PDA

View Full Version : Norwich City v. QPR (26 April: Championship Match 45) [R]


Atouk
28 Apr 2008, 08:41 AM
Umm... well... Norwich 3, QPR 0.

Damion Stewart was shown a red card in the 5th minute and it went downhill from there. According to the official site story (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~37372,00.html) if anyone fouled the Norwich player it was R's keeper Lee Camp, the only one to make contact, but the referee mistakenly thought Stewart was involved and sent him off.

After the R's fell behind 0-1 in the 7th minute, DiCanio went with a more defensive formation, bringing on Leigertwood and Rehman while bringing off Ainsworth and Ephraim.

We went behind 0-2 in the 56th minute as what was described as a "weak 20-yard effort" went in after a deflection off of Rehman's leg.

A 35-yard shot in the 83rd minute made it 0-3 and handed the R's their first league loss in 8 games.

QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mahon, Stewart, Mancienne, Blackstock, Ainsworth (Leigertwood 8), Rowlands, Connolly, Ephraim (Rehman 8), Balanta.

Unused Subs: Barker, Lee, Crowther.

Matt Pickens hasn't been on the bench for the last couple of games -- young American Reece Crowther has been. According to message board chatter, Pickens was informed he wouldn't be offered a new deal.

Akos Buzsaky wasn't even on the bench for this one -- I'm not sure why as I thought he was healthy.

The R's remain 14th in the table.

Elsewhere in the league, a win at Colchester gives Stoke a 3-point lead over 3rd-place Hull, so even a draw next week will see Stoke City in the Premier League. However, they do have an inferior goal difference to Hull (by 5 goals), so a loss could see them overtaken and pushed into the playoffs. The win puts Stoke temporarily on the top of the table -- they're one point ahead of West Brom who plays Southampton today.

Southampton has fallen into the last relegation spot and even a draw at the Hawthorns today wouldn't lift them out -- they'd be tied with Leicester on points, but behind on goal difference. If they lose today, the Saints may need a win and help from others next week to avoid life in League One.

Leicester lost at home to Sheffield Wednesday, so they're just one point ahead of Southampton. That win lifted Sheffield Wednesday out of the final relegation spot -- they're now two points ahead of Southampton.

Wolves drew at Coventry. A win would have pushed them ahead of Palace into the final playoff spot after Palace lost at Hull. With the draw, Wolves go into the final weekend one point behind Palace and two points (and GD) behind Watford.

Bristol City lost again meaning Hull is the only team with a chance to catch West Brom or Stoke for automatic promotion. However, if West Brom wins today, they will have locked up automatic promotion. Even a draw today will give the Baggies presumptive promotion as they'd have a three-point lead over Hull but a 12-goal superior goal difference.

A draw by Ipswich and a win by Sheffield United (over Bristol City) keep those two teams two points behind Palace for the final playoff spot. Thus, the top 9 in the league go into the final game with a hope of promotion or playoffs.

The Coca-Cola Football League Championship Table
Pos Team P GD PTS

1 Stoke 45 14 78
2 West Brom 44 31 77
------
3 Hull 45 19 75
4 Bristol City 45 -2 71
5 Watford 45 6 69
6 Crystal Palace 45 11 68
------
7 Wolverhampton 45 4 67
8 Ipswich 45 8 66
9 Sheff Utd 45 6 66
10 Plymouth 45 11 64
11 Burnley 45 -2 62
12 Charlton 45 2 61
13 Cardiff 45 1 61
14 QPR 45 -4 58
15 Preston 45 -3 56
16 Norwich 45 -7 55
17 Barnsley 45 -10 55
18 Blackpool 45 -5 53
19 Coventry 45 -9 53
20 Sheff Wed 45 -4 52
21 Leicester 45 -3 51
------
22 Southampton 44 -17 50
23 Scunthorpe 45 -23 45
24 Colchester 45 -24 37

art
28 Apr 2008, 11:34 AM
Matt Pickens hasn't been on the bench for the last couple of games -- young American Reece Crowther has been. According to message board chatter, Pickens was informed he wouldn't be offered a new deal.


Think he's been injured hasn't he? Either way I doubt we'll see him at Loftus Road in 08-09.

Atouk
28 Apr 2008, 03:31 PM
West Brom and Southampton are approaching the half at 0-0.

QPR Kevin H
28 Apr 2008, 03:46 PM
West Brom and Southampton are approaching the half at 0-0.
Kevin Phillips missed a sitter - West Brom have had the better of the chances. They'd essentially go up with a draw, since their goal difference is much higher than Hull's (+31 v +19). I'm sure they'd rather make it official at home, then try to win the League next week at Loftus Road.

QPR Kevin H
28 Apr 2008, 04:21 PM
West Brom nil - Southampton 1 :eek:

13 mins left

QPR Kevin H
28 Apr 2008, 04:28 PM
1-1, thanks to Chris Brunt. Cues absolute bedlam from the commentary booth.

QPR Kevin H
28 Apr 2008, 04:39 PM
It's over - West Brom will be in the Premier League next season. All but promoted with a 1-1 draw at home.

QPR Kevin H
28 Apr 2008, 04:45 PM
Here's the table at top and bottom after the draw

Played-Points-Difference

1. West Brom 45 - 78 - +31
2. Stoke 45 - 78 - +14
3. Hull 45 - 75 - +19
---
18. Blackpool 45 - 53 - -5
19. Coventry 45 - 53 - -9
20. Sheff Wed - 45 - 52 - -4
21. Leicester - 45 - 51 - -3
---
22. Southampton - 45 - 51 - -17
23. Scunthorpe - 45 - 45 - -23
24. Colchester - 45 - 37 - -24

Atouk
28 Apr 2008, 04:52 PM
At the beginning of the season, I thought West Brom had the best chance of winning the division and achieving automatic promtion, but there's no way I'd have put Stoke, Hull, and Bristol City in the top 6... or Southampton in the bottom 3. :eek:

doolittledog2
28 Apr 2008, 06:06 PM
I would love to somehow see Blackpool go down. Not that I don't like them. I just wouldn't want to see 1 out of Coventry, Wednesday, Leicester, and Southampton make the drop.

firefan96
29 Apr 2008, 06:31 AM
Think he's been injured hasn't he? Either way I doubt we'll see him at Loftus Road in 08-09.

Pickens suffered a seperated shoulder a week ago or longer.

QPR Kevin H
29 Apr 2008, 10:51 AM
I don't think it was ever in the cards for Pickens to stay at QPR permanently. De Canio really wanted a solid back-up keeper for the season and Pickens wanted some experience in Europe. Still, mutually beneficial - hope that Pickens finds a good club in the summer.

Atouk
29 Apr 2008, 10:57 AM
Agreed. It would have taken an (unexpected) downturn in the form of Camp for Pickens to get a look. The R's were a good place for Pickens to land in the half season between the end of his Chicago contract and the offseason. Good luck to Matt in finding a starting job somewhere next season.