Ranger’s first away
trip of 2005 was to a new ground for all QPR fans as we
made the trip to the Walkers Stadium as we tried to end
our terrible away run at Leicester City.
The Walkers Stadium looked pretty impressive from the
outside but had rather a same as every other new ground
look once you got inside.
The view from the back was pretty good though and the
team came out in the green and white hoops with a few
surprises in the team selection. Gareth Ainsworth was
missing with a groin injury whilst Marcus bean and Leon
best were left out. In came Kevin Mcleod starting at left
back/wing back, Adam Miller went into midfield along with
Marc Bircham with Georges Santos starting up front alongside
Furlong. Furlong was able to play after the club appealed
his ban and he is able to play until his appeal his heard.
The formation was a mix of a 3-5-2 and a 4-4-2 as we packed
the midfield when we had the ball trying to make it difficult
for Leicester. It took a few minutes for the players to
adapt and Leicester started the brighter of the two teams
and almost grabbed the lead after 2 minutes. A cross from
the left found Lillian Nalis two yards out with an open
goal but he managed to put it over the bar. The offside
flag sparred his blushes for a dreadful miss.
Rangers began to settle and Adam Miller fired a shot over
the bar whilst Santos and Furlong were having a real battle
with the experience Leicester defence. With very little
happening at either end the referee decided to step in
and make a name for himself.
A Leicester attack saw Connolly trying to take on three
defenders. He fought his way though but ended up going
over and from where I was sitting it looked outside the
box. The ref waved play on and as Rangers cleared he pointed
to the spot for a penalty.
It turns out that
referee Phil Dowd gave the penalty for handball but it
was very harsh to say the least. He likes a penalty though
this bloke. He gave Portsmouth one just a few days ago
and enjoyed Yakubu’s goal so much he made him take it
three times. David Connolly got up to take the penaltyand
sent Day the wrong way to give the home side the lead.
Rangers looked shell shocked and were under the cosh from
the home side as another away defeat looked on the cards.
Scowcroft headed one chance over when he should have hit
the target.
Rangers began to settle though and began to boss the midfield.
A tactical switch saw Miller go out on the right and Rowlands
moved into the middle. We began to get on top of the home
side playing some decent football. A rather dubious offside
flag denied Santos as he was put through by a cracking
pass from Miller.
Paul Furlong went close with a free kick on the edge of
the box. A touch by Gallen gave Furlong the chance to
run onto it and he smashed his shot past the wall but
the keeper made a good save.
Georges Santos was next to go close as we began to pile
on the pressure. A corner on the left was flicked on by
Shittu and Santos found himself unmarked eight yards out
but his shot was brilliantly saved by on loan keeper Stuart
Taylor. Santos hit the shot well but the reactions of
Taylor were just too good.
Rangers appeared to get themselves level just before half
time but the referee again had other ideas. A ball was
knocked into the box with Shittu again winning the header
to knock it back to Rowlands. He had a bit of time and
picked his spot well to fire past Taylor and get us back
on level terms. The referee though blew for something
that no one else in the stadium saw and even the Leicester
players didn’t appeal for to rule the goal out. I have
seen it on television since I still don’t really understand
what this was disallowed for. Rangers ended the half on
top and we didn’t really want the half to end as we were
well on top but as the whistle went I was quite hopeful
that we’d get something out of the game in the second
half.
Rangers made no changes at the break and continued to
dominate the game. Leicester were happy to sit back and
hold on which was an odd tactic considering our away record
is hardly one to strike fear into opponents.
McLeod was now getting into the game more and was linking
well with Miller and Rowlands as the team played more
a 3-5-2 in the second with Rangers dominating the midfield.
Gallen was pulling the strings with Bircham winning the
ball for us and the impressive Rowlands and Miller were
getting forward to support the front two. It was very
good to see and an equaliser looked a certainty.
Rowlands and Miller both went close to getting a goal
with shots from outside the box whilst Furlong got behind
Dublin but shot wide. On a rare break Leicester almost
got an underserved second when David Connolly shot just
wide but that was all the home side had to offer and their
negative performance and silent home support didn’t deserve
anything out of the game.
Rangers got a second equaliser just after the hour mark.
Adam Miller did well on the right running at the back
four and the ball broke to Rowlands who took a touch to
his left before firing past Taylor from 25 yards out.
It was a cracking finish and as we all celebrated I looked
back in astonishment to see the ref blow for a foul. What
made the decision so hard to take was he played on when
Rowlands got the ball and allowed him to shoot and score
before giving a free kick. If Miller or anyone else had
committed a foul he surely should have blown rather than
playing on to allow us to score and then stopping the
game. An absolutely disgraceful decision and you have
to wonder what the team need to do to get some luck or
a few decisions going our way.
Rangers continued to push for the equaliser we so desperately
deserved. Miller again went close cutting in and shooting
from the edge of the box but again Stuart Taylor was in
outstanding form keeping Miller out.
Another free kick outside the box gave us a chance to
hit the target. Georges Santos went for this one and powered
his shot straight at the wall. The referee though finally
got a decision right and noticed that Danny Tiatto was
only 5 yards away when it was taken so he ordered a retake
10 yards further forward. Santos had a go again and fired
past the wall and with Taylor beaten it deflected inches
wide of the post.
Jamie Cureton was now on after replacing Adam Miller and
he got the chance to shoot after making space for himself
but he took too long over his chance and lost possession.
Rangers pressed and pressed for an equaliser. Shittu,
now playing upfront, almost grabbed a goal. A ball into
the box was deflected wide to Shittu and with everyone
expecting a cross Shittu fired in a shot which took to
the keeper by surprise but once again Stuart Taylor’s
reactions were first class and he tipped it away for another
corner.
Rowlands then did well on the right getting past his man
and putting in a low cross for Furlong and his cheeky
back heel hit the side netting with the keeper looking
beaten for once.
Kevin Gallen was then taken off as Leon Best was brought
on as we threw everything at them. Corners and throw ins
were hurled into the box but the ball just wouldn’t break
to us and somehow Leicester hung on to get all three points.
That's the best we've played away all season and I am
astonished we didn't even get a point out of the game.
The referee got the 3 major decisions wrong. He never
blew for any push for Rowlands second goal until the ball
hit the back of the net. It was a terrible decision and
even if Miller did push someone it had absolutely no affect
on Rowlands goal. Leicester had plenty of time to close
Rowlands down m and he picked his spot brilliantly to
beat Taylor. I didn't see much wrong with the first goal
either and the penalty looked very harsh.
I thought Stuart Taylor had a great game for Leicester.
He hade 3 superb saves. How he saved the one from Santos
in the first half I'll never know. Arsenal could do a
lot worse than call him back and make him number 1 for
them.
I came away from the game in utter shock yesterday. I
don't think I've ever seen a QPR side dominate a game
as much as we did yesterday and come away with nothing.
I was very pleased with the way the team played but I
feel gutted that we've ended up with another very unlucky
away defeat. If we can build on this performance over
the next few weeks then we should be able to get back
on track and win a few games.
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Martin Rowlands
Players Ratings:
Day 7, Bignot
8, McLeod 8, Shittu 8, Edghill 8, Bircham 7, Rowlands
9, Gallen 7, Miller 8, Santos 7, Furlong 7. Subs:
Cureton 6, Best 6