Gutted, we got turned over at Loftus Road 1-0 by a late Coventry penalty. Not only that, Royce was sent off during the incident and will now be suspended.
Coventry have'nt won an away game since April, never had a shot on target all night and still leave White City with all 3 points. Football is a funny old game, but neither I, the other QPR fans or Holloway are laughing very much.
Ian Holloway Said "Coventry had one shot - that was the penalty - and they scored a goal. I think they have had their Christmas present early.
This is a results business and you need to win at home. Unfortunately we cannot buy a win at home at the moment.
Stefan Moore's my only striker. Paul Furlong's suspensions have cost us."
Micky Adams Said "Whether or not we deserved that is debatable but we'll take it. I'm not sure either side deserved to get all three points.
My keeper certainly wasn't troubled and Royce wasn't either. We stood firm and got a bit of luck at the end.
We didn't come to be defensive. QPR forced us backwards without creating too much. Then we had a lucky break."
I don't know what has been going on at QPR financially of late. I can read though and I don't like the headlines associated with Rangers, the tax man or Paladini scraping together money to keep the superhoops out of administration.
No, this is no joke post by a Chelsea fan in disguise - just read the Bookies Have QPR Short Priced For The Drop because if Rangers go into administration, we will be docked an automatic 10 points, which will put us third from bottom of the championship division.
Holloway is working on a shoe string budget, with directors aiming guns at each other, take over bids, non stop QPR boardroom squabbling, possible administration, tax men snooping around and god only knows what else is going on in the Loftus Road offices overlooking the White City estate to deal with.
At the same time, Winton demands success or else, while all the while Ranger have'nt even kept up with the electricity bill.
Let's hope we beat Coventry tonight in front of the Sky cameras. I expect to hear some noise at Loftus Road tonight!
QPR take on Coventry today at Loftus Road. I believe the match is live on Sky Sports. As I don't have Sky at the moment, I have'nt checked.
Rangers are struggling up front. Furlong is suspended and Gallen and Nygaard are injured. Nygaar has been struggling with a mystery injury for what seems like ages.
In defence, Matty Rose is a possible starter, although where he will play I am not sure.
In midfield, Bircham is still injured, so is Lomas. Hopefully Dogerty is fit now, so we can add some bite in the centre instead of playing Langley and Rowlands in there.
BBC - QPR v Coventry QPR have only Shabazz Baidoo and Stefan Moore available up front with Paul Furlong banned and Marc Nygaard (calf) and Kevin Gallen (hamstring) injured.
Defender Matthew Rose (groin) could get back in the side but Marc Bircham and Steve Lomas (both hamstring) are out. Coventry Team News Coventry boss Micky Adams will consider involving striker Stern John in the trip to Loftus Road after his loan spell at Derby expired.
Stephen Hughes (Achilles) remains a doubt and Stuart Giddings is still out.
QPR Blog Comment - Come on you R's! Time to break the "live match hoohoo".
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The new transfer rules are annoying QPR manager Ian Holloway somewhat. The 2005/2006 season transfer regulations imposed by the Championship Leagues are hurting smaller clubs like QPR who are in a difficult financial situation. Especially the new loan system.
An Unhappy Ian Holloway Said
The transfer rules are killing us and it is making life very, very difficult.
It's the first season this has happened and I'm finding it very hard to juggle.
In the past you could bring in a player on loan if you had injury problems, regardless of when it was in the season, but not any more."
IPSWICH TOWN 2 Jason De Vos (34) Daniel Haynes (90)
QUEENS PARK RANGERS 2 Stefan Moore (26) Paul Furlong (42)
I missed the match. I gather QPR could or should have won another away match 2-1. That would have been 2 away wins in a row.
Anyway, we are playing a bit better now. For a full, in depth match report I decided to go to QPR Net for Skinner's view, because Simon always writes good QPR match reviews.
Skinner's View
Rangers were denied a second away win on the bounce by an injury time equaliser from Ipswich Town. The performance was far more palatable than that witnessed in Stoke last week but in truth a draw was probably the fair result in a game between two pretty evenly matched sides.
It is something of a rarity for Holloway to be able to name an unchanged line up these days. Truth be told, it is more the case that these were the only players he had rather than being the ones he wanted to select. Royce was in goal behind Bignot, Shittu, Milanese and Dyer. Ainsworth, Rowlands, Bean and Langley were in midfield behind Moore and Furlong.
