Rapport från Stamford Bridge
Engelska QPR-supportern Martin Percival rapporterar från onsdagens ligacupmatch där Rangers föll med flaggan i topp.
Swedish Hoops har äran att presentera en rapport från Chelsea-QPR signerad Martin Percival som följt Rangers i över 30 år. Han ser alla hemma- och bortamatcher och många av oss svenskar har mött honom på puben Crown & Sceptre innan match.
Håll till godo!
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This was Rangers first League Cup visit to Stamford Bridge since 1986 (a classic night and a 2-0 win for the Rs in the Milk Cup quarter final) and their second visit in 2 years with a 1-0 defeat as recently as January 2008 in the FA Cup 3rd round being the last occasion.
The build up for the game had been a little muted. Maybe this was down to it being so early in this season – or possibly because it looked at one time as if Rangers would not sell their full ticket allocation. Fortunately that did not happen with season ticket holders and members eventually snapping up the full 5,900 allocation and making their very vocal presence felt on the night in a 37, 781 crowd. Walking to the ground I was somewhat amused by the number of Rangers fans openly wearing shirts – you did not see that back in the late 70s/early 80s!
Overall Rangers played well and, with just a little bit more punch and confidence in front of goal, should have got at least a draw. Sadly it was not to be but it was still a very good night and, for me at least, a more enjoyable visit to Stamford Bridge than in 2008 – much more like a local derby and a cup tie. Fortunately on this occasion the fans focused on getting behind their respective teams – rather than getting stuck into each other as was the case a bit too much last year.
Ex Rangers and Chelsea player Paul Furlong was one of the match guests and at half time he came out to be greeted by the crowd. It looked like the Chelsea fans had no idea who he was whereas he got a massive ovation from the Rs faithful who taunted their opposite numbers with “You’ve never seen him before!”
Man of the match was Tom Heaton, the goalkeeper on loan from Manchester United. He played extremely well with a great deal of confidence and handled all the saves he had to make very competently. Leigertwood and Gorkss were the other stand outs for the Rs in what was a good overall team performance.
Realistically with players like Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and John Terry all on the bench, with all 3 coming on as second half substitutes, it was always going to be an uphill battle and eventually Chelsea broke the deadlock on 52 minutes with Kalou, the Ivory Coast international, scoring. Rangers kept going, despite being 1 down, and had some very strong spells of possession but could not break the Chelsea defence down. Akos Buzsaky came closest with an effort after about 60 minutes that went high and wide.
Full marks to the Rangers support – it was a proud night to be a Rangers fan. We sang throughout the game and drowned out the Chelsea faithful for almost the whole evening. Even Ray Wilkins paid a compliment to the vociferous Rangers support in his post match interview on BBC Radio 5. It was good to see the players come down to the Shed end to greet the Rangers fans and one or two even threw their shirts into the crowd.
Let’s hope that next time we play in SW6 it’s in the Premiership!
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Lineups:
Chelsea:
Hilario, Ferreira, Ivanovic, Hutchinson (Terry 77), Zhirkov (A Cole 69), Mikel, Belletti, Malouda (Lampard 46), J Cole, Kalou, Borini.
Subs not used: Turnbull, Essien, Matic, Bruma.
QPR:
Heaton, Stewart, Leigertwood, Routledge, Vine (Taarabt 66), Buzsaky, Gorkss, Rowlands (Ephraim 74), Faurlin, Simpson (Pellicori 74), Borrowdale.
Subs not used: Cerny, Ramage, Mahon, Agyemang.
Goals: Kalou (53)
Referee: Mr M Jones
Attendance: 37, 781
