Report: QPR 5-2 Barnsley
Written by Matt Goodwin on Sunday 27th September 2009

Barnsley conceded five in a seven-goal thriller after a spirited performance at Loftus Road.

Manager Mark Robins handed full-debuts to three of his players, with Ryan Shotton, Carl Dickinson and Michael Doyle making up three-quarters of the backline.

It was a frantic start to the match with Iain Hume having the better of the early chances. The little Canadian raced onto Anderson's through-ball but fired just wide after hitting the ball too early.

Rangers took the lead on eight minutes when Mikele LEIGERTWOOD ran 45-yards with the ball before driving home from the edge of the area.

A quarter-of-an-hour had gone when Jim Magilton's side doubled their advantage through Akosz BUZSAKY. Ben Watson found the Hungarian with a defence-splitting pass - the midfielder's deflected effort squeezed past David Preece.

The busy Wayne Routledge struck a post for the hosts after Ben Watson tore the Tyke's defence open once more.

A couple of half-chances fell Rangers' way but Barnsley should have pulled one back on 30-minutes through Andy Gray. Jacob Butterfield's persistence paid off at the byline and the youngster's perfect pass found Gray in front of an open-goal but the front-man failed to connect with the cross.

Just a minute later, the in-form Adam Hammill cut inside to curl a splendid effort just wide of the scrambling Cerny's post.

However Rangers made it three in tremendous fashion for BUZSAKY'S second of the game. The Hungarian international's 30-yard effort looped over the helpless Preece to the delight of the home-fans.

Whatever Barnsley manager Mark Robins said to his side at half-time appeared to work with the Reds coming flying out of the blocks at the interval.

Iain Hume's free-kick from the left found the head of skipper Stephen FOSTER in the 50th minute. The defender rose highest in the box to nod home for his first of the season.

It was only another four minutes later when the rejuvenated Reds rallied and sprang into the QPR box in the shape of Hammill. As the tricky winger cut inside he was brought down by Stewart in the box and the referee pointed to the spot.

Andy Gray stepped up from 12-yards only to see his tame spot-kick saved by Cerny, but GRAY hammered home the rebound to make it 3-2.

Some bizarre refereeing decisions found several Barnsley players but only one QPR man in the book as the home-side committed a tremendous fourteen fouls to Barnsley's eight.

The Reds almost levelled through Hammill in the 65th minute. A tremendous, tricky run from the youngster resulted in a delightful 20-yard effort which appeared bound for Cerny's top-corner - but the Czech's one-handed save denied the Liverpudlian a great equaliser.

But Rangers restored a two-goal cushion when David Preece fumbled Ben WATSON'S volley and it trickled agonisingly over the line to make it 4-2. It was a moment of cruelty and madness as the Reds were well on their way to taking something from Loftus Road.

The fourth goal really knocked the wind out of the Reds and the hosts grabbed a fifth to make the scoreline more handsome than the actual performance from Magilton's men.

Kaspars Gorkss headed a corner for the R's back across the face of goal and it appeared to hit Daniel Bogdanovic on its way into the net for five.

It would be fair to say that Barnsley have played a lot worse in games prior to this clash and have come away with all the points so the team and fans shouldn't be too downhearted.

Two deflected efforts and a mistake from Preece allowed QPR three of their five goals but it was good to see Barnsley creating chances at the other end, with Adam Hammill back to his best.

Barnsley One Man of the Match: Adam Hammill.

QPR: Cerny, Stewart, Leigertwood, Routledge (Faurlin 68), Vine (Taarabt 68), Buzsaky, Gorkss, Rowlands, Watson, Simpson (Pellicori 79), Borrowdale. Subs: Heaton, Ramage, Mahon, Ephraim.

Barnsley: Preece, Doyle, Foster, Shotton, Dickinson, Anderson, Colace, Butterfield (Kozluk 56), Hammill, Hume (Bogdanovic 59), A.Gray (Campbell-Ryce 75).
Subs: Rusling, Devaney, J.Gray, Thompson.

Referee: K. Evans (Lancashire)
Assistant Referee: John Farries (Oxfordshire)
Assistant Referee: Eamonn Smith (Surrey)
Fourth Official: Barry Holderness (Essex)

Attendance: 12,025

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