| Coca
Cola Championship |
| Tuesday
October 20th |
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Queens
Park Rangers 4
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Reading
1 |
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| A.Buzsaky
31mins |
B.Howard
86mins |
| J.Simpson
39mins |
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| R.Vine
71mins |
I.Ingimarsson
Sent off 45mins |
| P.Agyemang
83mins |
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| B.
Watson Sent off 30mins |
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Team
Line Up
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24.
R.Cerny 8/10
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2.
P.Ramage 8/10
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3. D. Stewart 8/10
(c)
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13.
K.Gorkss 8/10
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29.
G.Borrowdale 8/10 
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10.
A.Buzsaky 9/10
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18.
A.Faurlin 9/10 
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15. B.Watson 6/10  
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39.
A.Taarabt 9/10
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4.
G.Mahon (65) 7/10
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11.
P.Agyemang (74) 7/10
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7.
W.Routledge 9/10
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23.
J.Simpson 7/10
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8.
R.Vine (52) 8/10
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| Subs
Not Used: T.Heaton, F.Hall, M.Alberti, G.Ainsworth |
| Substitutes
in yellow |
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It was about an
hour before the game on Tuesday when an odd stat struck me. We were
drinking in the Springbok watching the one Show on the TV, well
I say watching the one show we were perving over that Christine
woman who hosts it and wondering how on earth Adrian Chiles managed
to pull her. Anyway it was then I realised that I'd never seen us
beat Reading, never.
Now I've seen us
beat Man Utd, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea and virtually everyone
else we've played at some point in the last 25 years but never seen
us beat the fake hoops down the road. Usually the games between
us are dire 0-0 draws, I remember us being stuffed by them in the
Simod Cup back in the 80's, well that stat was about to change and
in emphatic style.
On the back of the 4-0 win at the weekend and the recent upturn
in fortunes I have been expecting it all to go wrong and still writing
this today I'm still waiting for the inevitable kick in the bollocks
that I still won't see coming. That's what QPR does to us, it's
the hope that kills us. For the Reading match though it was another
night of euphoria at Loftus Road or as my wife puts it "Why
did they wait till I can't go anymore before they start playing
like Brazil"?
Jim Magilton made one change to the starting eleven and it was an
obvious one with Ben Watson replacing the impressive Gavin Mahon.
Ramage kept his place at right back whilst Routledge continued up
front.
The first half an hour of the game gave little indication of what
was to follow. The game was very stop start due to referee Andy
Hall blowing for every challenge and never letting the game flow.
He seemed to love a yellow card as well booking Watson, Faurlin
and Borrowdale in the first half. Reading had a clever game plan
to close down our back four and stop us playing from the back. It
worked to some degree as Rangers never looked too comfortable and
were having to release the ball quicker than I think we wanted to.
Radek Cerny continued to act more as a sweeper than a goalkeeper
with his distribution absolutely outstanding.
Still chances were not really coming from either side and it was
the kind if game that would have the moaners up and booing a few
weeks ago. Not this time though as the fans stuck with the team
and although not much was happening you had the feeling we could
and would step up a gear at some stage.
It wasn't dull though as we looked good in the build up to attacks
with Routledge, Buzsaky and Faurlin all in excellent form. Ben Watson
saw a shot blocked on the edge of the box but then a free kick changed
the game.
Rangers won it 30 yards out and Buzsaky asked for the wall to go
back 10 yards. Watson obviously didn't spot this and took a quick
one to Faurlin which was easily cut out by a Reading defender. Andy
Hall stood tall at that point and with I expect a stirring in his
pant he whipped out his yellow card and then a red. Watson was sent
off for kicking a football forwards. Laughable really but this was
the same referee who sent off Clarke Carlisle and Stephen Kelly
is a crucial game for QPR a few years back for having the ball kicked
at them. Watson's yellow may well be to the letter of the law but
honestly what a stupid bloody law that is, you get booked if you
take too long over a kick and booked if you take it quickly, I always
thought a free kick was supposed to be a reward for foul play against
an attacking team, now the attacking team is the one punished.
So as I sat back in disbelief thinking, "I bloody
knew it would all go wrong" up stepped Akos Buzsaky to whip
the ball over the wall into the bottom corner and silence the celebrating
reading fans. Oh how I laughed and celebrated in equal measure as
Rangers had the lead. We would now see a different QPR, even with
ten men the confidence had risen from that goal and we were unplayable
for the next hour,
Credit must go to Jim Magilton for sticking with two up front and
looking to attack and get more goals, it was a bold move that certainly
paid off.
