QPR v. Nottingham Forest (8 Jan: FA Cup - Round 3) [R]

[Atouk]

QPR
v.
Nottingham Forest
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FA Cup - 3rd Round
8 January 2005 15:00
Loftus Road
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Both clubs enter the competition at this round
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Rangers News:

Paul Furlong and Georges Santos are out due to card accumulation. Jamie Cureton is still suspended due to his red card. Good news on the Furlong front is that his red card was rescinded, so this is the only game he'll miss. Adam Miller is cup tied, while Southampton won't let Leon Best play because they don't want him cup tied. Tony Thorpe and Matthew Rose have been training -- Thorpe may start, while Rose may make the bench. Ainsworth is likely to return after missing one match due to injury.

With Santos out and Rose unlikely to start, it looks like we may have Edghill pair with Shittu at center back, with Bignot and Padula likely outside. However, both Bignot and Bircham missed some training this week with an illness and Kevin McLeod has a tight hamstring. With Miller unavailable and Gallen needed up front, Bircham's participation (probably paired with Bean) becomes very important.

First Meeting:

Forest beat QPR, 2-1, on December 4th at the City Ground. The clubs meet again in April for Rangers' last home game of the season.

The BBC's match preview:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/4139445.stm

[Atouk]

The good news? Cureton's suspension must be up, because he's in the lineup.

The bad news? Padula is on the bench (injured?), Bignot isn't available at all, Bircham isn't available at all.

So, our starting XI:
Day; Branco, Shittu, Edghill, McLeod; Ainsworth, Rowlands, Bean, Cook; Gallen, Cureton.

The bench includes two presumably from the youth ranks who have never played in the first team:
Cole, Thorpe, Padula, Scott Mulholland, Luke Townsend

[Atouk]

Not getting the commentary at the moment -- from us or Forest. Anyone else?

[Maczebus]

You don't want to hear it.

1-0 to Forest Reid 24 mins

Swiftly followed by 2-0 to Forest. Kris Commons (25mins) - infact I bought him for QPR in my Championship manager game I feel betrayed.

Lovely.

[Atouk]

It seems it's my computer's audio that's having the problem. As you say, I picked a good one not to hear. Reid's goal was on a free kick from 20-yards, according to the match tracker. We went down to the other end and Cureton shot over the bar. That was immediately followed by a 35-yard (!) goal for Forest. Ugh.

We've reached the half. 0-2.

[Atouk]

11,140 at Loftus Road today.

Still 0-2. We've had four corners thus far on the second half, plus a shot by McLeod, but haven't found the net yet.

[Atouk]

Bopp carded for Forest in the 68th.

In the 76th, QPR brought on Thorpe and Padula for Branco and Cook.

Dawson into the book for Forest in the 77th.

[Atouk]

82nd minute and Forest scores from 25 yards. 0-3.

If the match tracker is right, Day has been beaten today from 20 yards (free kick), 25 yards, and 35 yards. Not good, Chris.

[Maczebus]

He's probably interspersed his afternoon of woe with kicking a few pass-backs directly into touch.

[Atouk]

Well, thank goodness that's over.

QPR 0-3 Forest
FULL TIME

[Atouk]

Elsewhere, in front of 67,551 at Old Trafford -- Man United 0, Exeter 0! Wow.

Also, Oldham 1, Man City 0.

A few Championship sides got the better of Premiership clubs --
West Ham 1, Norwich 0
Sunderland 2, Crystal Palace 1
Sheffield United 3, Aston Villa 1

and, earning a replay...
Watford 1, Fulham 1
Cardiff 1, Blackburn 1

also of note...
Kenny Jackett's Swansea earned a 1-1 draw at Reading, so will have a nice replay to look forward to at home, but could have won, giving up the equalizer in the 88th minute (Bobby Convey got a rare start in Reading's draw with a team two divisions lower, and Les Ferdinand started for Reading, subbing out in the 59th).

[Maczebus]

1 draw from the last 8 games.

[Atouk]

1 draw from the last 8 games.No kidding. I guess we should be thankful the FA Cup came along when it did -- at least we didn't drop points in the standings.

The good news is that this FA Cup game covered the suspensions of Furlong and Santos, so they won't have to miss a league match. Next up: Stoke at home on Friday on Sky before going on the road for two in a row (Coventry & Millwall).

[Maczebus]

Might be going to that Coventry game - then again only if i take my prozac beforehand.

[Northside Rovers]

Why do we always get pounded in the FA Cup?