Match Reports

[londonranger]

Samba secures point

Queens Park Rangers
Blackburn Rovers
13(3) Shots (on Goal) 12(6)
11 Fouls 16
5 Corner Kicks 7
3 Offsides 1
50% Time of Possession 50%
3 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
5 Saves 2

Teams
Queens Park Rangers Blackburn Rovers
1 Patrick Kenny 1 Paul Robinson
35 Anton Ferdinand 16 Scott Dann
5 Fitz Hall 4 Christopher Samba
13 Armand Traore 5 Gael Givet
18 Luke Young 2 Míchel Salgado
4 Shaun Derry 14 Radosav Petrovic
11 Alejandro Damian Faurlin 15 Steven Nzonzi
17 Joey Barton 35 Jason Lowe
32 Shaun Wright-Phillips 3 Martin Olsson
22 Heidar Helguson 23 David Hoilett
12 Jamie Mackie 30 Jason Roberts

Substitutes

26 Brian Murphy Mark Bunn 13
10 Jay Bothroyd Yakubu Aiyegbeni 24
2 Bradley Orr Simon Vukcevic 29
42 Jason Puncheon Ruben Rochina 20
7 Adel Taarabt Grant Hanley 31
21 Tommy Smith David Goodwillie 25
14 Ákos Buzsáky Mauro Formica 10
Substitutions
Adel Taarabt for Jamie Mackie (64)
David Goodwillie for Jason Roberts (68)
Tommy Smith for Shaun Wright-Phillips (83)

Yellow Cards
Fitz Hall (23)
Steven Nzonzi (52)
Shaun Wright-Phillips (62)
Jason Lowe (76)
Armand Traore (63)

· Rosters: Queens Park Rangers | Blackburn Rovers
Christopher Samba's towering header helped beleaguered Blackburn secure a point at QPR - but results elsewhere saw Steve Kean's side end the day bottom of the Barclays Premier League.

Rangers came into the match on the back of a 6-0 defeat at near neighbours Fulham but responded well, dominating the majority of the first period.

QPR's early momentum paid dividends as they took the lead in the 16th minute through Heidar Helguson's deft cross-shot.

The striker's goal was the west Londoners' first at Loftus Road this season, but their joy was short-lived as Samba latched on to Jason Lowe's corner to put Kean's side level.

Both sides wasted chances to win the match in the second half, with results elsewhere putting Blackburn bottom of the league despite ending a two-match losing streak.

Jamie Mackie was named in the QPR starting line-up for the first time since suffering a double leg break against the same opponents. The 26-year-old was injured in a collision with Gael Givet in an FA Cup tie in January.

Mackie was one of three changes made by manager Neil Warnock, with Helguson and Armand Traore also included in the side.

Blackburn made three changes to the side that lost 4-0 to Manchester City, drafting in Jason Roberts, Michel Salgado and Martin Olsson.

QPR pressed from the off and, after Helguson came close to connecting with Traore's left-wing cross, Alejandro Faurlin blazed a long-range drive over.

Blackburn had a chance of their own at the other end in the 13th minute when Anton Ferdinand shinned an Olsson cross just over, before QPR broke the deadlock three minutes later.

After Helguson saw a header accidentally blocked by Rangers skipper Joey Barton, the 34-year-old coolly chipped over a cross from the right that snuck in at the back post.

QPR came close to doubling their lead moments later when Barton's driven ball almost found an unmarked Helguson.

However, the tide began to turn soon afterwards and, after Olsson saw a free-kick hit the wall, Rovers levelled eight minutes after falling behind.

While struggling to dominate possession, Blackburn looked dangerous from set-pieces and equalised when Samba headed home Lowe's corner.

The Rovers skipper was back marshalling the defence shortly after as QPR went on the attack once more, with Shaun Wright-Phillips coming close with a fizzing 25-yard effort.

At the other end, an Olsson cross almost picked out Junior Hoilett, who then had a shot cleared off the line by Ferdinand after jinking past Shaun Derry and Barton.

