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Derby 0-2 QPR
QPR turned in their best away performance of the season to spoil Nigel Clough's first game in charge of Derby County, by claiming a well deserved win on the road - their first since Norwich on September 17th.
For one reason or another, I was alone in my travels to Pride Park this morning, but had a breeze of a journey and arrived at midday to share an enjoyable pre match with the Leeds based contingent. Although QPR have yet to lose at this ground, there was perhaps slight apprehension of today's outcome, what with it being Nigel Clough's first game in charge of the Rams and the famous 'New Manager Syndrome'. But sadly for Derby, nobody told QPR...
Rangers, to a man, were awesome today and the only disappointment came with the news that Martin Rowlands knee injury, sustained in the first half, could well be serious. On 11 minutes, a tackle from Addison, led to the R's Captain falling awkwardly and after treatment, he was eventually stretchered off and replaced by Hogan Ephraim. As mentioned, since arriving home, it seems that the injury could well be serious and Rowlands is being sent for scans on Monday - fingers tightly crossed for you Rowly!!!
The R's went deservedly ahead on 22 minutes - Ephraim played in Helguson, who was challenged by Albrechtsen, but the ball fell to the impressive Routledge who fired home in front of the R's fans!
Rangers went further ahead just 14 minutes later, with Routledge involved again. The winger beat his man and squared the ball to Mikele Leigertwood to fire home from 12 yards. The first half ended with Rangers as comfortable as the scoreline and the 'Mighty Sousa - win away' chant, amongst others was been sung loudly and with confidence by the R's fans.
As you would have expected, Derby did rouse themselves briefly at the start of the second half, but Radek Cerny saved well from Addison and later, Hogan Ephraim headed off the line. Rangers could have had a third when Carroll saved well from Ephraim, but the final whistle brought much celebration in the away end.
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon, Leigertwood, Routledge, Gorkss, Rowlands (Ephraim 11), Connolly, Cook (Alberti 90), Helguson (Di Carmine 63). Subs: Hall, Blackstock.
Lofty's Man of the Match - I could quite easily give this award to the entire team! It was a fantastic team performance and QPR to a man, were simply awesome. Matt Connolly, Hogan Ephraim, Kaspers Gorkks and Wayne Routledge were all excellent, but today's award goes to Mikele Leigertwood for his goal and an outstanding performance in the R's midfield.
In summary, QPR were outstanding! There really isn't any more I can add to this except long may it continue! However, I am pretty gutted for my fellow away game sufferer, PK, who had to miss this one due to unexpected work commitments. Don't worry mate, there will undoubtedly be more away wins for you to enjoy!
Altogether now - 'a win away, a win away, a win away, a win away'.....
P.S.Thanks for the tickets, Gaz!!
QPR today clinched the signing of Republic of Ireland International midfielder, Liam Miller from Sunderland.
The 27 year old, former Celtic and Manchester United midfielder was originally due to join on loan, but an undisclosed fee was agreed for Liam to join the R's until the end of the season.
GOOD LUCK LIAM and WELCOME TO QPR!!!
Burnley 2-1 QPR (aet)
Substitute, Jay Rodriguez fired Burnley into the FA Cup fourth round with a goal in the last minute of extra time at Turf Moor.
I am gutted, choked, p*ssed off, annoyed etc, I could go on. I didn't travel to Burnley tonight and to be honest, with still counting the cost of Christmas and stuff, I had no intention of doing so. Staying with the honesty theme, I also didn't think for one minute we would win the game and was even more convinced when I saw Paulo Sousa's team selection. But for 6 minutes, I was starting to think about the trip to West Brom on Saturday week and very much looking forward too it, as Samuel Di Carmine gave the R's the lead on 54 minutes.
Martin Rowlands hit the bar shortly after, but the home side equalised just 6 minutes later through Thompson after a mistake from Radek Cerny. As the game came to a close and indeed, went into extra time, I was wondering just how Rangers hadn't wrapped this game up, but I was mentally preparing for the pain of a penalty shoot out, when in the last minute, the commentator on Radio London screamed - 'that's a terrible mistake by Damion Stewart, Rodriguez is in and Burnley are through to the next round...QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, G. Mahon (Rose 79), Hall, Leigertwood, Gorkss, Rowlands, Ledesma (Ephraim 55), Alberti, Di Carmine (Helguson 84). Subs: Crowther, Ramage, Connolly, Borrowdale.
Lofty's Man of the Match - Courtesy of Paul, Joe and Vickie - Samuel Di CarmineHow weird it is that I never thought we would win this game, yet am writing this report extremely dejected. Possibly due to the fact that the two goals came from mistakes, but credit to Burnley and I wish them all the very best in the next round against West Brom. Credit also to the R's travelling support, estimated between 350 and 500 who made the difficult midweek trip and gave fantastic support, if what heard on the radio was anything to go by.
QPR 1-1 Coventry
Dexter Blackstock saved QPR's blushes with an equalising goal with only three minutes to go against ten-man Coventry at Loftus Road.
Well, one word and one word only can be used to describe today at football and that is 'COLD'. I think I am right in saying that the temparature didn't rise anywhere above freezing all afternoon and I personally, would not have grumbled too much had the game been called off today. But unlike our Premier League neighbours just down the road, the game was on and one thing myself and PK were very much looking forward too on a freezing cold day, was the now becoming famous soup, which was back on sale today, but remarkably and VERY disappointingly, sold out by twenty to three!?!