Joe Royle View
"If we'd lost I'd have been devastated. In the end I was happy with a point but we deserved more than that. Their second goal was scored by someone who shouldn't have been on the pitch. If you stamp one someone's head you've got top go. The video is very clear, he was jumping over Lewis Price but dropped his foot."
Jason De Vos
"It looked to me like an intentional stamp but Paul was adamant that he caught him by mistake as he tried to jump over him so I have to accept that."
Ian Holloway Said
"Paul is very aggressive but certainly not a cheat, if someone's head is there he will try to avoid it. It was a cracking game but too end to end for my liking. Every time Ipswich crossed into our box I felt I might have to go through a new pair of strides, I always felt that Ipswich were dangerous with their headers and both their goals came that way. We had two breakaway chances in the second half that could have finished off the game and in the end it was disappointing for us to lose a goal so late."
The evening standard have issued an apology to QPR chairman Gianni Paladini. Nothing to do with Paladini was going to sue over the allegations made of course.
Evening Standard Apology "On September 30 we published two articles which referred to Gianni Paladini, the chairman of Queens Park Rangers.
If these articles were interpreted by readers as suggesting that Mr Paladini was guilty of fraud, corruption and malpractice, we apologise. We did not intend to give this impression and have no reason to believe such allegations are true.
We are happy to set the record straight."
Paladini Happy With Apology "Justice has been done for myself and most importantly, for the club. That was always the most important point for me to get across as I do not want the club's name blackened."I hope that now this matter can be put behind us and everyone connected with Queens Park Rangers can now focus on getting behind the team in what I hope will be successful season."
QPR goalie Simon Royce has spoken about the disgraceful attack perpetrated by a minority few Stoke fans.
Our goalkeeper did nothing wrong. Royce was bundled into the net while getting his gloves and kit together and punched repeatedly by Stoke fans. QPR won by two goals to one. Royce played well in goal, as he has done all season for Rangers. However, he has not been beaten up for his troubles before yesterday.
Simon Royce Spoke Of Stoke Fans Attack "I was just covering my face. It felt like two or three were hitting me, there were so many punches.
I was shocked. If the lads had not come to help me I could have been badly injured."
Manager Ian Holloway Said "I was pretty upset. The police and stewards should have done their job - we should be secure."
Defender Marcus Bignot Said "I turned around and saw the keeper getting attacked. I couldn't believe it.
We got over there as quickly as we could, piled in and dragged him away. I am glad we did."
QPR Blog Comment - Royce picked the ball out of the net once. At the same time our goalkeeper watched striker Furlong and midfielder Langley bulge the Stoke net twice. 3 points for QPR is very nice indeed. Seeing our goalie getting beaten up for his troubles spoils all that. Shame on the idiotic Stoke fans. The Stoke management have apologised for their fans behaviour. It is not their fault, but I am afraid Stoke the soccer club as a whole, will be hit hard by the Football Association disciplinary committe.
QPR To Play Blackburn In The FA Cup 3rd Round - which is going to be a tough match.
Mark Hughes Blackburn Team are very aggressive and shut down the ball quickly. Rovers try to win the ball first, then try to play a bit of passing football, not before. Much like how Holloway wants the QPR players to play.
Scoring goals will be difficult for Rangers against Blackburn, but not impossible as our direct ball style can be very affective against pressing teams. Hopefully Holloway can field our best fully fit 11 superhoops up North at Ewood Park. Furlong is experienced enough at premier league level to upset thew Blackburn defenders.
If our creative minded Richard Langley decides to put his best foot forward, we may just pull of a virtual soccer giantkilling performance to be remembered. Our FA cup exploits under Holloway have been memorable for all the wrong reasons. Every time I see a Vauxhall built motor-car, I shudder and remember the Vauxhall Motors FC defeat at Loftus Road.
Full FA Cup third round draw West Brom v Reading Fulham v Leyton Orient Brighton v Coventry Wolves v Plymouth Port Vale/Bristol Rovers v Doncaster Sheffield Wed v Charlton Torquay v Birmingham Man City v Scunthorpe Newcastle v Mansfield Luton Town v Liverpool Preston v Crewe Stoke City v Tamworth Derby County v Burnley Southampton v MK Dons Blackburn v QPR Arsenal v Cardiff Stockport County v Oldham or Brentford Norwich City v West Ham United Ipswich Town v Portsmouth Wigan v Leeds Sunderland v Woking or Northwich Chelsea v Huddersfield Cheltenham Town or Oxford v Chester City Leicester City v Tottenham Watford v Bolton Sheffield United v Colchester United Nuneaton or Histon v Middlesbrough Hull City v Aston Villa Barnsley or Bradford v Walsall Burton or Burscough v Manchester United Crystal Palace v Stevenage or Northampton Millwall v Everton
QPR Blog Comment - Come you R's - would be nice to have a good cup run.