Neither side managed to get a foothold on play in the opening 10 minutes of the second period, with the only moment of note a booking for Blackburn's Steven Nzonzi.

Fitz Hall produced a superb block to thwart a run by the ever-impressive Olsson as the match began to liven up once again, with most of the play in the Rovers half.

Blackburn looked content to counter-attack and allowed QPR to boss possession, although they struggled to eke out any chances.

Wright-Phillips and Traore were booked as frustrations got the better of QPR, who replaced Mackie with talisman Adel Taarabt shortly afterwards.

The Hoops looked lively after the Morocco international's introduction, although he was guilty of a heinous miss on his 100th league appearance for the club.

Wright-Phillips headed Taarabt through on goal but he somehow managed to skew a left-footed shot wide when the goal beckoned.

Taarabt mishit another shot in the 76th minute, before Lowe was booked for a nasty-looking challenge on Faurlin.

QPR upped the ante in search of a late winner with the clock winding down.

Taarabt had a penalty shout turned down after a challenge by Salgado with six minutes remaining, which came inbetween two poor headers from Hall.

QPR continued to press for a deciding goal but it was Blackburn who almost grabbed victory in the dying seconds, with Paddy Kenny forced to save Olsson's shot in stoppage time.

ESPN Soccernet

[londonranger]

BBC
equaliser avoided a third successive defeat for Rovers
A towering first-half header from skipper Chris Samba earned struggling Blackburn a draw at QPR.

Heidar Helguson put Rangers ahead with a floated cross-cum-shot that drifted into the top corner.

Rovers, who had almost led when Anton Ferdinand clipped his own crossbar with a poor clearance, then drew level when Samba rose above Fitz Hall.

Rangers substitute Adel Taarabt shot wide after the break as Rovers ended a sequence of back-to-back defeats.

It might have been three in a row had referee Mark Clattenburg decided that a clumsy-looking challenge from recalled Blackburn defender Michel Salgado on Taarabt late in the game was a penalty, but the Lancashire side were given the benefit of the doubt and held on for a point.

Rovers went into the contest 19th in the Premier League table, with manager Steve Kean under mounting pressure after one win in seven top-flight games this season.

DID YOU KNOW?
Continue reading the main story
Blackburn have now picked up 27 points from Steve Kean's 29 league games in charge
And despite taking a point at Loftus Road, Blackburn slipped to the bottom of the table after Bolton, bottom at the start of the day, defeated Wigan 2-1.

Protests against Kean's tenure are planned before next week's home game against Tottenham, but at least the Scot has something to build on after a point at Rangers.

QPR came into the contest on the back of a 6-0 thrashing at Fulham and are may look back on a missed opportunity against Rovers, especially as they now face tough-looking fixtures against Chelsea and Tottenham.

Both teams showed a willingness to attack and were occasionally aided by some atrocious defending.

Ferdinand made a complete mess of his attempt to clear a low cross from the industrious Martin Olsson, the ball skimming off the top of his boot before hitting the crossbar.


Focus Forum - Venky's back Kean '101%'
There was also an element of poor defending for Rangers' opener. Rovers should have cleared the danger after blocking Helguson's header from a corner but their failure to do so was punished when a weak clearance fell to the Icelander, who floated the ball across the area and into the top corner for his 100th goal in English football.

QPR threatened to score a second, Samba deflecting a fierce low strike from Joey Barton wide and a Shaun Wright-Phillips long-range effort narrowly off target

But between those two chances Rovers had equalised, the physically imposing Samba climbing above Hall to head into the top corner directly from a corner.

The goal seemed to breathe confidence into the beleaguered Rovers players. Junior Hoilett found a good position but made a poor connection with a cross and later cut in from the left and forced a goal-line clearance from Ferdinand with a curling shot.

After the restart, Shaun Derry, in a rare advanced position, was inches away from connecting with a cross from Jamie Mackie, who was making his first start since he suffered a double leg break against Rovers in an FA Cup tie in January.

