3. QPR - 32 GP, 16-11-5, +26, 59 points 6. Port Vale - 32 GP, 15-6-11, +8, 61 points ------ 2 March 2004, 7:45 p.m. Loftus Road ------ This Season: http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~22553,00.html Port Vale gave us a 2-0 spanking on 21 October at Vale Park. Rangers News: Carlisle and Rowlands are due to return to the starting XI. The Opponent: Port Vale are holding down the final play-off place at the moment. They've won five and lost three in the last eight. Port Vale's pre-match preview: http://www.port-vale.premiumtv.co.uk/page/PreMatch/0,,10381,00.html The Referee: Grant Hegley gets the call. 51 yellows and 3 reds in 21 matches this season. His last QPR match was a 1-0 home win over Barnsley in January '03.
Our XI: Culkin; Forbes, Gnohere, Carlisle, Padula; Rowlands, Bircham, Johnson, McLeod; Thorpe, Gallen. Our bench: Furlong, Palmer, Cureton, Rose, Sabin.
We're into the 14th or so minute and it's still 0-1. Elsewhere in Two: Plymouth got a 7th minute goal to take an early lead against Wednesday. Grimsby struck with an early one at Notts County.
GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL RANGERS! Marc Bircham in the 64th minute! From about six yards out on a cross by Gallen. R's 1-1 Port Vale Come on, you R's!
GOOOOAAALLL RANGERS! Jamie Cureton gets one in the 77th minute from about six yards out on a pass from Martin Rowlands! Rangers 2-1 Vale but, as I type in the 90th minute... Goal for Port Vale. Another headed goal against us. 2-2 as we head to injury time.
JAMIE FREAKING CURETON! GGGOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!!!! In the first minute of injury time, Cureton answers Vale's late goal with a second of his own! Assist again from Rowlands. QPR 3-2 Port Vale
FULL TIME QPR 3-2 Port Vale Boy, did we need those three points. Gnohere picked up a yellow in the 5th minute of injury time. As of now, Wycombe is hanging in there -- they're even 1-1 with Bristol City in the 83rd minute! Plymouth won 2-0 against Wednesday. Petersborough, Brighton, Colchester, and Notts County earned victories. Rushden & Blackpool drew.
It's full time in Bristol and Wycombe has earned a point!! Things are now officially back in our hands as the table stands at: 1. Plymouth, 34 GP, +37, 69 points 2. Bristol City, 34 GP, +23, 65 points ---- 3. QPR, 33 GP, +27, 62 points So, we're three points behind an auto-promotion spot, have a better goal difference and a game in hand. We win the game in hand and we put a nose ahead of Bristol City.
Oh man what a game is right! I promise I'll have a complete report tomorrow - need sleep now, too many pints. UURRR'ss
A line in the sand last night drawn by Rangers? Possibly. They certainly showed urgency and a concerted effort to put the poor football of the past couple months behind them. What resulted was the most thrilling home match of the season, in front of a poor, edgy crowd. First the positives... 2 of 4 key injured players were back. Carlisle had a relatively quiet match by his standards, but Martin Rowlands was superb. Played a role in all 3 goals, especially his run at the end line that set up the second. Rowlands is such a massive player for us this season, without him we struggle to create. Richard Johnson had a nice match in his first start for the club. His quickness was a clear improvement over Palmer, and he combined with Bircham effectively. Johnson could use some work on his distribution to the forwards, but that could come with a bit more experience in the team. As mentioned, Bircham was improved. Really could never question his determination, but for a couple months he really was poor. He seems to have caught back up with the speed of the game, and is winning 50-50 balls in midfield. Jamie Cureton scoring a couple was nice to see. The first was a right-place-right-time tap in, but the second was a clean finish to win the match immediately after Vale's equaliser. Some negatives/frustrations... While we had 2 of 4 back - we certainly missed the two still out. Culkin was treated a bit unfairly by some supporters, but the fact is - he was poor last night. Looked lead footed and slow to react on crosses. He should not be expected to catch every single thing in the area, but we need better down the stretch. I would never boo Culkin, but I'll be happy to see Chris Day back in the team - soon, hopefully. We really miss Dan Shittu's pace, size and strength. Carlisle and Gnohere are a good partnership, but neither have Danny's ability to snuff out attacks and dominate strikers. With Dan and Day in the team last night, I don't think we would have conceded. A lot has been made of the booing and overall frustration shown by the fans last night. I too am frustrated by it, especially since injuries have played such a key role in the lack of quality play in recent months. However, I think the players might have moved into a new gear after last night and the worst could be behind us. Many of our attacks last night reminded me of the type of play we saw in the autumn - and thats good news. Quite simply, having Rowlands and McLeod in midfield helps us substantially. And I like the fact that we'll soon have Birch, Johnson and Bean to choose from in the middle. So a dramatic, exciting, frustrating and encouraging night at headquarters. I'm going to look at the half-full side and look forward to improved play in the massively important run in.
Thanks for the take on the game. Sorry to hear the crowd was on their backs again. Obviously, giving up a goal in the first 100 seconds or so didn't do much for their mood. 12,593 for a weeknight game is a pretty good showing. Too bad too many of them were griping instead of singing! In addition to getting Bean to choose from in the middle, we should soon have Ainsworth available off the bench. I wonder if he'll get much action with Cureton now available. He can certainly provide a spark, too. With Furlong, Ainsworth, and Cureton available off the bench, we can certainly throw some offense at people if we need a goal to get the win or draw.
wouldn't read too much into the attendence, its worth remembering the 9000 season ticket holders get counted whether they are there or not (on the basis that they have paid for their ticket). Rowly was masterful, Magic was a bit quiet last night again though. I'm a big fan of Culkin but would want to see the goals a couple of times again before I pass judgement on the two goals. Terrell gets truly truly terrible treatment, how people are so blinkered as to miss the neat link up play between him and Rowly is beyond me, a couple of misplaced passes and all of a sudden he is the worst thing since Karl 'Maldini' Ready