Saturday, February 2, 2008

QPR 3 Bristol City 0


QPR cantered to a comfortable 3-0 win over high-flying Bristol City as they took another step away from the Coca-Cola Championship relegation zone.
Patrick Agyemang scored twice and Akos Buzsaky hammered home a stunning long-range effort as Rangers completely outplayed an off-colour City.
Robins boss Gary Johnson made just one change to the side that beat Blackpool 1-0 in midweek, with Dele Adebola coming in up front for a debut in place of Lee Trundle.
QPR, who had performance manager Joe Dunbar in charge with first-team coach Luigi De Canio absent due to a family bereavement, made three changes after the midweek loss to Cardiff, drafting in Zesh Rehman, Michael Mancienne and Hogan Ephraim.
The home side had the better of the opening stages and forced three corners in quick succession which were easily cleared by the City backline.
But it was not long before they had the lead as the attacking duo of Rowan Vine and Agyemang combined to score the opener after 18 minutes.
The two January signings exchanged passes to set Agyemang free and he slotted home from 12 yards to register his third goal since joining from Preston.
He notched his fourth 15 minutes later as Rangers enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure.
QPR had been all over City since taking the lead and when top scorer Buzsaky's shot was deflected into Agyemang's path he made no mistake from close range.
It was impossible to tell that it was Bristol aiming for promotion and Rangers fighting relegation as the home side continued to dominate the closing stages of the half. Agyemang could have had a hat-trick but he put a shot wide from 12 yards.
City had a good chance to get themselves back into it early in the second half as January signing Nick Carle supplied a cross to the back post. Jamie McCombe rose highest and should have scored, but he could only put his header wide.
McCombe was then called into action at the other end as he blocked a shot from Vine, before Adebola saw his first action of note as a City player when he was booked for a foul on Damien Delaney.
The second half had been a lacklustre affair, but it was brought to life by something special from Buzsaky in the 63rd minute as the midfielder notched his seventh goal for Rangers in spectacular style.
The Hungarian moved down the right and played the ball to Agyemang, who chested it back into his path for him to rifle a sweet shot home from 25 yards and end the match as a contest.
But City were not ready to give up yet and Lee Johnson saw an impressive free-kick from the edge of the box tipped over the bar by Lee Camp.
Ivan Sproule was brought on by Johnson to try to supply his side with an attacking edge and it nearly paid dividends as he hit the post with a shot from 20 yards, but it all proved too little, too late.

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