QPR v. Cardiff City (21 April: Championship Match 44) [R]

[Atouk]

QPR -- 18th, 43 GP, -13 GD, 49 points
v.
Cardiff City -- 11th, 43 GP, +8 GD, 64 points
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21 April 2007 15:00
Loftus Road
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Rangers News:

Massive game today for the R's as a win could nearly lock up our place in the Championship next year. A loss and we're back in the mix. A visit to Wolves and a season-ending home match against Stoke remain after today.

Lee Cook retuns from injury after missing out on the last three matches. Martin Rowlands is able to play for a second straight game. Danny Cullip will miss out with a groin injury and is replaced by Pat Kanyuka. Marc Nygaard returns to the startling lineup to partner Dexter Blackstock. With the number of injuries, Mauro Milanese and Stefan Bailey make returns to the bench for the first time in awhile.

Starting XI: Camp; Bignot, Stewart, Kanyuka, Timoska; Cook, Bolder, Lomas, Rowlands; Nygaard, Blackstock.

Bench: Cole, Milanese, Bailey, Furlong, Smith.

Marc Bircham will be one of the commentators on the QPR World commentary today.

The Opponent:

Cardiff's faint hopes at a playoff place are all but gone. With three games left, they're six points behind 6th place and would have to pass five teams to earn a spot in the playoffs.

The Referee:

Uriah Rennie was the advertised referee, but there has been a late change (no reason given) and Mick Thorpe will work the game.

The Series:

Cardiff topped the table when QPR earned a 1-0 victory on Sky back in November.

Overall, QPR leads the series 28-10-22.

[Atouk]

Good chance for the R's as Lomas sent a shot softly goal bound that was cleared off the line by Cardiff defender Roger Johnson.

Johnson was off for a bit of treatment while we took the corner, but their keeper was able to catch the corner, ending our threat.

[Atouk]

[R] for all Championship games in this thread.

We're four points behind 17th place Coventry, so we can't pass anyone in the table today; we could be passed by Leicester or Barnsley. Here's the table from 18th down.

18 QPR 43 -13 49 - home vs. Cardiff
19 Leicester 43 -14 47 - away vs. Preston
20 Barnsley 43 -26 47 - home vs. Crystal Palace
21 Hull 43 -16 45 - away vs. Stoke
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22 Leeds 43 -23 45 - away vs. Southampton
23 Southend 43 -27 42 - away vs. Plymouth
24 Luton 44 -25 37 - lost yesterday at Derby, 0-1

[Atouk]

Plymouth's Ebanks-Blake scored in the 6th minute to put Southend down, 1-0.

[Atouk]

Cardiff forward Michael Chopra was booked. Bircham disagreed, thinking it was a free kick but not a yellow.

[Atouk]

We've had the better of it thus far, but haven't taken advantage. 3 corners and a couple shots on target with some decent possession and pressure. Come on, you R's!

[Atouk]

GOAL! Blackstock goal on a beautiful corner from Cook. Sounds like it was a short corner played back to Cook, who sent in a beauty and Blackstock had a pretty easy header. The R's take the lead!

QPR 1-0 Cardiff

[Atouk]

Barnsley scored against Palace with a goal by Nardiello in the 16th. Barnsley is up 1-0.

[Atouk]

Southend has drawn level with Plymouth on a Clarke goal in the 25th.

[Atouk]

Rowlands is doing good work. He just earned us another corner. The keeper punched away and the R's retained possession.

The first few minutes after our goal, Cardiff came back into it and had a bit of pressure. The last few minutes, though, have seen the R's turn it back up.

There was just a shout for handball against Cardiff, but the referee made an offside call on us.

[Atouk]

We've reached the half with the lead. UUURRR's!

QPR 1-0 Cardiff City

[Atouk]

Stoke scored against Hull late in the first half. Here's how things stand at the half.

18 QPR 43 -13 49 - home vs. Cardiff, winning 1-0
19 Leicester 43 -14 47 - away vs. Preston, 0-0
20 Barnsley 43 -26 47 - home vs. Crystal Palace, winning 1-0
21 Hull 43 -16 45 - away vs. Stoke, losing 0-1
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22 Leeds 43 -23 45 - away vs. Southampton, 0-0
23 Southend 43 -27 42 - away vs. Plymouth, 1-1
24 Luton 44 -25 37 - lost yesterday at Derby, 0-1

Also of note, Colchester scored a goal in first-half injury time to take a 1-0 lead against Sunderland.

[Atouk]

We're underway in the second half. No changes.

[Atouk]

Close call for the R's as Stewart pushed it away for a corner at the last second. Camp caught the corner easily.

[Atouk]

12,710 at Loftus Road today.

Kerrea Gilbert is booked for a tackle from behind on Cook.

[Atouk]

Just after, Kerrea Gilbert committed another foul that would have gotten him a yellow, but it's so soon after the other the ref let him off with a warning. Sounds like he should have sent him off.

The manager brought Gilbert straight off for Paul Parry. Probably a smart move to avoid going down to 10 men.

[Atouk]

Sunderland has drawn even with Colchester.

[Atouk]

For the R's -- Jimmy Smith on, Martin Rowlands off.

[Atouk]

For Cardiff -- Warren Feeney on, Steven Thompson off.

[Atouk]

Final change for Cardiff -- Darcy Blake on, Willo Flood off.