- Follow QPR REPORT on TWITTER!
- QPR History in Photos: From the 1880s to the 21st Century - The Bushman QPR Photo Archives
- Premier League Launches U-21 Cup (QPR Involved)
- Guardian Interview with Thiago Silva Mentions Julio Cesar's Brazil Team Talk (Pep Talk)
... " I looked around in the dressing room before the game against Spain and I saw blood in the eyes of our players. Then came Júlio's speech," he says.
The speech was the dressing-room pep talk given by the goalkeeper Júlio César...."Júlio spoke about how much it meant to him to be able to bounce back after his mistake in the 2010 World Cup [when he was heavily criticised for his performance in the quarter-final defeat to Holland] and how many people thought he was done when he moved from Inter Milan to a club fighting relegation. It was awesome and we just thought: 'Let's win this game for him too.' Júlio could be an actor when he retires, he's so convincing," says Thiago, in a rare joke..."
- Birmingham City's Lee Clark Pre-QPR Game
12 Years Ago Just three days before - and our last game before 9/11 (or 11/9) -
August 8, 2001
Brighton (0) 2 QPR (0) 1
Brighton: Kuipers, Watson, Cullip, Morgan, Rogers (Mayo 61), Oatway, Brooker (Hart 68), Carpenter, Steele (Lehmann 83), Jones, Zamora.
Subs Not Used: Crosby, Pitcher.
Goals: Zamora 67, Watson 90.
QPR: Day, Perry, Bignot, Palmer, Forbes, Ben Askar, Bruce, Connolly (Rose 74), Taylor (Thomson 74), McEwen (Ebeli M'bombo 45), Griffiths.
Subs Not Used: Wardley, Bull.
Booked: Bignot, Ben Askar, Ebeli M'bombo.
Goals: Thomson 79.
Att: 6,820
Ref: W Jordan (Tring).
BBC
Brighton 2-1 QPR
Paul Watson's dramatic stoppage-time strike helped Brighton to their 11th consecutive home win, a 2-1 victory over plucky Queens Park Rangers.
Bobby Zamora had looked to have put the Seagulls on their way by heading in a Paul Brooker cross in the 66th minute.
But Rangers substitute Andy Thomson struck within six minutes of coming on to equalise after 79 minutes with a low shot.
With time running out, Watson hit the winner with a fierce free-kick. Rangers should have been ahead after only three minutes.
A through ball by Leroy Griffiths put Marcus Bignot through on goal, but his shot rebounded off the post with keeper Michel Kuipers beaten.
Zamora came close in the 10th minute when his glancing header from Watson's corner was tipped onto the bar by keeper Chris Day.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/1528358.stm
QPR Official Site
Attendance:
6820
Referee:
A last minute goal from Paul Watson sent Rangers to defeat at the Withdean Stadium this afternoon. The visitors had battled back from going a goal down only to suffer at the hands of a well taken free kick at the death.
Yet another last minute defeat was hard to stomach, but on the balance of play, Brighton may feel that their victory was deserved.
Ironically, Rangers spurned perhaps the best chance of the game in only the fourth minute when Marcus Bignot burst from midfield in to the Seagulls' area. But he somehow managed to hit the post from point blank range when it appeared easier to score.
But it was Brighton who enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and the visitors had to withstand a period of Brighton pressure, with Steve Palmer heading Paul Watson's corner on to his own crossbar as the home side found their feet.
On 15 minutes Rangers survived another scare when Paul Bruce fouled Bobby Zamora on the edge of the area and Watson's free kick only just went the wrong side of Chris Day's right hand post.
Rangers most impressive players in the opening period were the energetic Dave McEwen and Leroy Griffiths, but once again, the back four also looked solid in the face of a potent home forward line who promised much but found it hard to break QPR down.
Rangers showed some neat touches going forward early on but not often enough to threaten Michel Kuipers in the Albion goal. It took Rangers until the 35th minute to create another decent opportunity, and a good move it was too. McEwen fed the speeding Forbes whose whipped cross was headed firmly goalwards by the diving Robert Taylor, but too close to Kuipers.
As half time approached Rangers grew in confidence. Griffiths and Taylor both had the Brighton defence scrambling to clear the ball as the home side began to run out of options. Right on half time the Forbes-Taylor combination nearly came good when the full back's cross was headed only just over by the bustling front man.
For the second half, Ian Holloway brought on Doudou for McEwen, but as in the first period, it was Brighton who began the stronger. Watson's rasping 20 yard drive was acrobatically tipped away by Chris Day on 47 minutes.
Brighton again nearly scored three minutes later when Lee Steele's shot looped just wide. Claims for a penalty after Day clashed with the Brighton frontman were also rejected.
Rangers first decent spell of pressure in the second half saw Kuipers punch Mark Perry's free kick off the head of Robert Taylor with Leroy Griffiths blasting a shot over from the resulting corner as Rangers got in to their stride. But Brighton still threatened and Bobby Zamora saw a powerful header loop only just over on the hour mark.
Rangers continued to play neat football and there was plenty to admire in the approach play of Perry, Bignot and Doudou, but no killer punch and it was Brighton who showed the visitors how to do it with a goal for Zamora on 66 minutes.
Paul Brooker's pinpoint cross to the far post was firmly headed home by the impressive marksman for his fifth goal of the season. Having enjoyed the better chances in the second half the goal was by no means undeserved.
The goal gave the home side all the confidence they needed to keep up their asault of the Rangers goal and Carpenter's searing drive only just cleared the bar as Rangers looked to hold on.
Holloway changed things soon after though with Thomson and Rose coming on for Taylor and Connolly and it was this change that brought the equaliser in controversial circumstances. A tough challenge from Matthew Rose left Charlie Oatway on the deck and as Brighton appealed, Rangers played to the whistle and broke down the right. Forbes was left in acres of space to cross to Thomson who gleefully swept home on 78 minutes. Just as it seemed Rangers were out of it they got back on terms.
And, much as against Bristol City, it appeared that Holloway's men were going to finish the stronger, but the last word was with Brighton. Marcus Bignot fouled sub Dirk Lehmann on the edge of the area and Paul Watson swept home the free kick with only seconds left of the 90.
Yet again Rangers were desperately unlucky to go down to a last gasp goal, especially having done so well to get back in to the game. But Brighton boss Mickey Adams will feel that the weight of chances enjoyed by his players brought them the victory they deserved.
Zamora 67 Watson 91
