QPR Draw at Sheffield United and are Drawn Away to Bolton

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- QPR and Sheffield United drew 1-1. Replay at Loftus Road on Tuesday (January 12) at 7.45pm

QPR Official Site IT'S BOLTON
QPR will travel to Bolton Wanderers in the fourth round of the FA Cup, should they beat Sheffield United in the third round replay.
The R's drew 1-1 with the Blades at Bramall Lane this afternoon, which means they will host Kevin Blackwell's men in a replay at Loftus Road on Tuesday 12th January, kick off 7.45pm.
Should Paul Hart's men defeat their Championship rivals, they will visit the Reebok Stadium to take on Premiership outfit Bolton on Saturday 23rd or Sunday 24th January

FA Cup Draw
Tottenham v Leeds United
Tranmere/Wolves v Crystal Palace
Aston Villa v Brighton
Preston v Chelsea
Portsmouth/Coventry v Sunderland
Bolton v Sheffield United/QPR

Accrington/Gillingham v Fulham
Everton v Nottingham Forest/Birmingham
West Brom v Plymouth/Newcastle
Scunthorpe United v Manchester City
Notts County/Forest Green v Wigan Athletic
Stoke City v Arsenal

Bristol City/Cardiff City v Leicester City
Millwall/Derby v Brentford/Doncaster
Reading/Liverpool v Burnley
Southampton v Ipswich


QPR Official Site HART: 'WE'RE IN THE HAT'
Posted on: Sun 03 Jan 2010
Paul Hart was pleased to see his QPR side secure a 'deserved' replay, as honours ended even at Bramall Lane.

Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, Hart said: "We're disappointed we didn't win it.

"Defensively we were very strong and we always looked a threat, showing plenty of fight.

"Away from home we put in a very strong performance. It wasn't always pretty, but I don't think FA Cup matches necessarily are at this time of the season.

"To be honest, we felt we could win the game."

Jay Simpson put the R's ahead, only for United to draw level on the stroke of half-time courtesy of Richard Cresswell.

Hart added: "We were disappointed with the goal, with it being so late in the first half.

"But to be fair to the lads, they recovered well and withstood the pressure they put us under at times in the early part in the second half.

"We came strong after that and we're in the hat for the fourth round, so we can't be too disappointed."

Hart concluded by confirming he hopes to bring new faces to the Club in the January transfer window, adding: "We're hoping to do some business.

"I've only been here a short time, three weeks or so, but hopefully we can bring in a couple of players to add to the squad." QPR


Sheffield United Official Site
Gaffer's reaction
Posted on: Sun 03 Jan 2010
Kevin Blackwell rued a series of missed chances and the lack of a lucky break in the draw with QPR as his team missed an opportunity of claiming a 4th round place in the FA Cup draw.

The Blades fell behind but clawed their way back through Richard Cresswell's header before the break and the United boss felt his team did enough to merit a win:

"We had the better chances and hit the bar twice but sometimes it just doesn't happen for you. We really went for it and my only frustration is that we were not clinical enough in the final third."

Henri Camera tormented the visitors backline as the focal point of United's attack and Blackwell admitted that the Senegalese striker could emerge as an influential player in the months to come:

"He has good awareness and can create something out of nothing but I am aware that we have to tread carefully with him until he becomes fully fit.

"My heart is in my mouth when he stays on and starts to tire because I don't want him to pick up an injury because he could eventually be the missing link we are looking for.

"But we have three or four back shortly and hopefully I will be able to rotate the squad and give him a rest when he needs it.

"We have Walker, Henderson, Naysmith getting back to fitness, plus Harper, Stewart and Williamson to get fully fit so then we won't be too shoddy."

Matt Kilgallon was replaced at half-time by new loan signing Marcel Seip, a substitution made purely by the fact that Kilgallon was carrying the effects of an injury:

"Matt had strained a hamstring earlier in the week and really wanted to play, but if he had carried on and suffered more damage he would have been out for six weeks so I was looking after him - whether he stays with us or not." Sheffield United


QPR Official Site

The R's and Sheffield United will battle it out again in an FA Cup third round replay after honours ended even at Bramall Lane.

Jay Simpson's tenth goal of the season was cancelled out by Richard Cresswell on the stroke of half time, as the two sides shared the spoils for the second time in as many weeks.

