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

A look at Queens Park Rangers F.C. through the eyes of the fans - follow us on twitter @loftyheights70, @LoftyQPR and @qprleeroy








Saturday, April 26, 2008

Baffling...


Norwich 3-0 QPR

Rangers last away game of the season ended in a comprehensive defeat, in a game where the strangest decisions, both by the referee and Luigi De Canio, led ultimately to the outcome. The win for the Canaries confirms their Championship status for next season.

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With PK once again scouring the house market, it was a lone drive for me today, but I arrived in decent time to meet up with my friends from the north before the match. In fact, Norwich is one of my favourite away days of the season, so I am pleased that we will be returning next season. But after our 6th straight defeat at Carrow Road, I am struggling to think just why it's one of my faves?? It is also the home to one of my fictional comedy heroes, Alan Partridge.


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The signs that it could be a bad footballing day were evident before the kick off, with us watching Chelsea's win over Man United in the concourse. But all was forgotten soon after and Rangers started the game lively enough, with Blackstock and Balanta both having good chances. But soon after this, it all went wrong...

A long clearance saw Ched Evans chase through on goal, only to be caught by Lee Camp just outside the box. With Stewart chasing behind, it didn't look good for the R's keeper and the referee indeed, branded his red card - but confused everyone in the stadium by giving the marching orders, to Damion Stewart!! The fact that the R's bench had sub keeper Reece Crowther, stripped and ready to come on, spoke volumes. Following this, Rangers soon went behind - Evans fired home unmarked as the now makeshift R's defence failed to clear their lines. From here on in, there was only one team in it...


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If the sending off was a strange enough decision, Gigi De Canio's decision to then remove Ainsworth and Ephraim to bring on Liegertwood and Rehman, was just baffling?!? The fans were confused and it seemed so were the players - and all this with just 8 minutes on the clock.

A wicked deflection from Fothringham's shot, wrong footed Camp and extended Norwich's lead on 56 minutes and this cruel piece of luck, probably summed up Rangers day. The fact that the travelling R's fans were joining in the celebrations by dancing away to Norwich's goal celebration song(can't remember the name of it, sorry), showed that the majority had resigned themselves to defeat and were there to enjoy the day, regardless.

It got worse for Rangers on 83 minutes, when the erratic Camp, for the second time went wandering when trying to clear, but this time got caught out by Russell who fired into an empty net from 35 yards.

QPR: Camp, Delaney, Mahon, Stewart, Mancienne, Blackstock, Ainsworth (Leigertwood 8), Rowlands, Connolly, Ephraim (Rehman 8), Balanta. Subs: Barker, Lee, Crowther.

Lofty's Man of the Match - Angelo Balanta

The footballing day got worse, with the news that Fulham had come back from 2 down to win 3-2 at Manchester City. The fact that I had one of Norwich's excellent pies knocked out of my hand and all down my shirt, just about took the biscuit. I then took comfort in a hot dog after the game, of which the brown sauce also made it's way onto my shirt front. I then gave up and headed for home...

To finish and to quote Norwich's finest, Alan Partridge on the game, it was a 'butter my arse' performance from the R's. But for Norwich, it was 'lovely stuff'! Not my words, but the words of Shakin Stevens...

9 Comments:

  • At 8:56 pm, Blogger Sandydl said…

    Thanks for such a comprehensive report (as always). I couldn't go myself but listened to some of the game on the QPR website - it sounded very confusing in those early minutes. I hope QPR appeal Stewart's red card on the basis of mistaken identity! I was also puzzled when I heard about the double substitutions - LDC has proved a great find for us but some of his decisions have left many of us scratching our heads - I hope he has learnt for next season!!! Bring it on!

     
  • At 11:04 pm, Blogger bobo said…

    Lofty... tremendous match report even though it was a tough break for the Rs. Terrible news about the pie!

    The Chelsea result was horrible but I'm almost more upset that Ollie might not be visiting LR next year after Leicester got thumped 3-1.

    Sandy... I hope that QPR don't appeal and get Camp tossed instead! He always comes back twice as strong after a bad match.

     
  • At 11:19 pm, Blogger LOFTY said…

    Thank you Sandy and Bobo, much appreciated as always.

    The pie was excellent, I dont know what I was more upset about, the shirt or losing the pie??

    As for Leicester, well, who knows what will happen? This is why I think the Championship is the best league in the world. One week to go, and no promotion issues are decided and one relegation spot could be filled by any one of four - fantastic excitement!!!

     
  • At 11:59 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    great write up Lofty,

    This is the song http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IWKhbR33bww

    joe

     
  • At 7:28 am, Blogger LOFTY said…

    aaaaah, cheers Joe!!
    Very catchy song that one, but to be honest, didn't really wanna hear it 3 times in one day!!
    Was a laugh dancing around to it when their second goal went in. Their supporters to the right of us just didn't quite know what to make of it!!!

     
  • At 1:20 pm, Blogger Sandydl said…

    You're right about Camp coming back stronger after a dodgy game, Bobo - I'm thinking the Wolves & Ipswich games to name two more recent examples of that! But it's worrying that he's the best we've got between the sticks - when he goes "awol" we really haven't got decent cover - he's the only player without real pressure on his place! Hope that's put right in the summer :-) (Dont get me wrong - Camp's the best keeper we've had at QPR, in my opinion, since David Seaman!!) And Stewart's just SO inconsistent - I'm a fan but how much time can we afford to give him to get to his very best - even LDC says that he needs to concentrate for 90 full minutes to be a great player!!

     
  • At 4:53 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I must admit Norwich City do the second best pies in the country behind Portsmouth, I normally enjoy an away day at Carrow Road, if your watching a game why not stay in one of the many Norwich hotels.

     
  • At 6:22 pm, Blogger LOFTY said…

    Thank you, when we get back to the Prem, I will be able to sample the Pompey pies!! As for the hotels, will keep it in mind for next season :o)

     
  • At 6:26 pm, Blogger Globus said…

    every time we've visited the tractor boys and globus has attended, it's always been a pants R's performance. note to self - avoid carrow road in future, pies regardless.

     

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