QPR salvaged a point with an equaliser just five minutes from time in this
absorbing clash with Norwich at Loftus Road.
Rangers seemed to be heading for their second home defeat inside four days as
the game went into the last five minutes, but striker Chris Kiwomya had other
ideas.
Richard Langley crossed deep and Gavin Peacock's deflected effort was stabbed
home by Kiwomya for his second goal of the match.
Norwich boss Bryan Hamilton gave debuts to three deadline-day signings in
Newcastle loan-pair Des Hamilton and Garry Brady as well as Dutch winger Raymond
De Waard and it was their presence which gave the Canaries the edge for much of
this game against injury-hit Rangers
In fact, it was De Waard, signed for £225,000 from Dutch side Cambuur, who
began the move which led to the first goal.
On 14 minutes he ghosted past his marker before being hauled down by Langley.
Brady swung in the free-kick and Lee Marshall rose highest to head firmly past
the wrong-footed Lee Harper.
Hamilton was dominant in midfield but as the first half wore on Rangers took
control and should have levelled.
On 24 minutes Stuart Wardley nodded into the path of winger Leon Jeanne whose
low shot was held by Andy Marshall.
After 37 minutes came their best chance of the half. Paul Murray crossed
perfectly to the head of the unmarked Langley but from five yards he somehow
nodded wide.
Wardley forced a brilliant save from Marshall three minutes later when he met
Mikkel Beck's cross with a firm header, but just two minutes after the break
Rangers finally drew level.
Beck won a free-kick on the left and Langley chipped the ball onto the head of
Kiwomya. His effort was superbly pushed onto the post by Marshall but the
rebound sat up for Kiwomya to nod into the empty net.
Rangers pushed forward looking to get in front and on 50 minutes Ian
Baraclough's screamer flew inches over the bar.
Six minutes a Langley shot bounced over the head of Marshall but as the ball
headed for goal Kiwomya was adjudged to have fouled the man on the line.
Two minutes later Norwich regained the lead against the run of play. De
Waard's free-kick from halfway was met by Marshall and he controlled before
firing past Harper from six yards for his second of the match.
Rangers threw on another striker in Kevin Gallen but it was the visitors with
their crisp passing who looked the more likely and both Brady and Shaun Carey
forced saves from Harper.
Rangers' late goal changed things, though, and they could even have won it in
injury time.
Kiwomya got down the right and his cross was only cleared as far as Wardley
who thumped his shot inches wide from just eight yards.
Teams:
QPR: Harper, Perry, Ready, Rose (Taylor 45), Baraclough,
Murray, Wardley, Langley, Jeanne (Peacock 57),
Beck (Gallen 75), Kiwomya.
Subs Not Used: Bruce, Kulcsar.
Booked: Langley, Jeanne, Taylor.
Goals: Kiwomya 47, 85.
Norwich: A. Marshall, Sutch, Fleming, Jackson, Fuglestad,
Dalglish (Carey 45), Brady, L. Marshall, Hamilton,
De Wald (Llewellyn 73), Roberts.
Subs Not Used: Green, Mackay, Wilson.
Booked: Roberts, Sutch.
Goals: L. Marshall 14, 58.
Att: 11,918
Ref: K Lynch (Kirk Hammerton).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook