Post by QPR Report on Feb 9, 2009 7:58:44 GMT
Southend 5 QPR 0 - Two goals in injury time - So how far we've come
QPR: Royce, Mancienne, Cullip (Ray Jones 77), Stewart, Ainsworth, Lomas, Bolder, Timoska (Rehman 68), Rowlands, Blackstock, Cook. Subs Not Used: Cole, Nygaard, Smith.
Southend: Flahavan, Hunt, Clarke, Sodje (Francis 87), Barrett, Campbell-Ryce, McCormack, Maher, Gower (Foran 77), Eastwood (Harrold 87), Bradbury. Subs Not Used: Collis, Hooper.
THE TIMES Fight goes on for QPR as relegation zone looms
Southend 5 QPR 0 Tom Dart
It was not the wisest choice of phrase, but then this has not been the best of weeks for Queens Park Rangers. âWeâve had a right kick up the backside,â John Gregory, the QPR manager, said. âThis one will hurt for a few days.â
Literally on Wednesday, figuratively last night. Strange to say only two days after the âBattle of Harlingtonâ but QPR lacked fight once they were two goals down in a match that featured two minimĂȘlĂ©es and more gratuitous whacking than a series-worth of The Sopranos. This even though few of yesterdayâs team were involved in the rumble near the runways of Heathrow Airport involving the China Olympic squad.
It takes two to tussle and Southend United gave as good as they got, particularly Alan McCormack and Efe Sodje. A tackle from the latter had Dexter Blackstock, the QPR forward, writhing in agony after less than two minutes. Dubious first-half challenges from Blackstock and Gareth Ainsworth provoked not kicks, but the more familiar images of pushing and shoving featuring five or six players from either side.
This was a night of missed opportunities, not least by the Roots Hall DJ, who failed to play the disco classic, Kung Fu Fighting, as the teams ran out. Though, as a one-hit wonder, perhaps Carl Douglas is on reflection not the right artist to evoke an occasion where the hits kept on coming. In any case, Gregory is famously a Bruce Springsteen fan.
He said that the training-ground fight and subsequent international attention had no effect âwhatsoeverâ on yesterdayâs performance, but otherwise refused to discuss the incident. âThe way the goals were conceded was appalling,â he said. âIâve got to take responsibility for bringing on another striker to chase the game when we were 2-0 down. Itâs not been an easy week; it never is.â
Lee Cook had a strong first-half penalty claim turned down but QPR, who have lost their past seven away Coca-Cola Championship fixtures, were dire and ill-disciplined at the end.
Southend are second-bottom but unlike their opponents, they had punch where it mattered. Their early goal was a donation, Simon Royce, the QPR goalkeeper, kicking Steve Lomasâs back-pass straight at the onrushing Lee Bradbury. The ball hit the Southend striker and trickled in.
Dismal defending allowed Mark Gower to make it two midway through the second period. Sodje added a close-range header to make it 3-0, and two superb goals by Kevin Maher in injury time heaped on the humiliation.
Before kick-off, Gianni Paladini, the QPR chairman, confirmed that he would dismiss players or staff if they were found guilty of gross misconduct in the âGreat brawl of Chinaâ. The police, the FA and the club are all investigating. Paladini reiterated that he felt personally let down by the clashes and to exacerbate his problems, some QPR supporters are planning a protest against his running of the club for their next home game, against Plymouth Argyle on February 24.
A 30-man mĂȘlĂ©e during the practice match between the China Olympic squad and the Championship sideâs reserves on Wednesday at QPRâs training ground saw Zheng Tao, the China full back, taken to hospital with a fractured jaw after being knocked unconscious. Since the Chinese are in London as guests of Chelsea, the Barclays Premiership championsâ prospects of cracking the Far East market have also taken a heavy blow.
After this result, consider QPRâs prospects of staying up severely dented as well.
