LIVE - QPR v Reading

Published 20 Oct 2009 14:00 4 Comments

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Follow all the action from tonight's `Hoops Derby' at Loftus Road right here..............

9.50pm. FULL TIME. QPR 4 Reading 1.

Reading's poor start to the season showed no sign of ending following a painful 4-1 defeat in the `hoops derby.'

They were well beaten by the hosts who played for an hour with 10 men.

And Royals fans let their feelings know by calling for Brendan Rodgers' head.

Despite the sending-off of Ben Watson, Rangers stormed into a 4-0 lead through Akos Buzsaky, Jay Simpson, Rowan Vine and Patrick Agyemang.

Royals did show more fight towards the end and Brian Howard pulled one back at the death.

But that could not disguise what was another poor performance from Rodgers' side who is coming under increasing pressure from the supporters.

To make matters worse, skipper Ivar Ingimarsson was also sent off for two yellow cards and will miss Monday's home game with Leicester City.

9.44pm. GOAL. And Reading, to their credit, refuse to give up and get a goal back.

Brian Howard capitalised on some poor defending to lash the ball past Radek Cerny for his first goal for the club.

Royals have, in fact, been on the front foot and Gylfi Sigirdsson also forced two fine saves out of the ex-Tottenham stopper.

But all this is too little too late. The damage has already been done.

9.40pm. GOAL. And that's a fourth for Rangers.

It was so simple. Gavin Mahon sent Patrick Agyemang racing clear and the striker put Adam Federici on his backside before rolling it into an empty net.

You have to take your hat off to the hosts who have played some attractive stuff despite having 10 men for an hour.

As for Reading, this has to be one of the worst displays away from home I can remember in recent years.

9.37pm. `Reading 'till I die,' is being belted out of the away end.

Rangers respond by taunting Rodgers. Who'd be a manager, eh?

9.34pm. Rangers make their last sub with Patrick Agyemang on for Adel Taarabt.

And Agyemang nearly scored immediately, racing clear of the defence only for Federici to block his shot.

9.30pm. GOAL. Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, Royals concede a third goal - and you won't see many softer ones.

ROWAN VINE had nothing really on so he turned and hit a low drive and Adam Federici was beaten at his near post for the second time tonight.

That was woeful from the Royals.

Even Reading fans cheered the goal out of total desperation, amid chants of `Rodgers Out.'

9.29pm. Jimmy Kebe just had a shot saved by Radek Cerny.

9.25pm. Rangers' Gavin Mahon is on for Akus Buzsaky. Just over 20 minutes left now. Royals desperately need a goal if they are to get anything out of tonight.

9.23pm. The attendance is 11,900. And the vast majority of them will be going home happy tonight.

Rangers continue to knock the ball around nicely while every pass Royals completed is greeted with ironic cheers from their travelling supporters.

9.19pm. Rodgers makes the last of his substitutions and takes off Simon Church and throws on Hal Robson-Kanu.

Vine has just put the ball in the Reading net as well - but it's offside.

9.16pm. Rowan Vine has just missed two glorious chances in a matter of a minute from no more than six yards out. Terrible finishing, massive let-off for Royals.

9.14pm. Brian Howard tries to rouse the Royals after some sloppy passes go astray. They won't score like that.

9.10pm. Gylfi Sigurdsson just had a shot blocked. And Shane Long headed over from Jobi McAnuff's cross. Encouraging from Reading.

Rowan Vine has just come on for Jay Simpson.

9.04pm. Well this is crazy. Five second into the second half and Royals are also reduced to 10 men following the sending-off of skipper Ivar Ingimarsson.

He went in hard on Jay Simpson but it still looked a little harsh.

That has also thrown Brendan Rodgers' plans into utter chaos.

Royals' boss hauled off Jay Tabb and Kalifa Cisse at half-time and threw on Gylfi Sigurdsson and Brian Howard.

He also changed to three at the back but, with Ingimarsson now departed, their defence looks rather weak.

Totted up the card count and that's six yellows and two reds already from Mr Hall. And it certainly isn't a dirty game.

8.46pm. HALF TIME. QPR 2 Reading 0.

Now it's `We want our Coppell back,' from the travelling supporters and plenty of jeers as the half-time whistle goes.

Ironically, Brendan Rodgers' side were coping better against 11 men but since the sending off of Ben Watson it's been virtually all Rangers.

Akos Buzsaky and Jay Simpson have got the goals for Jim Magiltons's team while Royals almost pulled one back when Simon Church smashed a free-kick against the post.

But it's a very, very long way back from here.

8.44pm. Royals respond and very nearly equalise. Faurlin was booked for lunging at Shane Long. Simon Church then curled a brilliant free-kick over the wall. The ball beat Radek Cerny but crashed against the far post.

8.43pm. Oh no, this is not what Brendan Rodgers wants to hear.

Royals fans are singing `you're getting sacked in the morning.' That's not a good sign.

8.39pm. GOAL. The night just got even worse for Royals.

Rangers must have put at least a dozen passes together before Wayne Routledge whipped in a wicked cross from the right and Jay Simpson lost his marker to volley home at the back stick. Bad goal, shocking defending.

At the moment, it's Royals who look as though they have 10 men.

8.35pm. Rangers fans let referee Andy Hall have it both barrels. They're furious with the sending-off.

Ivar Ingimarsson has been booked for a foul on Jay Simpson. He hardly touched him but this ref looks card-happy tonight.

