QPR

1

Ramage 86

Blackpool

1

Burgess 37
(HT 0 - 1)
Kickoff: 15:00
Att: 14013
Ramage rescues R's in opener
Peter Ramage was the unlikely hero as Championship title hopefuls QPR salvaged a 1-1 draw with Blackpool at Loftus Road on the opening day.
 
Ramage: Scored equaliser
Ramage: Scored equaliser
 

QPR

  24 Cerny
  13 Gorkss
  2 Ramage
  29 Borrowdale
yellow card 5 Hall F
  39 Taarabt
  14 Rowlands ***
  4 Mahon
  19 Balanta *
yellow card 9 Helguson **
yellow card 7 Routledge

On The Bench

  32 Putnins
  3 Stewart
  16 Connolly
yellow card 10 Buzsaky * (56)
  25 Ephraim
  11 Agyemang *** (60)
  8 Vine ** (56)

Blackpool

  1 Rachubka
  24 Edwards
  15 Baptiste
  6 Evatt
  3 Crainey
  18 Euell
yellow card 26 Adam
  11 Vaughan **
  4 Southern
  9 Burgess
  12 Taylor-Fletcher *

On The Bench

  21 Gilks
  5 Eardley
  14 Martin
  7 Clarke ** (73)
  10 Ormerod * (68)
  23 Nardiello
  27 Demontagnac

The leadership of Formula One gurus Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone, as well as the input of multi-billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, makes Rangers the Championship's richest club and promotion to the Premier League is the target this season.

However, despite dominating the opening 45 minutes on Saturday with Heidar Helguson hitting the bar, Rangers found themselves behind at the interval.

Ben Burgess struck a well-worked opener after 37 minutes, but Rangers returned to the ascendancy after the break, with Angelo Balanta striking the post two minutes into the second period.

Rangers introduced Rowan Vine, Akos Buzsaky and Patrick Agyemang off the bench but the leveller came from an unlikely source as former Newcastle defender Ramage drilled in his first goal in senior football - after more than 100 appearances - four minutes from time.

Gavin McMahon hit the upright as Jim Magilton's side almost stole victory 90 seconds from the end.

Magilton is the fourth permanent boss at QPR in less than two years, and Rangers' seventh boss in five seasons, and he will be eager to start well this season.

Martin Rowlands had a shot blocked following a corner in the opening minute, Helguson then headed over and then he and Adel Taarabt each shot straight at Seasiders goalkeeper Paul Rachubka.

Helguson had a further opportunity before Taarabt, who is on loan from Tottenham, had a close-range effort turned wide by Rachubka.

Iceland international Helguson hit the bar from six yards before Wayne Routledge was denied by Rachubka from 25 yards.

The visitors' first effort on goal came 10 minutes before the break when Burgess shot wide and Gary Taylor-Fletcher then had an effort saved by Radek Cerny.

The breakthrough then came when Taylor-Fletcher teed up Burgess to fire a first-time shot from 12 yards beyond Cerny for an unexpected lead.

Balanta hit the upright with a close-range left-footed shot in his last act as Magilton changed his mis-firing strike force. Balanta and Helguson made way, with Magilton bringing on Buzsaky and Vine.

Rangers then lost their playmaker Rowlands, who appeared to limp off, with Agyemang coming on in his place.

Keith Southern and Jason Euell shot off target as Blackpool's scoring chances remained few and far between.

Kaspars Gorkss headed wide from six yards and Vine dragged an effort wide as Rangers' profligacy continued.

Vine struck the post before Ramage's low effort from the right evaded everyone, including Rachubka, for the equaliser.

McMahon almost secured the win, but saw his header hit the post.

Today's other The Coca-Cola Football League Championship matches.
Reading 0 - 0 Nottm Forest Report
    Chambers s/o 88 Att: 19640
Derby 2 - 1 Peterborough Report
Addison 4 Teale 87   Boyd 84(pen) Att: 33010
Leicester 2 - 1 Swansea Report
Waghorn 69 N'Guessan 72   Williams A 17 Att: 26171
Crystal Palace 1 - 1 Plymouth Report
Lee 63   Timar 5 Att: 14358
Sheff Wed 2 - 2 Barnsley Report
Johnson 9 Gray 38   Butterfield 59 Macken 76 Att: 30644
West Brom 1 - 1 Newcastle Report
Martis 39   Duff 55 Att: 23502
Cardiff 4 - 0 Scunthorpe Report
Chopra 21,45 Bothroyd 31 Whittingham 90(pen)     Att: 22264
Watford 1 - 1 Doncaster Report
Graham 27   Hayter 38 Att: 15636
Preston 2 - 2 Bristol City Report
Parkin 82 Davidson 90(pen)   Hartley 49(pen) Clarkson 58 Att: 13025



Team News:

QPRLAD : "...I went to the match on Saturday and despite the loss, we were the better team even with 10 men. I thought Leigertwood's red card was correct from 1st view it was 2 footed but Ramage's was a joke i think he booked him 4 d..."   view full comment

Paper Talk: Hughes' Turkish delight

Mark Hughes is on the shortlist to become Turkey's new coach, while Kieron Dyer's West Ham nightmare will cost them close to £30million.

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