Redknapp's Rangers Defeated

The festive period threw up a nice long journey three days before Christmas and sent the R's to their most northerly fixture of the season at Newcastle. Could the R's build on their fantastic win at home to Fulham last week?

Due to the time of year and the fact that this was a huge journey to make just before Christmas, a rarity occurred, none of the Lofty Heights gang made the trip to Newcastle as we all looked to spend time with our families.
Jess and myself treated ourselves to watching the game via a stream online. The last time we had chosen to do this was for our trip to Wolves last season and ended up missing the best away day of the season, with the R's winning 3-0, gutted!

Three changes where made to the team that won last week. Ferdinand, Fabio and Granero all came in for Onuoha, Traore and Wright-Phillips.

The first half was not exciting at all as no real clear cut chances were created by either side and Newcastle's shooting would of been welcomed down the road at Newcastle Falcons
The home crowd were very vocal and were getting increasingly frustrated with the lack of decisions going their way and in all fairness from what I saw, Clint Hill was doing a great job of man-handling Cisse during the course of the opening 45 minutes.
Rangers' battled away and although they were gaining in confidence throughout the half, it was evident that we were not going to over commit and would hit Newcastle on the break where we possibly could.
The other highlight of the half was that we won a corner!!

The second half was not that much better in terms of quality and the frustration of the home crowd continued to grow and when Gutierrez and Cisse were substituted, with Obertan and Shola Ameobi replacing them both. The Cisse change upset the home fans and the player as the boos began to ring around St James' Park.
From this moment on Newcastle began to take hold of the match and became the most likely to score until the 80th minute.
Ba found Ameobi in space just inside the 18yard box and the big striker turned Fabio and with his next step curled the ball around Rob Green with his left foot and scored his third goal of the season.
Shortly after the breakthrough, Marveaux's free kick slid just wide of the post as the R's were let off.

Chances were few and far between for the R's today and a draw is the result I think we would of been happy with. Obviously it's always disappointing to lose but now we must look to the Boxing Day game against West Brom to build onwards and gain on the teams in front of us. Results have gone our way today with Wigan, Southampton and Reading all losing so there is still plenty to play for in our fight to get out of the relegation places.

Newcastle United

• 01 Krul
• 02 Coloccini
• 03 Santon
• 05 Simpson
• 06 Williamson
• 14 Perch Booked
• 08 Anita
• 18 Gutierrez (Obertan - 60' )
• 24 Tiote Booked (Marveaux - 77' )
• 09 Cisse (Sh Ameobi - 61' Booked )
• 19 Ba

Substitutes

• 37 Harper
• 31 Ferguson
• 20 Bigirimana
• 22 Marveaux
• 25 Obertan
• 23 Sh Ameobi
• 28 Sa Ameobi

Queens Park Rangers

• 01 Green
• 05 Ferdinand Booked
• 06 Hill Booked
• 17 Nelsen
• 20 Fabio
• 10 Taarabt
• 14 Granero (Wright-Phillips - 56' )
• 32 Faurlin (Derry - 78' )
• 40 M'bia
• 09 Cisse (Hoilett - 64' )
• 12 Mackie

Substitutes

• 26 Murphy
• 03 Traore
• 15 Onuoha
• 02 Diakite
• 04 Derry
• 11 Wright-Phillips
• 23 Hoilett

I will be back after Christmas, so from all of us here at Lofty Heights we wish you all a very Merry Christmas!!

Keep the Faith!!!

U R'SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!