Chelsea v. QPR (5 January: FA Cup Round 3) [R]

QPR Kevin H · Jan 5, 2008

Atouk said: ↑

Can't really be true, can it? If they can show it on Monday, they could have shown it today.
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Well FSC took it off their schedule today - so why not take the replay off if they can't show it? Hmm - maybe they really weren't allowed to show it live but able to show it later. Odd

Atouk · Jan 5, 2008

From the BBC:

Holders Chelsea held off their west London neighbours but were helped by a Lee Camp own goal to seal their place in the FA Cup fourth round.

The Hoops's goalkeeper was helpless as Claudio Pizarro's low drive hit the post, rebounded off Camp's back and bobbled across the line.

Substitute Patrick Agyemang should have slotted past Hilario after the break as the well-organised visitors improved.

Rangers pressed late on but the below-par Blues dug in to progress.

Rarely do Chelsea host a side richer than themselves but their class prevailed in this battle of the billionaires, despite a spirited performance from the team 35 places below them in the league standings.

The Hoops denied their neighbours time and space early on, disrupting Chelsea's rhythm and breaking up play in midfield.

But the visitors' early zest and work rate soon fizzled out and they fell behind on 28 minutes, albeit through a huge slice of fortune.

Pizarro swivelled on the edge of the box and crashed his low shot off the post, only for Camp to inadvertently knock it back in.

The goal settled the home side who wrestled control of the game in midfield with Steve Sidwell dictating the play.

Shaun Wright-Phillips went close when he fired over from the edge of the box, while Sidwell went even closer when he struck the post with a low drive from 25 yards that had Camp well beaten.

QPR, with five debutants in their starting line-up, failed to seriously trouble Hilario although Agyemang should have slotted past the keeper from close range. Instead, he scuffed his effort into the keeper's arms.

Didier Drogba, bound for the African Cup of Nations on Sunday, made his return from the knee surgery he underwent in early December. But he, and those behind him, struggled to kill off a dogged QPR.

But despite a valiant effort in the last 15 minutes, the four-time winners held out to progress.
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QPR Kevin H · Jan 5, 2008

Unimpressive Chelsea Do Enough To Progress
Goal.com

An underwhelming Chelsea needed an own goal to edge past QPR in this FA Cup third round tie

The West London derby proved to be somewhat of a disappointment as disjointed holders Chelsea laboured to an uneventful 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers...

First meeting between these two sides for almost 12 years saw visiting QPR bring 6,000 supporters to Stamford Bridge...

Obi was really riding his luck as he avoided a yellow card despite a succession of heavy challenges. Rowlands again asked questions of Hilario before the Portuguese had to save from Agyemang: Chelsea were failing to kill this game off and an annoyed Avram Grant sent his high profile substitutes to warm up...

Drogba reminded fans of what he could do with a few powerful runs and a decent shot that Camp pushed behind, but this was a disappointing game with surprisingly few chances. Chelsea were poor even when their big stars entered the fray, but although QPR made the Blues work hard they didn’t pose sufficient threat themselves. Thus Avram Grant’s side deservedly advance to the fourth round.
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E17Avenue · Jan 5, 2008

Well done Rangers, at least we lost 1-0 to Chelsea this year, rather than Port Vale or some other mob.

Four months of very interesting league play lay ahead of us.

MetroAnt · Jan 7, 2008

In case anyone was wondering, FSC ended up showing Ipswich/Pompey again today at 3pm even though the schedule shows QPR/Chelsea.

At least I'll be there in person in just 12 days. :-D

E17Avenue · Jan 8, 2008

I just wrote to FSC demanding an explanation of the switch.

We'll see how they ignore it.

http://msn.foxsports.com/feedback
if you wish to do the same

They had BETTER show the replay!!

QPR Kevin H · Jan 8, 2008

Ugh, well this frustrating incident with FSC is now over.

At least I saw the highlights that evening

art · Jan 14, 2008

just to end this thread on a high note, this made me laugh, swiped from the dot.org site....