Post by QPR Report on May 14, 2010 6:42:39 GMT
Beating Oldham 1-0 
QPR Official Site - OLDHAM REFLECTIONS
QPR cross the final frontier
By Matt Hughes, Evening Standard 15 May 2003
Paul Furlong today described Queens Park Rangers' play-off win over Oldham as the highlight of his career.
The 34-year-old striker scored the only goal of a pulsating game to take Rangers through to next Sunday's Second Division play-off final against Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium, the club's first final since the 1986 Milk Cup.
Furlong has scored some important goals in a distinguished career that has taken in Watford, Birmingham and Chelsea, but believes last night's was his best ever.
He said: "This game has to be the highlight so far. I've been playing for 13 or 14 years now and never actually got to a final, so it's nice to arrive. It's a dream come true and absolutely tremendous.
"I've been in the semi-finals twice before with Birmingham and not made it through, so to go that extra mile makes it special. I owe everything to Ian Holloway for giving me this chance."
Rangers have already won in Cardiff this season, a Richard Langley brace earning a 2-1 win at Ninian Park last month, and Furlong said: "The pressure is all on Cardiff. They've spent a lot of money on their team and we'll be the underdogs but fear no one."
Over 15,000 Rangers fans stood and serenaded their heroes for 20 minutes after the final whistle in emotional scenes not seen at Loftus Road for many a year.
Holloway's players responded to his pleas for them to keep cool, but the manager lost his own composure after the magnificent win. The former Bristol Rovers manager grabbed a microphone to thank the appreciative fans for their support over the season, appearing close to tears.
Holloway said: "The pride I feel at the moment is hard to describe. This is a real, proper football club and the fans really deserve it. I want to do it for all the fans as this place is something else.
"A lady gave me a £2500 cheque for my daughter's deaf school as a thank you for giving the club its pride back. All the lads care and are a different class. The players were absolutely fantastic. I can't tell you how proud I am of everybody connected with this football club."
Oldham manager Iain Dowie said: "It hurts to lose but if it had to happen then I'm please it's to QPR. They're a good side and would grace the First Division."
Oldham's bullying tactics took the shine off Saturday's breathless first leg, but last night the home side dominated from the outset. Steve Palmer and Marc Bircham controlled the midfield, Furlong led the line valiantly and Kevin McLeod was a constant threat.
The 22-year-old winger, whom Rangers hope to sign from Everton on a permanent basis, had three good chances himself and created another for Furlong, all repelled by Oldham's outstanding goalkeeper Les Pogliacomi.
The introduction of Richard Pacquette gave Rangers an added dimension, but it was his strike partner Furlong who stole the glory. The goal was simplicity itself.
Pogliacomi's long clearance was returned upfield by Clarke Carlisle in the 82nd minute and Furlong won the race, holding off defender Fitz Hall to slot the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper. Cue delirium.
Rangers held their nerve for a nerve-wracking final 10 minutes, earning the ovation that will ring in their ears until next Sunday. Holloway now believes fate is on his side.
He said: "We've got one hell of a chance to be a big club again. What goes around comes around. This club's had so many downs lately that it might be our turn."
Furlong takes QPR past winning post
By Trevor Haylett , Daily Telegraph
Paul Furlong struck with eight minutes remaining at Loftus Road to take Queens Park Rangers to the Millennium Stadium where they will face Cardiff for a place in next season's First Division.
On a night of raw passion and nerves it was a piece of cool finishing from the former Chelsea and Birmingham striker that edged Ian Holloway's team nearer the game's second tier which they left two years ago.
Taking their cue from a noisy and expectant crowd, Rangers were bullish at the start and Kevin McLeod immediately tested Oldham's Australian goalkeeper Les Pogliacomi. From a free-kick, Danny Shittu then put a header into the side-netting.
Oldham were clearly off the pace but as the half wore on their tenacity and passing ability began to worry the home team, increasingly forcing their defenders to turn back towards their own goal.
