Post by QPR Report on Dec 26, 2009 15:16:29 GMT
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QPR 2 Bristol City 1 - Crowd of 13,500
QPR Official Site
Rangers played out their final game at Loftus Road this year in perfect fashion with a victory over promotion-chasing Bristol City.
Jay Simpson scored the opening goal of the game in Paul Hart's first win as QPR boss, touching the ball home six yards from goal after a cross into the area wasn't dealt with by the Robins defence.
And things got all the better only eight minutes later. Mikele Leigertwood cut in past his marker before sending the ball home with a low drive from outside the penalty box.
Nicky Maynard pulled one back for City after the break, but it turned out to be a consolatory strike for the visitors as Rangers moved up to 7th place in the Coca-Cola Championship.
R's manager Hart made three changes to the QPR side that started last Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Sheffield United.
Fitz Hall, Alejandro Faurlin and Akos Buzsaky all returned for Rangers.
That meant that Adel Taarabt and Patrick Agyemang dropped to the bench, while Damion Stewart missed out through suspension.
Radek Cerny started in goal for the R's.
Peter Ramage, Fitz Hall, Kaspars Gorkss and Tommy Williams made up the back four.
Rangers began with a diamond formation in midfield. Leigertwood occupied the holding role, with Ben Watson and Faurlin out wide and Buzsaky in the most advanced role behind the front two.
Simpson partnered Wayne Routledge in attack.
Possession was fairly even in the opening stages, though the Robins had the first real opportunity to note.
Only a few minutes had gone when Cole Skuse's centre was nodded back onto the edge of the area to Gavin Williams, whose low drive went straight at the keeper.
At the other end, passes were exchanged between Faurlin, Leigertwood and Williams before he crossed into the area for Simpson, but Dean Gerken was aware of the danger to come out and claim the ball.
Soon after, a cutting pass found Danny Haynes out wide on the right for City before he drove into the area and shot at goal, but his effort was deflected out for a corner.
From the resulting kick, some confusion in the area ended with Skuse driving the ball straight at the oncoming Cerny from 12-yards out.
Moments later Rangers took the lead. Faurlin, Routledge and Buzsaky combined when breaking at pace before his cross was deflected wide for a corner.
From the resulting set-piece, Watson's centre was only cleared as far as Hall, whose lifted cross wasn't dealt with and left Simpson with the simple task of tucking the ball under the keeper and into the net.
The R's should have then extended their lead. Williams' devastating cross needed only tapping home from close-range though it went across the face of goal and clear.
But QPR weren't to be denied again just short of the break, adding a delicious second.
Leigertwood received the ball from a throw-in before beating one man and thumping the ball with his left foot past Gerken from 20-yards out, who had no chance in the Robins net.
As the second half got underway, the R's continued to attack their visitors.
Routledge drove at the Robins defence from his own half before sliding the ball into Simpson, though he could only fire wide of the target when under pressure from his marker.
Moments later, City were back in the game with a magnificent goal that was greeted with applause from all four sides of the ground.
Williams played the ball into Maynard - who had his back to goal on the edge of the area - before he held off two markers, flicked the ball up and lashed the ball into top left-hand corner of the goal.
Rangers responded in positive fashion to the setback. Simpson won the ball out on the left-hand side before sending over a centre for Routledge, though he misjudged the flight of the ball when he looked certain to test the keeper from 12-yards out.
Watson, Buzsaky and Routledge then combined before he sent over a cross for substitute Patrick Agyemang, though his effort from close-range just missed wide of Gerken's left-hand post.
At the other end, only a superb intervention from Hall stopped Maynard from levelling the scores, as his last-ditch challenge prevented the forward shooting for goal from a few yards out.
City could - and perhaps should - have found the net soon after. Maynard fed David Clarkson just six-yards out, though he could only shoot at the side-netting with just the keeper to beat.
The visitors, to their credit, continued to press, but the R's held out to claim a welcome Boxing Day win.
QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Hall, Leigertwood, Routledge, Buzsaky (Connolly 83), Gorkss, Watson, Faurlin (Agyemang 63), Williams, Simpson (Borrowdale 83).
Subs not used: Taylor, Pellicori, Balanta, Taarabt.
Goals: Simpson (32), Leigertwood (40)
Bristol City: Gerken, Orr, McAllister, Fontaine, Carey, Maynard, Hartley, Skuse, Williams (Sno 70), Haynes (Sproule 83), Saborio (Clarkson 71).
Subs not used: Henderson, Elliott, Edwards, Nyatanga.
Goals: Maynard (57)
Bookings: Haynes, Maynard, Sno
Referee: Mr D J Phillips
Attendance: 13, 534
www.qpr.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~47812,00.html
Bristol CIty Official Site
QPR 2-1 Bristol City
Adam Baker reports from Loftus Road
There was no Christmas cheer for City as they lost out at QPR by two goals to one on Boxing Day.
After City had dominated for the first half-hour, they were undone by goals from Jay Simpson and Mikele Leigertwood.
Nicky Maynard scored a superb goal in the second half to give the visitors hope, but it wasn't to be for the visitors, who also had a strong penalty claim turned down at the death.
City started well and Gavin Williams almost netted after six minutes on his first Championship start of the season. Cole Skuse's cross was headed back out by Hall towards Williams on the edge of the box. The midfielder took aim with a driven shot from 18 yards but Radek Cerny held on.
QPR were at sixes and sevens, and a wayward Ben Watson pass had Alvaro Saborio running towards Cerny's goal. Left on his own, Saborio took too much time and was tackled by Hall.
Danny Haynes, looking lively on the right, had the next effort goalwards with a low deflected shot just past the far post. From the resulting corner, Fontaine challenged keeper Cerny and the ball dropped out towards Skuse. With his studs the midfielder stabbed the ball goalwards only for Cerny to save by his goal-line.
QPR's first foray forward led to a mistake by City that would ultimately lead to the opening goal. Wayne Routledge's cross was guided back towards his own goal by Bradley Orr, and then Paul Hartley was forced to head behind for a corner.
And from that flag kick the ball arrived at the far edge of the box with Hall. The defender whipped a cross into the box which Gavin Williams made a mess of clearing, allowing Simpson to sneak in and clip the ball over Dean Gerken for 1-0.
The goal arrived against the run of play, but QPR capitalised on a shocked City with a second goal on 40 minutes. Routledge fed the ball to Leigertwood on the edge of the area. Given too much time and space, the QPR captain whipped a low left-footed shot inside Gerken's far post for the hosts' second of the afternoon.
Liam Fontaine almost provided City with an instant response, heading straight into Cerny's arms from Jamie McAllister's raking pass.
And on the stroke of half-time Louis Carey's shot from 35 yards warmed the gloves of Cerny.
Simpson had a chance to wrap up the game six minutes after the restart when Routledge's pass sent him racing through on goal. Pressurised by Bradley Orr, Simpson rushed his shot and completedly missed the target.
Penalty claims for Maynard and Saborio were ignored by the official, but City were soon back in the game.
On 57 minutes Williams sent the ball towards Maynard. The City top scorer, with his back towards goal, took two controlling touches before sending a scissor-kick shot arrowing into the top corner for 2-1.
Chances dried up after that and Patrick Agyemang's shot wide from Routledge's cross was the next chance of the game on 79 minutes.
Moments later Maynard dashed on to Hartley's pass over the top and looked to be hauled to the ground by Hall. Referee David Phillips disagreed, much to the amazement of the 1,028 travelling fans.
Replacement David Clarkson had a brilliant chance to level seconds later as Maynard charged down Hall's clearance. The ball dropped kindly to Clarkson inside the box but his first time volley hit the side-netting.
