couple of minutes later.

Taarabt was again involved, playing a precise pass into the path of Routledge who - with just the goalkeeper to beat - saw his right-footed effort cannon back off the left-hand post and out of play.

It proved to be a costly miss, when just two minutes later, Wednesday drew level.

Darren Potter fed Johnson down the left flank, and with the R's defence stretched, the pacy winger fired in off the far post.

The Owls were now having a greater say in the affair, and only a first-class save from Cerny could prevent them from taking the lead.

After a neat one-two between Marcus Tudgay and Luke Varney, the latter beat Hall before attempting to beat Cerny at his near post, but the Rangers goalkeeper was alert to tip the ball onto his right-hand upright and away to safety.

It proved a wake-up call to the R's, and when play switched to the other end, Ramage saw a looping header well caught by Lee Grant, after Ben Watson's initial blocked effort fell to the right-back on the edge of the box.

On the stroke of half-time, good build-up play from Rangers saw Taarabt slide a lovely through ball to put Routledge through on goal, but he could only fire straight at the onrushing Grant.

Having finished the first half the stronger of the two teams the R's - in truth - were on the back foot as the second period commenced.

The Owls nearly took the lead when Tommy Miller sent in a free-kick from the edge of the area, though thankfully for Rangers, his effort curled just wide.

Moments later, the R's had their first chance of the half when a scuffed clearance fell to the feet of Taarabt, but he could only drive straight at the side-netting.

It was an opportunity that seemed to rejuvenate Rangers and soon after, Simpson held off two men before sending in a driven effort at Grant.

This was an end-to-end encounter, proven when the Owls broke at pace and Miller saw his rasping effort clip the outside of Cerny's right-hand post before going out of play.

At the other end, a tussle between Simpson, the newly-introduced Faurlin and two Wednesday players saw the Argentinean come off the better, but he could only shoot straight at Grant.

Soon after the R's were again on the attack and missed undoubtedly their best chance of the half. Routledge beat his man superbly before sending a cross into the path of Watson, but the Wigan loanee could only flick agonisingly wide of the goal.

Rangers were now in the ascendancy, and only a last-ditch challenge from an Owls defender could prevent Taarabt from finding the target, after a neat pass from Mahon.

However, the R's weren't to be denied, and from the resulting corner kick, the all-important third goal of the contest arrived.

Substitute Faurlin - whose neat passing play made Rangers tick late on - curled in a delightful front-post cross, and Gorkss stooped to head home for his first league goal of the season.

Sheffield Wednesday: Grant, Spurr, Buxton, Hinds, Miller (McAllister 72), Tudgay, Potter, O'Connor, Varney, Simek (Wood 72), Johnson (Clarke 76).
Subs not used: O'Donnell, Sodje, Esajas.
Goals: Johnson (14)

QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Mahon, Hall (Connolly 30), Leigertwood, Routledge, Buzsaky (Faurlin 68), Gorkss, Watson, Simpson, Taarabt (Vine 88). Subs not used: Heaton, Agyemang, Alberti, Ephraim. Goals: Simpson (10), Gorkss (82)
Referee: Mr N Miller Attendance: 19,491 QPR


Sheffield Wednesday Official Site

High-flying QPR emerged triumphant by the odd goal in three from an entertaining clash at Hillsborough on Saturday.

Owls summer loan target Jay Simpson fired the R's into an early lead but Wednesday hit back with Jermaine Johnson's fifth goal of the season to restore parity.

But after both sides had also struck the woodwork, the visitors sealed victory in the closing stages through Kaspars Gorkss to leave the Owls without a win in four games.

Brian Laws kept faith with the same starting line-up that earned a point at Bristol City last time out, although the manager reverted back to a 4-4-2 formation as opposed to the 4-3-3 deployed against the Robins.

After a cagey opening, during which neither side imposed any real authority on the game, the contest suddenly burst into life, with two goals and a flurry of activity inside three minutes.

Rangers burst into the lead in the tenth minute after Akos Buzsaky found space just outside the penalty area and played an inch-perfect ball in to Simpson, who turned to drill a low drive past Lee Grant in front of the Kop.

And the R's should have doubled their lead two minutes later when Wayne Routledge sprang clear down the right and cut inside to place across Grant but the ball clipped the post and rolled to safety.

That miss worked in Wednesday's favour as the hosts promptly broke upfield on 13 minutes and scored from their first attack. Darren Potter sent Johnson racing free down the left and the Jamaican advanced on goal before aiming a precision shot into the far corner off the post.

The pendulum began to switch in Wednesday's favour and Luke Varney had a half-shout for a penalty refused after tumbling under a challenge by Fitz Hall.

Varney was at the centre of the action again on 23 minutes and came within a whisker of sending the Owls into the lead. The loanee striker skipped his way past two lunging tackles and came face to face with Cerny, who breathed a sigh of relief when Varney's close range shot smacked the foot of the post.

Rangers responded with a Ben Watson drive from distance that Grant safely parried before Johnson drove wide following some trademark JJ trickery in the box.

Routledge then brought the best out of Grant from close range just before the half time whistle and in truth, it would have been harsh on either side had the other gone down the tunnel in front.

Wednesday came back out on the offensive as Rangers struggled to move the ball out of their own half. Potter went close with a free kick on the edge of the box and Johnson continued to cause concern in the visitors' backline.

But Rangers did look dangerous when they did break out, as Adel Taarabt and Simpson had snapshots that reminded the Owls of the Londoners' threat.

Wednesday, however, almost edged in front on 64 minutes, with the woodwork again coming to Rangers' rescue. A slick passing move ended with the ball landing at Tommy Miller's feet just outside the penalty area and his curling shot beat Cerny but struck the outside of the post.

Routledge fed Watson a perfect ball from the right but the midfielder screwed wide from six yards while substitute Leon Clarke almost made an immediate impact with a driven effort deflected into the side netting.

But it was Rangers that stole the points nine minutes from time through Gorkss. Substitute Alejandro Faurlin swung over a corner that the Latvian international headed powerfully beyond Grant and the R's returned to the capital having cemented their slot in the play-offs. Sheffield Wednesday

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