Taarabt, dropped to the bench after storming out of Craven Cottage when he was substituted at the break during the hammering at Fulham, had arguably the best chance of the half.

He beat Michel Salgado to the ball and charged towards goal but, with Samba closing fast, the Moroccan miscued his shot horribly wide.

Salgado and Taarabt then tangled in the box and referee Clattenburg decided it was not a penalty as Rovers appeared to be holding on.

But Kean's side did threaten once more when the impressive Swede Olsson forced a good save from Kenny with a rasping left-foot strike.

QPR boss Neil Warnock: "We worked ever so hard, but my frustration is losing a goal like that. It was diabolical. I know that Chris Samba is a big lad but he did not have to work hard.

"If you cannot mark at a corner then you are going to lose goals.

"But Heidar Helguson took his opportunity [to play] really well and Jamie Mackie worked ever so hard and never stopped trying."

Blackburn boss Steve Kean: "I am happy enough with a point in one respect but I think they scored against the run of play.

"I was disappointed but we got back into the match straight away and on balance overall the stats on the game are pretty equal.

"The point gets the momentum moving again, which is important."

Live text and stats

[londonranger]

PAUL DOYLE/GUARDIAN

Queens Park Rangers and Blackburn Rovers fail to impress

A draw from this ugly match was a fair result. The goals came from Heidar Helguson and Christopher Samba. Almost everything else was torpor. Steve Kean and Neil Warnock, of course, will take every point they can get. They will also know they will not get many playing like this.

Fear, unsurprisingly, was the feature of the opening exchanges. Having suffered hefty defeats in their last outings, both sides made tentative starts that suggested their priority was not conceding. If the managers had bigger squads they might have made radical changes to their line-ups but they restricted themselves to three apiece – both did, however, alter their formations form the last game, choosing to field only one specialist striker. The first 10 minutes made for gruelling viewing as neither side gave any indication of being able to threaten the other.

Paddy Kenny was the first goalkeeper required to make a save and, rather inevitably, it came after one of his own defenders, Anton Ferdinand, sliced an attempted clearance in the 13th minute.

Three minutes later, negligent defending at the other end allowed QPR to take the lead. Blackburn's marking from an Alejandro Faurlín corner was non-existent but they appeared to have been spared when Heidar Helguson's goal-bound header was unintentionally blocked by team-mate Jamie Mackie.

Blackburn, however, watched idly as Helguson gathered the rebound and sent a chip over Paul Robinson and into the net.

The home side had not done much to merit the lead, and they did not do an awful lot to protect it either. Within seven minutes Blackburn drew level as Samba scored with a powerful header from a Jason Lowe corner.

It was a hard-fought match but a mostly gruelling spectacle. Blackburn's only source of unpredictability was Junior Hoilett, whose jinking run in the 41st minute would have been rewarded with a goal if not for a clearance off the line by Fitz Hall.

The closest the home side came to regaining the lead in the first half was when Shaun Wright-Phillips fired a low shot fractionally wide from 25 yards.

After nearly 20 barren minutes of the second half, Neil Warnock became the first of the managers to try to disrupt the dreary trudge to a draw. He introduced Adel Taraabt in place of Mackie. The Moroccan was presented with a wonderful chance to score in the 72nd minute after a flick-on from the unmarked Wright-Phillips sent him clear on goal. Rather than trouble the goalkeeper, however, Taarabt embarrassed himself with an appalling miscue.

It was, at least, a neat summary of the contest.

Blackburn almost provided an unsuitable ending by snatching an ill-deserved winner. In the last minute Hoilett, the best player on the pitch, excelled in midfield and teed up Martin Olsson, whose shot from 16 yards was saved by Paddy Kenny.

www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/oct/15/qpr-blackburn-rovers-premier-league

[harlowranger]

QPR 1-1 Blackburn:

Blackburn remain nailed to the bottom of the table despite sharing the spoils in a game devoid of quality or entertainment at Loftus Road.

