Leicester City -- 15th, 4 GP, +2 GD, 5 points v. QPR -- 22nd, 3 GP, -5 GD, 1 point ------ 15 September 2007 15:00 The Walkers Stadium ------ Rangers News: Nardiello scored two goals for the reserves this week and it seems he'll be okay to play after a minor back injury. A report on qprdot.org says Mancienne injured himself in training today and would not play... no idea how credible that one is (that particular "sauce" is pretty controversial on that message board although I've seen him get things right). The Opponent: Leicester just hired Gary Megson as manager. He takes over for Martin Allen who was fired by chairman Milan Mandaric after just four league games in charge of the Foxes. Megson has been out of management since being fired by Forest in February '06. He achieved promotion to the Premier League twice with WBA and has also managed Stoke, Stockport, Blackpool, and Norwich. Hopefully he hasn't been there long enough for them to get a "new manager bump" yet! About player availability, the BBC says "Leicester new signings Marco Ferreira and Adda Djeziri are in contention while striker Carl Cort has recovered from a hamstring injury. But forward Elvis Hammond is unlikely to play as he is struggling with an ankle problem." The Series: QPR leads the overall series 22-9-18 with a 20-9-17 edge in League play. Last year, the clubs drew 1-1 at Loftus Road while the R's picked up a 3-1 win at the Walkers Stadium. QPR led 3-0 through goals by Idiakez and Nygaard (2 goals, 1 was a penalty) before giving up a consolation goal in the 90th minute. In 05/06, the away team won both meetings. In 04/05, the home team won both meetings. Before that, the clubs hadn't met since 94/95 in the Premier League. The Referee: The Football League website says we have M. Murphy as our refereree tomorrow. He doesn't appear on their 07/08 National List of Referees. If he's the same M. Murphy listed on Soccerbase, this is his first game this season and last season he worked just four games as referee in the Conference North. Similarly, in 05/06 he worked a total of four games in the Conference North and Conference South. The season before, his first, he worked 8 games in the Conference and 1 League Trophy game. How'd this guy draw a match in the Championship?
I just watched the preview on QPR World. More news: - Pat Kanyuka is still unavailable with thigh injury - Ainsworth is doing well in rehab, but still unavailable - Walton remains out long-term with broken leg - Nardiello played 90 in reserves even though he pulled out of Wales squad with back injury and is available for tomorrow Gregory seemed in a decent mood. He said he's spent some time with the new owners and they're "very keen" to use the loan situation. He says it's tough to get loans now, since teams aren't too sure of their lineups, but he thinks it'll be easier around the end of this month and he wants to bring in 2 or 3. He said he hopes to have at least one in (if not more) by the end of next week. He says the new owners "would dearly love us to be in the Premiership by Christmas, so no pressure there." He then laughed and said they are aware it takes more than just money and it may take a little bit longer than being able to go up this season. He says they have good ideas about building up the whole football club but that it will take time. He says the squad needs stengthening in all departments -- forwards, midfield, and defense -- (without mentioning keeper), but did say, in particular, that we could use someone out wide to replace Cook. Fairly obvious non-answer. He said he thinks Nardiello is beginning to settle in and he'll be starting, if not Tuesday night at home against Plymouth, then Saturday against Watford. FYI, my wife and I are going over for the Watford game. We've very much looking forward to getting back over to Loftus Road.
The rumor about Mancienne was right. He's not even in the 16. Bignot also drops to the bench. Cullip and Rehman start in their places. Stefan Moore also gets a start - I presume he's in a wide midfield spot. Starting XI: Camp; Barker, Cullip, Stewart, Rehman; Moore, Leigertwood, Bolder, Rowlands; Sahar, Blackstock. Bench: Bignot, Nardiello, Cole, Curtis, Ephraim.
The Foxes: 21 Marton Fulop 4 Bruno N'Gotty 3 Patrick Kisnorbo 5 Gareth McAuley 16 Alan Sheehan 7 Iain Hume 6 Stephen Clemence 14 James Wesolowski 22 Levi Porter 10 Dudley Campbell 9 Carl Cort
[R] in this thread for all Championship matches... and maybe even other of today's English games. Unusually, there have been no early goals in the Championship.
Leicester put the ball in the net, but a Leicester player clearly fouled Lee Camp. According to the commentators, it was obvious and the referee was never going to allow the goal.
Gareth McAuley gets a yellow card for Leicester for a foul on Sahar. Sounds like it was a pass from Blackstock to Sahar. Foul is right on the edge of the box -- inches out. Rowlands steps up to take the kick. It's deflected for a corner. Rowlands' corner is cleared by the first man to Blackstock. Blackstock heads over the goal.
WBA leads Ipswich, 1-0. Similar situation to a minute ago, but with the reverse teams... Leicester with a free kick, it was going wide, but QPR got a touch to it, corner to Leicester, cleared by Rehman, Leicester ultimately in possession.
Overall, Leicester has had much more of the possession (the match tracker says 63-37% on possession), but Camp hasn't had much to do and we're beginning to find our way into it over the last few minutes. Officially, Leicester is listed with 3 shots on goal, but Camp hasn't really had anything difficult to do. We're listed with one shot on target. As I wrote that... Hume with a handball about 5 yards outside the box, so Rowlands sends in a decent deliver, a Leicester player headed it against his own post, it's cleared. Wow. Good ball by Rowlands and the most dangerous moment for the R's today.
Nice tackle by Cullip as we were under pressure on a quick counter-attack. Fourth corner by Leicester was caught by Camp.
Another great play by Cullip. He cleared the ball off the line as Camp was beaten. Leicester was the better team for the first 30 minutes or so. The R's had the better of about a 10-15 minute period, but a couple of quick challenges by Leicester as we approach the break. 1 minute of stoppage time announced.
Leicester City 0-0 QPR HALF TIME Not bad work for the R's. Hopefully we'll have gained some confidence over the last 15 minutes or so and will create a few more chances in the second half without opening ourselves up.
Nardiello entered for Sahar at the half. Four minutes into the half, Leicester's Stephen Clemence was booked for a foul on Blackstock. The free kick by Rowlands was sent out for a corner. Both Barker and Rowlands went out for the corner. Barker played it in to Rowlands. Nothing comes of it and it was cleared to Barker. Barker kicked it off Hume, say the commentators, but the referee didn't see it and gave Leicester the ball.
We left Levi Porter free to receive a nice cross. The commentators said he couldn't decide whether to pass or shoot and his shot from just 6 yards went wide. A minute later, Camp was forced into a decent save on a shot by James Wesolowski.
Leicester is getting the best of things the last few minutes. Hume's corner hits the first defender and we clear it out to Hume. Hume sends it in to Camp, but Camp's kick goes past everyone and is flicked back to Leicester's keeper. Charlton got one back and now trails 1-2 at Colchester.
Penalty for Leicester. Commentators says he appears to have slipped more than been fouled. A foot was out, but the guy fell over.
Hume steps up to take. Scores. He sent Camp the wrong way and we're down after 63 minutes. They've been the better side, but the penalty sounds dodgy.