Away Drought Continues, But R's Clip the Eagles Wings...

Crystal Palace 0-0 QPR

QPR continue to struggle in front of goal on their travels, but gained a creditable point with a battling performance at Selhurst Park.



Well, before I go on with the report and make my comments on what an encouraging, hard fought display this was from the R's, I am still wondering just how Heidar Helguson managed to miss an open goal from 16 yards out?!? I also am still finding it quite hard to accept, that I actually thought that referee Rob Styles had a very decent game!! - there, I have said it!

Despite being a London Derby, Palace away is one of my least favourite fixtures, mainly because despite being just across the river, we can get too and from a great deal more away games outside of London a lot quicker and I eventually arrived back at Lofty Towers just before 8pm. The over zealous stewarding outside the away end hardly made us feel welcome on our arrival either.

Anyway, onto the game and after an even first half, Heidar Helguson came off the bench in place of the yet again, inneffective Daniel Parejo, to make his R's debut and it was almost a dream start for the striker. With keeper Speroni advancing to clear, Agyemang managed to poke the ball into Helguson's path with the keeper stranded. But with his first touch of the ball since coming on, the Icelander somehow managed to sidefoot the ball wide with the goal gaping! Both sides had decent spells of possession, but Palace nearly broke Rangers hearts in stoppage time, but a superb save from Radek Cerny denied Craig Beattie.



QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Stewart, Mahon, Leigertwood, Parejo (Helguson 46), Blackstock (Rowlands 57), Agyemang (Di Carmine 90), Gorkss, Ramage, Ephraim Subs: Cole, Borrowdale.



Lofty's Man of the Match - Kaspers Gorkss - an awesome performance at the back for QPR!

In summary, this was a decent point and a decent hard working performance from the R's and a million miles away from the shambles at Vicarage Road last week. Some decent performances throught, namely Gorkss, Cerny, Liegertwood, Ephraim, Agyemang and despite the miss, Helguson. Once again, forgettable from Parejo, which brings me onto a comment heard from a young lad sitting behind me, about 6 years old I would think, saying to his Dad - 'why don't we send him back to Spain?' - The Wisdom of Children!

Rangers face runaway leaders Wolves at LR next week, live on Sky, but before that is the F.A.Cup Third Round Draw. A big away day or a decent cup run? Can't quite decide, we shall see...