Sunderland v. QPR (14 Aug: Coca-Cola Championship - Match 3)

[Atouk]

Sunderland -- 11th(T) -- 1-0-1, 3 Points, 0 GD
v.
QPR -- 22nd -- 0-1-1, 1 Point, -3 GD
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14 August 2004, 15:00
Stadium of Light
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Rangers News:

Rangers try to regroup after a dreadful performance on Monday. No new injuries have been reported. Sh!ttu and Culkin remain on the sidelines with long-term injuries, while we await updates on the status of Jamie Cureton and Marc Bircham, both of whom missed the first two matches. Lee Cook saw his first action on Monday but is not likely yet 90-minutes fit.

While Rangers officially sit in one of the relegation spots (via inferior goal difference), it's interesting to note that after two matches no team has won twice. However, half the teams have yet to lose (8 teams are 1-1-0, while 4 are 0-2-0). Only Derby and Brighton are without a point after two matches.

The Opponent:

Sunderland finished in third place last season and were unlucky losers in the play-offs. A dreadful 19-point season (4-7-27) saw them relegated from the Premiership in 02/03. In their bid for a return at the first attempt, they were 7 points behind West Brom for automatic promotion, but were also 5 points ahead of West Ham and 6 ahead of Ipswich and Palace, their fellow play-off teams.

The Black Cats opened with an 0-2 away loss at Coventry, but bounced back with a 3-1 home win over Crewe on Tuesday.

The QPR official site has a look at Sunderland here (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~551398,00.html), while QueensParkRangers.com has a nice preview here (http://www.queensparkrangersfc.com/preview/sunder.htm).

Their official site can be found at safc.com (http://www.safc.com/).

The Series:

Rangers lead the all-time series, 10-5-8. Sunderland has one FA Cup win (in 1957!), while Rangers lead 10-5-7 in league play. The teams were together in this division in 97/98 and 98/99, with Sunderland getting 1 win and 1 draw at home and 1 win and 1 draw at Loftus Road. Rangers swept Sunderland in 90/91 in the old Division 1 (Premier League) in a season that saw Sunderland relegated. Previous league meetings date between 1968 and 1985.

The Referee:

Mike Pike gets the assignment. Pike worked the Preston/Watford match last Saturday, issuing one yellow. In 35 matches last season, he issued 64 yellows and 6 reds. His last Sunderland match was a 3-0 home win over Sheffield United last April, while his most recent QPR match was a 0-1 away loss to Barnsley in August '02.

[Atouk]

The official site now reports (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~551459,00.html) that Tony Thorpe and Jamie Cureton are in doubt for this weekend. Thorpe injured an ankle against Watford and is set to resume training on Friday, while Cureton had returned to training this week, but suffered a setback today. They rate Cureton at 50/50 for Saturday.

Furlong is expected to join Gallen in the starting lineup, while Ainsworth, Cook, and McLeod seem to be pushing for one place on the outside of midfield, with Rowlands likely set for the other. No mention was made of Bircham's status, but the article says Beanie will be pushing to rejoin Johnson in central midfield, so that doesn't sound good. Before the Rotherham match, they said Birch was targeting a return against Sunderland.

[Atouk]

Just watched the QPR World Sunderland preview -- 19+ minutes, excellent stuff, including interviews with chief scout Mel Johnson, Marcus Bean, Chris Day, and a long one with Ian Holloway.

In addition to the injuries mentioned above, the preview did list both Bircham and Edghill as out.

[Northside Rovers]

Points: Beg for them, borrow them or steal them.

I don't care how we get them, I just care we get them.

[Atouk]

The official site's stat pack (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/PreMatchAnalysisDetail/0,,10373~548289,00.html) is online, as is the BBC preview (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3544448.stm), the QPR Mad preview (http://www.qpr-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=PREV&id=170726), the Sky Sports preview (http://skysports.planetfootball.com/list.asp?hlid=219544&CPID=10&CLID=52&lid=&title=SUNDERLAND+v+QPR+PREVIEW), and the Sporting Life preview (http://www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide1/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=nonwire_soccer/04/08/13/manual_103814.html) (which reveals that Marc Bircham had an injection in his foot and won't return to training until next week). Also, a brief QPR story from the Evening Standard (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/football/articles/12549577?source=Evening%20Standard) is online.

The Sunderland Prophet on Sunderland Mad predicts (http://www.sunderland-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=170375) "Im not expecting Sunderland to beat QPR, I expecting Sunderland to thump QPR." He predicts a 4-1 win for the Black Cats, while the regular Sunderland Mad preview (http://www.sunderland-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=PREV&id=170766) predicts a "narrow home win."

[Atouk]

I'd be quite pleased with a point today. Sunderland should have a great chance at promotion, but they weren't noted for high scoring matches last season. I'd definitely take 0-0 or 1-1 this afternoon.

Rangers starting XI:

Day; Bignot, Gnohere, Rose, Padula; Ainsworth, Johnson, Bean, Rowlands; Furlong, Gallen

So, we return to the opening match lineup.

QPR bench:

Santos, Forbes, Cureton, Cook, McLeod

So, Cureton passed his fitness test and could see his first action of the new season.

UUUUURRRRRRRRRRR's!

