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QPR logo
Championship
Aug 15, 2015 at 5.15pm UK
 
Cardiff City logo

2-2

Hill (33'), Austin (56')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Morrison (63'), Malone (90')

Live Commentary: Queens Park Rangers 2-2 Cardiff City - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage of Cardiff City's 2-2 draw against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
2

Queens Park Rangers were denied their first win of the season by a storming Cardiff City comeback at Loftus Road.

The Bluebirds, who dominated the ball for large parts, fell behind to two sloppy goals.

Clint Hill headed home the first unmarked, before Charlie Austin diverted another Hill header home shortly before the hour.

There was some hope for Cardiff when Sean Morrison guided home a third set-piece goal, and the turnaround was complete when Scott Malone fired into the top corner with a fine half-volley late on.

Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage from West London below.


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Well that's all from me for now, but be sure to stick around for all the reaction from Loftus Road. Thanks for joining!

The Bluebirds, who dominated the ball for large parts, fell behind to two sloppy goals. Clint Hill headed home the first unmarked, before Charlie Austin diverted another Hill header home shortly before the hour. There was some hope for Cardiff when Sean Morrison guided home a third set-piece goal, and the turnaround was complete when Scott Malone fired into the top corner with a fine half-volley late on.

There we go. The full-time whistle blows to signal the end of the contest, with the spoils being shared.

FULL TIME: QUEENS PARK RANGERS 2-2 CARDIFF CITY

Cardiff certainly deserve this point on the balance of things, but Chris Ramsey will be fuming after seeing his side throw away a two-goal lead.

Cardiff do well to defend a free kick, and it is now the visitors who are perhaps holding on a little. Roles reversed in these final stages.

It's an absolute stunner from Malone to rescue Cardiff a deserved point. Just 30 seconds after Emmanuel-Thomas scuffed that effort up one end, Malone - a full-back, remember - fires into the top corner from range on the half-volley. Green had no chance.

GOAL! QUEENS PARK RANGERS 2-2 CARDIFF CITY (MALONE)

CLOSE! QPR's best chance since Austin's goal, as Emmanuel-Thomas scuffs his shot wide of goal when pretty much clean through. Will the Hoops rue that miss?

For the first time all half really, things have gone quiet over the last few minutes. That will suit Rangers just fine, with Cardiff the team desperate for a goal.

Phillips smashes one a good few yards over the bar from range. QPR may have just taken the sting out of their opponents.

Morrison latches on to Whittingham's lofted delivery, but heads down into the welcoming hands of Green. QPR are watching that clock closely.

CARDIFF SUB! The final change of the afternoon, as Ameobi comes on for Pilkington. A chance for the loanee to make himself a hero with his new club.

SAVE! Absolute chaos at Loftus road at both ends! First Emmanuel-Thomas almost breaks clear, only for Peltier to get a lucky touch and win back the ball. Then, incredibly, Connolly was pretty much in on goal, only for a covering defender to get across. Phillips then burst up the other end and saw Moore turn his shot behind. Great stuff.

Perch glances Whittingham's cross wide to concede a corner. Cardiff really upping things now with a little over 10 minutes to go in West London.

A big call for referee Simon Hooper to make, as Rob Green rushes out of his box and seemingly handles the ball. It would have been a red card, you feel, had the official given that one.

QPR SUB: Pilkington is the latest visiting player to try his luck, firing well wide from range. Gladwin is replaced by former Bluebird Emmanuel-Thomas in the Hoops' final change.

I mentioned Jones offering Cardiff something different, well it is an identical case in midfield in terms of Noone. Pilkington often likes to cut in, but Noone can provide real width which he has already put to good use.

Cardiff owner Vincent Tan is attending just his second Cardiff game of 2015 this evening:



SUBS: Sebastien Polter has been introduced with 20 minutes left to play, with Charlie Austin - lacking full fitness - making way. Noone, with two goals in two this season, is on for Dikgacoi.

