QPR v. Sheffield United (31 Aug: Coca-Cola Championship - Match 6) [R]

[Atouk]

QPR -- 20th, 1-2-2, -4 GD, 5 points
v.
Sheffield United -- 11th, 2-2-1, +2 GD, 8 points
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31 August 2004 17:45
Loftus Road
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Rangers News:

No updates from the official site regarding injuries. Forbes seems unlikely to feature, meaning that either Edghill or a loan signing (possibly Villa's Gary Cahill -- see the Transfer thread) will likely line up alongside Santos in central defense. Thorpe should still be out. Bircham has been a sub in the last two matches. Is he ready to step into the starting lineup?

The Opponent:

Sheffield United is coming off what their manager described as "probably the best we've played for 15 months" in a 2-0 win over Leeds. They opened with a 1-1 away draw at Burnley, then had a 0-0 home draw against Stoke. They then lost at home to Reading, 0-1, and defeated Preston on the road, 1-0. They advanced in the Carling Cup with a 4-1 win after extra time against Stockport before their excellent performance against Leeds. Their website reports (http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/PreMatchAnalysis/0,,10418~558239,00.html) that they picked up no new injuries against Leeds.

The Series:

QPR leads 13-14-9, including a 2-0 away win in the Carling Cup last season. Before that, we last met at this level in 00/01, with Sheffield United winning at Loftus Road and the teams sharing the points at Bramall Lane.

The Referee:

Grant Hegley gets the call. He's issued 8 yellows in 5 matches this season (1 Championship, 2 League One, 1 League Two, 1 C Cup). Last season, he worked our 3-2 home win over Vale. He doesn't appear to have previously worked a Sheffield United match.

[QPR Kevin H]

The last match in my year stay. Really hoping for a win to close it out. Either way it's going to be a bittersweet night - having to walk down the Wegerle stairs and out of the Loft for the last time as a UK resident.

Will definitely get a good match report up later this week.

[JacksonJazz#9]

having to walk down the Wegerle stairs and out of the Loft for the last time as a UK resident.

Will definitely get a good match report up later this week.

where you going???

[QPR Kevin H]

where you going???
back to DC (for the time being)

[Atouk]

Great news on the injury front, as the official site reports (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~558660,00.html) that Matthew Rose is back from injury and will feature in the 16 for tonight. The story says that Rose will compete with Richard Edghill to partner Georges Santos in central defense.

Forbes is out after his injury on Friday and Gnohere, Ainsworth, and Thorpe are all recovering, but not ready to feature tonight. The good news is that all four are expected to be available for our next match, the 11 September meeting with Plymouth, "reducing the need for a dip into the loan market" says the story.

[Atouk]

The last match in my year stay. Really hoping for a win to close it out. Either way it's going to be a bittersweet night - having to walk down the Wegerle stairs and out of the Loft for the last time as a UK resident. Sorry you have to leave, as I know how much you enjoy living there and getting to see the R's so regularly. You sure picked a heck of a year to live there, though, with our run of excellent football over the past 12 months, culminating in promotion, a change in leadership in the club, new investment, etc.

Have a great time tonight!

[Northside Rovers]

Come on You RRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrr'ssssssssssssss

[ross from st paul]

The last match in my year stay. Really hoping for a win to close it out. Either way it's going to be a bittersweet night - having to walk down the Wegerle stairs and out of the Loft for the last time as a UK resident.

Will definitely get a good match report up later this week.
That sucks, Kevin. Hope you have a great time at the match.

And that's one quality Wegerle-mullet avatar! :D

[ross from st paul]

Come on You RRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrr'ssssssssssssss
What he said.

Hey, James (cj90red) tells me it could start quite the pissing match if you and Jefe got in an argument over who really are the Super Hoops.
(Reading... :rolleyes: tossers.) ;)

[Atouk]

This off-season, QPR was in the hunt for Fulham's Barry Hayles. He ended up at Sheffield United where he started in their first four league matches and their Carling Cup match. He sat out their game against Leeds this weekend, but I thought there was a chance we'd be facing him today.

Instead, just like that they've sold him to Millwall (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/3616104.stm) who signed the 32-year-old to a three-year deal.

He starts Sheffield United's first five games, sits one, and he's sold -- very, very odd. If he wanted to stay in London that badly, you'd have thought he might have signed with us in the first place!

[Atouk]

Just logged onto World about 20 minutes ahead of kick-off and, if the lineup listed is accurate, something must have happened to Furlong, as he's neither in the starting lineup nor on the bench.

Our XI:
Day; Bignot, Edghill, Santos, Padula; Rowlands, Bean, Johnson, Cook; Gallen, Cureton.

Bench:
Cole, Bircham, McLeod, Rose, Hamilton.

[Atouk]

Commentators report that Furlong is not playing because his son has taken ill and been admitted to the hospital. Best wishes to the Furlong family.

The R's lineup is as above. We've kicked off.

[Atouk]

17 minutes in and we give one up. QPR 0-1 Sheffield United. Headed goal by Andy Gray.

[Atouk]

We're attacking back well. Cureton had a shot go over the bar just after their goal. We had a decent chance from Bean on a set piece. Gallen just went over the bar after a nice Rowlands move. We're going at them, that's for sure.

[doolittledog2]

thanks for the play by play...can't get them on BBC London for some reason...they usually don't block these games.

[Atouk]

QPR 0-1 Sheffield United
HALF TIME

We've had our chances. We've been a bit unsteady in the back, although lately United seemed to be playing conservatively and trying to milk the clock to get to the half. Overall, we seem to be playing it about even with Sheffield United, but we've got to finish our chances.

[Atouk]

thanks for the play by play...can't get them on BBC London for some reason...they usually don't block these games.That's odd. We're definitely getting the BBC London feed on QPR World (call-in sports show before the game, BBC news at halftime, etc.).

Since you can't get it, I'll try to provide more frequent updates in the second half.

[Atouk]

We've kicked off. No changes for either side.

[Atouk]

Good chance for Sheffield United but Jon Harley put a sitter over the bar. Whew. Still QPR 0-1 Sheffield United.

[Atouk]

Corner for QPR after a nice multi-player, multi-pass buildup. Cook takes, but it's knocked out by the Blades. Cook takes again, but the keeper gets to it.

R's doing pretty well with possession at the moment.