QPR 1 Crystal Palace 1
Akos Buzsaky put Queens Park Rangers ahead from the spot before the break before Darren Ambrose cancelled it out with a penalty of his own just after the hour mark.
The match was a great advert for Championship football and both sides deserve credit for their performance.
Neil Warnock opted for a cautious looking starting line-up. Out went Nathaniel Clyne, Victor Moses and Alan Lee, replaced by Clint Hill, Alasanne N’Diaye and Stern John.
And sure enough the game began slowly. Neither side had created a chance worthy of note before Rangers took the lead after 18 minutes.
Wayne Routledge turned Jose Fonte in the centre of the park, the former Palace star released Adel Taarabt down the left. Taarabt carried the ball into the box, turned back inside Danny Butterfield who slid in to make the challenge. From where we were sat in the press box it appeared that the Eagles right back got a bit of the ball but the referee saw otherwise and awarded the penalty.
Buzsaky coolly slotted home the spot kick with his right foot.
The game came to life following the goal. The home side certainly had the more attack minded players on show. Routledge, Taarabt and another former Palace favourite Ben Watson started to put a foot on the ball and dictate the pace of the game.
Despite that the Eagles could, and probably should, have been level just before the half hour mark.
Neil Danns broke quickly and fed the ball wide to Darren Ambrose. Ambrose whipped a first time cross into the box which John got to first but could only turn his shot onto the post from five yards out.
Just a minute later, the visitors went close again. Ambrose’s corner bobbled around the box and Alasanne N’Diaye saw his header cleared off the line in a mass goal mouth scramble.
After a good spell for Palace, Rangers should have gone two up just before half-time. Taarabt played through Routledge, kept onside by Clint Hill, but the lively forward placed a shot wide of Speroni and wide of the far post.
Still there was more action before the half-time whistle. The game flew from end to end, Jay Simpson’s shot was saved by Speroni before John crossed to Ambrose but the ball was scrambled away.
Warnock introduced Freddie Sears from the bench at half-time replacing N’Diaye.
The young striker looked full of running. His cross into the box landed at the feet of Ambrose who knocked the ball onto Danns, but the midfielder couldn’t control his volley and it flew over the bar.
Back came Rangers. Taarabt began to show why he is lauded as the most technically gifted player outside the Premier League. The winger, on loan from Spurs, twisted and turned before setting up Alejandro Faurlin whose left footed shot was palmed away by Speroni.
The game continued to entertain. John went close to his first Palace goal as he headed a fine Butterfield cross against the post, but the linesman’s flag was already raised for off-side.
Next it was the home side’s turn to go close. Taarabt again was the man to cause the problems, but his deft chip was cleared off the line quite brilliantly by Clint Hill.
Hill’s interception proved to be even more important just moments later as Palace found the equaliser their performance deserved in the 62nd minute.
Ambrose flicked on a long clearance, Sears raced onto the ball and drove into the box. He got goalside of Fitz Hall who dragged the diminutive forward to the floor and the official pointed to the spot for a second time.
Not surprisingly the penalty honours were left to Eagles’ top scorer Ambrose who slammed it home with the confidence of a man bang in form.
The game was up for grabs for either side now.
It was Taarabt who looked most likely to be the difference for Rangers. He drifted inside as they game got older and went close with a shot with the outside of his right boot.
Sure enough though, back came Palace – Danns crossed for Alan Lee, who had come on for John, but the striker’s header was comfortably saved by Radek Cerny.
Hoops manager Jim Magilton shuffled his pack bringing on Patrick Agyemang and Rowan Vine for the quiet Jay Simpson and the impressive Taarabt.
On 78 minutes came a moment of controversy. Rangers attacked but Palace had appeared to have cleared their lines. However, the linesman flagged for a foul on the edge of the box by Davis on Agyemang. Quite how he had a better view than the referee who was only yards away from the incident was a mystery. Fortunately for the Eagles Faurilin’s free-kick was fantastically saved by Speroni. Watson then thought he’s scored from he corner but his header flew inches wide.
Palace were holding on for their dear lives now.
Vine cracked a sweet volley on target but Speroni made yet another miraculous stop.
The Eagles had a late chance to steal all three points but substitute Lee Hills slipped and fired a shot high and wide when he really should have done better. All in all though a draw was affair result.
QPR: Cerny, Hall, Leigertwood, Routledge, Buzsaky, Gorkss, Watson, Faurlin, Simpson (Vine, 74), Borrowdale, Taarabt (Agyemang, 74). Subs: Heaton, Ramage, Alberti, Ephraim, Ainsworth.
Palace: Speroni, Hill, Derry, Fonte, Ambrose, Danns (Hills, 84), John (Lee, 66) Butterfield, Ertl, Davis, N'Diaye (Sears, 46). Subs: Clyne, Carle, Moses, Scannell.
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