10-Man Rangers Edge Past Royals

Reading 0 QPR 1

Wayne Routledge’s second winner in four games since rejoining Neil Warnock’s side on loan handed the Loftus Road outfit a vital victory in a tempestuous match. Just before the break Hogan Ephraim’s lunge on Jimmy Kebe earned him an early bath as referee Russell Booth showed him red.

Moments earlier Matthew Mills had blocked off the Rangers midfielder on the wing as he looked to attack down the flank. The Reading defender was the last man, but Booth brandished yellow when to the letter of the law the challenge could have resulted in a sending off.

This action came late in the first half, with neither side hitting the target in the opening forty minutes. In between these two big calls for the official, the home side created two chances. First Simon Church drew a sprawling save from Paddy Kenny from a knock down off the chest of Shane Long and just after Mills’ back post header from a corner was kept out by the legs of the QPR keeper. A third opportunity before the break saw Long hit the side netting from a tight angle after Kenny made an uncharacteristic error.

With the visitors aggrieved by the number of decisions going against them the situation threatened to boil over when Rangers captain Adel Taarabt had a coming together with an opposition player. From the referee’s point of view the half time whistle came at just the right time in order for him to keep control of match.

In the second half a poor challenge from Jay Tabb on Taarabt did not get sufficiently punished; in light of other bookings Booth should have shown the Irishman a yellow. Warnock introduced Ishmael Miller for Rob Hulse with a quarter of the game to go as the ten men searched for a winner. The man on loan from West Brom looked lively showing strength and power, firing a shot just over Adam Federici’s goal.

Eight minutes from time after some crisp passing Alejandro Faurlin played in Routledge through the middle and the winger showed Mills a clean pair of heels as he struck a precise finish into the corner. Federici did get a hand to the shot, but it was in vain. QPR have notched their first ever win at the Madjeski Stadium and sent themselves eight points clear of the chasing pack at the top of the Championship.

Being clinical in front of goal, coupled with great resolve and determination after losing a man ensured Warnock’s side ground out a result. It is victories like this, in adversity, that trophy wins and promotions are founded on. Reading lacked that cutting edge tonight and had been sweating on the in-form Long’s fitness. Brian McDermott’s team will lose ground in their own push into the play-off places with the rest of this weekend’s fixtures to come.