Ninety minutes of the Monday evening showdown in Shepherd’s Bush could not settle the outcome as Newcastle played QPR to a nil draw at Loftus Road in the final contest of match-day four of the Premier League. The result eases the Magpies occupy fourth in the table, whilst QPR settles into the eleventh spot.

QPR manager Neil Warnock was pleased to debuted his new arrivals with Anton Ferdinand, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Luke Young, Armand Traore and Joey Barton, the latter wearing the captains armband, into his starting eleven. Quick off the draw, QPR showed plenty of attacking venom with Shaun Wright-Phillips consistently the centre of the storm. Whilst the hosts were notable pushing forward, with each advance Alan Pardew’s Magpies continued their impressive defending display that has quickly made them one of the stingiest forces in the Premier League. At the quarter-hour, England international Shaun Wright-Phillips at his mercurial best on the right delivered a perfect cross for Jay Bothroyd volleyed over from point blank range. The recent arrival from Manchester City later deftly navigated over Fabricio Coloccini before sending a seeming goal bound lofted effort, only to see Steven Taylor’s nod off the line.

The second half saw the Magpies more confident with Leon Best’s sumptuous provision just beyond the reach of Jonás Gutiérrez. Shaun Wright-Phillips, now on the left, squandered a gifted chance when he could not connect on Alejandro Faurlin’s cross and the opportunities began to slow. Much of the efforts were of the low probability kind, excluding a quality late chance Shaun Derry but the thirty-three year old veteran’s header drifted off course. Following another chance from Shaun Wright-Phillips, a long distance test from twenty-three plus metres that drifted off course the contest ended as a nil draw.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2011
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QPR’s delayed celebration of returning to the Premier League after fifteen often arduous years began in earnest moments before the finale against Leeds as the FA announced the club was found guilty of two charges in the 2009 signing of Alejandro Faurlin but would be subjected to a point deduction. Though the Rangers faltered 2-1 to Leeds, nothing could stop the jubilatory mood at Loftus Road, bottled since last week’s apparent title clinching victory over Watford at Vicarge Road last Saturday.

A great deal has happened since the Rangers since the 1995-96 Premier League campaign when the Rangers were relegated. The league, then only two years ago, was showing signs of rapid commercial growth as transfer prices set a record with the Rangers fall started with the loss of Les Ferdinand to Newcastle. Now with the relief of purgatory cleansed from Loftus Road attention can turn to the near miracle work of manager Neil Warnock in returning the top flight of football to west London.

Handed the managerial reigns in 1 March 2010, the now sixty-two year-old Mr. Warnock righted the ship that looked more destined to the third tier and installed a rock solid system with a 4-2-3-1 formation that combined an opportunistic attack with a defending gauntlet that surrendered a paltry thirty-two goals in the defining season.

Finishing strong in the final two months QPR claimed a thirteen place finish with the manager then spearheading the signing of trio of veterans he had worked with in past, goalkeeper Paddy Kenny from Sheffield United, as well as Shaun Derry and Clint Hill from Crystal Palace. The trio worked a charm at steadying the back end, the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper a force between the woodwork for the Rangers, opening the campaign with three clean sheets. In the attacking end Heiðar Helguson and Adel Taarabt teamed up for a blood thirsty thirty-two markers, with the latter showing maturity and consistency as skipper.

For the combative manager, who justly called it “the best job that I have done”, there will be many changes in the offing as the Rangers will need to bolster their line-up to match up with the pedigree of the Premier League. Pace in the back end is of question and depth, to which they were fortunate with few major injuries, will need to be addressed but now is a time for QPR fans to rejoice.

Wiping away the turmoil of the past, the sorrow of death, financial administration and what seemed to be an eternity cast out of the top flight, Loftus Road now rightfully returns as a stop in the Premier League.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2011
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Coming off two consecutive defeats, including the most recent against Leeds, Neil Warnock’s QPR found their winning ways with a 4-0 defeat of Swansea City in a Boxing Day clash at Loftus Road.

After their recent stumble’s, the West London side responded in quick, concise fashion in hot-tempered affair. With the match clearly moving in the hosts direction, Adel Taarabt carved out a brilliant opener just past the quarter-hour as he out manoeuvred the Welsh sides defenders on the edge of the area before sending the ball to Jamie Mackie for a booming finish to the back of the net.  Moments later march day referee Phil Crossley was called into action as following Kyle Walker’s ill timed challenge of Alan Tate both the later and Clint Hill came within a whisper of throwing punches but their display earned with quick red-cards. Swansea City came roaring back in the hunt for the leveler, only to see QPR ‘keeper Paddy Kenny pull off a stunning save to maintain his sides one goal advantage at the break.

