Reading v. QPR (18 Dec: Championship - Match 24) [R]

[Atouk]

Reading -- 4th, 23 GP, 12-5-6, +10 GD, 41 points
v.
QPR -- 8th, 23 GP, 11-3-9, -1 GD, 36 points
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18 December 2004 12:45 p.m.
Madejski Stadium
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Rangers News:

New loan signing Leon Best is available. Not much other news. Rowlands seemed to come through last week okay, so could start. Richard Edghill is heading toward fitness, so that's a good sign for our depth. With Stoke's result at Brighton yesterday, Rangers dropped to 8th.

As I type, I see the linups have been released. For the R's today:
Day; Bignot, Shittu, Santos, Padula; Rowlands, Gallen, Bircham, Miller; Cureton, Furlong.

Bench: Cook, Best, Ainsworth, Bean, Edghill.

The commentator says both Santos and Shittu have the flu, but we've no other options.

The Opponent:

Reading is off to a great start and sits in fourth place. Their last six (most recent first):

A Leicester W, 2-0
A Wolves L, 1-4
H Wigan D, 1-1
A Forest L, 0-1
H Cardiff W, 2-1
H Stoke W, 1-0

The Series:

Reading leads 32-14-24. We last played in the same division on 01/02, with Reading winning one and the other ending in a draw. The teams first met in the FA Cup in 1907/08.

The Referee:

Richard Beeby has been assigned. 44 yellows and 6 reds in 16 matches (10 in the Championship). His last QPR game was our 0-4 LDV Vans debacle at Southend last season. Ugh. Didn't need to remember that match again.

[Atouk]

We're underway.

Come on, UUUUU RRRRRR's!

[Atouk]

FYI, for US-player fans, Marcus Hahnemann is starting for Reading, while Bobby Convey is on the substitute's bench.

In the early moments, both have had a bit of possession, although Reading has had one shot on goal (didn't trouble Day). R's supporters sound in good voice. Two early set pieces for Rangers around 30 yards out. Furlong drew both fouls. Reading had a "flying clearance" for the first one, taken by Gallen to Furlong who shot. Rowlands just over the crossbar with the second one (may have had the keeper beaten).

Santos gives away a free kick a minute later, while saving us from Day's troubling handing of a Padula backpass, so it sounded. Their shot was just over.

[Atouk]

R's are in the green and white hoops today.

Reading is one of just two teams in the Championship without a loss at home (8 wins, 3 draws), joining Ipswich.

Match is back and forth at the moment, with Reading maybe holding a 55/45 possession edge. Reading just earned the first corner of the afternoon, won by Santos.

[Atouk]

Reading's Dave Kitson was booked for a dive, but the commentators thought it was more of a bad touch and a legit fall than attempted dive and thought it didn't deserve a card.

Padula saved us with a toe poke a minute later, then we quickly turn it around the other way and Furlong took a diving header that forced a save.

With a switch, Rowlands on the left, Miller on the right at the moment.

[Atouk]

Cardiff is leading Sheffield United 1-0 in Sheffield in the second half.

Final minutes of the half have been back and fourth, but the R's are getting a bit more possession than Reading of late and Bircham seems to be providing a spark.

[Atouk]

The commentators said neither team has played well and the passing has been bad. One suggested that when a match is this ugly, the referee should be allowed to end it early, rather than add on extra time.

Reading 0-0 QPR
HALF TIME

[Atouk]

Reading's Kitson exited in the 55th; Lloyd Owusu on.

No changes thus far for Rangers.

[Atouk]

Nickey Shorey's beautiful free kick beats Chris Day. The R's had been getting the better of things for a bit, but a foul just outside the box gave Shorey his chance from about 20 yards and he took it well.

Reading 1-0 QPR

[Atouk]

Another Reading sub - Morgan off; Nicky Forster on - 68th minute.

Martin Rowlands in the book in the 70th minute.

[Atouk]

Cureton was fouled, but he kicked out at Sidwell afterward, then there was a bit of pushing, so one or both could be in trouble.

Cureton was given a straight red. Cureton is livid with Sidwell, who gets nothing.

[Atouk]

Padula off; Leon Best comes on. R's to 3-4-2.

[Atouk]

Cook and Ainsworth warming up.

R's holding a bit of possession at the moment, but haven't forced Hahnemann into much work, either.

[Atouk]

Sheffield United defeated Cardiff, 2-1.

20,272 at Madejski Stadium this afternoon.

Cook and Ainsworth on; Miller and Rowlands off.

[Atouk]

Yellow cards for Bircham and Reading's Harper after they got into it a bit after Harper fouled Birch.

Less than five minutes left.

[Atouk]

3 minutes of added on time. Santos nicely stole a ball, gave it to Ainsworth, Ainsworth's cross was blocked to Santos, who took a shot off target.

[Atouk]

Reading 1-0 QPR
FULL TIME

Reading remains undefeated at home; Rangers lose their sixth straight on the road. We well could have gotten a point out of that one. One beautiful free kick was the difference. Damn.

[Northside Rovers]

Damn.

This must be the proverbial "rough patch". Lets hope it ends soon.

Maybe Atouk, with your fine Won-Loss record, you need to take another trip or two over there and catch some games.

This funk needs to end so we can keep the dream alive.

[art]

Is it just me or do Rangers always play like crap around this time of the season. Two years ago it perhaps cost us a chance at automatic promotion; last year it wasnt as bad though it arguably cost us a shot at winning the division (not that anyone really cared about that); this year, it's taken us from pushing the auto places to the fringes of playoff contention. And we're not out of it yet.

But there's a loooong way to go yet. Better it happens now than in April.

[Atouk]

Is it just me or do Rangers always play like crap around this time of the season. Two years ago it perhaps cost us a chance at automatic promotion; last year it wasnt as bad though it arguably cost us a shot at winning the division (not that anyone really cared about that); this year, it's taken us from pushing the auto places to the fringes of playoff contention. And we're not out of it yet.

But there's a loooong way to go yet. Better it happens now than in April.No kidding.

Speaking of things going badly... did you see that we have 15 guys with a virus and Olly cancelled practice until the 24th? Wow.

http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~604184,00.html