| Queens Park Rangers News - E: kensington@myvillage.co.uk | |
| 16/04/01 QPR 2 - Tranmere Rovers 0 | |
 |
Loftus Road QPR breathed new life into their seemingly doomed season by beating fellow basement boys Tranmere Rovers to virtually condemn the Merseysiders to relegation. Strikes from Andy Thomson and Peter Crouch moved Ian Holloway's battling troops to within four points of fourth-bottom Huddersfield Town, while Kevin Sheedy's rock-bottom side are now a daunting eight points from safety. Both Rangers and Tranmere are likely to be in Division Two next season but Rangers showed they are prepared to fight it all the way, a goal in each half being enough to give them their first victory under Ian Holloway. In the end it should have been a lot more decisive against a poor Rovers side but Rangers again illustrated the shaky defending that has plagued their season. After a nervous start Rangers grabbed control and scored a deserved opener on 14 minutes. Gavin Peacock crossed from the right, giant striker Peter Crouch nodded down and Andy Thomson reacted first to lift the ball over Tranmere keeper Joe Murphy into the net for his third goal in as many games. There could easily have been goals before that strike. Chris Plummer forced a save from Murphy when he met Paul Bruce's free-kick on two minutes while Rovers' best chances also came from dead-ball situations. First on three minutes Jason Koumas' effort evaded the unmarked Wayne Allison but seemed to be curling into the bottom corner before keeper Lee Harper saved, while on eight minutes he was there again to deny Koumas when his curling shot had gone round the wall. Bruce forced a brilliant save from Murphy on 13 minutes when his intended cross curled towards the top corner to force the keeper into a full-length dive to tip over but after the goal the remainder of the first half returned into a miserable affair. Perhaps the vital moment came after three minutes into the second half when Rovers wasted a golden chance to equalise. Andy Parkinson crossed from the left straight to the head of the unmarked Clint Hill but he somehow nodded over from six yards. Leon Knight missed an opportunity for Rangers on 53 minutes when he blasted over after being put in by Jermaine Darlington but it did not matter as Rangers' nerves were calmed by a vital second goal on 62 minutes. Peacock was the architect again with a slide-rule pass to Crouch and the striker advanced into the box before calmly slipping in his 12th goal of the season. That really ended Rovers resistance but even so Rangers wasted the chance to build their confidence with a more emphatic victory. Peacock put Knight away down the right on 68 minutes and he chose to square the ball to Thomson who completely missed his kick from just a couple of yards out. On 79 minutes it was Knight himself who missed. Peacock again put him in the clear on the edge of the box but he snatched at his shot and put it into the stands. It did not matter, though. Woeful Rovers went down with a whimper while Rangers must win their last three games if they want to avoid joining them in Division Two next season.
|
|
|
| Features |
|
QPR Match Results 2000-2001 28/04/01 - QPR 0 - Stockport 3 21/04/01 - Huddersfield Town 2 - QPR 1 16/04/01 QPR 2 - Tranmere Rovers 0 31/03/01 Notts Forest 1 - QPR 1 17/03/01
QPR 0 - Grimsby Town 1
|
