Newsletter

Get your daily update and weekly newsletter by signing up today!

Match Reports

QPR 1 Newcastle United 2 – Match Report & Video Highlights

11 years ago
Share

QPR 1 Newcastle United 2
Sunday 12 May 3pm
Watch Video Highlights

In my match preview I predicted an open game as QPR had nothing to lose and Newcastle had to win to be sure of staying up.

In terms of betting tips I was looking at scorelines of maybe 3-0 or 3-1 to Newcastle, with United going 2-1 up after 35 minutes it was looking like I had been conservative in my estimate of goals.

However, as usual Alan Pardew had his players dropping off a bit in the second-half and chances were at a premium at both ends in the second half.

Also as per usual, Yoan Gouffran was pulled off before the end, all very bizarre. At least the manager left him on long enough to score the winner!

On this occasion he did last until the 78th minute but why the manager subs this player every week is beyond me, he is one of the hardest working and he looks as fit as anybody we’ve got.

The fact that he made way for Obertan is just so wrong on many levels.

We got there in the end, survival that is, not anything great.

At the final whistle I celebrated but then reminded myself that clinching survival in your final away match isn’t perhaps a time for partying if you have any ambition.

It had to be done though and to be fair the team did apply themselves after an opening ten minutes when they hardly touched the ball.

Perhaps surprisingly, the settling factor was a dodgy penalty to the home side.

A hopeful long ball saw Debuchy challenge Hoilett and it didn’t look a foul or inside the box, so obviously it was a penalty!

When it was Loic Remy putting the spot-kick away, you really thought this might not be our day but United woke up and started to play.

On 18 minutes our first threat turned into an equaliser as Ben Arfa dribbled into the penalty area only for Bosingwa to grab his shirt, if he’d let go within 10 seconds he might have got away with it!

Instead, Ben Arfa lashed an unstoppable penalty into the top corner and nerves were calmed.

With just over 20 minutes gone a class Debuchy cross is met with a textbook Cisse header and United take the lead, only for an offside flag. It looks like another for the collection of dodgy decisions this season.

The winner came on 35 minutes as Bosingwa was involved again, his back pass wasn’t the best but Green should have still done better. Instead Jonas did really well to keep on going and charge the ball down, Gouffran calmly volleying into the empty net from the edge of the box.

To be honest, it was pretty comfortable from there on in, with the only dangers looking to be self-inflicted ones as we looked fragile in trying to close the game out, despite the home side’s poor display.

There were a couple of other half chances either way but the only doubts for me came when as usual Gouffran was dragged off after another energetic goalscoring display (see West Brom) and Obertan came on, made a change from Shola anyway!

Two minutes later and another hopeful long ball sees Rob Elliot come to the edge of his box and inexplicably catch the ball outside the line and then stand there claiming innocence, with the ball in his hands still outside the box!

Having already picked up a yellow he was off and Harper came on for Ben Arfa. No real threats but when the whistle went I did manage a smile of relief.

The manager afterwards joked that he didn’t care now if we got beat 4-0 by Arsenal, I’ve got a feeling that it is just as well we no longer have to worry about that match as they will be a different proposition to this collective disgrace under ‘Arry.

QPR: Green, Bosingwa (Fabio 46), Onuoha, Hill, Traore, Townsend, Jenas, Mbia (Derry 46), Hoilett (Taarabt 84), Remy, Zamora

Newcastle United: Elliot, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Mapou, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Tiote (Perch 52), Ben Arfa (Harper 81), Gouffran (Obertan 78), Cisse

Unused Subs: Simpson, Anita, Marveaux, Campbell

Crowd: 17,278 (1,608 Newcastle)

Ref: Lee Probert

New issue of our magazine on sale in all Tyneside newsagents from this weekend, or order now online for only £3 (plus postage) for Worldwide delivery straight to your door, or why not start a subscription – prices from only £23.

[latest_issue]

Share

If you would like to feature on The Mag, submit your article to contribute@themag.co.uk

Have your say

© 2024 The Mag. All Rights Reserved. Design & Build by Mediaworks