The lively Wayne Andrews and Darren Sheridan both came close before the interval. The stalemate was threatened, however, immediately on the restart as Josh Low whistled one just over the top. The influential John Eyre came even closer shortly after.
Rangers were building quite a collection of penalty appeals but their inability to fashion clear shooting chances was proving a frustration.
The tension built as the teams continued to scrap at a furious pace. Low had glory in his sights but after a jinking run saw his shot charged away.
At the other end Kevin Gallen was similarly denied. In the 76th minute a wonderful chance was created for Rangers substitute Richard Pacquette but from point-blank range Pogliacomi somehow managed to get his body in the way.
After Furlong had capitalised on Clarke Carlisle's long pass out of defence, the final minutes saw Wayne Andrews dismissed after a fracas, while a stupendous save from Chris Day saw Rangers home.
Furlong ensures QPR get the trip
David Alexander at Loftus Road, The Guardian
It has been a long time since QPR fans have had anything to shout about. Relegated from the Premiership seven years ago and dropping down to the third tier in 2001, Rangers' financial problems have been well documented.
It is a testament to Ian Holloway, a tenacious midfielder for the club and an equally determined manager, that the club now finds itself only 90 minutes from promotion back into the First Division.
Who would have thought it after their FA Cup exit to Vauxhall Motors, though Holloway was keen to stress how much progress the club has made since that inglorious occasion.
"What goes around comes around," said Holloway. "We have had so many downs at this club, it's about time we had an up. We have one hell of a chance to be a big club again and no matter what the obstacles we've faced, we've managed to get over it."
One goal was always going to be enough to win this open but finely balanced tie, and Paul Furlong's late strike was just about deserved. It was tough on Iain Dowie, whose side contributed to the spectacle, but he is confident his side will come back stronger.
"It hurts like hell but the players should be proud and it stiffens my resolve," said Dowie. "The players have given their heart and soul and we want to do even better next year."
Dowie spent three years at QPR and was briefly in charge at Loftus Road in 1998. His future at Boundary Park remains in doubt. He certainly did not help himself with a Freudian slip during the post-match press conference.
"It's no secret that I have not signed a contract and we'll see what happens but as long as I can take QPR forward, I will be here." Watch out, Holloway.
Kevin McLeod, the winger on loan from Everton, twice went close and Danny Shittu headed into the side-netting but Oldham should have taken the lead when Clint Hill flicked on a corner and Wayne Andrews headed on to the post.
Darren Sheridan was fortunate to escape when he appeared to handle Kevin Gallen's cross and then fired just wide straight afterwards. Pogliacomi kept Oldham in the game with a superb save from Richard Pacquette, racing across to deny the Rangers forward when he seemed certain to break the deadlock.
But, when the goalkeeper scuffed a clearance, Clarke Carlisle lofted the ball over Oldham's defence and Furlong kept his nerve to beat Pogliacomi from 10 yards.
Andrews was sent off in the last minute for violent conduct and Rangers now face Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium for a place in the First Division.
"We've got the ingredients to go there and give ourselves a chance," added Holloway. "It's another test for us but we've passed them all so far."
Furlong settles the Loftus Road nerves
By Conrad Leach, The Independent
The Queen's Park Rangers manager, Ian Holloway, had suggested that the second leg of this Second Division play-off semi-final would see some of his players transform themselves from boys into men. However, when he said that, it presumably did not apply to Paul Furlong.
The bustling former Chelsea striker, 34, underwent that transition some time ago, and he used all the experience gleaned over half a lifetime to score the 82nd-minute goal that won this game.
It now means the west London side have the daunting task of facing Cardiff City in the latter's home town in the play-off final at the end of this month, with the last promotion place to the First Division at stake.
Oldham did not bow out without a fight, though. Wayne Andrews was sent off in injury time for violent conduct before QPR's Chris Day pulled off a magnificent save low down from a deflected shot.
