QPR's Reading Defeat: Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments

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BBC - Reading 1 - 0 QPR - - Updated Table
- Reading's Gylfi Sigurdsson scored a late penalty as QPR lost for the first time under new manager Neil Warnock.
- Sigurdsson and Brian Howard went close for Reading early on but keeper Adam Federici denied Adel Taarabt while Tamas Priskin missed the target.
- Damion Stewart saw red before the break after a second booking for a foul on the Rangers keeper.
- QPR held out with Sigurdsson and Jobi McAnuff denied by goal-line clearances, before the Icelander sealed the win.
- Jay Simpson might have put Rangers in front before Reading scored but he missed from a tight angle.
- But Brian McDermott's Royals kept going and earned their eighth win in their last nine league games as they climb away from the relegation zone.
- Reading manager Brian McDermott:
- "I thought it was a good game. There were two honest sides out there both having a real go and we were fortunate to get the result.
"The crowd were getting frustrated. We were playing against a resilient side and it is not going to be easy to break them down but we saw it out in the end.
"We have won eight out of nine now. It wasn't the most beautiful game of football but we got the result and that was what it was all about."
- QPR boss Neil Warnock:
- "You don't often come to Reading and out-play them but we did and I have learned a lot about the players tonight.
"You can say that the red card cost us. We defended really well. Damion's first booking is never a booking in a million years. He never took his eye off the ball.
"But the second one was his own fault. What was the goalkeeper going to do other than kick the ball?
"He must have launched 100 kicks tonight so it was silly and he let his mates down."
BBC


QPR Official Site - WARNOCK: 'PROUD OF THE LADS'
- Neil Warnock described the performance of his players as 'super' despite their 1-0 reverse against Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
- Dominant for spells of the first period, the R's were dealt a killer blow on the stroke of half time when Damion Stewart was sent off for a second-bookable offence.
- QPR appeared to have achieved a hard-fought point as the second half drew to a close, only for Gylfi Sigurdsson to blast home from the penalty spot after he was brought down in the box by Matt Hill on 85 minutes.
- However, despite the result, Warnock was still upbeat after seeing his side go so close even though they were made to play with ten men for the whole of the second half.
- "I'm disappointed with the result. I thought we did super, I really enjoyed it," Warnock told www.qpr.co.uk.
- "I said to the players that you don't always get what you deserve in football.
- "We were the better side with 11 men, and I thought we were better than Reading in the first half.
- "I'm disappointed with Damion's first booking, it never was. I don't like to see opponents surrounding a referee, we're told not to do it.
- "However, it was a silly second card when you've already been booked."
- He added: "I thought we defended really well in the second half.
- "If you put a foot out in this game, you're inviting a penalty.
- "I thought the decision was wrong, but 90 per cent of referees would have given it.
- "The players are still learning what I'm trying to do. It's a fine line, but we have to move on.
- "I've learned a lot about the players tonight. We lost the game, but I'm really proud of the lads." QPR


WARNOCK QUOTE - READING CHRONICLE
- "...Warnock fumed: "At Liverpool it's a penalty, at Reading it's a penalty.
"If you leave your foot out as a defender, you are inviting the foul.
"I thought it was the wrong decision but 90 per cent of referees would give it.
"But we had four or five opportunities when we could have gone down and you wonder whether I have to coach my players to go down." Reading Chronicle


