Sheffield Wednesday rescued what could turn out to be a priceless point in the battle to avoid relegation to League One following a 1-1 draw against a lacklustre QPR side at Loftus Road. The R's took the lead in the 23rd minute when Argentinean midfielder Alejandro Faurlin scored his first goal for the club following a scramble in the Wednesday box. The Owls equalised through a header from Tom Soares on 77 minutes, connecting with an excellent cross from left-back Tommy Spurr. Despite dominating the game, Neil Warnock's side were unable to extend their lead, with Sheffield Wednesday 'keeper Lee Grant denying Tamas Priskin on a number of occasions. It was the introduction of Jermaine Johnson in the 69th minute that turned the game on its head, with the QPR midfield unable to deal with the midfielder's pace, before he played the ball into the path of the unmarked Spurr to deliver an inch-perfect cross onto the head of Soares, on-loan from Stoke City. Alan Irvine's side had the chance to win the game in the dying moments, but substitute Leon Clarke was unable to find a way past departing Rangers goalkeeper Carl Ikeme. Warnock described the game as "the most frustrated I've been since I came to the club", a frustration that will no doubt have been shared by the home fans, who not only witnessed their side throw away a result that would have all-but ensured Championship survival, but were also forced to endure Adel Taarabt once again being consistently fouled by opponents and receiving no protection from a referee who incredibly saw fit to book the on-loan Spurs star. With words that will no doubt resonate with the vast majority of QPR fans, Warnock added “"I can't wait until the summer, when I can rectify what needs to be rectified. We lack a physical presence up front." In the meantime the former Crystal Palace manager’s key tasks will be ensuring that his side are not caught up in the relegation battle that Wednesday themselves are very much embroiled, and improving a defence that has kept a grand total of 4 clean sheets all season, and only one since last October. For Alan Irvine, his assertion that "I'm sure there will be issues to be resolved on the last day" may well ring true, but if not Soares' goal could prove to be the most important he has ever scored, in ensuring that the former Sheffield giants do not slip once again into the third tier of English football.
Saturday 3 April 2010
QPR fall prey to late swoop from stealthy Owls
Sheffield Wednesday rescued what could turn out to be a priceless point in the battle to avoid relegation to League One following a 1-1 draw against a lacklustre QPR side at Loftus Road. The R's took the lead in the 23rd minute when Argentinean midfielder Alejandro Faurlin scored his first goal for the club following a scramble in the Wednesday box. The Owls equalised through a header from Tom Soares on 77 minutes, connecting with an excellent cross from left-back Tommy Spurr. Despite dominating the game, Neil Warnock's side were unable to extend their lead, with Sheffield Wednesday 'keeper Lee Grant denying Tamas Priskin on a number of occasions. It was the introduction of Jermaine Johnson in the 69th minute that turned the game on its head, with the QPR midfield unable to deal with the midfielder's pace, before he played the ball into the path of the unmarked Spurr to deliver an inch-perfect cross onto the head of Soares, on-loan from Stoke City. Alan Irvine's side had the chance to win the game in the dying moments, but substitute Leon Clarke was unable to find a way past departing Rangers goalkeeper Carl Ikeme. Warnock described the game as "the most frustrated I've been since I came to the club", a frustration that will no doubt have been shared by the home fans, who not only witnessed their side throw away a result that would have all-but ensured Championship survival, but were also forced to endure Adel Taarabt once again being consistently fouled by opponents and receiving no protection from a referee who incredibly saw fit to book the on-loan Spurs star. With words that will no doubt resonate with the vast majority of QPR fans, Warnock added “"I can't wait until the summer, when I can rectify what needs to be rectified. We lack a physical presence up front." In the meantime the former Crystal Palace manager’s key tasks will be ensuring that his side are not caught up in the relegation battle that Wednesday themselves are very much embroiled, and improving a defence that has kept a grand total of 4 clean sheets all season, and only one since last October. For Alan Irvine, his assertion that "I'm sure there will be issues to be resolved on the last day" may well ring true, but if not Soares' goal could prove to be the most important he has ever scored, in ensuring that the former Sheffield giants do not slip once again into the third tier of English football.
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