Rangers got a killer second goal and it was this week's contender
for goal of the season. It came from a in our own half which was
played to Routledge, he ran at the Reading defence but was forced
back and with a trick and a turn he played the ball back with the
outside of his foot to Gorkss who was under pressure and had to
go back to Cerny. It looked awkward as Long closed Cerny down but
he calmly played it out to Faurlin and with an inch perfect pass
he found Buzsaky near the centre circle who played a lovely pass
on the turn wide to Routledge and suddenly within four passes Reading
had been carved open. Routledge sped down the right and played a
lovely far post cross to Simpson who made no mistake volleying home.
It was a fantastic goal to watch showing all the passing and movement
from the back that Rangers have excelled in during recent weeks.
The ball went from Cerny via Buzsaky and Routledge to Simpson and
the back of the net within 11 seconds.
That was Simpson's fifth goal in nine games and he looks a very
decent signing.
Rangers were running riot now and almost got a third when Taarabt
was looking like Ronaldo with his stopovers leaving the Reading
full back bemused before playing a great ball to Routledge whose
near post shot was well saved.
Reading almost got back into the game just before
half time. Faurlin brought down Long and it looked to me that it
was inside the box but the referee gave a free kick five yards outside
so what do I know. Kebe took the free kick and the curling shot
to the far post was palmed onto the post by Cerny.
Half time brought a big ovation from the home fans
and the players thoroughly deserved it for another excellent first
half performance.
There was still work to be done though and that work
was made much easier at the start of the second half when after
just eight seconds Jay Simpson was crudely hacked down by Ingimarsson
and Andy Hall was straight over to show another red card. That was
pretty much game over then as Reading looked deflated from that
moment on and the tactical changes made by Brendan Rogers at half
time were quickly scrapped.
Rangers continued to build pressure with Taarabt
firing over the bar after a fine free flowing move. Rowan Vine was
introduced to the action as Simpson limped off with an ankle problem
and Vine almost grabbed his first goal of the season after a great
run down the left by Routledge saw him cut the ball across goal
for Vine but his shot was weak and easily saved.
Vine went close again after another lovely move,
Buzsaky chested the ball down to Faurlin who played a wonderful
volleyed pass the to the left where Routledge again ran riot bursting
into the box for a cross to Vine whose shot looked to be rolling
into the net before the keeper made a last ditch grab at the ball
and kept it out.
Rangers were going from defence to attack in seconds
with swift counter attacking play. Faurlin won the ball on the edge
of our box and burst forward with the ball, after an interchange
of passes with Taarabt he was in the box at the other end and saw
his goal bound shot blocked away for a corner.
From the corner Taarabt lifted the ball to Faurlin
and a sweet one touch passing move ended with Vine stroking the
ball past the keeper into the bottom corner but it was ruled out
as Taarabt was offside.
Goal number three soon arrived though and it was
joy at last for Rowan Vine. It came from a throw in on the left
as Borrowdale took it quickly to Taarabt who found Vine just inside
the box and from a narrow angle he cut inside and fired into the
bottom corner past a helpless keeper. A fine finish from Vine which
was probably his most difficult chance of the match.
Magilton made further changes bringing on Mahon and
Agyemang for Buzsaky and Taarabt and those two combined to make
it four nil. Faurlin was again involved playing the ball clear from
the edge of the box to Agyemang on half way and he laid it off to
Mahon and stretched his legs to speed past the Reading defence.
Mahon kept the ball and waited till he was onside then played a
ball through to Agyemang and the out of form striker looked like
he would fall over as he did two stopovers and used his pace to
run clear before calmly finishing past the keeper. It was a good
finish and far more like the Agyemang we saw when he first signed
than the one we saw earlier this season.
That was that really, Rangers could have had more
to be honest but sat back a little and it took an outstanding save
from Cerny to deny Brian Howard a consolation goal. They did get
that one goal at the end though after a storming run by Ramage saw
him bust a gut to keep the ball in play after Agyemang had gone
close again but as he did Reading broke and a ball into the box
found Howard who scored from close range.
The final whistle went soon after and to a man every
QPR fan stood and applauded the team off for another scintillating
display of attacking football.
Rangers were simply brilliant and it is hard
to pick any one player out for man of the match. I opted for Routledge
who tore Reading apart on the right, left and in the middle. Mentions
must go through to Cerny who started everything from the back, Borrowdale
was again good on the ball whist Faurlin had an outstanding game
often on his own in central midfield. Buzsaky and Taarabt were a
joy to watch whilst Jay Simpson got another goal.
They say it was just like watching Brazil,
personally I think this was better, a wonderful nights work from
QPR that makes all those 0-0 draws last season a long forgotten
memory.
Man of the Match: Wayne Routledge
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