The result will inevitably lead to more calls for ­Blackburn manager Steve Kean to quit.

Yet the club’s owners are refusing to press the panic button despite ­overwhelming pressure from the fans.

On the evidence of this game QPR have enough ­worries of their own, and will need to show ­remarkable improvement to avoid an ­immediate return to ­Championship football.


Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp was at the ground to scout his future opponents and even by half-time he’d seen enough to ­suggest both these sides present little or no threat to his club, and ­left the ground.

Immediately after the game Kean brushed aside talk of any pressure.

“I’m not concerned. The owners are rock solid behind me and if anything they are deflecting the pressure,” he said. “I would be more ­concerned if there were calls for my head and the owners didn’t back me.

“Any point away from home is a good one. We never felt sorry for ourselves when we fell behind. We got a good reaction and took the game by the scruff of the neck.

“I think I’m a good ­manager, I’m not going to say I’m ­hopeless, am I? I acknowledge we are bottom of the table but I’m confident we can turn it around.”

Even at this early stage of the campaign this was a must-win game for two sides who are widely tipped to struggle this season.

The visitors had lost six of their opening eight matches, while QPR, who have made an ­inconsistent start, returned to action after suffering an ­embarrassing drubbing at London neighbours Fulham.

And there were indications they were anxious to put that behind them as they made the early running in the game.

Blackburn weren’t helping their own cause by sitting deep and encouraging ­Rangers to make the most of their ­superior possession.

A few minor chances came and went until somewhat fortuitously Heidar Helguson put them in front, scoring his 100th goal in English football.

Jamie Mackie blocked his initial header but when the ball came back out to him and he attempted to cross it to the far post, it sailed over Paul Robinson and into the back of the net.

With QPR seemingly in the ascendancy you expected them to push on.

But the opposite happened as Blackburn were sparked into momentary life.

And from a Jason Lowe ­corner Chris Samba rose above Fitz Hall and powered home the equaliser.

Yet the half closed as if both sides had already settled for a point.

QPR improved slightly after the break but all too often played a long-ball game that was easily dealt with by ­Blackburn.

For their part Rovers looked devoid of ideas in attack and you suspect this is going to be a very long season for both teams.

QPR manager Neil Warnock said: “We are still looking for that first home win, but we tried hard. I’m disappointed with the goal we conceded. We have to make teams earn the right to score, and he was unmarked.

“Every point is important in this league. We have tricky games coming up but that’s why I’m here, this is why I want to be in the Premier League.”

Warnock also revealed that DJ Campbell was suffering with a serious injury. “He might have to have an op. We think it could be a metatarsal and I think it is down to these stupid boots. They offer no support at all.”

VERDICT: A woeful game of football, devoid of any quality - on this evidence you wouldn't be surprised to find these sides struggling for survival this season.***

THE BIG ISSUE: With new owners making their mark, which team looks best equipped to stay up?

Both sides will ­struggle this season.

Neil Warnock will go out and strengthen his squad in ­January to give himself a better chance of staying up. For Keane it’s probably more a question of his own ­survival until that window opens.

QPR owner Tony ­Fernandes wasted little time in making his mark, and the club made a number of signings in the summer. But the depth and quality isn’t there.

Blackburn’s owners have not been so generous. ­Unless they back Kean and provide him with funds they will face a similar scenario to last season – and survival could go right down to the wire again.



Read more: www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/QPR-1-1-Blackburn-match-report-Christopher-Samba-cancels-out-Heidar-Helguson-s-opener-but-Rovers-still-bottom-article812598.html#ixzz1at8yFu2T
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[Macmoish]

QPR Official Site

WARNOCK ON ROVERS
Posted on: Sat 15 Oct 2011

Neil Warnock cut a frustrated figure as the R's were held to a share of the spoils against Blackburn Rovers at Loftus Road.

Rangers opened the scoring through Heidar Helguson, only for Christopher Samba to earn the visitors a point with a headed goal that clearly angered the Hoops boss.

