Wolverhampton Wanderers v. QPR (28 April: Championship Match 45) [R]

[Atouk]

Wolves -- 6th, 44 GP, -2 GD, 70 points
v.
QPR -- 18th, 44 GP, -12 GD, 52 points
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28 April 2007 15:00
Molineux
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Rangers News:

Lee Camp was called back by Derby and we've loaned Simon Royce out to Gillingham. John Gregory is giving young Jake Cole a start in goal and has called Paul Jones back into the squad to sit on the bench.

Although JG used Timoska while the pressure was on, he's giving Mauro Milanese a start today. Jimmie Smith also gets a start in midfield today.

Lee Cook and Dexter Blackstock, who had both been nursing injuries while we worked toward safety, are both left out of the squad.

Starting XI: Cole; Milanese, Stewart, Kanyuka, Bignot; Rowlands, Bolder, Lomas, Smith; Nygaard, Furlong.

Bench: P. Jones, R. Jones, Timoska, Bailey, Moore.

The Opponenth:

Massive game for Wolves as they're sitting in the final play-off spot on 70 points. Three teams are nipping at their heels with 69 points while another has 68.

[R] in this thread for all Championship matches.

We're underway! UUURRR's!

[Atouk]

Nice first couple of touches for Cole. He just punched a cross into the box clear.

[Atouk]

Relegation battle:

19 Leicester 44 -13 50 - at Barnsley
20 Barnsley 44 -24 50 - vs. Leicester
21 Hull 44 -16 46 - at Cardiff
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22 Leeds 44 -24 45 - vs. Ipswich
23 Southend 44 -28 42 - vs. Luton
24 Luton 44 -25 37 - at Southend


Championship & Automatic Promotion race:

1 Sunderland 45 24 85 - defeated Burnley 3-2 yesterday
2 Birmingham 44 24 83 - vs. Sheff Wed
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3 Derby 44 16 81 - at Palace (tomorrow)


Play-off race:

4 Preston 44 12 71 - at Plymouth
5 West Brom 44 18 70 - at Coventry
6 Wolverhampton 44 -2 70 - vs. QPR
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7 Southampton 44 20 69 - at Norwich
8 Stoke 44 19 69 - vs. Colchester
9 Colchester 44 18 69 - at Stoke
10 Sheff Wed 44 5 68 - at Birmingham



Leeds has taken a 1-0 lead (Cresswell in the 12th) against Ipswich.

[Atouk]

Bolder is down receiving some treatment for an injury he picked up a couple of minutes ago.

Luton has taken a 1-0 lead at Southend.

[Atouk]

Bolder came back on.

Smith just had a shot on goal, but miskicked it. It went to Milanese who took a shot. His shot was blocked out for a throw for QPR.

[Atouk]

Great ball across goal by Rowlands, Furlong couldn't quite get to it, Smith was able to get a touch to it, but the keeper made the save.

[Atouk]

We've reached the half at 0-0.

[Atouk]

Scores at the half:

Relegation battle:

19 Leicester 44 -13 50 - at Barnsley, 0-0
20 Barnsley 44 -24 50 - vs. Leicester, 0-0
21 Hull 44 -16 46 - at Cardiff, 0-0
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22 Leeds 44 -24 45 - vs. Ipswich, leading 1-0
23 Southend 44 -28 42 - vs. Luton, losing 0-2
24 Luton 44 -25 37 - at Southend, leading 2-0


Championship & Automatic Promotion race:

1 Sunderland 45 24 85 - defeated Burnley 3-2 yesterday
2 Birmingham 44 24 83 - vs. Sheff Wed, 0-0
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3 Derby 44 16 81 - at Palace (tomorrow)


Play-off race:

4 Preston 44 12 71 - at Plymouth, 0-0
5 West Brom 44 18 70 - at Coventry, leading 1-0
6 Wolverhampton 44 -2 70 - vs. QPR, 0-0
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7 Southampton 44 20 69 - at Norwich, leading 1-0
8 Stoke 44 19 69 - vs. Colchester, losing 0-1
9 Colchester 44 18 69 - at Stoke, leading 1-0
10 Sheff Wed 44 5 68 - at Birmingham, 0-0


If things ended as they are now, Southampton and Colchester(!!) would move into play-off positions, while Wolves and Preston (with inferior goal difference to Southampton and Colchester) would drop out.

[Atouk]

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

[Atouk]

Jimmy Smith just smacked it off the underside of the bar. Rowlands headed the rebound over the bar. Great chance for the R's.

[Atouk]

Leicester has taken a 1-0 lead at Barnsley.

Wolves' Bothroyd headed just wide of goal on a cross after a short corner.

[Atouk]

Another decent chance for Wolves was sent just wide. Come on, Rangers!

[Atouk]

Yet another Wolves shot just went wide from just a few yards away. Wolves are appealing for a penalty. Not given. Goal kick.

[Atouk]

Goal Wolves.

Cole made a save on a free kick, but just seconds later they scored on the rebound. Since Smith's chance, it's been all Wolves and this goal was always coming.

Wolves 1-0 QPR

[Atouk]

Cole just made a save as Wolves stole the ball and made a quick counter. Cole saved it over the bar.

Kanyuka pulled up on the play and may have a hamstring injury. Cullip isn't on the bench. Timoska is the only other defender on the bench. Milanese had been shifted to center back before.

[Atouk]

Kanyuka exits with the injury. Sampsa Timoska enters.

[Atouk]

Smith's shirt was being tugged as a cross went into the box. Smith headed it back toward Furs. Furlong went down in the box. No call.

[Atouk]

Another save from Cole as Kightly took a touch in the box then shot.

A minute later, Jimmy Smith was booked for a foul.

[Atouk]

Sloppy defending costs us. Bothroyd sent a pass in, Kightly beat the offside trap, Cole came out softly and dove at Kightly's feet, Kightly lifted it softly over him and it's 0-2.

After the goal, Ray Jones entered for Paul Furlong.

[Atouk]

Southend has gotten one back against Luton; they now trail 1-2.

Yellow cards for Marc Nygaard and Gary Breen.