QPR took all 3 points from Stoke today in front of 15,367 fans. A much needed 3 points for the superhoops eh? Langley got the winner from a penalty after John Halls was sent off for a foul in the penalty area.
I was not at the match, bu t I gather Furlong gave QPR the lead on 2 minutes after Stoke failed to properly clear Shittu's free kick, which was as good a start to the match as manager Holloway could have hoped. Stoke got back into the game on 26 through Bangoura, but Langley sealed the points.
Our first win in 6 games, after 5 defeats and a drawn match against Hull (2-2) - Come on you R's!
Ian Holloway was obviously delighted with the win.
Holloway on the win against Stoke "We needed to win some games. It was a good battling performance considering we had so many injuries. My team showed spirit, fight and determination.. I think we looked a tad nervous and we conceded from yet another set-piece."
Holloway on captain Shittu "He is a leader, he is tremendous, he hurt himself and didn't want to come off."
Holloway said of the travelling QPR fans "Our fans were fantastic, they were fantastic today and they always have been."
Holloway spoke of the injury crisis "I didn't want to risk any injuries, so I took the team ten-pin bowling. I was the world's worst bowler, I had a few things on my mind. I think Roycey won it, he was as magnificent as he was today.
QPR Blog Comment - the win was marred by some stupid young Stoke fans who saw fit to attack our goalie Simon Royce after the game. Royce was packing his stuff together in the goal, when 2 drunk fans bundled goalkeeper Royce into the net and proceded to beat him up. Stoke stewards stepped in, closely followed some of the QPR players who took it upon themselves to return a few punches toward the errant Stoke idiots. I gather big Danny Shittu landed a couple of untimely blows, which will surely result in discipline from the FA powers that be.
QPR club president Harold Winton has had enough of Ian Holloway it seems. Winton, a once staunch supporter of Holloway, thinks QPR are stagnating, ie going sideways, or indeed backward.
Winton On Holloway "The time has come for a change. There's a malaise setting in.
I've backed him through thick and thin. Through the terrible runs we had - including the Vauxhall Motors defeat - I backed him. Not any more.
I have and will always have great affection and the utmost respect for Ian Holloway. I just feel we need new ideas if the good work of the last few years isn't to count for nothing. We've had short-term measures. Where is there any sign of us building a team? All Ian wants to do is spend more money and have even more players.
We have some good players and good youngsters coming through. It's imperative we develop these boys and I don't think under the current set-up that's going to happen.
The atmosphere is different. There are empty seats and I don't believe that's only down to price increases. The football is poor and the spirit on and off the pitch is ebbing away. The club has become stagnant and we need fresh ideas to take us forward."
QPR Blog Comment - I think Holloway is doing a good job with limited resources. Winton is looking for a miracle, but in my opinion QPR are shooting above their station, seeing as Holloway has little in the way of funds to improve the playing staff. With the recent boardroom upheaval Holloway has had to work through, he has done tremendously well.
Sturridge(32) joined on a free but has only managed to complete a full 90 minutes once in the 9 months he has been at QPR
Sturridge has agreed to part with Rangers, 6 months before his contract is up. Sturridge pulled a hamstring in the defeat against Reading and it has proven to be the straw that broke the camels back somewhat, after a string of injuries that have dogged Dean since he came to Loftus Road.
Paladini On Sturridge Departure "It didn't work out, so we came to an agreement with Dean. If he wasn't going to be part of the future of the club, there was no point in him staying here.
I spoke with Ian Holloway, then I spoke with the player and he understood the situation. It's better for both parties that we move on and this is good business for the club.
Maybe Dean can get himself organised and find another club. Everything has been agreed, although he still has to come in and sign the paperwork."
QPR Blog Comment - Is a pity it never worked out for Sturridge. A decent striker on his day, Sturridge just could not get fit and stay fit. All due respect to Dean for accepting the situation and leaving on amicable terms. All the best to Dean from We Are QPR.