OFF THE POST! Well this is truly incredible. An outstanding first touch from Austin sets him up nicely to fire away six yards out, but his shot is somehow blocked on the line by Connolly, before the ball clattered back off the post and away from danger. Cardiff living dangerously.

Nothing has changed, really; Cardiff still dominating possession, with 75% of the ball now. This game has a fourth goal in it - which way will it go?

The third set-piece goal of the evening! This time it is Cardiff who profit from a corner, with Morrison catching out Hill and doing well to direct a header into the back of the net. Twenty-five minutes to go at Loftus Road and it is now very much game on.

GOAL! QUEENS PARK RANGERS 2-1 CARDIFF CITY (MORRISON)

Cardiff are continuing to probe away with Jones now on the field. He provides a different threat entirely from set-pieces.

CARDIFF SUB: Kenwyne Jones has been introduced in place of Revell. That comes moments after Ralls directed a shot wide of the far post.

Looking at another reply of that goal, Hill did appear to handle the ball, but it was near impossible for the officials to see. Austin, who got the telling touch, just flicked it in from close range.

So, so cruel on the Welsh side. They have dominated the ball, particularly in this second half, but they now find themselves two goals behind. Phillips forced a top-class stop out of Moore which led to the corner, and Hill once more met it to guide it goalwards. Austin was waiting a couple of yards from goal to simply deflect it in - possibly with his hand - to double the Hoops' lead.

GOAL! QUEENS PARK RANGERS 2-0 CARDIFF CITY (AUSTIN)

QPR SUB: As expected, the Hoops are making an early change in this second half. Tjaronn Chery is the man to make way, with Welshman Michael Doughty on in his place.

Superb tackle by Onuoha to deny Malone a clean shot on goal just a few yards out. The City full-back was ready to pull the trigger, but Malone dived in and took all of the ball.

Cardiff are dominating possession now, seeing nearly 80% of the ball since the restart. Chris Ramsey me be forced into making a change to try and swing things slightly.

Pilkington is a great player to have at this level, with the former Norwich City man continuing to prove a threat down the right. His pull-back for Mason was slightly out of his teammate's reach, as Cardiff close in on a leveller.

Some good Cardiff pressing at the start of this second period. They were arguably the better side in that first half, until losing their way slightly after Hill headed the breakthrough goal.

RESTART! We are back underway at Loftus Road, with neither side making a change at the break. Mason calls for an early penalty after running into Hill inside the box.

Here is a reminder of both benches, with Chris Ramsey and Russell Slade maybe weighing up a half-time change of personnel. Cardiff are chasing the game now, so the onus is of course on them. Kenwyne Jones and Craig Noone are among their back-up players - both of whom certainly know how to make an impact.

BENCH WATCH!

QPR SUBS: Lumley, Hall, Doughty, Kpekawa, Faurlin, Polter, Emmanuel-Thomas

CARDIFF SUBS: Wilson, Fabio, Gunnarsson, Noone, Ameobi, Doyle, Jones


QPR lead Cardiff 1-0 at half time thanks to Clint Hill's headed goal shortly after the half-hour mark:



Some slack defending from the visitors, however, which saw Lee Peltier concede a needless corner and Hill head home unmarked, has allowed Rangers to take a slender lead into the interval.

Following a slow start to the contest, Cardiff were the side to find their feet the quickest as Anthony Pilkington came within an inch of tapping home a fine Joe Ralls cross. Rob Green was also forced into action by the wideman, who almost put City in front from a tight angle.

So Queens Park Rangers hold a narrow advantage at the break, then, thanks to that Clint Hill header 33 minutes in. Since then it has been the hosts very much on top, but it was a different story up until that point.

HALF TIME: QUEENS PARK RANGERS 1-0 CARDIFF CITY

Gladwin gets the better of Ralls at the back post and sends a header back across goal, which is not too far wide in the end. Cardiff will take the half-time whistle now.

Ralls swings in a shot-cross, which has too much pace on it for any of his teammates to get a touch on. One minute to go until half time.

Hill again got his head to the corner, once more unmarked, but this time the chance was much harder to convert. Slade will have a few words to say to his defenders at the break.

