| Queens Park Rangers News - E: kensington@myvillage.co.uk | |
| 21/04/01 - QPR 0 - Stockport 3 | |
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Loftus Road IAN HOLLOWAY decided to give the kids a chance in this last home game of the season, but the decision backfired in a temptestuous game that saw both sides reduced to ten men. Just when you thought it could not get any worse for QPR it probably did as they failed to make any impact on a County side who were reduced to 10 men after just 25 minutes. Rangers conceded two goals in 10 second-half minutes before having debut boy Justin Cochrane sent off for a late tackle. County looked to be facing a huge uphill task to get anything out of this game when defender Shane Nicholson was sent off after just 25 minutes. His late tackle on QPR winger Leon Knight earned him a straight red card but in truth QPR never looked like exploiting their extra man. In fact, from the start of the second half it was the visitors calling the shots and within two minutes they were in front. Mike Flynn crossed in from the right and when defender Christer Warren let it bounce over his leg it allowed Aaron Wilbraham to nip in and finish coolly from just six yards. On 55 minutes they doubled their lead, Warren conceded a free-kick on the edge of the box and when Ali Gibb swung it in low, Karim Fradin got to it first to poke the ball in from close range. QPR boss Ian Holloway had made changes for this game, with striker Richard Pacquette getting his first start and Ben Walshe, Terry McFlynn and Cochrane all making their debuts in the second half but it was like men against boys as Stockport continued to dominate. On the hour County almost made it three when Gibb crossed again to the excellent Shefki Kuqi whose header was superbly saved by Lee Harper. And things took another turn for the worse for the home side on 71 minutes when Cochrane received a straight red card after a late tackle on Kuqi. With eight minutes to go the QPR misery was complete. Chris Plummer tripped Kuqi in the box and the midfielder hauled himself off the ground to score confidently from the penalty spot to make it 3-0. QPR hardly created a chance all afternoon with perhaps their best efforts coming courtesy of Stockport when, on 29 minutes, Knight's cross from the right was met by County defender Robert Claire. His header would have gone into his own net but for a stunning save by Stockport keeper Lee Jones. In the end it could have been a more empathetic victory with Kuqi twice denied by Harper in the first half as County took a giant stride towards First Division survival. For Holloway and Rangers the season can not end soon enough.
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| Features |
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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
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