Reading Official Site - McDermott: We got our rewards
Manager Brian McDermott was rightly delighted with his team's 1-0 win over QPR, and praised his team for showing mental toughness and character to fight until the very end.
- Gylfi Sigurdsson won and superbly converted an 85th minute penalty to give us three deserved points, and the visitors were unable to get out of their own half from the 44th minute onwards once defender Damion Stewart had been sent off for his second yellow card.
- We had two efforts cleared off the line and did everything we could in search of a winner - and with time ticking away our Icelandic top scorer worked his magic to seal the win.
- Brian said, "Those people in our dressing room just kept going and kept going and I am very proud of them. It wasn't the most beautiful game and it wasn't one for the purists, but we needed to get the result and we did that, that's what it was all about.
- "We couldn't have done that four or five months ago and I was so proud of the players. They kept going, it's never easy against ten men. Neil Warnock sets his team up in a way that makes it difficult but we got our just rewards in the end. That was hard work, everyone earned their money and it was a fantastic result.
- "We kept on trying to win the game, we got two strikers on, we were trying to get the ball wide and get crosses in.
- "I've said it before but it's not easy to get at ten men and sometimes you just have to hang in there. Ten men can drop very deep, it's difficult to get in behind. You try to play in front and it can be a bit slow so you have to pick the tempo up. The pitch was difficult at times and you just need a break, you have to keep going. They were looking for 0-0 with ten men and we were looking to win.
- "They cleared two or three off the line but I still thought that something would happen, I kept believing. We've proven we can win games, no matter how late. I thought it was a really good game, two honest sides and a genuine bunch of players having a real go."
- Sigurdsson was clearly clipped by defender Matt Hill inside the area, and Brian said, "I thought it was [clear cut.] That was a fantastic penalty from Gylfi and no goalkeeper in the world would have saved that. You look at his penalties, he's rolled them in the corner, smashed others."
- Lastly, Brian was asked Matt Mills' reaction toward a section of our supporters, saying, "The crowd were a little bit frustrated and we were all getting a little bit edgy at times - when you play against a resilient side like QPR it's never going to be easy to break them down. I've asked Matt to hit some diagonal balls and he's hit some fantastic ones, and one that hasn't come off.
- "He's got a little bit frustrated, we don't want to see that but toward the end they shouted his name and I was pleased with that. It's a passionate game, Matt Mills is passionate, our crowd are passionate, I'm passionate and we want to win games. We've had eight wins out of nine and he's been involved in every single one, he's been outstanding.
- "We've got a fantastic camaraderie between the players and fans and we want to keep that going. Matt has been inspirational at the back and he was terrific again tonight, but we was disappointed and frustrated like everyone.
- "We need the crowd, we need them to keep onside, especially 0-0 at home against ten men. If we keep going together as one we'll get results like we did tonight.
- "We've beaten really tough opposition and it's another win. Anything else is not for tonight."
- This victory has moved Reading up to 14th in the Coca-Cola Championship and Brian remains unbeaten at Madejski Stadium in the League since taking over. We have won our last six League games at home, and eight in our last nine league fixtures, making us the Championship's form team." Reading


TELEGRAPH - By Sandy Macaskill at Madejski Stadium
- Goalscorer: Gylfi Sigurdsson scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot as Reading defeated QPR on Tuesday night Photo: ACTION IMAGES
t was not long ago that things were looking rather unnerving for Reading, but how the scenery has changed under Brian McDermott.
- Reading have moved up to 14th place after this victory over Queens Park Rangers, which while narrow has further consolidated their home form, extending their unbeaten run at home to six games. To think that it took Reading until November to win at the Madejski.
-Neil Warnock, meanwhile, will have been furious at this, his first defeat at QPR manager. He has brought more discipline to his defence, which was demonstrated by the way Shane Long and Jimmy Kebe, who have been real threats, were disarmed. The only problem was that the discipline broke down twice, when Damion Stewart was sent off just before the break, and when Matt Hill brought down Gylfi Sigurdsson in the area.
- Stewart had received a yellow card for a high boot on Long, so his decision to impede Adam Federici when the goalkeeper was attempting to kick from the hand – presumably because Federici had looked vulnerable with his distribution – was one which made him look unhinged. Warnock responded, strangely, by clapping McDermott.
- Yet QPR should have taken the lead 25 minutes in, when Jay Simpson found himself clean through, Matthew Mills having slipped. Simpson struck the ball straight at Federici – the on-loan Arsenal striker will hope Arsene Wenger doesn’t see a replay.
- Sigurdsson had his shot headed off the line by Hill, but the midfielder was brought down with five minutes left by the same player. He put his penalty into the top corner. Telegraph


QPR Official Site - Reading 1 QPR 0
- Gylfi Sigurdsson's 85th minute penalty proved to be the difference between battling ten-man QPR and Reading, as the R's left the Madejski Stadium with nothing to show for a determined second-half display.

