QPR 1-1 Aston Villa – Match Review
Richard Dunne’s own goal four minutes into added on time saved 10-man QPR’s skin after Barry Bannan’s controversial penalty looked to have settled a drab affair at Loftus Road.
The late equaliser was harsh on the visitors with Dunne and centre back partner James Collins defending resolutely for the full 90 minutes as the R’s pushed for a first home win of the season.
He could do nothing as Stephen Warnock’s clearance from Heidar Helguson’s cross ricocheted off his knee allowing manager Neil Warnock to breathe a huge sigh of relief and hand his side their first goal at home this season.
That came after Bannan had given Villa the lead from the penalty spot after Traore was adjudged to have pulled Gabriel Agbonlahor down in the area with the Frenchman later dismissed in the 90th minute for a lunging tackle on Marc Albrighton.
It was definitely a game of two halves in West London with the home side full of enterprise in the first half but squandered a number of chances against a Villa side that struggled to get into any sort of rhythm.
Adel Taarabt almost opened the scoring with a rasping drive that clipped the post before Shaun Wright-Phillips saw a shot blocked after some neat build up play on the edge of the area.
The Moroccans effort deserved to break the deadlock as he tricked his way into space 25-yards out before thumping a drive that had Shay Given beaten all ends up only to smash off the upright.
Despite their supremacy the hosts had Paddy Kenny to thank as he clawed Bannan’s delicious curling free kick away from just minutes before the half time whistle.
That seemed to take the fire out of Rangers’ play as Villa finally woke from their slumber as they looked to extend their unbeaten start to the campaign.
McLeish’s side were much more positive after the restart with Fabian Delph going close before referee Michael Oliver awarded the visitors a controversial penalty.
The 26-year-old pointed the spot after noticing Traore’s tug on Agbonlahors shirt as both players contested Warnock’s cross at the far post.
An unfazed Bannan stepped up to slot the ball home from 12-yards to give the away side a deserved lead for their endeavour in the second period.
That raised the temperature at Loftus Road with a spat between Agbonlahor and Anton Ferdinand quickly diffused by Oliver before waving away two penalty shouts from Rangers.
Alan Hutton was the supposed perpetrator with Tommy Smith and Shaun Derry’s crosses appearing to hit the hand of the right back only for the referee to wave away both protests.
Those incidents sandwiched an effort Wright-Phillips who saw his low shot tipped wide by Given before Traore’s red card appeared to make it another unhappy home fixture for Warnock and co.
But despair turned to jubilation with a minute left of the five added minutes as the unfortunate Dunne saw the ball smack off his knee and trickle over the line finally giving the R’s supporters to celebrate at home.