All the evidence had pointed to this decisive match being a close one. After all, 46 league games had left them separated by just a point and the first leg of their semi-final had ended in a 1-1 draw at the weekend.
If anything, though, the form book slightly favoured Oldham, despite their manager Iain Dowie - a former QPR player and caretaker manager - playing down their chances.
A glance at the recent history between these clubs showed that QPR had gone seven games since their last victory against the Latics, and that came seven years ago at Boundary Park.
But Rangers and Furlong were in no mood to follow history. The former Birmingham and Watford player ran on to a well-weighted pass from Clarke Carlisle and held off the challenge of Fitz Hall, before poking his shot into the bottom corner of Les Pogliacomi's net.
QPR had tested the Oldham goalkeeper as early as the second minute, when Kevin McLeod shot against his legs. Yet the longer the match wore on the more it showed that the Londoners were missing their main creative influence in Richard Langley, who had scored on Saturday but was also sent off, forcing Holloway to shuffle his line-up.
Oldham's main threat came early in the second half when strikes by Josh Low and John Eyre flew over Day's crossbar, before Furlong had his chance to settle matters and take QPR to the Millennium Stadium.
Dowie said: "I take defeat with an enormous amount of pride, but it hurts and burns and I'm angry. As for QPR, I had good times here and I'm pleased they're going on."
A relieved Holloway declared: "The lads have got spirit and the fans deserve this. Cardiff will now be another test. I believe we've got the right ingredients to give ourselves a chance."
www.qpr.co.uk/page/PaperTalk/0,,10373~383785,00.html
1 Day
3 Padula (Williams 70)
6 Shittu
4 Palmer
5 Carlisle
32 Kelly
8 Bircham
15 McLeod
29 Furlong
10 Gallen
27 Thomson (Pacquette 55)
Substitutes
13 Culkin
2 Forbes
24 Pacquette (Thomson 55)
33 Williams (Padula 70)
31 Angell
QPR Official Site - OLDHAM REFLECTIONS
QPR cross the final frontier
By Matt Hughes, Evening Standard 15 May 2003
Paul Furlong today described Queens Park Rangers' play-off win over Oldham as the highlight of his career.
The 34-year-old striker scored the only goal of a pulsating game to take Rangers through to next Sunday's Second Division play-off final against Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium, the club's first final since the 1986 Milk Cup.
Furlong has scored some important goals in a distinguished career that has taken in Watford, Birmingham and Chelsea, but believes last night's was his best ever.
He said: "This game has to be the highlight so far. I've been playing for 13 or 14 years now and never actually got to a final, so it's nice to arrive. It's a dream come true and absolutely tremendous.
"I've been in the semi-finals twice before with Birmingham and not made it through, so to go that extra mile makes it special. I owe everything to Ian Holloway for giving me this chance."
Rangers have already won in Cardiff this season, a Richard Langley brace earning a 2-1 win at Ninian Park last month, and Furlong said: "The pressure is all on Cardiff. They've spent a lot of money on their team and we'll be the underdogs but fear no one."
Over 15,000 Rangers fans stood and serenaded their heroes for 20 minutes after the final whistle in emotional scenes not seen at Loftus Road for many a year.
Holloway's players responded to his pleas for them to keep cool, but the manager lost his own composure after the magnificent win. The former Bristol Rovers manager grabbed a microphone to thank the appreciative fans for their support over the season, appearing close to tears.
Holloway said: "The pride I feel at the moment is hard to describe. This is a real, proper football club and the fans really deserve it. I want to do it for all the fans as this place is something else.
"A lady gave me a £2500 cheque for my daughter's deaf school as a thank you for giving the club its pride back. All the lads care and are a different class. The players were absolutely fantastic. I can't tell you how proud I am of everybody connected with this football club."