After the break, QPR continued to show its prowess with Adel Taarabt at the centre at the storm. Just past the hour, the Moroccan international surged into the area and upon be toppled by Ashley Williams, QPR was awarded a penalty. In the ensuring effort, Heiðar Helguson sent Swan ‘keeper Dorus De Vries the wrong way as he cheekily sent the ball to the bottom left corner of the net to give QPR the 2-0 lead. Eight minutes later the Icelandic striker knocked the ball back to Adel Taarabt who subsequently sent a left footed effort into the back of the net to treble the advantage. QPR was running on full cylinders now and with ten minutes remaining in regulation time, Adel Taarabt capped his extraordinary day as sent a brilliant right-footed curling effort from eighteen metres into the net to seal QPR’s perfect 4-0 Boxing Day victory.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
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In front of their voracious supporters at Elland Road, Leeds handed league leaders Queens Park Rangers a 2-0 defeat. With the results, the Whites hopes for promotion and a return to glory flourish as they climb to second in the Championship table, three points off the west London side, who have now lost two consecutive contests.

Eschewing to the adage of leaving what is working alone, Leeds manager Simon Grayson made no changes to his side that came from behind to defeat Burnley last week whereas his adversary, Neil Warnock, made two changes to his most recent starting eleven. Coming off their loss to Watford at Loftus Road, the QPR manager brought in Bradley Orr and former Leeds man Rob Hulse for Alejandro Faurlín and Heiðar Helguson.

The early stages saw QPR pose two quality chances with Bradley Orr sending a drive over the crossbar before Kasper Schmeichel denied Rob Hulse in his return to Elland Road. At the eleventh minute, Republic of Ireland international Alex Bruce fell to injury, resulting in Leeds manager Simon Grayson summoned Leigh Bromby into the fray. With their supporters in full song, momentum shifted in Leeds favour with maestro Luciano Becchio seeing his header denied by QPR goalkeeper Paddy Kenny and Robert Snodgrass narrowly missing. The young Scot took the role of architect, as he so often has since coming over from Livingston during in Gary McAllister’s regime, when he fired a cross from the right that Jonny Howson thumped back for Max Gradel to redirect into the net from five metres. QPR showed plenty of ambition shortly thereafter for the equalizer but timely defending by Neill Collins snuffed out the chance and the match went to the break with Leeds holding the one-goal advantage.

At the break, Mr. Warnock called upon Fitz Hall for Clint Hill and after a brief threatening spell by the visitors Leeds began to press forward. Following a Paddy Kenny stopping Luciano Becchio once again, Robert Snodgrass narrowly missed carving out the second goal but the final touch by Max Gradel could not find the mark. Quickly play began to tighten with neither side able to pose a high probability effort until Leeds doubled its margin with twenty minute remaining in regulation time. Coming via the counter, George McCartney sent Max Gradel free and after surging into the area and getting past Fitz Hall, pounded the ball into the bottom of the net to give Leeds the two-goal lead. With a quarter-hour remaining, the QPR tactician added Heiðar Helguson and Hogan Ephraim for Rob Hulse and Tommy Smith but the day belonged to Leeds as they could make few advances. Leeds maintained a discipline defending resolve and with the final whistle claimed a 2-0 victory.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
All rights reserved

Courtesy of Patrick Agyemang’s late goal, QPR extended their remarkable unbeaten start to the Championship campaign with a 1-1 draw, honours even, with Bristol City at Ashton Gate. With the result, the magical record-setting start under manager Neil Warnock has the west London side at the top of the top of the table, three points above Cardiff City who face Leeds at Elland Road on Monday, whilst Bristol City is at the absolute bottom of league.

Coming off their draw with Swansea, Mr. Warnock saw no reason to make any changes to his QPR line-up, whereas Keith Millen made one adjustment to his Bristol City starting eleven that defeated Reading last week, with Danny Rose coming in for Jamal Campbell-Ryce.

In a tightly played start, Jon Stead shocked QPR with only the fourth goal of the season scored against them as on quick counter attack he sent a booming effort from twenty-plus metres off the crossbar and into the net to give Bristol City the 1-0 lead. With the one-goal advantage, the bottom of the table City showed intense resolve holding off QPR’s attacking vision. The hosts narrowly doubled before the break, as Clint Hill disrupted Danny Haynes’s cross to the goal scorer at the back post.

QPR looked like they had levelled after the break but Jamie Mackie’s marker was chalked off as Heiðar Helguson was ruled offside. Four minutes past the hour, the QPR tactician added Rob Hulse for the Icelandic international with Patrick Agyemang entering for Adel Taarabt with twelve minutes remaining in regulation. QPR looked to be heading to their first defeat but at eighty-fourth minute, Patrick Agyemang flicked the ball in from close range after Matthew Connolly pushed on a corner from the right. Now level, QPR looked for the decisive goal but following four minutes of added-time, the match concluded as a 1-1 draw, honours even.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
All rights reserved