QPR Take 'Liberty's' at Swansea...
Swansea 0-0 QPR
QPR gained a decent point away at Swansea, but according to reports, were more than fortunate to get away with a draw in a game that saw the home side play nearly 70 minutes with a centre back in goal.
A trip to South Wales midweek was sadly a bit too much for me at this and indeed, none of the gang made the trip, but on reading various reports, it does in fact seem that it was a poor performance from the R's, despite what IS, a good result and certainly one I would have taken before the kick off if offered. Obviously, I can't put any personal comments towards the game, but the BBC report probably speaks volumes to what I have been hearing and reading since the full time whistle...
Swansea maintained their unbeaten home record against Queens Park Rangers but had to do it with defender Alan Tate acting as a make-shift goalkeeper.
Stopper Dorus de Vries suffered a suspected broken jaw on 26 minutes after a challenge from Martin Rowlands that saw the QPR captain booked.
With no replacement on the bench it meant Tate was handed the task of replacing the injured Dutchman.
But QPR were unable to muster any real threat to test Tate between the sticks.
Iain Dowie's comments on the Official site, also pulled no punches...
We didn't play well, we didn't pass the ball well or retain it well enough.
They've had an outfield player playing in goal and we haven't tested him at all and that is not good enough.
For 70 minutes he's not done anything. But then we couldn't test him without the ball and Swansea moved it about well and made it difficult for us to get it back when we lost it.
On the injury to Swansea keeper, Dorus de Vries, Dowie added;
Martin's not that kind of player. The ball was there to be won but unfortunately he's caught him. We hope he makes a speedy recovery and wish him all the best.
QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon, Hall, Leigertwood, Blackstock, Buzsaky, Rowlands (Parejo 59), Ramage (Connolly (80), Cook (Ledesma (65).Subs: Cole, Balanta.
posted by LOFTY @ 10/21/2008
2 Comments:
At 2:21 am,
Bob said…
Six Rs players got booked. Brutal.
Rowlands really isn't that type of player, something Martinez noted after the game. De Vries was heading for an operation and I hope he recovers faster than they expect.
Thanks for the report Lofty,
Bobo
At 10:40 am,
Charlie Naseweis said…
Hello mate, I did make the journey to the Valleys, so would like to add in my two pence worth.
I would have taken 0-0 had I been offered it at the start of the game, but sitting here now I am peed off with our lack of attacking intent last night.
The way we set out last night was so negative, with our main threat Buz wasted out on the wing & Blackstock isolated up front. Cookie didn't really offer much on the left.
Rowly's challenge on the keeper: well, at the time I thought he was entitled to go for it, but it was a bad challenge - you could tell by the reaction of the Swansea players - and Martin could count himself lucky that he wasn't shown a red card.
I didn't realise til this morning that Swansea put a defender in goal as replacement - but even last night I was thinking why didn't we at least test the new keeper.
Dowie was barracked at the end by a section of the away end....he might argue that a clean sheet & a point away from home is a good return, but Swansea were unlucky not to score at least once.
It's an entertainment business, and while I concede that a Di Canio team would have lost this, Dowie has gone too far the other way. I would have preferred one of Mahon/Legs replaced last night with an attacking midfielder/striker.
My MoM: Swansea's no 11 (left winger) who gave Ramage a torrid time last night.
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