Oldham manager Iain Dowie said: "It hurts to lose but if it had to happen then I'm please it's to QPR. They're a good side and would grace the First Division."
Oldham's bullying tactics took the shine off Saturday's breathless first leg, but last night the home side dominated from the outset. Steve Palmer and Marc Bircham controlled the midfield, Furlong led the line valiantly and Kevin McLeod was a constant threat.
The 22-year-old winger, whom Rangers hope to sign from Everton on a permanent basis, had three good chances himself and created another for Furlong, all repelled by Oldham's outstanding goalkeeper Les Pogliacomi.
The introduction of Richard Pacquette gave Rangers an added dimension, but it was his strike partner Furlong who stole the glory. The goal was simplicity itself.
Pogliacomi's long clearance was returned upfield by Clarke Carlisle in the 82nd minute and Furlong won the race, holding off defender Fitz Hall to slot the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper. Cue delirium.
Rangers held their nerve for a nerve-wracking final 10 minutes, earning the ovation that will ring in their ears until next Sunday. Holloway now believes fate is on his side.
He said: "We've got one hell of a chance to be a big club again. What goes around comes around. This club's had so many downs lately that it might be our turn."
Furlong takes QPR past winning post
By Trevor Haylett , Daily Telegraph
Paul Furlong struck with eight minutes remaining at Loftus Road to take Queens Park Rangers to the Millennium Stadium where they will face Cardiff for a place in next season's First Division.
On a night of raw passion and nerves it was a piece of cool finishing from the former Chelsea and Birmingham striker that edged Ian Holloway's team nearer the game's second tier which they left two years ago.
Taking their cue from a noisy and expectant crowd, Rangers were bullish at the start and Kevin McLeod immediately tested Oldham's Australian goalkeeper Les Pogliacomi. From a free-kick, Danny Shittu then put a header into the side-netting.
Oldham were clearly off the pace but as the half wore on their tenacity and passing ability began to worry the home team, increasingly forcing their defenders to turn back towards their own goal.
The lively Wayne Andrews and Darren Sheridan both came close before the interval. The stalemate was threatened, however, immediately on the restart as Josh Low whistled one just over the top. The influential John Eyre came even closer shortly after.
Rangers were building quite a collection of penalty appeals but their inability to fashion clear shooting chances was proving a frustration.
The tension built as the teams continued to scrap at a furious pace. Low had glory in his sights but after a jinking run saw his shot charged away.
At the other end Kevin Gallen was similarly denied. In the 76th minute a wonderful chance was created for Rangers substitute Richard Pacquette but from point-blank range Pogliacomi somehow managed to get his body in the way.
After Furlong had capitalised on Clarke Carlisle's long pass out of defence, the final minutes saw Wayne Andrews dismissed after a fracas, while a stupendous save from Chris Day saw Rangers home.
Furlong ensures QPR get the trip
David Alexander at Loftus Road, The Guardian
It has been a long time since QPR fans have had anything to shout about. Relegated from the Premiership seven years ago and dropping down to the third tier in 2001, Rangers' financial problems have been well documented.
It is a testament to Ian Holloway, a tenacious midfielder for the club and an equally determined manager, that the club now finds itself only 90 minutes from promotion back into the First Division.
Who would have thought it after their FA Cup exit to Vauxhall Motors, though Holloway was keen to stress how much progress the club has made since that inglorious occasion.
"What goes around comes around," said Holloway. "We have had so many downs at this club, it's about time we had an up. We have one hell of a chance to be a big club again and no matter what the obstacles we've faced, we've managed to get over it."
One goal was always going to be enough to win this open but finely balanced tie, and Paul Furlong's late strike was just about deserved. It was tough on Iain Dowie, whose side contributed to the spectacle, but he is confident his side will come back stronger.
"It hurts like hell but the players should be proud and it stiffens my resolve," said Dowie. "The players have given their heart and soul and we want to do even better next year."