Half a chance for Phillips, who find the ball at his feet eight yards from goal but is unable to keep his effort down on the spin. Malone then had to be alert to deny the QPR winger getting in behind to concede a corner kick.

Matt Connolly, a former QPR player, completely scuffs his clearance which bobbles narrowly wide of his own goal. A let off for the experienced defender.

Some really good play from Cardiff, in which they remained patient to work the ball forward, ends with Ralls making room for a shot 18 yards from goal but failing to make the desired connection.

CHANCE! Slade will have been more than happy by his side's showing up until that point, with the Bluebirds playing more like the home team. It really should have been 2-0, though, with another sublime Chery cross evading the head of Austin by no more than a couple of inches at the front post.

Hugely disappointing for Cardiff, who have been on top for the past 10 minutes or so. Peltier gave away a needless corner, which Chery this time made the most of. His cross was headed home by an unmarked Hill. Poor defending from the Bluebirds.

GOAL! QUEENS PARK RANGERS 1-0 CARDIFF CITY (HILL)

SAVE! Best spell of the game from either side, and once more it is Cardiff who ask the questions. Whittingham found himself in acres on the edge of the box, but his scuffed shot was deflected away. The ball soon fell to Pilkington, only for Green to keep out the winger's strike from an acute angle at his front post.

SHOT! Cardiff are looking the more likely to find a breakthrough, as Mason smashes one well over the bar on the half-volley from the edge of the box. Neither keeper has had anything to do thus far, other than collecting the odd cross.

Not been the liveliest of contests in West London so far, but there's a good atmosphere being generated around this compact stadium:



We've sill not seen a real clear-cut chance with more than a quarter of the game gone. The cross from Ralls 10 minutes or so ago, which Pilkington couldn't quite turn home, is pretty much as good as things have come thus far.

Whittingham, just like Chery, completely overhits his corner kick from the right. The delivery from both sides has been mixed so far to say the least.

Whittingham gets into an advanced position before firing over. Cardiff looking the better now, without truly putting a great deal of pressure on their opponents.

QPR leave Joe Mason in a one-on-one position with Onuoha at the back, but with the slightest of touches the Cardiff striker goes to ground. It would have been a straight red had there been solid contact, yet the referee got that call spot on by waving play on.

CHANCE! Chery's cross a little earlier was nice, but this is even better from Joe Ralls. It is a delightful ball from the makeshift wideman, which Pilkington couldn't quite get a touch to just a yard or so from goal.

Peltier manages to run off that knock and is okay to continue for the time being. QPR are now back on the ball in a game that has yet to find any real rhythm.

Peltier is clattered by Konchesky right on the touchline, with the full-back requiring some medical treatment. The former Huddersfield Town man is a real battler, so this is clearly a troubling moment for him and his side.

Green is almost caught out by Pilkington, who does well to get into an advanced position. He gets to the ball before Green, lofting the ball into a central area for someone to tap in, but unfortunately none of his teammates could keep pace.

Cardiff try playing the ball out of defence through Dikgacoi, before Henry clatters right into him. QPR outnumber their opponents in the midfield area, so City may need to bypass that zone to get the ball into attack.

Just under 1,200 away fans in Loftus Road this evening, as both sides struggle to get their foot on the ball early on. There's a good atmosphere inside the ground, with the Welsh national anthem now belting out in that cramped away section.

Chery's deliver is much better on this occasion down the left, just about evading each of his teammates. Cardiff having to do a fair bit of sitting back at the moment.

A second Chery corner is well overhit. The summer signing will need to improve his deliveries, but right now it is the Rs who are just about on top. The Hoops are sporting their tradition hooped tops, while Cardiff are in their all red away kit.

Just under 1,200 away fans in Loftus Road this evening, as both sides struggle to get their foot on the ball early on. There's a good atmosphere inside the ground, with the Welsh national anthem now belting out in that cramped away section.

