Post by QPR Report on Feb 24, 2009 8:15:29 GMT
February 24, 2001 - Wimbledon 5 QPR 0
QPR Official Site
GERRY FRANCIS' last game in charge of Queens Park Rangers ended in another heavy defeat as his team went down to a Wimbledon side who showed no ill-affects from their midweek cup exertions to ease past his beleaguered players.
Francis stuck with the team that beat Gillingham in midweek but they were simply blown away by the Dons in a performance which sees them slump back towards the relegation zone after two encouraging victories in a week.
The opening half was a fairly even affair with both sides having opportunities to opening the scoring.
Stuart Wardley had the best opportunity to give Rangers the lead when he pounced on a goalmouth melee on 13 minutes from Jermaine Darlington's corner, but his well-struck shot was brilliantly saved by Kelvin Davis in the Wimbledon goal.
Minutes later, Jason Euell had a great chance for the Dons when he turned well on the edge of the 18-yard box but his effort was tipped wide by Ludek Miklosko.
Rangers, who took one of the largest away followings to Selhurst Park this season with over 3,500 making the journey to south London, found themselves 1-0 down four minutes before the break after a Neal Ardley free-kick was met by the unmarked Mark Williams who turned the ball past Miklosko.
The second-half was only seven minutes old when the Dons doubled their advantage through Marcus Gayle who had the freedom of Selhurst Park to control a Patrick Agyemang cross before burying the ball past Miklosko.
That goal knocked all the stuffing out of Rangers and with Gareth Ainsworth causing all sorts of problems with his pace Wimbledon simply outclassed the visitors as they upped the tempo.
Ten minutes after Gayle's strike things went from bad to worse for Rangers as Jason Euell capitalised on Miklosko's fumbled to prod the ball home from three yards.
One of the worst things about Wimbledon home games is the shocking music they play after every goal they score.
Until recently they had the worst home record of any team in the country but against Rangers they had a field day and added their fourth and fifth to cue more ridiculous music thanks to Williams and Euell each grabbing their second goal of the game.
Monday is the day that the new Rangers boss is set to be unveiled and on after this performance he will have a massive job on if he is going to stop Rangers dropping out of the First Division.
Saturday 24 February 2001 Selhurst Park
ATTENDANCE: 9,446 REF:P.Alcock
RANGERS 0
WIMBLEDON
Williams 41, Gayle 52, Euell 62, Williams 74, Euell 77 5
DAVIS MIKLOSKO
KIMBLE PERRY
WILLIAMS DARLINGTON
HAWKINS PLUMMER
CUNNINGHAM ROSE
ANDERSEN READY
GAYLE KULSCAR
AGYEMANG
WARDLEY
EUELL PEACOCK
ARDLEY CROUCH
KIWOMYA
Subs: Subs:
HEALD HARPER
HOLLOWAY NGONGE
WILLMOTT CONNOLLY
HUNT MORROW
GRAY BARACLOUGH