"We worked ever so hard, but conceding a goal like that was diabolical," he told www.qpr.co.uk.

"To give someone a free header in the penalty box is terribly disappointing.

"I know Samba is a big lad but that shouldn't happen at this level.

"If you can't mark a man at a corner kick you're going to lose goals and we've certainly learned that today."

Warnock added: "Our goal was well deserved and Heidar took it well.

"We could have had a second when he was inches away from converting Joey's pull-back, but we didn't lead the game for long enough.

"We had a couple of chances near the end and Paddy made a good save, but that's football."

The QPR boss was also keen to have his say on a leak that appeared on an internet fans forum on Friday, which revealed intimate details regarding his team selection.

Showing a piece of paper with an e-mail address which read ********* [EMAIL DELETED BY MACMOISH NOT BY THE CLUB!] he said: "It's disappointing that a 'so-called' QPR fan leaks confidential information about the team the day before a big match.

"I can't get my head around things like this. As a QPR fan, he certainly didn't do me any favours."

Warnock concluded: "I'm disappointed we didn't win the game.

"We always work hard and now we've got Chelsea to look forward to.

"It's why we're involved in the game - it's a great time for QPR."

www.qpr.co.uk/page/TheGaffer/0,,10373~2483090,00.html

[Macmoish]

INDEPENDENT

INDEPENDENT - Samba strike fails to lift Rovers' sinking feeling

Queens Park Rangers 1 Blackburn Rovers 1: Kean's men draw little comfort after dropping to bottom of the table

By Russell Kempson at Loftus Road

Sunday, 16 October 2011

A preview to this Premier League encounter – an utterly forgettable contest, as it turned out – delicately played on a nautical theme. Apparently the proceeds from the first meeting between Queens Park Rangers and Blackburn Rovers,in the 1912 Charity Shield, went towards the Titanic relief fund.

Perhaps Blackburn would experience a sinking feeling, the author then put it not so delicately, should they fail at Loftus Road and the pressure be heaped further on Steve Kean, their manager. As it turned out they did, sliding to the bottom of the table on goal difference.

Not yet sunk without a trace, though, and Kean maintains admir-able stoicism in the face of non-stop criticism. "Any away point is good," he said. "I felt that their goal was against the run of play but we never felt sorry for ourselves and showed a good reaction. Any momentum gathered is good and we'll get ourselves slowly moving again."

Not that Rangers are riding a wave of optimism either. They might lie in 10th but have yet to win on home turf in four attempts in the League and are only four points ahead of Blackburn. They may also have to survive stormy seas before the campaign is done. "We tried hard," Neil Warnock, the Rangers manager,said. "I couldn't fault the lads."

Neither manager had enjoyed an exactly restful time during the international break. Warnock was left mulling over the 6-0 mauling against Fulham and the apparent walk-out of Adel Taarabt from Craven Cottage after he had been replaced at half-time. Taarabt, while away on duty with Morocco, subsequently made it known that he wants to leave Loftus Road during the January transfer window.

Kean had to endure another of his regular trips to India, courtesy of Venky's, the poultry and pharmaceuticals firm who own Blackburn, and this time he took his players with him. As Kean received the umpteenth vote of confidence his team kept in trim by beating Pune FC 3-0 in a friendly. Still, even far away, a group of spectators had their "Kean Out" banner confiscated.

Rangers opened brightly, mostly through the pace of Shaun Wright-Phillips on the right flank but with Joey Barton also to the fore. Taarabt sat on the bench, probably sulking and perhaps contemplating anotherinterval departure. Even for the always hands-on Warnock, the Moroccan is so high-maintenance.

Rangers gained their reward when Heidar Helguson nodded powerfully goalwards, only for the effort to be inadvertently blocked by Jamie Mackie, his team-mate. But the ball bounced back fortuitously, allowing Helguson a second go. He took it, and whether he meant it to be a far-post chip or not, that's how it turned out, gently drifting over Paul Robinson's head and into the net.

