Rangers clip AVB's wingers

Match Review: QPR 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur

Queens Park Rangers continued their recent revival in front of the Sky Sports cameras for this twice rescheduled fixture (I hate the power they have sometimes, they completely mug fans off, it is they that I think should be subsidising away fans given the amount of crap they have to go through when a game gets rescheduled!)

Rangers kicked off this lunchtime fixture with one change to the starting eleven who had brought back three points from Stamford Bridge, Ji-Sung Park returning from injury replacing the now injured Granero to the delight of the Korean contingent in the stands. Spurs were at full strength (unless missing Kaboul counts?) and both Parker and Assou-Ekotto were available on the bench. 

Spurs looked the brighter in the opening stages and on 5 minutes Defoe was allowed to drift inside and unload a fierce shot from 18 yards which Cesar did magnificently to touch onto the post. Adebayor picked up the rebound and beat Clint Hill but also saw his effort turned away by the Rangers keeper. Shortly afterwards Aaron Lennon made a shameful Ashley Young-like dive which wasn't punished by referee Lee Probert. Probert is famous at Loftus Road for once sending off mascot Jude the cat because he was confusing him with the other eleven QPR players on the field at the time! On 11 minutes SWP showed some renewed confidence and went on a jinking run and had his goalbound shot deflected just wide by Dawson. Much of the rest of the first half saw Tottenham stroking the ball around well but continuing to meet stiff QPR resistance from the determined back four well protected by Derry and Mbia. Rangers were also defending well from the front with Mackie, SWP and Taarabt all working hard to close down opponents. Spurs were probably guilty of lacking ambition as neither of their full backs showed much in the way of attacking intent. Bale was busy but delivered no end product on the left but Lennon faded from the game. Both were well chaperoned as Fabio and Onuoha gave probably their best Hooped performances to date.

Halfway through the first half Sandro was replaced by Parker. This seemed to coincide with Ji-Sung Park transforming from a promising showing of harrying and probing to a frustrated figure who always seemed to arrive on the scene two seconds after the action had moved on. Basically for the next 67 minutes, he ran around a lot but had no impact on the game.

Dembele versus Mbia was a good contest with the Belgian well shackled by the Cameroonian for the most part and, particularly in the first half, the Rangers powerhouse was able to charge forward on some of his buccaneering runs.

After the break Spurs controlled the game for 15 minutes or so with QPR unable to get any decent possession in attacking areas, despite Taarabt's continued excellent hold-up play. He was isolated as the supporting players were fully stretched defending but to his credit he showed a level of maturity without the ball and without any support which we rarely saw from him in the Championship and last season. In spite of this, Tottenham did not really work Cesar with the closest attempt being a Kyle Walker free kick from range. Rangers came back into the game with Fabio and SWP having chances to score but when they did get forward there were no bodies in the box. Dempsey and Sigurdsson (that's probably Icelandic for Smith) came on as Spurs also began to look as if they would settle for a point. An outrageous piece of skill saw SWP mug Bale tight on the touchline as QPR pushed on. On 85 minutes Mbia collided with Lloris after the whistle had been blown. 3 minutes later when Big Steph had stopped rolling over, Probert arrived to declare all life extinct as Mbia lay motionless. In a moment of pure eschatology (look it up), Mbia was risen from the dead and rejoined the match as if nothing had happened. You've gotta love the big guy, and I forgot to mention that he continued his world record attempt to be booked for ridiculous infringements in the 69th minute when he added a nonchalant handball to his repertoire.

No further action of note and nil nil was probably a fair result. Spurs are third (fourth now) in the EPL for a reason and they have bags more quality than QPR, which showed here throughout. The R's were set up to defend and try and nick a goal from a set piece. If Tottenham had scored Rangers would have been scuppered, but they didn't, so 4 points from two derbies is an excellent return. So on we go to Upton Park (via a FA Cup replay that nobody wants) for jellied eels all round.