It was harsh on Neil Warnock's charges, who spent the entire second period a man short following Damion Stewart's sending off just before the half-time whistle for a second-bookable offence.

Rangers had their chances to snatch victory after the break, namely when Jay Simpson blasted over from close-range following Hogan Ephraim's effort that was parried away by Adam Federici.

However, despite holding out for 40 minutes after the interval, Sigurdsson was on hand to blast home from the spot after Matt Hill was adjudged to have brought him down in the box.

R's gaffer Warnock named an unchanged starting XI at the Madejski Stadium.

Carl Ikeme was in goal for QPR, behind a back four of Matt Connolly, Stewart, Kaspars Gorkss and Hill.

In midfield, Adel Taarabt and Ephraim started on the flanks, with Mikele Leigertwood and Alejandro Faurlin in the centre.

Tamas Priskin and Simpson headed the Rangers attack.

In front of watching R's Chairman Ishan Saksena - who took his place amongst the QPR masses in the away end - it was the hosts who fashioned the first chance of the opening period.

After Gorkss gave away a foul around 25 yards from goal, Brian Howard stepped up to fire in at goal a curling free-kick that went inches wide of Ikeme's left-hand post.

Reading, in truth, started the brighter of the two sides - as you would expect from a team that had won six of their last seven league games in the Coca Cola Championship.

However, it was the R's who were next on the attack.

Lovely play from Taarabt and Faurlin allowed Simpson to find space down the right, though when he fired a cross in from the byline, the striker was unable to find a red-and-black-hooped shirt in the box.

It was an opening that gave the R's a bit more belief, and after Priskin touched the ball back to Taarabt on the edge of the area, the Spurs loanee blasted low into the hands of Federici.

Moments later, the same two nearly combined again when Taarabt played in a delightful centre from a free-kick on the left into the path of the Hungarian, before the ball was blocked out for a corner.

From the resultant kick, QPR missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring.

Taarabt once again played provider, and when Gorkss nodded back across the face of goal from the back post, Priskin could only blast high and wide of the target.

Soon after, Priskin found the ball around 25-yards out before firing in a shot on the half volley that was well caught by Federici.

R's midfielder Taarabt was seeing a lot of the ball, and his sublime assist soon after should have resulted in QPR taking the lead.

And after some more typically magnificent skills, the magical Moroccan executed a through ball to Simpson that few players in the Championship would be able to see, let alone execute.

However, through on goal with only Federici to beat, Simpson could only fire straight at the keeper 12 yards from the net.

Just before half time, Rangers were dealt a massive blow when they were reduced to ten men after Stewart was shown his marching orders.

After blocking the path of Federici when the keeper tried to clear his lines quickly after an R's corner, the referee was left with no choice but to produce a second booking and a red card.

Similarly to in the first period, Reading started the second half in positive mood.

Midfielder Sigurdsson played a lovely through pass to Jimmy Kebe on the edge of the penalty area, before he blasted low and straight at R's stopper Ikeme.

Soon after, Reading went even closer when Shane Long found possession out on the left, before he cut in on the edge of the penalty area to bend an effort just wide of the right-hand upright for the hosts.

The home side, by now, were now trying to make their one-man advantage count, and Ryan Bertrand's centre from the left somehow evaded a whole host of Reading players in the box.

QPR didn't sit back despite Stewart's first-half sending off, however, and moments later they almost snatched the lead.

After Taarabt's corner was cleared only as far as Ephraim on the edge of the penalty area, the midfielder unleashed a stinging shot that Federici could only parry into the path of Simpson, but the striker - albeit at an acute angle - blasted over from close range.

Though it was Reading who were seeing more of the ball, and only two superb goal-line clearances stopped them from taking the lead.

First, Sigurdsson cut in from the left before unleashing a thunderous drive at the top right-hand corner that looked to be heading for net before Hill stooped to clear the ball away from goal.

And, after the ball was cut back from the left, Bertrand's stinging effort also looked destined to find the goal before Gorkss put his head in the way to guide the ball to safety.

However, with just five minutes remaining Reading snatched all three points.