8.31pm. GOAL. And it's all going off here.

Ben Watson has just been sent off for a second yellow for trying to take a free-kick too quickly.

It seemed a ridiculous decision, but not as ridiculous as what followed as AKOS BUZSAKY curled the free-kick over the wall and inside Federici's near post from 25-yards.

What a blow for Reading just when they would have been looking to drive home their numerical advantage.

What we will probably get now is an hour of frustration as 10-man Rangers protect their lead.

8.28pm. Reading moved the ball around brilliantly to work their way down the left. Simon Church crossed for Kebe but, sadly, the finish failed to match the build-up and the ball sailed over the bar.

8.24pm. Ben Watson just had an effort blocked by Ivar Ingimarsson. Royals look far more organised tonight than they have for most of this season.

8.22pm. It's not exaclty a feast of goalmouth action but at least the fans have found their voice. Plenty of banter going on around the ground.

Now there's another booking. Gary Borrowdale is carded for choping down Kebe.

8.18pm. Royals doing okay here. They're getting in Rangers' faces and working hard.

Ben Watson has just been boked for the hosts following a nasty challenge on Shane Long.

8.12pm. Rangers looked vulnerable then as Jimmy Kebe led a swift counter-attack.

Jobi McAnuff wins a free-kick 25-yards out but his shot drifts horribly wide, prompting QPR fans to chant `That's why you're going down.' Oh, the humour.

8.08pm. Adal Taarabt just stung Federici's hands with a fierce drive from a tight angle. The ex-Spurs man can be a right handful.

8.05pm. Doncaster beating Peterborough which is good news for Reading as Posh are one of three teams below them in the table.

Basment club Ipswich, however, are winning.

8.03pm. First chance of the match and Alejandro Faurlin fires a free-kick straight into Adam Federici's arms.

Royals also won an early corner and have settled quite well.

8.01pm. Yip, definitely 4-4-2 and Jay Tabb is filling in at full-back with Kalifa Cisse and Bryn Gunnarsson in the centre of midfield.

8pm. And we're underway. Reading are wearing their orange strip while QPR are in their hoops.

Must be 1,000-plus Royals fans here tonight. And they're in good voice.

7.50pm. The Reading players have just finished their pre-match routine.

If ever Brendan Rodgers needed a rousing team-talk it is now.

Confidence must be rock-bottom after the manner of defeat at West Brom.

But can they bounce back and put in a performance like the one at Preston when against all the odds they won 2-1?

Well, we're about to find out..........

7.35pm. It's a great night for football and the pitch looks immaculate.

The rain hasn't reached London (yet) so the conditions are perfect.

So can Reading produce the goods and secure a desperately needed victory?

Or will they suffer yet another setback that could see them entrenched in the relegation zone by the end of the night?

By the way, just seen ex-Reading coach and Wally Downes looking very dapper in his suit and raincoat.

And ex-Reading striker and QPR legend Les Ferdinand is out there on the pitch waving to the fans.

It's an 8pm kick-off so not long to go now.

7.25pm. Welcome to QPR and the team news is in early.

It looks like boss Brendan Rodgers has finally given up on a 4-3-3 system and is reverting back to a tried and trusted 4-4-2.

In the aftermath of Saturday's 3-1 reverse at West Brom he said he doesn't have the players to adapt to his style - well here's the proof.

There are five changes in all with Simon Church, Shane Long, Brynjar Gunnarsson, Darren O'Dea and Jay Tabb all handed starts.

They come in for injured duo Noel Hunt and Ryan Bertrand while Jem Karacan and Brian Howard drop to the bench and Shaun Cummings has been axed from the squad completely.

Matt Mills passed a late fitness test and it looks like Church and Long will be paired together up front in an effort to inject some pace into the team.

Reading's only other fit striker, Gregorz Rasiak, is on the bench.

Meanwhile, Rangers recall on-loan Wigan midfielder Ben Watson following his suspension and boss Jim Magilton has plenty of attacking options with Wayne Routledge, Akos Buzsaky and Adel Taarabt in his starting line-up.

Reading: Federici, Cisse, Mills, Gunnarsson, Tabb, Long, McAnuff, Kebe, Ingimarsson, Church, O'Dea. Subs: Hamer, Robson-Kanu, Karacan, Rasiak, Sigurdsson, Pearce, Howard.

QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart,Routledge, Buzsaky, Gorkss, Watson, Faurlin, Simpson, Borrowdale, Taarabt. Subs: Heaton, Mahon, Hall, Vine, Agyemang, Alberti, Ainsworth.

Referee: Andy Hall (West Midlands).

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Johnnp
Unregistered User
Oct 20, 14:06
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Come on!

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ReadingRoz
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Oct 20, 21:16
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We have to get rid of this muppet before it is to late and he takes us down. He has lost the players (if he ever had them) and he has now lost the fans too. We want our Coppell back!!!!

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mobi jacunuff
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Oct 20, 22:20
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Brendan is doing a tough job at the moment

Brendan will keep us in the championship and hopefully loan some players from inter milan as he is a good friend of Jose the special one and Brendan is our special one..!!!

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mobi jacunuff
Unregistered User
Oct 20, 22:20
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Brendan is doing a tough job at the moment

Brendan will keep us in the championship and hopefully loan some players from inter milan as he is a good friend of Jose the special one and Brendan is our special one..!!!

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0

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