Dowie spent three years at QPR and was briefly in charge at Loftus Road in 1998. His future at Boundary Park remains in doubt. He certainly did not help himself with a Freudian slip during the post-match press conference.
"It's no secret that I have not signed a contract and we'll see what happens but as long as I can take QPR forward, I will be here." Watch out, Holloway.
Kevin McLeod, the winger on loan from Everton, twice went close and Danny Shittu headed into the side-netting but Oldham should have taken the lead when Clint Hill flicked on a corner and Wayne Andrews headed on to the post.
Darren Sheridan was fortunate to escape when he appeared to handle Kevin Gallen's cross and then fired just wide straight afterwards. Pogliacomi kept Oldham in the game with a superb save from Richard Pacquette, racing across to deny the Rangers forward when he seemed certain to break the deadlock.
But, when the goalkeeper scuffed a clearance, Clarke Carlisle lofted the ball over Oldham's defence and Furlong kept his nerve to beat Pogliacomi from 10 yards.
Andrews was sent off in the last minute for violent conduct and Rangers now face Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium for a place in the First Division.
"We've got the ingredients to go there and give ourselves a chance," added Holloway. "It's another test for us but we've passed them all so far."
Furlong settles the Loftus Road nerves
By Conrad Leach, The Independent
The Queen's Park Rangers manager, Ian Holloway, had suggested that the second leg of this Second Division play-off semi-final would see some of his players transform themselves from boys into men. However, when he said that, it presumably did not apply to Paul Furlong.
The bustling former Chelsea striker, 34, underwent that transition some time ago, and he used all the experience gleaned over half a lifetime to score the 82nd-minute goal that won this game.
It now means the west London side have the daunting task of facing Cardiff City in the latter's home town in the play-off final at the end of this month, with the last promotion place to the First Division at stake.
Oldham did not bow out without a fight, though. Wayne Andrews was sent off in injury time for violent conduct before QPR's Chris Day pulled off a magnificent save low down from a deflected shot.
All the evidence had pointed to this decisive match being a close one. After all, 46 league games had left them separated by just a point and the first leg of their semi-final had ended in a 1-1 draw at the weekend.
If anything, though, the form book slightly favoured Oldham, despite their manager Iain Dowie - a former QPR player and caretaker manager - playing down their chances.
A glance at the recent history between these clubs showed that QPR had gone seven games since their last victory against the Latics, and that came seven years ago at Boundary Park.
But Rangers and Furlong were in no mood to follow history. The former Birmingham and Watford player ran on to a well-weighted pass from Clarke Carlisle and held off the challenge of Fitz Hall, before poking his shot into the bottom corner of Les Pogliacomi's net.
QPR had tested the Oldham goalkeeper as early as the second minute, when Kevin McLeod shot against his legs. Yet the longer the match wore on the more it showed that the Londoners were missing their main creative influence in Richard Langley, who had scored on Saturday but was also sent off, forcing Holloway to shuffle his line-up.
Oldham's main threat came early in the second half when strikes by Josh Low and John Eyre flew over Day's crossbar, before Furlong had his chance to settle matters and take QPR to the Millennium Stadium.
Dowie said: "I take defeat with an enormous amount of pride, but it hurts and burns and I'm angry. As for QPR, I had good times here and I'm pleased they're going on."
A relieved Holloway declared: "The lads have got spirit and the fans deserve this. Cardiff will now be another test. I believe we've got the right ingredients to give ourselves a chance."
www.qpr.co.uk/page/PaperTalk/0,,10373~383785,00.html
1 Day
3 Padula (Williams 70)
6 Shittu
4 Palmer
5 Carlisle
32 Kelly
8 Bircham
15 McLeod
29 Furlong
10 Gallen
27 Thomson (Pacquette 55)
Substitutes
13 Culkin
2 Forbes
24 Pacquette (Thomson 55)
33 Williams (Padula 70)
31 Angell