More "Kean Out" protests might have been in order but the 971 travelling fans kept their own counsel for the moment, and maybe reaped the benefits. Encouraged instead of lambasted, Blackburn began to make significant headway and deservedlydrew level when Chris Samba was allowed the freedom of the home area to nod in Ryan Lowe's corner. "If you can't mark a free man, something is wrong," Warnock moaned.

Sadly, Blackburn appeared satisfied with their lot, even at such an early juncture. Sadly, too, Rangers, apart from a 25-yard fizzer from Wright-Phillips that flew narrowly wide, did not have the expressive nous to recover. Taarabt did come on and, naturally, demanded to be the centre of attention.

But adventure and invention was required, not selfish showboating. Taarabt breezed through but attempted the spectacular and scuffed a left-footed shot wide.

"Taarabt, look interested," a Rangers fan wailed. Another, on his way out, exclaimed gravely to a friend: "I'm just going home to watch some paint dry." Like many a Blackburn fan, they too already have that sinking feeling.

QPR (4-1-3-2): Kenny; Young, Hall, Ferdinand, Traoré; Derry; Wright-Phillips (Smith, 83), Barton, Faurlin; Helguson,Mackie (Taarabt, 64).

Blackburn (4-1-4-1): Robinson; Salgado, Samba, Dann, Givet; Lowe; Hoilett, Nzonzi, Petrovic, Olsson; Roberts (Goodwillie, 67).

Referee: Mark Clattenburg.

Man of the match: Lowe (Blackburn)

Match rating: 4/10

www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/samba-strike-fails-to-lift-rovers-sinking-feeling-2371313.html

[Macmoish]

TELEGRAPH

By Ben Findon, at Loftus Road

Neil Warnock has issued a scathing attack on the Queens Park Rangers fan who leaked sensitive team information to a website on the eve of this clash at Loftus Road.

Warnock accused the fan of making public QPR’s team news on Friday, revealing that DJ Campbell had suffered a training-ground injury which is set to keep him out for two months and that Adel Taarabt would also be absent.

He also disclosed Warnock’s plan to play Jamie Mackie and Heidar Helguson in attack. The fan is understood to have learned the information from a member of Warnock’s squad, although not a first-team regular.

Warnock said: “This was supposed to be a supporter. You don’t want many like that. The fan puts on this website that Campbell has broken his foot, Helguson is playing and Mackie is making his debut, while Adel is out.

“What an advantage for the opposition. You don’t gain anything from that. Obviously he has got a contact, hasn’t he?”

Warnock was almost as livid with what he believes to be the cause of Campbell’s injury: modern, lightweight football boots.

“It looks like he has got a metatarsal problem so he could be out for a few weeks. He might have to have an operation. I think it is these stupid boots, they’re like carpet slippers. I think they are absolutely stupid boots to wear.”

Steve Kean’s demeanour was considerably more relaxed than Warnock’s, even though the Scot had returned from a club visit to their Indian owners knowing he had three matches in which to turn things around.

Blackburn Rovers may have slipped to the foot of the table but the powers of a restorative break were evident in a vastly improved performance.

The “Kean Out” flags remained stowed away among Blackburn’s 971-strong travelling support for, anchored by Chris Samba at the back and with Martin Olsson and Steven N’Zonzi always a threat, Blackburn had rather the better of a match that started brightly but settled into a stalemate.

Kean, whose next two tasks are against Tottenham and Norwich, said: “Any momentum gathered from any game away from home is good. The dressing room is a little bit disappointed because they felt we had done enough, with sustained pressure in periods of the game, to nick it. It was a good trip to India and we had some good team spirit today.”

Kean’s men could barely have envisaged a worse start, however, conceding a 16th-minute goal. Alejandro Faurlin’s corner reached Helguson, whose goal-bound header cannoned back off team-mate Mackie, making an emotional return after suffering a double fracture of his leg against the same opponents in January. Rovers’ failed to react as the ball fell back to Helguson, who guided an audacious chip over Paul Robinson and into the far corner.

