Team: Cerny, Borrowdale, Hall, Gorkss, Leigertwood, Buzsaky (Ephraim), Faurlin, Watson, Routledge, Taarabt (Agyemang), Simpson (Vine)
Subs Not Used: Heaton, Ramage, Alberti, Ainsworth.
Attendance: 14,377
Sky Sports News have just done an article on the game as Warnock reckons his keeper is the best in England !!! They showed the three fine saves he made from Faurlin, Buzsaky and Vine. They also showed Routledge’s one-on-one first half miss. I thought the Faurlin one was the best as he bent the ball around the last defender and was heading for the top corner until Speroni miraculously saved it. Vine’s volley was also class but although it was straighter than Faurlin’s, he hit it with so much venom/power, and the save was superb. That Routledge miss led me to say to my mate: “We’re gonna regret all these misses come the second half.” I believe that some of the younger players were looking a little jaded last night as they have run their socks off these past 5/6 games. The two week break after Saturday will come as a welcome relief to some of them. I was told last night that quite a few of the starting X1 are carrying knocks so the break will do them a favour as well.
ChrisPTenner
A London derby originally postponed because of a waterlogged pitch was saturated in passion, energy and commitment last night. Defences were in disarray. Palace full-back Danny Butterfield, bamboozled by Adel Taarabt’s quick feet inside the box, was ill-advised to challenge rashly after 19 minutes. The resulting penalty was converted by Akos Buzsaky. The ball often stuck to Taarabt’s bootlaces, disorientating his markers. The Moroccan magician, on loan from Tottenham, supplied flamboyance amid high-octane football. “He has moments of real inspiration,” QPR Manager Jim Magilton mused. “He tries things other players won’t.”
Rangers leapt to sixth in the Championship with a point but he was irked that they could not seal victory. Profligacy, though, underpinned a rip-roaring match. Palace broke rapidly. Neil Danns found Darren Ambrose and his cross was turned on the crossbar by Stern John. Soon Alessane N’Diaye had an effort hacked off the line. Taarabt then played in Wayne Routledge, but he shot wide. Buzsaky played in Simpson but his shot was saved by the superb Julian Speroni. In the second half, Palace went for the jugular and got their reward in the 62nd minute when Fitz Hall pulled down Freddie Sears. Ambrose netted the penalty kick. Cue delirium in the Stand behind Radek Cerny’s goal.
“We’re disappointed (not to win) in a way,” Palace Manager Neil Warnock said. “It was a good game for the neutral. End to end stuff.” Speroni described by Warnock as “the best keeper in this division.” This was football at his rawest.
Neil Trainis – The Daily Telegraph
I went to the game last night to witness for myself the transformation of our playing style. I’ve also seen the recent televised matches and I thought there was much to be positive about. Victory was denied by some excellent goalkeeping and some missed chances. I reckon that both Managers would be disappointed at the defending that conceded the two penalties. There were some concerns though:
1 – Overdoing the fancy stuff at times. Okay in its place but taking on four men for the sake of it is not generally effective. There were a number of times when we lost the ball as a result that put the defence under unnecessary pressure from swift counter-attacks.
2 – We lost out at headers all over the pitch when Palace won most of the second balls. We need to be sharper.
3 – I think the anxiety from the terraces gets through to our defenders when they are in possession. This doesn’t help players’ confidence.
I think our style will win us points away from home. The other teams obviously rate us as a team now and will play defensively at Loftus Road to get a point. We need to adapt to that.
liamoliam
Speroni denied us the 3 points with a number of excellent saves especially the one from Rowan Vine who had belted it sweetly on the volley and looked destined for the top corner. Magilton did have a ‘Plan B’ when he brought Agyemang and Vine on. The visitors had started off the game by swamping the midfield but were quick on the counter-attack. I would of liked to have seen us stretch them a bit more. Now into 6th place but the one point from the last two home games is frustrating.
Steve Russell