[Atouk]

Of note, no keeper on the bench. Let's hope Daysie has no problems out there. It leaves Olly plenty of other options on the bench, with Santos and Forbes available if Gnohere is looking bad or we're trying to hold onto a result, with McLeod, Cook, and Cureton all available to change the dynamic in the midfield, and Cureton available if we need a different attacking dimension late.

[Atouk]

GOOOOOAAAAALLLL!

Paul Furlong!

Rose wins possession, we send it down, fortunate to hold possession, but the R's attack two on two and a beautiful strike from Furlong!

Sunderland 0-1 QPR
13th minute

[Atouk]

33rd minute goal for Sunderland's Stewart evens it at 1-1. After a rare bit of Rangers possession in their end, Sunderland booted it over Gnohere's head, Stewart ran on, and 1-1 it was.

Since then, Sunderland have had the better of it, although Gallen thought he had a penalty after being taken down in the box a couple of minutes ago.

Rowlands seems to be having his best game of the year. While a couple of his cross attempts have been off the mark, he seems to be attempting to take people on and press forward.

Just one minute of injury time in the first half.

Sunderland 1-1 QPR
HALF TIME

[Atouk]

Second half kicks off. No changes for the Super Hoops or the Black Cats.

[Atouk]

Sunderland are having the better of possession overall in the half although the R's are pressing forward when they get a chance and having little spells of possession -- we're not locked down playing for the draw at this stage. Day's had to save a couple. Gnohere and Rose seeming a bit shaky, but Bignot and Padula seem to be doing well and helping cover when they can.

[Atouk]

Still 1-1 in the 67th minute.

They've announced an attendance of 26,063 -- the commentators say it looks like 500 or 600 R's supporters have made the long trip.

[Atouk]

GOOOOAAAAALLLLL!

Martin Rowlands!

72nd minute.

Bean win the ball in midfield, sends it up to Furlong who holds nicely and picks out Rowlands' run, Rowlands gets the ball and finishes calmly. R's take the lead!

Sunderland 1-2 QPR

[Atouk]

Sunderland made two changes a minute or so after the goal.

Then, in the 79th minute, Lee Cook came on for Gareth Ainsworth.

A minute or so later, Marcus Bignot went into the book with a yellow.

[Atouk]

Sunderland makes their last sub and Olly brings on some fresh legs in the 86th -- Forbes for Bignot at right back and Santos for Johnson in the defensive midfield.

There will be a few minutes of injury time (a Sunderland player was down for a couple of minutes early in the half).

[Atouk]

Damn. Sunderland equalizes from a corner in the final minute of regulation.
Sunderland 2-2 QPR

In injury time, Gallen tried a quick restart after a foul that would have seen Rowlands away, but the referee brought it back. Now in the final stages of injury time.

[Atouk]

Sunderland 2-2 QPR
FULL TIME

I certainly would have taken a point before the match. Still, you can't help but be a bit disappointed by giving up two points in the closing minutes.

Good effort from the R's. Let's get three points on Saturday against Derby!

[QPR Kevin H]

Damn. Sunderland equalizes from a corner in the first minute of injury time.
Sunderland 2-2 QPR

In injury time, Gallen tried a quick restart after a foul that would have seen Rowlands away, but the referee brought it back. Now in the final stages of injury time.
Well, a hard fought point, although dissapointing not to hold on for the win. Sounds like the team will gain some confidence from this - especially Martin Rowlands. Need the boost from our first win next week v Derby.

[Atouk]

Interestingly, only Plymouth has 7 points after three games (if either West Ham or Wigan earn a victory in their matchup at Upton Park tomorrow, they will also have 7). Three teams are 3-0-0 in the two divisions below us, but no team could manage it in the Championship, while only one (or two) could even manage 2-1-0.

The rest of the Championship has 6 or less from 3, so no one has run away from us. Also, Brighton earned a draw, so everyone has at least one point after 3.

The R's currently sit in 23rd. Four teams have 2 points after three (Wolves, Sheffield United, Crewe, and the R's), but we have the worst goal difference due to our beat-down on Monday.

Also of note, Clarke Carlisle has not even made the bench in any of Leeds' matches (1-1-1). Would they mind loaning him back until Sh!ttu is read to pair with Rosey? ;)

Next Saturday's opponent, Derby, came from behind to beat Ipswich, 3-2, at home. They've also lost 1-2 at home to Leicester and 0-1 away to Leeds. Tough opening schedule for them (a play-off participant and two relegated from the Premiership), so they may be a bit better than their 3 points would lead us to believe. It's crucial that we nick a home win on Saturday.

[Atouk]

Story from the BBC:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3544448.stm

Quotes from Olly:
"The mistakes we are making are criminal. We've got to get back to the basics and if the players need prove of what is needed in this division, it was there in this match.

"We did a lot of talking after Monday night's 3-0 defeat at Watford and we have worked on it. But to give away a free header in the last minute is disappointing. It should have been three points.

"People thought we would be the whipping boys of this division after the Watford defeat but I think we have proved otherwise." Quotes from Mick McCarthy:
"Rangers scored two fantastic goals and you sometimes have to give credit to the opposition. But I felt we could have defended better.

"It would have been an injustice if we had not got something, but sometimes it does happen.

"I always felt we were going to have the lion's share of possession and that's what we did."