“You’re getting sacked in the morning,” mocked the QPR support, but Blackburn responded quickly and were level within eight minutes, Samba delivering his first goal of the season, rising to head powerfully home.

QPR had managed just one goal in their three home games before yesterday and the lack of a cutting edge was still apparent. Shaun Wright-Phillips struggled, though he did muster a moment of danger on the half-hour mark, sending a low shot inches wide.

Samba was a threat at set-pieces but Blackburn also found other avenues forward. Taarabt was summoned in the 64th minute and he soon found a way through but miscued on the edge of the penalty area. Blackburn, however, almost had the final say, Paddy Kenny reacting well to push away an Olsson drive.

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/8827606/Queens-Park-Rangers-1-Blackburn-Rovers-1-match-report.html

[londonranger]

www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/


Clive

[Macmoish]

Photos from Saturday

www.zimbio.com/pictures/bGzeeYT0wSW/Queens+Park+Rangers+v+Blackburn+Rovers+Premier

[londonranger]

Fernandes obviously, not listening, but in deep thought "Why did we move above that shish-kebab place'

[londonranger]

Simon ,net



Rovers Bore Leaves Rangers Sore
Published on Sunday, 16 October 2011 23:53 Written by Simon Skinner


This was billed as the game that Rangers simply had to win because of the run of games coming up; the game that would see future former Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean become plain old former Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean if they lost; the game where Rangers would bounce back from the Fulham debacle and show their true worth as a middle of the road Premier League side. None of those things happened in what would be a drab encounter in “The Best League in the World” © Richard Keys.

The rumours of a broken foot for DJ Campbell had surfaced on Friday (much to Neil Warnock’s chagrin and leading to the official website ludicrously publishing someone’s private email address) along with the fact that Helguson and Mackie would start and Taarabt wouldn’t. All items proved true. Kenny was in goal behind Young, Hall, Ferdinand and Traore. Barton, Derry and Faurlin were in midfield with Mackie and Wright-Phillips playing either side of Helguson.

Rangers started the game pretty brightly and looked keen to put their shambolic efforts against Fulham behind them. Traore burst down the left and flung over a cross that Helguson seemed to take off the head of the better placed Young. Faurlin then advanced into space in midfield and when no challenge came he fired a wild effort into the top tier of the School End.

At the other end Jason Roberts was proving to be a physical presence and he was more than happy to get into a wrestling match with Hall whenever possible. This is always a good ploy with Hall as despite his size he lacks strength and often gets a grip of player’s at the most inopportune moments. Hall was lucky to avoid a booking when he mowed Roberts down but then unlucky to receive one later when he seemed to get the ball from Olsson but referee Clattenburg thought otherwise. The visitors came close to opening the scoring when the pacy Olsson sent a cross in from the right that Ferdinand tried to clear but ended up slicing off the top of his own bar. A very lucky escape!

Minutes later Rangers took the lead with a fantastic finish/outrageous fluke (delete as applicable) from Helguson. Mackie forced a corner from Dann with his hard running style and Faurlin whipped a dangerous ball to the near post. Helguson attacked the ball and found it back at his feet when the visitors failed to clear. He had all the time in the world and stood the ball up toward the far post only to find that it dropped over Robinson into the far corner. Beggars can’t be choosers and having scratched around for goals all season to this point any that come and however they come are gratefully accepted.

Minutes later Rangers almost made it 2-0. Faurlin sent another excellent set piece into the box and again the ball wasn’t cleared well at all. Barton was loitering at the far post and when the ball fell to him he drilled it low and hard into the six yard box. The ball clipped a Blackburn player and Helguson was a stud’s length away from turning it home at the far post. That miss would prove crucial soon after as Blackburn were allowed the most basic of equalising goals.