After Hill felled Sigurdsson in the penalty area, he dusted himself down before firing the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net.

Reading: Federici, Mills, Tabb, Long (Church 68), McAnuff, Kebe, Ingimarsson, Bertrand, Sigurdsson, Howard (Rasiak 62), Griffin. Subs: Hamer, Gunnarsson, Matejovsky, Robson-Kanu, Khizanishvili. Goals: Sigurdsson (Pen) 85 Bookings: Rasiak
QPR: Ikeme, Stewart, Leigertwood, Gorkss, Connolly, Faurlin, Hill, Simpson, Ephraim, Priskin (German 87), Taarabt (Ramage 81). Subs: Cerny, Vine, Buzsaky, Cook, Borrowdale.
Bookings: Stewart (2), Faurlin, Leigertwood, Hill, Connolly Red Cards: Stewart Referee: Mr G Ward Attendance: 16, 886 QPR


READING OFFICIAL SITE
- Reading earned another fully deserved three points and continued their incredible run of form as Gylfi Sigurdsson's penalty earned a 1-0 win over QPR on Tuesday evening.

The first half was pretty much even until QPR were reduced to ten men right on half time when visiting defender Damion Stewart was shown a second yellow card, having committed two clear fouls in the space of 12 minutes.

Rangers were then completely content to sit back in the second half and hold out for a 0-0 draw, and we twice had efforts cleared off the line before Sigurdsson was clearly fouled by Matt HIll and smashed home the penalty himself to show maturity beyond his years and top class ability.

Reading were the better team, and while Rangers' defensive approach was probably understandable with only ten men, they were not able to hang out for long enough to keep us at bay and prevent us taking the points.

In securing our sixth straight home League win and our eighth victory in nine overall, we also inflicted a first defeat on Neil Warnock since moving to Loftus Road. In addition we have leapfrogged his team to move up to 14th.

Our superb form cannot be underestimated and Brian McDermott's team have shown they can win in style - but on this display they have also made it clear they can put in the hard graft and keep going until the bitter end.

Reading (4-2-3-1): Federici; Griffin, Bertrand, Ingimarsson (c), Mills; Howard (Rasiak 61), Tabb; McAnuff, Kebe, Sigurdsson; Long (Church 68)
Subs: Hamer, Khizanishvili, Gunnarsson, Matejovsky, Robson-Kanu
Booked: Rasiak (dissent 90)

QPR (4-2-3-1): Ikeme; Connolly, Hill, Gorkss, Stewart; Leigertwood (c), Faurlin; Priskin (German 87), Ephraim, Taarabt (Ramage 81); Simpson
Subs: Cerny, Borrowdale, Buzsaky, Cook, Vine
Booked: Faurlin (foul 34), Leigertwood (foul 75), Hill (foul 84), Connolly (dissent 84)
Sent off: Stewart (two yellows, fouls 32 and 44)

Attendance: 16,886 (2,024 away)

Referee: G Ward

Team news
Andy Griffin passed a fitness test so regained his place at right back; Brynjar Gunnarsson dropping to the bench as a result. QPR were unchanged from their weekend draw at Sheffield United. Marcus Bent, on loan from Birmingham, missed out due to a restriction on the number of loan players that can be included in a matchday squad.

First half
the match quickly shaped up as an encounter involving two positive, attack-minded sides, and Brian Howard was close to an opener with eight minutes on the clock, curling a 22-yard left-footed free kick just a couple of feet wide of the upright. Carl Ikeme in the Rangers goal was rooted to the spot and was very grateful to see it glide just past the post.

Rangers' Adel Taarabt stung the palms of Adam Federici in 13 minutes, and although the Morrocan struck it well it was to close to our number one to ever trouble him.

Federici was then called into action from a right wing corner, spreading himself well to stop Kaspars Gorkss' header.

It was an open game, and Ikeme was a little fortunate when Gylfi Sigurdsson charged down his kick, only for it to fly over the Rangers crossbar.

Tottenham once paid top dollar to bring Taarabt to the English game, and he is certainly capable of the odd moment of magic. He slid a wonderful through ball for Jay Simpson on 25, but Federici saved very well at his feet.

