QPR knocked out by Carlisle in latest cup debacle

QPR 1 Carlisle United 2

QPR were embarrassed in the Capital One Cup yet again as Carlisle United beat them 2-1 at Loftus Road.

Substitute Jason Kennedy netted a 79th-minute winner for the League Two side, who led through Derek Asamoah’s goal before Jay Emmanuel-Thomas equalised.

A second-round exit meant another League Cup debacle for Rangers, who have now been knocked out of the competition by lower-division opposition in eight of the last 10 seasons, with five of those defeats coming at home.

They went behind eight minutes before half-time when keeper Alex Smithies, making his debut, hesitated after coming off his line to meet an unmarked Antony Sweeney, who cleverly sidestepped him and teed up Asamoah to fire home.

Emmanuel-Thomas, who scored against Yeovil in the previous round, levelled three minutes later when he found space near the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a shot which keeper Mark Gillespie got a hand to but was unable to keep out of the bottom corner of his net.

But Kennedy restored the Cumbrians’ lead by tapping in Asamoah’s low left-wing cross from a couple of yards out.

QPR largely dominated before the opening goal and Reece Grego-Cox, one of four home-grown players in their starting line-up, brought a save from Gillespie after Junior Hoilett’s shot had ricocheted into the youngster’s path.

Summer signing Sebastian Polter then missed a great chance for Rangers when he turned nicely after collecting Michael Doughty’s pass only to scoop over from just inside the box.

Carlisle had to absorb more pressure early in the second half but very nearly regained the lead on two occasions before the hour mark.

Alexander McQueen’s speculative effort from the right-hand edge of the area, which was perhaps intended to be a cross, deceived Smithies and struck the crossbar.

At the other end, Gillespie then pulled off a superb save, diving low to his right to deny Hoilett at point-blank range after the Canadian had been set up by Polter’s tidy flick.

The impressive Gillespie also kept out an overhead kick from Hoilett before Polter poked wide after finding himself through on goal.

Smithies produced a decent stop of his own to keep out another shot from McQueen. However, he looked uncertain again when he attempted to claim a high ball but was beaten in the air by Tom Miller and grateful to see the follow-up header from Troy Archibald-Henville headed off the line from underneath the bar by Clint Hill.

But there was no let-off for Rangers when Asamoah, who caused them problems throughout, sped down the left and presented Kennedy with a simple finish.