Austin returns but Rangers are beaten
Bournemouth 2 QPR 1
Charlie Austin returned to action but QPR missed another chance to put pressure on second-placed Burnley.
Three points would have taken Rangers to within seven of the Clarets, who drew 1-1 at Watford.
But goals from Tommy Elphick and Lewis Grabban were enough to give 10-man Bournemouth a victory that meant leaders Leicester’s promotion was confirmed.
Elphick gave the hosts the lead on the stroke of half-time with a thumping header before Armand Traore drew the R’s level with a wonderful strike straight after the break.
However, Bournemouth always had control of the game and Grabban poked home what was the winner on 60 minutes.
Harry Arter was sent off seven minutes later for a horrendous tackle on Junior Hoilett but QPR could not find the equaliser.
Rangers boss Harry Redknapp made five changes to the side that drew at home to Blackpool last weekend, with Danny Simpson making his first start since recovering from a back injury.
Redknapp refrained from throwing Austin in at the deep end on his comeback from a shoulder problem and handed Modibo Maiga a starting berth as the lone front man.
The visitors started brightly on the zippy surface, spraying the ball around the pitch at good speed.
Hoilett’s pace up against the ageing Ian Harte was a key area of promise and he set up both Ravel Morrison and Jermaine Jenas for long-range drives, which were dealt with acrobatically by former R’s custodian Lee Camp.
Bournemouth grew into the game though and started to pen Rangers, who had Simpson to thank for some fantastic last-ditch defending, deep in their own half.
Jan Kermorgant latched onto a Grabban centre on the half-hour mark but could only fire straight at keeper Rob Green, before Grabban then went for goal himself when Richard Dunne got caught under a long ball, but the forward was wasteful, drilling the ball past the far post.
The Cherries did finally break the deadlock in first-half stoppage time when Elphick rose highest above a static QPR defence to power in a ferociously whipped in Harte corner.
Rangers took just 24 seconds to level things up after the interval
Tom Carroll’s inch perfect ball over Simon Francis was collected on his chest by Traore.
At full speed and under pressure from the full-back, Traore kept the ball under control and volleyed into the far corner from a tight angle.
Despite the equaliser, Rangers never looked in control of the game and the Cherries were back in front.
Kermorgant’s shot from the left-hand side of the area could only be pushed into the path of Grabban by Green and the forward bundled home.
The home crowd’s joy soon turned to anger when Arter, who had been superb, flew into a wild and dangerous tackle on Hoilett.
Referee Jon Moss was quick to brandish the red card and Hoilett was lucky to escape without a serious injury.
The game was set up for Rangers to push on in the final 20 minutes with the extra-man advantage.
But despite throwing Austin into the action, they failed to get any rhythm or momentum into their game.
Dunne had a header cleared off the line but otherwise the visitors never looked like breaking through a determined defence.
QPR (4-4-1-1): Green, Simpson, Hill, Dunne, Assou-Ekotto; Traore (Zamora 80), Carroll, Jenas (Benayoun 72), Hoilett, Morrison; Maiga (Austin 60).
Subs not used: Murphy, Young, Yun, Henry.
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06/04/2014 @ 9:36 am
Just a footnote just read Rednaps summary of the game.
He QPR were to predictable well that sums up the whole season.
No imagination no players making runs into the box no quality through ball for the forwards to have an advantage over the defenders.
Over Christmas I went to the Watford game on my own others were ill.
That QPR team was never going to score a goal if they were still playing now.
The set up was all wrong and the manager has never got a cutting edge into the team.
On paper the team looks good on the pitch it is always hard work.
No lack of effort but belief in each other may be,
Barton was good for a long while but gone off the boil, the back line have done well with Green exceptional which might tell you something.
My son and I were season ticket holders last year but due to family commitments birth of first child it was unfair to travel every home game and quite a lot of the away fixtures.
So we have done a number of away games and a few home games including midweek games arriving home at 12.30 or 1pm respectively was tough the next day.
Point is we have seen a lot of QPR games and the spark and quality and creativity is much lower than expected and needed.
Without being rude if we get through the play offs who is going to be good enough for the Premiership.
I thought the idea was to build a young tough team we still have a number of good but elder statesman.
Write your team selection to send out against Chelsea see what I mean.
Even Charlie I still need to be completely convinced about but let’s face it if it was not for his goals early doors we would be below Bournemouth in the league.
Born and bred on the Queens Park estate there is no jumping ship as I said QPR is in the blood and on the Birth Certificate all family within walking distance.
Now we are either dead or spread around come on Harry try and find a spark.
I do not doubt the effort put in by everyone but you need a free spirit.
GVS
05/04/2014 @ 5:50 pm
Living in the Bournemouth area for the past 20 years still could not get a ticket.
QPR sold their allocation of just 1400 tickets before I got a chance.
The box office at QPR were not interested in get me a ticket after years of travelling the 220 mile round trip for years.
Perhaps they spared me the agony of losing but there will be the repercussions of the Bournemouth faithful who to their credit support their team come hell or high water.
At the moment I cannot bring myself to say good luck to them apparently they were the better team , perhaps tomorrow or Monday.
Glad to see Austin back and Simpson but why the Rangers have been a little mediocre this season is difficult to understand,
So the play offs await and well done Leicester getting promoted today.
To be fair with Burnley they have really played well and wish them all the best in the Premiership.
Going to drown my sorrows but I have a number of friends and colleagues who will be very pleased.Could we be playing Bournemouth in the play offs ? All is possible.
Come on Rangers lets keep the faith. GVS.