Season In Review - September

The second part of our review of the 2009/10 season as Rangers entered September looking for a boost.

AUGUST 2009

QPR 1-1 Peterborough United - 12-09-2009

Still without a home victory Rangers welcomed the underachieving Peterborough United to Loftus Road, under the guidance of reported former R's target Darren Ferguson.

After a gritty start to the affair miscommunication between Radek Cerny and Rangers debutante Ben Watson lead to the hosts yielding possession in dangerous territory.

Ex-Rangers loanee Tom Williams crossed for Posh marksman Aaron McLean to glance home, this in truth took the wind from Rangers' sales.

Ten minutes before the break the leveller was poked home by Wayne Routledge, but it wasn't enough to spur QPR on to the win, and there were voices of discontent as the players trudged off in W12.

Goals: Routledge 34; McLean 16
Team: Radek Cerny, Mikele Leigertwood, Damion Stewart, Matthew Connolly, Gary Borrowdale, Wayne Routledge, Ben Watson, Alejandro Damián Faurlín (Martin Rowlands 58), Hogan Ephraim (Akos Buzsaky 69), Adel Taarabt (Rowan Vine 58), Jay Simpson.

Cardiff City 0-2 QPR - 19-09-2009

It would be fair to say that there was a certain amount of trepidation surrounding the R's first visit to the Cardiff City Stadium - City once again looking a good bet for a promotion charge.

It quickly became apparent however that Rangers were not there to make up the numbers, creating a number of opportunities and controlling the game in the Welsh capital.

Simpson latched onto a through ball from Rowan Vine, beating the offside trap, before burying into the bottom left-hand corner, capping off a good team move.

Routledge was imperious in his free role down the middle and his excellent run and reverse pass for Simpson to double his tally with a well-taken low strike.

One would have expected a response from the Bluebirds but it simply wasn't forthcoming as Rangers dominated the game and rightfully picked up the win.

Goals: Simpson 19, 40
Team: Radek Cerny, Mikele Leigertwood, Kaspars Gorkss, Damion Stewart, Gary Borrowdale, Wayne Routledge, Ben Watson, Martin Rowlands, Akos Buzsaky, Rowan Vine (Patrick Agyemang 82), Jay Simpson (Alessandro Pellicori 77)

Chelsea 1-0 QPR - 23-09-2009

Once again the opportunity came to cast their minds away from league action and off the back of a positive performance in Wales, Rangers sought to slay their Premier League rivals.

A scrappy affair saw Rangers and Chelsea create minimal opportunities and ultimately it was settled in disappointing fashion at Stamford Bridge.

Belletti brought down Routledge from behind, Lampard handballed before playing in Salomon Kalou over the top - who appeared to be in an offside position.

Select list official Mike Jones failed to spot any of the incidents and Kalou was able to place past loan 'keeper Tom Heaton from close range.

Goals: Kalou 52
Team: Tom Heaton, Mikele Leigertwood, Kaspars Gorkss, Damion Stewart, Gary Borrowdale, Wayne Routledge, Martin Rowlands (Hogan Ephraim 74), Alejandro Damián Faurlín, Akos Buzsaky, Rowan Vine (Adel Taarabt 66), Jay Simpson (Alessandro Pellicori 74).

QPR 5-2 Barnsley - 26-09-2009

There could be little question that Rangers came into this game with the intent of picking up their first home win, and from the off this manifested itself in their play.

Mikele Leigertwood strolled forward from right back before slamming beyond David Preece. The lead was doubled when the excellent Ben Watson laid in Ákos Buzsáky as he scuffed home the second.

The third was carved out beautifully by Buzsáky as he picked up the ball outside the area, composed himself and curled delightfully beyond the forlorn Preece once more.

After the break Barnsley staged a come-back of sorts when Stephen Foster nodded over Cerny, whose positioning was extremely suspect, while Andy Gray's penalty gave the Tykes hope.

Buzsáky once again carved out the Rangers attack as his cross was nodded down by Vine into the path of Watson, whose slap-dash effort somehow squirmed beyond the dive of Preece.

Watson's strength lie in his creative guile as he played a neat through ball for Jay Simpson, and his finish was sublime rolling into the far corner to round off a convincing first home win.

Goals: Leigertwood 7, Buzsáky 15, 39, Watson 67, Simpson 79
Team: Radek Cerny, Mikele Leigertwood, Kaspars Gorkss, Damion Stewart, Gary Borrowdale, Wayne Routledge (Alejandro Faurlín 69), Martin Rowlands, Ben Watson, Akos Buzsaky, Rowan Vine (Adel Taarabt 69), Jay Simpson (Alessandro Pellicori 79).

Newcastle United 1-1 QPR - 30-09-2009

The R's made the somewhat daunting trip to St James' Park on a Tuesday night, but that certainly didn't dampen hopes or expectation as the fans filled their sizeable allocation.

They were sent into raptures early on when Ben Watson's deflected effort slammed into the back of the net beyond Steve Harper - capping off a good start to the game.

A disappointing moment came when Steven Taylor's effort cannoned into Damion Stewart at point-blank range and the spot kick was given without hesitation.

Radek Cerny saved Danny Guthrie's spot-kick, could this be Rangers' day? Sadly not as substitute Marlon Harewood snaffled the ball home following a good flick-on by Andy Carroll.

Goals: Harewood 70; Watson 7
Team: Radek Cerny, Mikele Leigertwood, Kaspars Gorkss, Damion Stewart, Gary Borrowdale, Wayne Routledge, Martin Rowlands, Ben Watson, Akos Buzsaky, Rowan Vine (Alejandro Faurlín 86), Jay Simpson (Adel Taarabt 72).

Stay tuned - more coming soon!




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