Onto the game and QPR had the better of the first half with new signing, Wayne Routledge looking extremley lively, but, while they enjoyed the majority of the possession, they found little end product. The highlight of the half, came when the Championship's most annoying whingebag, Clinton Morrison, whinged and moaned his way into winding up the home supporters and then was just inches away from slicing the ball into his own net. Had it gone in, it would have brought the house down.
The Sky Blues were reduced to 10 men on 35 or so minutes, when Wright's high and reckless challenge on Helguson warranted a red card from referee Keith Stroud and this was probably the worst thing to happen to the game from Rangers point of view. Delaney stung the hands off Westwood in the Coventry goal just before half time.
Rangers were well on top in the second period, with Blackstock and Helguson missing great chances to give the R's the lead. In fact, Helguson was not having the best of days at all and gave away a needless, if not debatable free kick on the right hand side of the box on 72 minutes. With everyone expecting a cross, Fox caught everyone out and curled his free kick low into the right hand corner to give the ten men the lead.
Rangers then began to pour forward and Helguson's day got even worse. When the Coventry defender micued, the ball fell to Helguson, who sliced his effort that actually went out for a throw, when in truth, he had the time to take a touch and wave at the cameras before putting the ball home. But with all these decent chances missed and two VERY decent handball penalty appeals waved away, a bizarre goal brought the R's level with three minutes to go - Cerny's long punt upfield somehow found Blackstock in the box who bundled the ball past the advancing Westwood and into the net.
QPR: Cerny, Delaney (Ledesma 73), Stewart, Leigertwood (Di Carmine 81), Routledge, Blackstock, Gorkss, Rowlands, Connolly, Ephraim (Hall 88), Helguson. Subs: Mahon, Alberti.
Lofty's Man of the Match - Gorkss and Stewart were pretty much solid in the R's defence, which looked more assured with Matt Connolly returning to it, but today's award goes to R's debutant, Wayne Routledge.
In summary, this was yet another disappointing result and for me, although there was lots of possession, there didn't seem to be enough movement and people making runs and space in the QPR side. As mentioned, Coventry going down to 10 men certainly didn't help the game as when they went one up, the defended for their lives and credit to them for their performance. But if you look at things positively, despite 5 draws, we are now unbeaten in 6 games. In Routledge, I think we have made an excellent signing and when Lee Cook returns, I have no doubt these two wingers will supply the ammunition for the forwards and the goals will surely arrive.
Come on you R'sssss!!
Lee Cook has become QPR's fourth signing of the transfer window and has signed a three and a half year contract at Loftus Road, returning to the club permanently after a six month loan spell from Fulham.
On his return to W12, 26 year old winger, Cook told the Official QPR Website;Everyone knows QPR are my Club and I'm delighted to be back here. This Club is really going places and I'm just delighted to be part of what we all hope will be a very successful chapter in its history. I feel as though I'm getting back to my best and I can't wait for the second half of the season.
GOOD LUCK COOKIE and WELCOME HOME!!!
If QPR were to win their 3rd round replay at Burnley, a trip to Peterborough or West Brom will be the reward. The two sides drew 1-1 at the Hawthorns yesterday.
Personally, I think this tie will be Peterborough v Burnley in the 4th Round, but here's hoping...
QPR 0-0 Burnley
QPR are in the hat for the F.A.Cup Fourth Round Draw, but first, face a tough looking replay at Turf Moor as the two sides played out, what was by all acounts, a dire 0-0 draw at Loftus Road this afternoon. New signing, Wayne Routledge was paraded to the crowd before kick off...
I wasn't at the game today and it was very deliberate. In fact, out of the 11 of the gang that regularly go to games, only one 'may' have attended. I can't speak for the rest of the gang, but for myself and PK, it was a matter of principle of why we decided not to go. With many clubs having a ticket promotion for their third round ties, QPR excelled themselves once again by doing the same. I am being sarcastic of course and as they stated, were 'delighted' to offer a massive £5 off from the normal match day prices. For me, this was insulting. Just after Christmas, a £15 or so ticket offer would have got a few more bums on seats for sure - for what was hardly, with due respect to Burnley, a glamour tie. For the league match, 13,226 was the attendance and with the fiver off, today, with Season Tickets not valid, the fixture pulled in just 8,896!! Whether or not me or the gang could afford to go today is beside the point, it was and indeed is, a matter of principle. Obviously, we were not the only ones...
After the considerable increase in Season Ticket prices, this was a MASSIVE opportunity for the club to let the fans see a match in the World's most famous cup competition at a reasonable price and do something that hasn't happened at Loftus Road so far this season - fill the Stadium.
Anyway, that's quite enough of me ranting and I will move swiftly on to posting the brief match report from the BBC, of which if it goes by any of the texts from friends I have received since the final whistle, it probably sums the game up perfectly...
QPR and Burnley fought out a drab draw in their FA Cup third round tie.
The home side, who are without a win in this competition since 2001, failed to make the most of three early chances.
Brian Jensen denied Samuel Di Carmine, Wade Elliot volleyed against the bar from 25 yards and Mikele Leigertwood miscued when well placed.
After the break, Chris Eagles ran clear for Burnley but could not keep the ball in play as he tried to round QPR keeper Radek Cerny.
The replay will take place at Turf Moor on Tuesday, 13 January.
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, G. Mahon (Ephraim 61), Leigertwood, Blackstock, Gorkss, Rowlands, Ramage, Cook (Ledesma 46), Di Carmine (Agyemang 72). Subs: Cole, Connolly, Alberti, Oastler.Normal service will be resumed next week as QPR welcome Coventry to Loftus Road.
