Tuesday 12th January 2010
The FA Cup Third Round Replay
Loftus Road Stadium
Referee: Mr A Woolmer
Attendance: 5,780
Queens Park Rangers 2-3 Sheffield United
By The Godfather

Queens Park Rangers starting line-up: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Gorkss, Borrowdale, Routledge, Buzsaky, Faurlin, Leigertwood, Simpson, Agyemang.

Sheffield United starting line-up: Bunn, Morgan, Taylor, Seip, Geary, Montgomery, Williamson, Harper, Quinn, Evans, Cresswell.

Under 6000 people attended this fixture. Obviously the cold weather will have put many off travelling to Loftus Road, but even so, I find this figure disappointing and, frankly, rather worrying. What does it say about the state of our club?

In many ways, this was the same old story for Queens Park Rangers. A combination of shocking defending and poor finishing in front of goal allowed Sheffield United to take the advantage. I have to say, when Richard Cresswell tapped home to make it 3-0 to the away side, I did think that the game had been put out of the Rs' reach. However, despite some bizarre (and unpopular) substitutions, Hart's men staged a late comeback, netting two goals and almost equalising in stoppage time.

I don't often single players out for bad performances in my match reports, but I must say that I thought the two full-backs were absolutely hopeless on Tuesday night. Not only did they offer no attacking threat whatsoever; they also produced inept defensive displays. Borrowdale, for example, was at fault for two of the goals. Ramage, for reasons known only to himself, kept drifting into a central position, forcing Gorkss to deal with the winger. This area of the squad is one that clearly needs strengthening.

On a more positive note, I was delighted by the performance of young forward, Antonio German, who came on as a substitute with about ten minutes remaining. After winning the set-piece that led to Stewart's goal, he came agonisingly close to equalising, taking two shots from inside the penalty area. In my view, he posed more of a threat in those final minutes than Patrick Agyemang did in the whole match.

After enduring some absolutely dreadful pre-match music (an attempt to give the opposition a thumping headache, perhaps?), the teams were announced. Agyemang partnered Simpson up front, supported by Buzsaky and Routledge in the wide positions. Leigertwood and Faurlin occupied the heart of midfield, whilst Ramage, Stewart, Gorkss and Borrowdale started in defence. Cerny kept his place in goal.

I was actually very encouraged by the start Rangers made. Early on, the defenders seemed to be communicating with each other and a number of Sheffield United free-kicks were headed away with ease. If only that had continued.....

The Rs were also looking dangerous in attack, and forced their first chance with just one minute on the clock. Ramage's throw-in found Simpson in the penalty area, who did well to knock the ball back to Leigertwood. Unfortunately, under pressure from Morgan and Seip, the midfielder could only smash it wide of the target.

In the 4th minute, the home team really should have broken the deadlock. This time it was Faurlin at the centre of the action, receiving the ball on the edge of the box from Routledge and curling it towards the bottom corner. Unfortunately, Bunn was able to push it to safety, with noone able to pounce on the rebound.

As I mentioned in my match preview, Sheffield United favour a very direct and unattractive style of football, heavy sliding tackles being a common feature of their game. And, in the 8th minute, I felt that Ched Evans was lucky to escape with just a yellow card for what was an appalling challenge on Kaspars Gorkss. Had the referee dealt out a red, I expect things would have turned out very differently.

At this point I was starting to think that Rangers would end their miserable winless run in the FA Cup. Another fantastic chance was squandered in the 10th minute, when Patrick Agyemang's cross-cum-shot deflected off Morgan and into the arms of Bunn. So nearly an own-goal.

Next it was Jay Simpson to miss a golden opportunity. In the 14th minute, Peter Ramage's cross found the Arsenal loanee unmarked in the penalty area, but his header flashed wide of Bunn's right-hand post. He really should have done better.

Then, disaster struck.

In the 18th minute, Ramage allowed Montgomery to cut inside and send in a looping cross to the back post. With Borrowdale nowhere to be seen, the unmarked Williamson tucked the ball into the bottom corner, leaving the Rangers fans stunned. It was so frustrating to see the Rs dominate the opening exchanges and then concede in such a careless fashion.

This point marked the total collapse of the Super Hoops' defence. Suddenly the back four looked nervous and fragile. Despite this, QPR responded by forcing two decent chances. First, in the 27th minute, Faurlin played a brilliant ball through to Simpson on the edge of the area, but the young forward drove his shot well wide. Then, in the 31st minute, Buzsaky picked up the ball inside United's half, skipped past a couple of players and sent a half-volley sailing just wide of the target.

However, eight minutes later, Sheffield United carved out a golden opportunity to double their advantage. James Harper's floated ball put Ched Evans through on goal. For a moment, there was a stunned silence as the home crowd realised that the linesman had not raised his flag. With all the time and space he could have wanted, the former Manchester City striker inexcusably smashed it against the crossbar. A very fortunate escape.

United had a lucky escape of their own in the 42nd minute. Borrowdale did well to force a corner down the left flank and the resulting set-piece found Stewart at the far post. His header was somehow cleared off the line.

Bookings: Evans (8 minutes)

Half-time score: Queens Park Rangers 0-1 Sheffield United