| Coca Cola Championship | |
| Tuesday October 28th | |
|
Queens
Park Rangers 1
|
Birmingham City 0 |
| S.Di Carmine | |
Going into the game I was actually quite confident of us getting a result. Ainsworth is an inspirational character and I had no doubt he'd motivate the team and we'd give Birmingham a real game under the floodlights at Loftus Road. Depending on who
you believe Flavio Briatorie/Gareth Ainsworth made changes to the
side that drew at Birmingham. Rangers switched to a 4-4-2 with Tomassi
making his debut in midfield in place of Mahon. Ledesma replaced
Buzsaky whilst Blackstock returned in place of Parejo. The game didn't start well for rangers in the freezing cold rain as Birmingham looked very sharp up front. Rangers were trying
to play the offside trap but were getting it wrong and Cameron Jerome
comfortably broke the trap early and burst clean through, he had
plenty of time and space as he moved the ball onto his stronger
right foot before curling it towards the bottom corner but Cerny
did very well to get down low and push it round the post. Cerny
had his name chanted possibly for the first time at Loftus Road
and the keeper responded with a thumbs up to the QPR fans. The visitors were
well on top early on and Cerny was called into action again as Phillips
got space and curled a trademark shot towards the goal but Cerny
got across well and made an excellent save. Rangers began to
grow into the game though with Tomassi holding in front of the back
four and looking a very good player breaking up attacks and keeping
the ball with some smart passes. Di Carmine and Blackstock were
starting to see more of the ball and a half cleared free kick from
Rowlands fell to Cook who volleyed wide of the post. The players were
finding it hard to stand up in slippery conditions and Parnaby was
carried off early for Birmingham after slipping in the rain with
what looked a nasty injury. Rangers continued
to grow into the game with the defence looking solid and we were
keeping the ball well. Cook was getting into the game and put in
a great cross for Blackstock who poked the ball just wide of the
post. Ledesma and Rowlands both had efforts from outside the box
but as the half time whistle approached a draw was looking a fair
result. Just as at St Andrews
though the game turned during the stoppage time. The referee was
Mr Attwell who made a bit of a clanger in the recent Watford v reading
game giving a goal despite the ball going three foot wide of the
goal for what most officials call a goal kick. The ball broke loose
to Carsley and Leigterwood went in for the ball high, missed it
and caught him on the thigh. It was a foul no doubt and a yellow
card but the instant red card seemed ridiculous and very harsh.
It was if he had the red card on a bit of string he pulled it out
so quickly and the fact that Carsley got straight up without needing
treatment showed that it was hardly the dangerous play that the
card was shown for. Attwell then showed
a yellow card to Tomassi right on half time after the Italian was
kicked off the ball by Mcfadden and when he went to ask the ref
why he hadn't been booked he was shown a yellow for arguing. The crowd turned
on the referee with a chorus of boos and those of us in the family
stand found the new no swearing rule rather difficult to follow
but my cries of you've ruined the game as the ref walked off felt
true at the time but turned out to be nonsense as in adversity Rangers
produced a stunning second half performance. Ainsworth showed
great courage with his half time change leaving two up front and
choosing to take off Cook for Mahon with a 4-3-2 formation. This
meant we lacked width especially on the left but that didn't seem
to matter as Rangers fought for everything. Tomassi got the
ball and lost it before getting it back and playing a simple pass
to Di Carmine. The Italian striker rolled it forward and then smashed
an unstoppable shot with such pace and power it was past Taylor
before he could move. Di Carmine slipped as he hit it and that may
have helped him get so much power on it but what a goal as Di Carmine
was mobbed by his team mates celebrating in front of a jubilant
loft end. The snow blizzard then arrived making it hard to
see what on earth was going on but that only seemed to add to the
atmosphere in a mistake ridden match with Rangers giving everything.
The defending was first class with players throwing themselves in
front of the ball and Rowlands slotted in at right back as if he
was born to play there. Birmingham were pushing for an equaliser and Mahon
hacked one off the line from a Quincy corner. Another corner almost
produced a goal as Phillips from five yards out turned and shot
but Cerny got down to block it and made a crucial save. Di Carmine went down with cramp and despite being shouted at by Carsley to get off he was injured and limped off to a standing ovation before being replaced by Hogan Ephraim. Rangers continued to work at a frightening pace and
with the school end scoreboard out of action the time ticking by
was unbearable as I had no idea how long was left but it seemed
like a lifetime. Rangers were organised and solid at the back and
dangerous on the break as Ledesma had a decent penalty shout turned
down and was booked for diving when the Argentine made a bit of
a meal of the foul. The referee gave four minutes of injury time and
it was now almost ten o'clock with such a blizzard coming down I
thought the game might get called off. Then a nightmare as we played
the offside trap and Quicny broke through crossing low for Kevin
Bloody Phillips to tap into the net for the equaliser. Luckily the
offside flag was up before he put the ball in the net so the Birmingham
fans celebrations were quickly outshouted by 12,000 QPR fans going
mental. The final whistle finally went and it was time to
celebrate. Ainsworth's name was ringing around the ground but he
pointed at the players urging us to sing for them. Cerny organised
a huddle with the players as they all came over to accept the thoroughly
deserved standing ovation. What a game and what a night. The best atmosphere
at a game at Loftus Road since Preston under Gregory when Blackstock
won it for us. Tomassi was awesome. That's the first time I've seen
him live and have to say what on earth has he been doing in the
reserves? Cerny made two great saves early which would have put
a very different picture on the game. He looks a different player
since the international break and was excellent throughout. We were
a shambles at the back early on but soon got things sorted out and
from about 20 minutes on we were by far the better side. Ledesma had his best game for a while, Di Carmine was very good all game and what a goal he scored. Rowlands at right back was immense as were all of the back four in horrendous conditions. The ref was awful, the red card a joke and Tomassi was booked after Mcfadden had a kick out at him. How that man is allowed to referee games after the Watford/reading goal the other week is beyond me. The ref was Rob Styles like in giving us nothing all game, I was sure he'd give them a penalty and the game seemed to go on forever. I honestly thought the idiot would abandon the game on 89 minutes. As for Ainsworth well I know the arguments
against him getting the job and I don't want Flavio to have such
a big influence on the team (shouting at Ainsworth to bring off
Di Carmine when he was already getting a sub ready was not good
to see) but sod it I think he should get a chance. He got his tactics
bang on yesterday and dropping Parejo sent out a message that this
was his team. He kept two up front even when down to ten
men and we never stopped attacking throughout. Get in a good number
2 like Terry Burton to help him which would be crucial and give
him the rest of the season. He's probably clever enough to listen
to Flavio but when it comes down to it as long as he has the final
say then that has to be better than nothing as I can't see many
other managers lasting under Flavio. It could go horribly wrong of course but any
managerial pick is a gamble and personally I'd rather Ainsworth
who really got the fans behind the team last night than a bigger
name who is only here for the money. Man of the Match: Damiano Tomassi Players Ratings: Cerny 8, Leigterwood 7, Stewart 8, Hall 8, Connolly 8, Ledesma 7, Tomassi 9, Rowlands 8, Cook 7 (Mahon 7), Di Carmine 8 (Ephraim 7), Blackstock 7 (Buzsaky 7) |
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It's
hard to know where to start with this report and having recovered
from last night's roller coaster I've just watched that amazing
Arsenal v Spurs match which has delayed me writing this for a few
hours.