In a lacklustre contest, neither side did enough to warrant victory, although the woodwork twice denied the Blades.

The replay will take place in W12 on Tuesday 12th January, kick-off 7.45pm.


Rangers Manager Paul Hart made three changes to the QPR side that suffered a 3-0 reverse on Monday afternoon at Ipswich Town.

Tommy Williams and Ben Watson dropped out of the starting line-up after returning to their respective parent Clubs after loan spells at Loftus Road, while Adel Taarabt missed the trip due to injury.

That meant Gary Borrowdale, Alejandro Faurlin and Patrick Agyemang all started for QPR.

So, with Radek Cerny in goal, Peter Ramage, Damion Stewart, Kaspars Gorkss and Borrowdale began in defence for the R's.

Wayne Routledge, Mikele Leigertwood, Faurlin and Akos Buzsaky made up a Rangers midfield quartet.

Jay Simpson partnered Patrick Agyemang up front.

In what were ice cold conditions in the Steel City, it was the hosts who had the opening chance to find the net.

After the ball cannoned back into the path of Henri Camara on the edge of the area, he fired his shot off target past the left-hand post.

Soon after, Jamie Ward fired in a magnificent centre from a free-kick to Chris Morgan, who headed only inches wide of Cerny's upright.

The Blades then missed undoubtedly their greatest opportunity to date. Tricky play from Camara down the left ended in that man cutting the ball back to Stephen Quinn 12-yards out, but he could only blast onto the crossbar when it looked easier to find the goal, and the ball was then cleared to safety.

Moments later and the home side were once again on the attack. Andy Taylor flighted a cross into the area which looped over Gorkss to Camara who looked certain to score, only for Borrowdale to prevent the United striker from scoring with a superb tackle.

The R's then had their first chance to find the opening goal of the tie. Buzsaky fired in a free-kick 30 yards from goal, which went comfortably wide of Mark Bunn's right-hand post.

Soon after, Faurlin won the ball in midfield before releasing Simpson 20-yards out, whose stinging effort was saved well down to his right by Bunn.

QPR were now enjoying their best passage of play in the first period. Good play from Routledge and Agyemang on the right-hand side ended with the ball finding Leigertwood, who shot over from 20 yards.

Routledge's initial effort was blocked out only as far as Faurlin on the edge of the penalty box, and his stinging drive was tipped wide by Bunn in the Blades goal.

Moments later, the R's were rewarded for their improved display courtesy of Simpson's tenth of the season.

Routledge inevitably played provider, pulling the ball back from the byline into the path of the Arsenal loanee, who buried an unstoppable low drive into the bottom corner.

QPR's joy was short lived though, and moments before the interval the hosts drew level. Quinn's cross from the right was met by Cresswell, who nodded past Cerny to level matters.

The Blades maintained their attacking momentum after the break. An initial slip from Gorkss allowed Camara to find the space and time to shoot on the edge of the area, but his shot was blocked away by Cerny to safety.

United by now were seeing far more of the ball than Rangers were. Ward's curling effort from just outside the area was only marginally wide of Cerny's right-hand post.

Play soon switched to the other end, where Faurlin's shot from 20 yards was blocked away for a corner.

From the resulting kick, Routledge's centre found Stewart on the volley, but he could only blast wide of the left-hand post.

The second half was devoid of clear-cut chances, with the majority of the play being fought out in the midfield area.

However, the hosts almost took the lead out of nothing with just ten minutes left. Ched Evans' thundering free-kick hit the underside of the R's bar from 35-yards out, before the referee blew for an offside as the ball landed back into the area.

Despite three minutes of added time, the best either side could muster was a weak Camara drive, that Cerny gathered with some ease.

Sheffield United: Bunn, Montgomery, Morgan, Kilgallon (Seip 46), Evans, Taylor, Cresswell, Ward (Little 87), Geary, Quinn (Williamson 78), Camara.

Subs not used: Bennett, France, Reid, Harper.

Scorers: Cresswell (45+2)

Bookings: Cresswell (35), Taylor (37), Geary (85)

QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Leigertwood, Routledge, Buzsaky (Ephraim 71), Agyemang (Helguson 85), Gorkss, Faurlin, Simpson, Borrowdale.