QPR have won 13 of the last 17 home encounters between these sides, incidentally, while also keeping 10 clean sheets in that run. Cardiff have conceded two goals in three of the last four meetings, including in the last coming together which ended 2-2 in 2011.

KICKOFF! Less than a minute on the clock, and a lapse of concentration from the Bluebirds gifts QPR a corner. The hosts failed to make the most of it, but that is certainly not the greatest of starts from Cardiff.

QPR have won just one game this calendar year at their home ground, meanwhile, which came in their last outing here against Newcastle United on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season. Two sides whose aspiration are not entirely clear yet, then, with kickoff now just moments away.

Cardiff have a more settled squad, meanwhile, despite being without first-choice centre-back duo Ben Turner and Bruno Manga. They field 11 players who ended last season, as Slade tries his best to work over supporters. The former Leyton Orient chief has certainly made his side tough to beat, having lost just once in their last nine away outings.

The incoming transfer business has been positive, though, with Swindon Town duo Massimo Luongo and Ben Gladwin coming in - both of whom start here today. Tim Ream is also a confirmed target in defence, so this is by no means the same QPR side we will be seeing this time next month.

Well QPR endured a disappointing start to the campaign last time out, but worse could still be to come with the likes of Charlie Austin, Robert Green and Matty Phillips being strongly linked with moves away. As it is, Austin may be the only one to make way, but that will be a huge loss in its own right.

Kickoff at Loftus Road is now around 10 minutes away:



As mentioned, Craig Noone has to settle for a place on the bench, while Newcastle United loanee Sammy Ameobi still seems to be lacking match fitness. Kenwyne Jones, back from his international exploits at the Gold Cup, completes Cardiff's back-up forward options.

Alejandro Faurlin is among the QPR subs once more this evening, which is a great sight to see considering his numerous injury problems in recent years. Former Cardiff City forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is also among the home side's back-ups.

BENCH WATCH!

QPR SUBS: Lumley, Hall, Doughty, Kpekawa, Faurlin, Polter, Emmanuel-Thomas

CARDIFF SUBS: Wilson, Fabio, Gunnarsson, Noone, Ameobi, Doyle, Jones


Charlie Austin was a slight doubt after picking up a knock in that defeat at The Valley last weekend, but he is fit enough to start this one. The striker's future is still in doubt, of course, so this could potentially be his Loftus Park farewell. Matt Phillips and Robert Green have also been linked with moves away, but both feature in this strong QPR lineup.

Russell Slade has retained faith in the front pairing of Alex Revell and Joe Mason, with support being provided by Joe Ralls and Anthony Pilkington in the wide areas. Peter Whittingham, so often below his best over the past 12 months, remains in an untouched midfield four.

In terms of the visitors, they remain as you were from last week's 1-1 draw against Fulham. That is somewhat surprising, considering Craig Noone came off the bench to rescue a point for his side, before scoring the only goal in the midweek League Cup win over AFC Wimbledon. He has to make do with a place among the subs once more.

Charlie Austin was a slight doubt after picking up a knock in that defeat at The Valley last weekend, but he is fit enough to start this one. The striker's future is still in doubt, of course, so this could potentially be his Loftus Park farewell. Matt Phillips and Robert Green have also been linked with moves away, but both feature in this strong QPR lineup.

Starting with the home team, then, and Chris Ramsey has opted to make just the one change to his side from last week's disappointing 2-0 defeat at Charlton Athletic. Jamie Mackie drops out of the squad, meaning a place in the starting lineup for Ben Gladwin.

TEAM NEWS!

QPR XI: Green; Perch, Onuoha, Hill, Konchesky; Luongo, Henry, Phillips, Gladwin; Chery, Austin

CARDIFF XI: Moore; Peltier, Malone, Connolly, Morrison; Whittingham, Dikgacoi, Ralls, Pilkington; Mason, Revell


It has been a busy programme of action across the Football League this afternoon, with this fixture concluding Saturday's fixtures. Before taking a look at all the results in some more detail, let's get straight into things by checking out some team news from West London.

Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship clash between Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City at Loftus Road.

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