Southend 5 QPR 0 - Other Match Reports and Comments
qprreport.blogspot.com/2007/02/beyond-pessimists-nightmare-southend-5.html
Pre QPR-Southend Match Ambitions
qprreport.blogspot.com/2007/02/southend-vs-qpr-tonight.html
QPR: Royce, Mancienne, Cullip (Ray Jones 77), Stewart, Ainsworth, Lomas, Bolder, Timoska (Rehman 68), Rowlands, Blackstock, Cook. Subs Not Used: Cole, Nygaard, Smith.
Southend: Flahavan, Hunt, Clarke, Sodje (Francis 87), Barrett, Campbell-Ryce, McCormack, Maher, Gower (Foran 77), Eastwood (Harrold 87), Bradbury. Subs Not Used: Collis, Hooper.
THE TIMES Fight goes on for QPR as relegation zone looms
Southend 5 QPR 0 Tom Dart
It was not the wisest choice of phrase, but then this has not been the best of weeks for Queens Park Rangers. âWeâve had a right kick up the backside,â John Gregory, the QPR manager, said. âThis one will hurt for a few days.â
Literally on Wednesday, figuratively last night. Strange to say only two days after the âBattle of Harlingtonâ but QPR lacked fight once they were two goals down in a match that featured two minimĂȘlĂ©es and more gratuitous whacking than a series-worth of The Sopranos. This even though few of yesterdayâs team were involved in the rumble near the runways of Heathrow Airport involving the China Olympic squad.
It takes two to tussle and Southend United gave as good as they got, particularly Alan McCormack and Efe Sodje. A tackle from the latter had Dexter Blackstock, the QPR forward, writhing in agony after less than two minutes. Dubious first-half challenges from Blackstock and Gareth Ainsworth provoked not kicks, but the more familiar images of pushing and shoving featuring five or six players from either side.
This was a night of missed opportunities, not least by the Roots Hall DJ, who failed to play the disco classic, Kung Fu Fighting, as the teams ran out. Though, as a one-hit wonder, perhaps Carl Douglas is on reflection not the right artist to evoke an occasion where the hits kept on coming. In any case, Gregory is famously a Bruce Springsteen fan.
He said that the training-ground fight and subsequent international attention had no effect âwhatsoeverâ on yesterdayâs performance, but otherwise refused to discuss the incident. âThe way the goals were conceded was appalling,â he said. âIâve got to take responsibility for bringing on another striker to chase the game when we were 2-0 down. Itâs not been an easy week; it never is.â
Lee Cook had a strong first-half penalty claim turned down but QPR, who have lost their past seven away Coca-Cola Championship fixtures, were dire and ill-disciplined at the end.
Southend are second-bottom but unlike their opponents, they had punch where it mattered. Their early goal was a donation, Simon Royce, the QPR goalkeeper, kicking Steve Lomasâs back-pass straight at the onrushing Lee Bradbury. The ball hit the Southend striker and trickled in.
Dismal defending allowed Mark Gower to make it two midway through the second period. Sodje added a close-range header to make it 3-0, and two superb goals by Kevin Maher in injury time heaped on the humiliation.
Before kick-off, Gianni Paladini, the QPR chairman, confirmed that he would dismiss players or staff if they were found guilty of gross misconduct in the âGreat brawl of Chinaâ. The police, the FA and the club are all investigating. Paladini reiterated that he felt personally let down by the clashes and to exacerbate his problems, some QPR supporters are planning a protest against his running of the club for their next home game, against Plymouth Argyle on February 24.
A 30-man mĂȘlĂ©e during the practice match between the China Olympic squad and the Championship sideâs reserves on Wednesday at QPRâs training ground saw Zheng Tao, the China full back, taken to hospital with a fractured jaw after being knocked unconscious. Since the Chinese are in London as guests of Chelsea, the Barclays Premiership championsâ prospects of cracking the Far East market have also taken a heavy blow.
After this result, consider QPRâs prospects of staying up severely dented as well.
Southend 5 QPR 0 - Other Match Reports and Comments
qprreport.blogspot.com/2007/02/beyond-pessimists-nightmare-southend-5.html
Pre QPR-Southend Match Ambitions
qprreport.blogspot.com/2007/02/southend-vs-qpr-tonight.html