Subs not used: Taylor, Hall, Connolly, Balanta, Parker.

Scorers: Simpson (39)

Bookings: Faurlin (90)

Referee: Mr A R Hall

Attendance: 11, 461 QPR


Sheffield United Official Site

A replay will be needed to see if either the Blades or Queens Park Rangers will play in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

For the second time in 15 days, United and QPR fought out a draw with Richard Cresswell again netting against the Hoops. Stephen Quinn and Ched Evans both struck the crossbar as the Blades bossed the majority of the game.

United's first game was played in freezing temperatures at Bramall Lane and the stalemate will mean the sides will battle it out again on Tuesday 12 January.

It appears that the days of making excessive changes for the cup are over with Blackwell forced into just one alteration to his team that saw out 2009 with a victory. Taylor took the place of hamstring-victim Stewart at left-back, whilst on the bench Harper returned after injury to sit alongside newboy Seip.

Bunn, in the first game since extending his loan deal from Blackburn until the end of the campaign, had to be alert and off his line quickly to stem an early threat from Routledge but, backed by the Kop, United started well.

Morgan had already headed a free-kick from Ward wide before an encouraging move on nine minutes, beginning with a neat lay-off by Evans which gave Camara freedom. He avoided a lunging challenge in the box from Gorkss before laying off and watching Quinn's effort pound back off the crossbar.

United again went close to opening the scoring on 18 minutes when Taylor took his time and picked the right ball, which floated over the head of Gorkss, but Camara was put under pressure from Borrowdale just as he was about to shoot. QPR hit back with long-range efforts from Buzsaky, Simpson and Leigertwood but Bunn was forced into just one save.

The efforts did, however, signal that the visitors were coming back into the game, further emphasised by Bunn directing away another Buzsaky attempt. Cresswell and Taylor were booked within two minutes of each other and soon after QPR grasped the lead. Routledge found space on the right and his low cross was missed by Taylor allowing SIMPSON to sweep the ball home from eight yards.

The Rangers goal prompted the Blades to get back on to the front foot and Camara edged between Faurlin and Ramage but was nudged out of the way by Stewart although the appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears.

But, in the third and final minute of added time at the end of the half, United recorded a leveller. From a set-piece the visitors failed to clear their lines and when Quinn swung in a ball from the right, CRESSWELL rose highest to head into the top corner of Cerny's net. The goalscorer was injured moments before netting and still looked in pain as his team-mates celebrated with him.

Cresswell did reappear for the second half but Kilgallon didn't and his place was taken by Seip, on for his debut. Looking to continue the momentum, the Blades had the first opportunity after the restart but, after taking advantage of a Gorkss slip, Camara's shot was punched away by Cerny.

On 55 minutes United went even closer but again QPR survived. A neat flick by Camara began a move which ended with Evans laying off to Ward, whose pre-planned slice curled just wide of the post.

Stewart bundled a Buzsaky corner wide for the home side but United were quickly back on to the front foot. Ward almost benefitted from charging down a Cerny clearance and then Cresswell and Camara both had efforts blocked in the same move on 69 minutes.

Despite having the territorial advantage and most of the offensive possession, United's chances dried up and Blackwell introduced Williamson for the final ten minutes in an attempt to nick a winner.

Three sides of Bramall Lane rose to their feet and then groaned simultaneously on 81 minutes. Following the award of a free-kick 30 yards from goal, Evans unleashed a thunderbolt that smashed against the crossbar and hit Cerny on the way out.

In the final ten minutes, Geary was booked, Morgan took a whack to the head, which needed a bit of treatment, and Little was brought on as United's third substitution.

Three minutes of added time brought very little, apart from Cresswell snuffing out Helguson from a free-kick, to ensure that both sides made into the hat for the fourth round draw.

Blades: Bunn, Montgomery, Morgan, Kilgallon (Seip 45), Evans, Taylor, Cresswell, Ward (Little 87), Geary, Quinn (Williamson 78), Camara.
Unused: France, Reid, Bennett, Harper.

QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Leigertwood, Routledge, Buzsaky (Ephraim 71), Agyemang (Helguson 85), Gorkss, Faurlin, Simpson, Borrowdale.
Unused: Hall, Connolly, Balanta, Taylor, Parker. Sheffield United



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