Queen's Park Rangers 1 -1 Aston Villa - Match Report
Young referee Michael Oliver shaped an unsurprisingly tight affair that finished 1-1 thanks to a last gasp equaliser for Queens Park Rangers, courtesy of an own goal by Aston Villa defender Richard Dunne. Barry Bannan had put the visitors ahead by converting a penalty after a soft challenge by Armand Traore who was later dismissed. It was perhaps justice then, that 10 man QPR managed to grind out a deserved point. All that was missing from a near-perfect start to the season was a home win for newly revitalised Queens Park Rangers, who welcomed Aston Villa to Loftus Road where the Hoops have yet to score a single goal this season. This unfortunate record looked likely to end sooner rather than later though as QPR had been looking very impressive with Neil Warnock seeming able to gel his new look squad after some lavish but intelligent summer spending. Rs fans have been witnessing the dazzling skills of Shaun Wright-Phillips in recent weeks a brilliant capture that shows the ambition of Tony Fernandes vision. Alex McLeishs Villains are early draw specialists this season though, and were no doubt looking to dampen the party atmosphere for the Rs with a safe 0-0 draw. They were unbeaten so far, but had won only one of their five games. Gabby Agbonlahor in particular has the pace and firepower and was looking to cause the home side problems. The striker had started the season in terrific form very fortunate for McLeishs side who have missed the lethal finishing of Darren Bent through injury. Jay Bothroyd had yet to score for his new club but was still the only out-and-out striker in the starting eleven for the hosts, sitting ahead of a five man midfield in a 4-5-1 formation. He would undoubtedly find support from Adel Taarabt when the tempestuous playmaker could be bothered however. Luke Young started in right back and was up against his former employers after a summer switch to the London club, and fellow new signing Joey Barton was operating on the left side of midfield. Villa were looking a little stretched with both Bent and Emile Heskey absent. Villains fans hoping that deadline day signing Jermaine Jenas would finally make an appearance would have been disappointed as the midfielder wasnt deemed fit enough to play. All of this worked out for one man at least: Barry Bannan found a start after impressing in the appearances he has managed to amass this season. An attacking 4-3-3 formation was deployed by McLeish In four Premier League meetings between the two, Aston Villa had never actually won at Loftus Road, losing three and drawing one. Not too much could be read into this though the two havent met since 1996 when two Dwight Yorke goals helped the Villains to a 4-2 win at Villa Park. Wright-Phillips immediately showed his threat, latching onto an early long ball. He was unable to control the ball as he would have liked though, and was eventually penalised for a foul on James Collins. Jay Bothroyd got the first shot away; he teased Richard Dunne with some nice skills before getting a shot away that the Irishman managed to deflect behind. The hosts werent done there though, Adel Taarabt took advantage of some slack defending to get away a 30 yard strike that curled unbelievably, beating Shay Given but cannoning back off the post. QPR were looking threatening all over the pitch, Armand Traore skipped past Alan Hutton before drilling in a low cross, and a marauding run from Luke Young on the opposite flank was only ended by a clumsy Stiliyan Petrov challenge. Shaun Wright Phillips took another poor touch after Shaun Derry played him in. Adel Taarabt took over but was dispossessed by a crunching James Collins challenge. The hosts came close again when Jay Bothroyd met a Joey Barton free kick but his glancing header missed the target. Barton had two efforts himself. He couldnt quite get a connection on a Luke Young cross after arriving at the back post, and a long range effort drifted well over the bar. Stephen Warnock could have been dismissed just before half time; he went over the ball and completely clattered Joey Barton, probably to the delight of many television spectators. Michael Oliver produced a yellow card for the challenge, and Warnock could count himself extremely lucky. Barry Bannan had a fantastic effort, getting it up and over the wall and towards the top corner but Paddy Kenny got across well to deny him. It was a fantastic save from a great attempt, but the only effort on goal for the visitors. Oliver brought a poor half to a close. QPR had had the better of the game, but Villa looked more than capable of holding them. The visitors had done so however at the expense of playing any football or creating any chances themselves. HALF TIME Aston Villa started the second half far more brightly, after being played in by Charles NZogbia Fabian Delph had a shot that was cut out by Anton Ferdinand. It was a good counter attack from the visitors. This led in turn to a QPR attack Shaun Wright-Phillips burst down the right before being cynically chopped by Alan Hutton. The Scotsman picked up a deserved yellow card. Fabian Delph had a good effort; Barry Bannan was the architect with a pinpoint ball that the lunging Delph managed to get a toe on, diverting it past Paddy Kenny but just past the post. The closest the visitors had come so far. They were then awarded a penalty in the 57th minute. Confusion ensued as Agbonlahor went down in the box. Everyone on the pitch apart from the striker seemed to think it had gone for a goal kick, but Armand Traore was penalised for tugging Agbonlahor to the floor a very harsh decision. Barry Bannan stepped up to take it a somewhat odd choice one might have thought, but he stroked it into the corner with ridiculous confidence to dispel any possible doubts. It was a reward for a much more positive approach from the visitors who had barely had a shot on goal in the first half, the opening 15 minutes of the second however had been all Villa. A rare chance from QPR was denied by a fantastic Shay Given save. The veteran keeper had had nothing to do in the second half, but when Taarabt played it to DJ Campbell who nodded it down to Wright-Phillips, the Irishman was all that stood between the winger and an equaliser. He got down fantastically to get fingertips to a shot destined for the bottom corner of the net. They had a penalty appeal of their own in the 70th minute, an Anton Ferdinand header struck the arm of James Collins, arm. Theyve certainly been given before but the defenders arm was by his side. Agbonlahor had much more justification to go down under pressure from Anton Ferdinand than he did for the penalty. He got on the end of a long ball but Ferdinand came out on top after outmuscling the striker, who to his credit didnt hurl himself on the floor as we see so often. Stephen Warnock gave away a free kick on the edge of the area for purposefully blocking off Heidar Helguson. The defender could have been dismissed he was already on a yellow. The resulting free kick from Barton went straight into the wall. They had an identical situation seconds later, this time it was James Collins who fouled Helguson. DJ Campbells effort was marginally better than Joey Bartons; he cleared the wall but cleared the crossbar by some distance as well. QPR had another penalty appeal turned down in the dying minutes, it struck Alan Huttons hand and although it wasnt intentional he did seem to have moved his hand towards the ball. A hopeful cross from Heidar Helguson was nodded down by Tommy Smith but there were no white and blue shirts to be seen. Armand Traore compounded the misery for Warnocks side as he picked up a yellow card for a rash challenge on Marc Albrighton. A day to forget for Traore his first yellow card was for the supposed tug on Agbonlahor that led to the penalty. But there was still time for Queens Park Rangers to equalise. It was in the 93rd minute that DJ Campbell latched on to a terrible James Collins header to cross for Luke Young but it was Villas own player Richard Dunne serial O.G. scorer who got the final touch, sliding it into his own net. The game ended with what was ultimately a deserved point for both teams after an afternoon of controversy at Loftus Road. Referee: Michael Oliver QPR (4-5-1): Kenny, Young, Ferdinand, Hall, Traore, Wright-Phillips (Smith, 87), Derry (Helguson, 79), Taarabt, Faurlin, Barton, Bothroyd (Campbell, 66) Aston Villa (4-3-3): Given, Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Ireland, Petrov, Delph, Bannan (Albrighton, 72), Agbonlahor, NZogbia (Weimann, 86)