Caridff City 1-2 Queens Park Rangers - Report
Goal Machine
By Chris O'Brien
April 5 2003
A late Richard Langley volley gave QPR all three points in today's entertaining encounter at Ninian Park. Paul Furlong had given the visitors the lead on the hour mark, but Peter Thorne had got Cardiff back on level terms with a diving header 10 minutes from time.
|
|
A late Richard Langley goal gave promotion hopefuls Queens Park Rangers all three points in today's entertaining encounter at Ninian Park.
Langley was left unmarked in the City penalty area and netted home a superb volley from a cross giving Martyn Margetson no chance. Lawrence made just one change from the side which beat Mansfield Town in City's last league fixture 15 days ago, with Martyn Margetson replacing the injured Neil Alexander in the City goal. Margetson played in the FAW Premier Cup Semi-Final defeat at Spytty Park twelve days ago and was the only player from that side to be named in the starting XI today. The game was one of the best at Ninian Park this season, with both teams desperate for three points. The first half saw both sides create a lot of chances in an end-to-end affair, with Paul Furlong and Robert Earnshaw both having great chances to score in the early moments. Peter Thorne also went close from a Graham Kavanagh free-kick, but saw his chance was blocked by Danny Shittu. Despite a number of first half chances, neither side could make a breakthrough and the sides went in at the break on a 0-0 stalemate. The game moved at the same quick tempo in the second half, and Peter Thorne had an excellent chance to put Cardiff into the lead just a few moments in. Graham Kavanagh whipped in a corner to Thorne, but his header was tipped around the post by Chris Day in the Rangers goal. Kevin Gallen went close for the visitors before Paul Furlong finally broke the deadlock after 64 minutes. Gino Padula put in an excellent cross from the right, and the former Chelsea target man neatly headed home, leaving Margetson with no chance. The large travelling support of QPR bounced around the Grangend with delight, the Cardiff fans began to worry about the possibility of playoff football again! The away support was announced as 963 by the Tannoy man, but considering they had sold over 1,500 tickets yesterday - I think that's a bit inaccurate. Fair play to the Rangers fans, who made a lot of noise throughout and brought a good following down to Ninian Park. Shortly after QPR's opener, Lawrence made a double substitution with Andy Legg and Gavin Gordon coming on to replace Gary Croft and Gareth Ainsworth. It was nice to see Lennie throw on an extra striker with plenty of time on the clock for a change! Leggy made a quick impact to the game, with his corner setting up Peter Thorne for the Cardiff equaliser. Leggy played a neat cross into the box which found Thorne who put a powerful header on goal leaving Day with no chance. Gavin Gordon went close shortly after,
but his powerful blast was saved by Day. The crowd really urged on City as they pushed forward looking for the three points, but it was QPR who were to take maximum points. Richard Langley scoring a superb volley from a cross from the left. The City defence should have picked him up, but he was left unmarked to finish and give QPR's promotion hopes a real boost, and really dent Cardiff's. Oldham Athletics' 2-1 home victory over Barnsley lifts them above the Bluebirds into third place. City remain four points off the automatic places with a game in hand. Full Time Score - Cardiff City 1-2 Queens Park Rangers
Cardiff City - Margetson, Jenkins, Prior,
Barker, Croft, Ainsworth, Boland, Kavanagh, Mahon, Thorne, Earnshaw. Queens Park Rangers - Day, Kelly, Carlisle,
Shittu, Padula, Langley, Palmer, Bircham, McLeod, Gallen, Furlong. Referee - P Armstrong
The sponsors gave it to Graham Kavanagh, but personally I think he had a quiet game. |
The
visitors had taken the lead just after the hour mark from a Paul Furlong
header, but the Bluebirds struck back with Peter Thorne equalising with his
head from an accurate Andy Legg cross. Thorne's goal came with 12 minutes
left on the clock, and I was expecting to see Cardiff really take the game
to Rangers in the closing minutes looking for the winner like has happened
so many times this season, but QPR kept battling and looking for the three
points and got it with just 2 minutes to go.
It
was another good performance from Mahon, who made some good runs down the
left and created many of the City chances.|
|