QPR Held by Hign Flying Canaries...

QPR 0-0 Norwich

Wes Hoolahan missed a first-half penalty for Norwich as the Canaries held Championship leaders QPR in an entertaing goalless draw, in front of a sold out Loftus Road.

After an another less than exciting International Break, the gang were at full strength and the majority at the Springbok before the match admiring PK's new haircut. California Hoop pulled out all the stops and was in his seat as the rest of us were walking up the stairs just after kick off, due to a very congested entrance to the Loft Upper. Corporate took over his mantle, arriving 7 minutes in.

Well, onto the game and with it being 1st v 3rd, on paper it looked like our toughest test yet and the game got of to a lively start with both sides playing some good football and a few half chances were created - Gorkss had the best chance for the R's but his shot was deflected wide.

The Cananries then had a golden chance to take the lead when Grant Holt and Clint Hill tussled and tangled for the ball in the box, they both went down and the ref pointed to the spot. It looked dubious at the time and after watching it on the Football League Show, I haven't changed my opinion. But thankfully, Hoolihan stepped up casually and dragged his effort wide of the rght hand post.

The second half continued like the first with the ball going from end to end as both sides looked to get their noses in front. But the R's then began to ask some serious questions and went close through Adel Taarabt. But minutes later, Loftus Road was on it's feet when the once again, impressive, Kyle Walker, drove forward and let rip a rasping 30 yard drive, which was goalbound before it struck Jamie Mackie and flew over the bar. Rangers later had a penalty appeal of their own turned down when Helguson was clumsily felled in the box late on.

The R's continued to press and almost won it in the dying minutes when Helguson headed across the box for Gorkss, who headed low but his headed was cleared off the line by Croft.

QPR: Kenny, Hill, Derry, Taarabt (Smith 77), Helguson, Buzsaky (Leigertwood 26), Mackie, Gorkss, Walker, Connolly, Ephraim (Agyemang 69). Subs: Cerny, Orr, Clarke, Faurlin.

Lofty's Man of the Match - despite some decent performances, notably from Matt Connoly and Kaspars Gorkss, it must go again to Kyle Walker, who was the R's most creative player today. For those of you that don't know, Kyle has signed an extension to his current loan deal, keeping him at Loftus Road until January 3rd - SIGN HIM UP!!!



In summary, with 2 tough away games coming up, this was a frustrating scoreline, esapecially when you consider Rangers goal difference and a little fact pointed out by Lee, that Norwichg haven't failed to hit the target away from home in 32 games!! Lot's of if's and but's were discussed afterwards at the British Queen, especially that why wasn't Buszaky replaced by Faurlin, instead of the sadly, quite ineffective Leigertwood, but although the atmosphere was somewhat flat afterwards, it wasn't a bad game at all. Perhaps we have all just been spoilt a bit...