Lofty Heights... 'Ohhh Bobby Zamooooora!!!'

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Friday, December 26, 2008

A Point Won or Two Lost??


Charlton 2-2 QPR

Struggling Charlton twice came back from behind to deny QPR, at an extremely cold Valley on Boxing Day.

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The tradition of the Boxing Day fixture, which was a lot kinder to us than the trip to Plymouth last season, brought a full car load as Corp and California Hoop joined myself and PK, with the Henley contingent following us in from South Mimms as we made the relatively easy trip to the Valley. With food and alcohol indulgence the day before, the mood was a little subdued than the norm, but certainly cheerful enough as we decided to walk straight past the pub and onto the chip shop instead.

Onto the game and with Charlton 14 games without a win, I am sure I wasn't alone in amongst the healthy R's support in absolutely dreading this game! With two games in two days, the team was much changed and initial fears were starting to drift away as the R's dominated the first half and were deservedly ahead on 17 minutes, as Lee Cook gave PK a belated Xmas pressie, curling a superb free kick into the top corner.


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QPR were made to pay for not putting this game to bed in the first half, when Charlton equalised just three minutes into the second half when Nicky Bailey headed home from the impressive, Lloyd Sam's cross. Charlton had a decent little spell after the goal, but slightly against the run of play, the R's went back in front on 68 minutes - Leigertwood headed a pass to Blackstock who coolly slotted the ball past Elliot for his 11th of the season.

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With ten minutes remaining, Charlton were level once again when Radek Cerny could only punch out a Martin Cranie cross and Bailey headed the ball into the net for his second goal of the afternoon. Lloyd Sam had a great chance to clinch the points for Charlton late on, but Rangers themselves were denied three points in stoppage time - Helguson struck the foot of the post, with the rebound falling kindly for Ledesma, who smashed home what was seemingly the winner - only for referee Taylor to adjudge that Blackstock had committed a foul and the wild celebrations in the away end came to an abrupt halt.

QPR: Cerny, Hall, Leigertwood, Blackstock, Gorkss, Rowlands, Ramage, Connolly, Cook (Ledesma 67), Alberti (Ephraim 59), Di Carmine (Helguson 81). Subs: Mahon, Agyemang

Lofty's Man of the Match - Kaspars Gorkss

Although an entertaining game, I came away from the Valley very disappointed that the R's had dropped two points, especially after dominating the first half and sitting back somewhat in the second. Would love to have another look at Ledesma's disallowed goal as I didn't see an awful lot wrong with it at the time. But I guess as many times as I do look at it, it won't change the result so a point it is. There will probably be wholesale changes in the R's line up again for Sunday's clash with Watford as Rangers will be looking to get a decent return from the Christmas games.

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas!!

8 Comments:

  • At 1:56 am, Blogger Bob said…

    Sorry Lofty, the team has to dump Cerny NOW! As the Reading - Cardiff match shows you need a keeper that can come up and score in a close match to really get ahead in the league.

    The photos are great. The good news is that the Rs got at least one point on the road.

    Cheers,

    Bobo

     
  • At 10:27 am, Blogger LOFTY said…

    cheers Bobo and yes, one point is better than nothing, especially when you consider QPR's generosity to teams/players having a bad run in recent years.

    However, I cannot agree with your comment/s about Cerny! COMPLETELY different circumstances to that in the Reading game. Cerny has proved to be a world class keeper with his performances this season. Yes, he had a shaky start but has won over a very hostile minority of fans. The last player to do this at Loftus Road, was Paul Furlong.

    Can't really get your point here if I am honest, are you saying that with the game at 2-2 yesterday, Cerny should have come up and joined the R's frontline??

     
  • At 12:50 pm, Blogger Jenko said…

    I think Bobo is having a "tin bath" lofty. There is no point to get...

     
  • At 1:18 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hi Lofty
    Thx for the lift yesterday & COLD was not the word for it? I was thinking it was me being Soft (due to not going to as many games this year due to my injury? lol. great report.PK should start a Cookie web site as the more he's on his back the better he plays. He was given the hook at the right time as was being kicked all over the show what is it with ref's and Rangers no luck.

    Can i just say thx for this years reports & keep up the good work. And i hope speaking for all the other readers wish you & your all a Happy New yaer.. see you Sunday.

    Corp

     
  • At 2:43 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    good report mate,was 2 points dropped not a good away point me thinks, as for cerny the guys who go week in week out no what a great job he is doing,.as for cooke it was a shame to see him waik off after the 1st tackle/foul on him,good goal though,,photo of cooke looks like hes about to take one for the boys....see ya sun ,,
    pk

     
  • At 3:41 pm, Blogger LOFTY said…

    cheers Jenko, Corp and PK

    OUTRAGEOUS COMMENT, PK!! ;o)

    Corp, it wasn't just you, I had to go back to the Valley this morning and collect my feet, which were still in the away end ;o)

    and yes, the Lee Cook Appreciation Society is in the pipeline, with merchandise! PK will be definitely endorssing the gloves!

     
  • At 10:55 am, Blogger Bob said…

    Mea culpa Lofty,

    I'm a keeper myself (when there is not four feet of snow on the ground) and I was just so fired up about Adam Federici scoring for Reading that I had to work it into a comment. I used to be a big fan of Mexican keeper Jorge Campos who would constantly roam out of his area and run upfield.

    I LOVE Cerny, absolutely world class and somebody that let his play speak for him when he was not the fan's (or my) choice back in August. Hard not respect someone like that.

    My sense of humor (such as it is) didn't come across this time though.

    Bobo

     
  • At 9:12 pm, Blogger LOFTY said…

    Cheers Bobo

    I'm afraid I didn't see past the wriiten word this time. Both Corp and PK said that they thought your comment was nothing more than tongue in cheek, so you have my apologies. Watford report coming up, if I can find enough material to summarise that performance ;o)

     

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