It wasn't to be for City, though, despite four minutes of added on time.
www.bcfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10327~47812,00.html
QPR 2 Bristol City 1 - Crowd of 13,500
QPR Official Site
Rangers played out their final game at Loftus Road this year in perfect fashion with a victory over promotion-chasing Bristol City.
Jay Simpson scored the opening goal of the game in Paul Hart's first win as QPR boss, touching the ball home six yards from goal after a cross into the area wasn't dealt with by the Robins defence.
And things got all the better only eight minutes later. Mikele Leigertwood cut in past his marker before sending the ball home with a low drive from outside the penalty box.
Nicky Maynard pulled one back for City after the break, but it turned out to be a consolatory strike for the visitors as Rangers moved up to 7th place in the Coca-Cola Championship.
R's manager Hart made three changes to the QPR side that started last Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Sheffield United.
Fitz Hall, Alejandro Faurlin and Akos Buzsaky all returned for Rangers.
That meant that Adel Taarabt and Patrick Agyemang dropped to the bench, while Damion Stewart missed out through suspension.
Radek Cerny started in goal for the R's.
Peter Ramage, Fitz Hall, Kaspars Gorkss and Tommy Williams made up the back four.
Rangers began with a diamond formation in midfield. Leigertwood occupied the holding role, with Ben Watson and Faurlin out wide and Buzsaky in the most advanced role behind the front two.
Simpson partnered Wayne Routledge in attack.
Possession was fairly even in the opening stages, though the Robins had the first real opportunity to note.
Only a few minutes had gone when Cole Skuse's centre was nodded back onto the edge of the area to Gavin Williams, whose low drive went straight at the keeper.
At the other end, passes were exchanged between Faurlin, Leigertwood and Williams before he crossed into the area for Simpson, but Dean Gerken was aware of the danger to come out and claim the ball.
Soon after, a cutting pass found Danny Haynes out wide on the right for City before he drove into the area and shot at goal, but his effort was deflected out for a corner.
From the resulting kick, some confusion in the area ended with Skuse driving the ball straight at the oncoming Cerny from 12-yards out.
Moments later Rangers took the lead. Faurlin, Routledge and Buzsaky combined when breaking at pace before his cross was deflected wide for a corner.
From the resulting set-piece, Watson's centre was only cleared as far as Hall, whose lifted cross wasn't dealt with and left Simpson with the simple task of tucking the ball under the keeper and into the net.
The R's should have then extended their lead. Williams' devastating cross needed only tapping home from close-range though it went across the face of goal and clear.
But QPR weren't to be denied again just short of the break, adding a delicious second.
Leigertwood received the ball from a throw-in before beating one man and thumping the ball with his left foot past Gerken from 20-yards out, who had no chance in the Robins net.
As the second half got underway, the R's continued to attack their visitors.
Routledge drove at the Robins defence from his own half before sliding the ball into Simpson, though he could only fire wide of the target when under pressure from his marker.
Moments later, City were back in the game with a magnificent goal that was greeted with applause from all four sides of the ground.
Williams played the ball into Maynard - who had his back to goal on the edge of the area - before he held off two markers, flicked the ball up and lashed the ball into top left-hand corner of the goal.
Rangers responded in positive fashion to the setback. Simpson won the ball out on the left-hand side before sending over a centre for Routledge, though he misjudged the flight of the ball when he looked certain to test the keeper from 12-yards out.
Watson, Buzsaky and Routledge then combined before he sent over a cross for substitute Patrick Agyemang, though his effort from close-range just missed wide of Gerken's left-hand post.
At the other end, only a superb intervention from Hall stopped Maynard from levelling the scores, as his last-ditch challenge prevented the forward shooting for goal from a few yards out.
City could - and perhaps should - have found the net soon after. Maynard fed David Clarkson just six-yards out, though he could only shoot at the side-netting with just the keeper to beat.
The visitors, to their credit, continued to press, but the R's held out to claim a welcome Boxing Day win.
QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Hall, Leigertwood, Routledge, Buzsaky (Connolly 83), Gorkss, Watson, Faurlin (Agyemang 63), Williams, Simpson (Borrowdale 83).
Subs not used: Taylor, Pellicori, Balanta, Taarabt.
Goals: Simpson (32), Leigertwood (40)
Bristol City: Gerken, Orr, McAllister, Fontaine, Carey, Maynard, Hartley, Skuse, Williams (Sno 70), Haynes (Sproule 83), Saborio (Clarkson 71).
Subs not used: Henderson, Elliott, Edwards, Nyatanga.
Goals: Maynard (57)
Bookings: Haynes, Maynard, Sno
Referee: Mr D J Phillips
Attendance: 13, 534
www.qpr.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~47812,00.html
Bristol CIty Official Site
QPR 2-1 Bristol City
Adam Baker reports from Loftus Road
There was no Christmas cheer for City as they lost out at QPR by two goals to one on Boxing Day.
After City had dominated for the first half-hour, they were undone by goals from Jay Simpson and Mikele Leigertwood.
Nicky Maynard scored a superb goal in the second half to give the visitors hope, but it wasn't to be for the visitors, who also had a strong penalty claim turned down at the death.
City started well and Gavin Williams almost netted after six minutes on his first Championship start of the season. Cole Skuse's cross was headed back out by Hall towards Williams on the edge of the box. The midfielder took aim with a driven shot from 18 yards but Radek Cerny held on.
QPR were at sixes and sevens, and a wayward Ben Watson pass had Alvaro Saborio running towards Cerny's goal. Left on his own, Saborio took too much time and was tackled by Hall.
Danny Haynes, looking lively on the right, had the next effort goalwards with a low deflected shot just past the far post. From the resulting corner, Fontaine challenged keeper Cerny and the ball dropped out towards Skuse. With his studs the midfielder stabbed the ball goalwards only for Cerny to save by his goal-line.
QPR's first foray forward led to a mistake by City that would ultimately lead to the opening goal. Wayne Routledge's cross was guided back towards his own goal by Bradley Orr, and then Paul Hartley was forced to head behind for a corner.
And from that flag kick the ball arrived at the far edge of the box with Hall. The defender whipped a cross into the box which Gavin Williams made a mess of clearing, allowing Simpson to sneak in and clip the ball over Dean Gerken for 1-0.
The goal arrived against the run of play, but QPR capitalised on a shocked City with a second goal on 40 minutes. Routledge fed the ball to Leigertwood on the edge of the area. Given too much time and space, the QPR captain whipped a low left-footed shot inside Gerken's far post for the hosts' second of the afternoon.
Liam Fontaine almost provided City with an instant response, heading straight into Cerny's arms from Jamie McAllister's raking pass.
And on the stroke of half-time Louis Carey's shot from 35 yards warmed the gloves of Cerny.
Simpson had a chance to wrap up the game six minutes after the restart when Routledge's pass sent him racing through on goal. Pressurised by Bradley Orr, Simpson rushed his shot and completedly missed the target.
Penalty claims for Maynard and Saborio were ignored by the official, but City were soon back in the game.
On 57 minutes Williams sent the ball towards Maynard. The City top scorer, with his back towards goal, took two controlling touches before sending a scissor-kick shot arrowing into the top corner for 2-1.
Chances dried up after that and Patrick Agyemang's shot wide from Routledge's cross was the next chance of the game on 79 minutes.
Moments later Maynard dashed on to Hartley's pass over the top and looked to be hauled to the ground by Hall. Referee David Phillips disagreed, much to the amazement of the 1,028 travelling fans.
Replacement David Clarkson had a brilliant chance to level seconds later as Maynard charged down Hall's clearance. The ball dropped kindly to Clarkson inside the box but his first time volley hit the side-netting.
It wasn't to be for City, though, despite four minutes of added on time.
www.bcfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10327~47812,00.html