Fitz Hall had already displayed his propensity to misjudge the flight of any ball that came his way and when Lowe delivered a corner from the left flank it was no different. Chris Samba, who you don’t appreciate the scale of until you see him in the flesh, took up position behind Hall safe in the knowledge that he would go under it and allow him a free header. His thinking was spot on and he attacked the ball to send it sailing over the head of the poorly positioned Derry and into the far corner. It was piss poor marking; there was no attempt to even make Samba’s effort a difficult one on the part of Hall. He was done time and again on set pieces by the hulking defender and Blackburn therefore sent the ball in his direction whenever they could.

Samba headed straight at Kenny shortly after having once again easily beaten the poor Hall in the air. At the other end Wright-Phillips found himself on the end of a flick on from Helguson and cracked a low shot wide of the post with Robinson seemingly beaten. This was just about the only involvement from Wright-Phillips all afternoon. We couldn’t get the ball to him in an area where he could hurt his opponent and on the rare occasion that we did his touch or final ball was wanting.

Derry found himself overrun in midfield as half time approached and Junior Hoilett, whose pace and trickery was always a threat along with that of Olsson, shimmied his way into the box and shot only to find Ferdinand perfectly placed to clear his goal bound effort off the line. There was still time for Samba to get another uncontested header at goal in before the half time whistle went. The half had started promisingly but since Blackburn equalised things had drifted badly and Rangers were second best for the second half of the first half.

It was obvious that the middle of the park was far too congested. Rangers were playing three in there and they were getting in each other’s way and it wasn’t helped by Blackburn also playing a tight three. Derry looked a candidate for the hook given his first half display but there were no changes at the break and both sides contrived to serve up a second half that could be described as dull at best.

There really was nothing happening in the game. Congested midfields, poor passing and some niggling fouls had meant this game was a total non event by now. The most action there was came from a burst of pencil power from referee Clattenburg as he booked three players in five minutes in a blistering display of power officiating midway through. N’Zonzi, Wright-Phillips and Traore were the men to feel his wrath.

Taarabt entered the fray for the hard working but ultimately ineffective Mackie with twenty seven minutes left and proceeded to serve up twenty seven minutes of absolute bilge! I don’t recall seeing him so at odds with the football, every pass or shot seemed to be struck into the floor and half the time he couldn’t trap the thing at all. If Warnock was looking for a reaction to benching him, I suspect it wasn’t this one. A prime example of this came when Wright-Phillips flicked a ball into his path, he controlled well and took the plodding Salgado out of the game but then struck a shot so poorly that it trickled seven yards wide of the target.

Both sides though did, or should I say should have, have a chance to win the game. Rangers’ came when Taarabt went to control the ball on the edge of the six yard box only for Salgado to slide straight through him for a clear cut penalty. It wasn’t a tough decision to make but Clattenburg ignored it totally. Hall did have two headed opportunities late on but he missed the target with both of them when he should have been working the keeper as a bare minimum. It was typical of a poor display.

At the other end Goodwillie, on as a sub, seized on a rare mistake from Young and fired in a low cross that Traore did well to prevent Hoilett getting a clean strike on. In injury time Rangers were caught on the counter attack and Olsson found himself in space and charging toward goal. He should have shot across Kenny but went near post and the shot was easily beaten away.

The final whistle was a welcome end to a really poor half of football. Rangers were too tight in midfield and went long too often. Although Taarabt was poor when he came on you couldn’t help wonder what might have been had we got him on sooner and tried to play rather than go back to front so quickly with such little reward.

This was a game that Rangers really did need to win as I honestly don’t see anything but four defeats on the spin at the hands of Chelsea, Spurs, Man City and Stoke. The injuries within the squad have left us thin, with no youth system to speak of we cannot pluck from talented youngsters to bolster the ranks so we have what we have and will have to make the best of it. Whether the best that we make is good enough remains a massive doubt.




Heidar Helguson
He battled like a lion against Samba and Dann and was rewarded with his goal. It would have been nice to get some support round him as he won more than his fair share of balls in the air.