Man of the match: There were some stellar performances in the Rangers back line and a dogged display in midfield, so this, for once, is a very tough one to call. But I'll hand it to Julio Cesar, without whom QPR would have definitely let in a goal and heads would have dropped. That's back to back clean sheets in the league for the Brazilian.

Finally, a quick line for some of our new readers: Spurs have been linked with Kazakh playmaker Dmitry Byakov, who could make all the difference as they push to secure Champions League qualification. Вы услышали это здесь в первую очередь.

C

Lennon on song

Match Review: Tottenham 3-1 Reading

With QPR not playing until tomorrow, our roving reporter D took in a visit to run an eye over their forthcoming EPL opponents, Tottenham, in their home game versus Reading.

The fake Hoops started brightly and on 3 minutes Ian Harte lined up for a trademark freekick (he's still got it in his locker!) which struck the bar and with Lloris still getting up from the deck, Pavel Pogrebnyak nodded home for his second lucky goal in two games. QPR fans will be hoping this spell doesn't continue for the striker who has flattered to deceive in a hot and cold Premier League career so far.

After a surprising opening to the game, Spurs began to get into their stride and from a weak Federici clearance, Lennon crossed and Adebayor headed wide. On 9 minutes Sigurdsson swung over a corner which Dawson headed home for 1-1. Defoe was now shooting on sight with efforts wide left, right, over and saved. His strike partner Adebayor was far less lively and most of the time seemed only faintly interested. When Federici spilled yet another Defoe attempt, Adebayor was too slow to react. Sandro and  Sigurdsson were showing nice touches and with Dembele alternating between marauding runs and enforcing crunching tackles, Spurs were running the game and not missing the suspended Bale in the least. Nevertheless, Reading somehow held on and went in at half time all square and still in the game.

Action shot: The players jostle for space whilst the corner is taken which lead to Dawson's goal

More of the same followed after the restart. Most of Spurs attacks came down the left where Lennon supported by Walker gave veteran Harte a torrid time even though he was regularly helped out by McAnuff tracking back. On 50 minutes Lennon crossed and Adebayor headed home. For the next 20 minutes the pattern of play continued with the Fakes offering nothing as an attacking force. Dembele was withdrawn for Parker on 68 minutes and briefly Reading were off the back foot. Realising that somehow they were still in the game, Pog make a good run down the right and his shot was well saved by Lloris. Again the rebound fell to him but this time his header was wide. McDermott threw on Robson-Kanu and Le Fondre to try and snatch a point but Spurs were still tearing them open at will.  Within four minutes of his arrival as a sub, Dempsey tried his luck from distance and the ball looped up and over Federici for 3-1. Reading were beaten now and they knew it. More chances came and went for Defoe, Lennon and Parker but the match finished 3-1, the least Spurs deserved.

So, what pointers for Rangers when Spurs visit Loftus Road on 14th? Basically none, we're in trouble here. Spurs have quality throughout with pace, movement and an array of dangerous set pieces. Double manning Lennon looks like a good idea, but then Bale will be back and the other flank becomes vulnerable. If Adebayor gets frustrated and loses interest, and Defoe goes for quantity rather than quality, we might just keep it reasonable.

Interestingly, just as it was when QPR came here in October, it was very quiet in the ground and the 'famous atmosphere down the lane' was nowhere to be seen or heard. Reading's bright start tempted their support to open with the somewhat predictable 'How $hit must you be, we're winning away' which was eventually replied to near the end with 'How $hit must you be, we're winning without Bale'!  Standard 36,000 crowd, most of whom seem to have split personalities in the matters of whether or not to celebrate their Jewish heritage and whether or not to stand up!

Man of the Match: The return to form of Aaron Lennon lately has been a joy to watch and he ran the show here, giving the Reading back line a torrid ninety minutes. QPR will have to watch him very very carefully indeed at Loftus Road in a fortnight. Harry will know all this already, of course.