Games against Neil Warnock's teams always seem to be blood and thunder affairs, and so it proved when both Damion Stewart and Alejandro Faurlin were booked in the space of 120 seconds. Stewart went in the notepad for a a high foot up near Long's face, while Faurlin tripped Jay Tabb.

Reading were just beginning to up the ante as half time approached, and Jimmy Kebe had a good break but Matt Hill got back to defend well, then Howard curled a shot wide; comfortable for Ikeme.

It had been a nip and tuck affair between two form sides, and there was an explosion of action right before the half time whistle as the visitors went down to ten men.

Rangers were on the attack and the Federici grabbed a high cross, quickly looking to release Kebe on the break. Rangers defender Stewart impeded our 'keeper to prevent the quick attack, a silly thing to do given that he had already been booked. Our players were incensed and remonstrated with referee Ward before he showed the inevitable second yellow. Staying to form, Rangers boss Warnock argued the decision with the fourth official and also appeared to mockingly applaud our bench.

There was still time for Kebe to shoot wide in injury time, and visiting 'keeper Ikeme also caused a panic inside his own box as heond half came out for a high ball, Long getting there first but a defender on hand to hack clear in desperation.

Second half
Rather cheekily, Rangers were out for the second half as late as they possibly could be, but Reading remained unflustured by any delaying tactics and came close twice in the first five minutes of the period.

First Kebe shot low at Ikeme after a nice reverse ball from Gylfi Sigurdsson, then Long hit a shot a foot wide from a tight angle - and it would have burst the net had it been 12 inches to the left.

Reading were the only team with genuine attacking intent, and when Rangers' bench questionably threw a second ball on the pitch and delayed the game with 35 minutes to go it betrayed their genuine approach to the game.

Just before the hour mark Reading came close again after Howard's quick free kick, and Ryan Bertrand's drilled low cross was just ahead of a teammate. Soon afterwards Federici couldn't hold a low drive from Hogan Ephraim, but he did well to put Simpson off on the rebound.

Brian McDermott was not about to settle for a draw, and brought on Grzegorz Rasiak then Simon Church to look for that all-important goal.

Rangers simply could not get out of their own half, and Mikele Leigertwood had to clear Sigurdsson's shot off the line with Ikeme well beaten.

We were throwing everything forward, and with 12 minutes to go Rasiak seemed to have a great chance but it evaded him in the middle - only to fall to McAnuff, who hit a beauty that again Rangers cleared off their own line.

One moment was all we needed - and it was supplied in some style by the ice cool Sigurdsson. He stepped inside Ephraim to move into the area, and then beat Matt Hill with another piece of skill for a stonewall penalty. Sigurdsson took it himself and smashed a brilliant spot kick right into the top corner. Hill was very unhappy with the decision, while Matt Connolly was also booked, but when they see it back they will surely realise the referee got this key decision correct.

For the first time in the the half Rangers then had to show some attacking intent, but it only opened up more space for us and McAnuff went on a flying break, releasing Kebe for a disappointingly wild shot.

Inside injury time McAnuff went on another sensational run, this time travelling 70 yards in possession and looking certain to score a sensational goal, only for Ikeme to come out at his feet. Reading


1 Newcastle 35 40 73
2 West Brom 37 33 72
3 Nottm Forest 37 20 64
4 Leicester 36 11 60
5 Swansea 37 6 60
6 Cardiff 36 14 55
7 Sheff Utd 37 3 52
8 Doncaster 37 4 51
9 Blackpool 37 6 50
10 Coventry 37 -7 50
11 Middlesbrough 37 7 49
12 Barnsley 36 -9 49
13 Preston 37 -7 48
14 Reading 35 -3 47
15 Bristol City 37 -12 45
16 QPR 36 -5 44
17 Ipswich 37 -7 44
18 Derby 37 -11 43
19 Watford 35 -6 42
20 Sheff Wed 37 -18 39
21 Crystal Palace 36 -2 38
22 Scunthorpe 35 -21 38
23 Plymouth 36 -16 34
24 Peterborough 37 -20 30 BBC


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