On Wednesday night QPR and Swansea meet at Loftus Road for the first time since the R’s won 4-0 on this ground against Brendan Rodgers’ side on Boxing Day last season.
Swansea 1 QPR 1, Tuesday December 27, 2011, Premiership
QPR were good value for a point at the Liberty Stadium when these sides met at Christmas, and possibly could have had more had they shown more ambition to push for a winner in the closing stages. Things started poorly for Neil Warnock’s men when Danny Graham was allowed to bring the ball down with the palm of his hand by referee Lee Probert and then stroke in a well taken opening goal. But the R’s roared back in the second half and Jamie Mackie got a well deserved equaliser when the home defence misjudged a long clearance from goalkeeper Paddy Kenny and Mackie stole in to nutmeg Vorm and score.
Swansea: Vorm 7, Rangel 7 (Moore 57, 4), Williams 7, Caulker 6, Richards 6, Sinclair 6, Britton 6, Agustien 7, Allen 6, Routledge 7 (Dyer 56, 6), Graham 7
Subs Not Used: Tremmel, Dobbie, Monk, Lita, Gower
Booked: Richards (foul)
Goals: Graham 14 (assisted Routledge)
QPR: Kenny 6, Young 7, Hill 7, Hall 7, Traore 6, Mackie 7, Barton 6, Derry 6, Faurlin 7, Taarabt 7, Helguson 6
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Orr, Gabbidon, Bothroyd, Connolly, Smith, Wright-Phillips
Booked: Hill (foul), Barton (foul), Taarabt (kicking ball away)
Goals: Mackie 58 (assisted Kenny)
QPR 4 Swansea 0, Sunday December 26, 2010, Championship
QPR could well do with a repeat of their last encounter with Swansea on this ground when the pair meet again on Wednesday. Rangers, top of the league but hotly pursued by the Swans, Cardiff and others, had gone 19 matches unbeaten at the start of the season but faltered heading into the Christmas period with quick fire defeats against Watford at Loftus Road and at Leeds. Swansea fancied their chances in W12 but Jamie Mackie planted a firm shot beyond Dorus De Vries for the opening goal. The game then took a dramatic turn when Alan Tate hacked down Kyle Walker as he raced through on goal and then went to headbutt Clint Hill in the ensuing melee. Tate was rightly sent off, but Hill followed him in a strange decision from referee Phil Crossley that was later overturned by the authorities. QPR coped much better with ten men and romped away to victory inspired by Adel Taarabt. The Moroccan won an obvious penalty from Ashley Williams, who was lucky not to be sent off himself, after half time and allowed Heidar Helguson to convert it. Taarabt smashed in a third on the volley, with De Vries at fault for allowing it to squeeze through him, and then added a fourth with an outrageous goal of the season candidate from 25 yards after two back flicks and an outrageous nutmeg past Joe Allen.
QPR: Kenny 7, Walker 9, Connolly 7, Gorkss 7, Hill 6, Derry 7, Faurlin 6, Mackie 7, Taarabt 9 (Rowlands 83, -), Smith 6 (Orr 21, 6), Helguson 8 (Hulse 86, -)
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Clarke, Agyemang, Ephraim
Sent Off: Hill 19 (fighting)
Goals: Mackie 16 (assisted Taarabt), Helguson 62 (penalty won Taarabt), Taarabt 70 (assisted Helguson), 80 (unassisted)
Swansea: De Vries 3, Rangel 6, Tate 4, Monk 4, Williams 6, Agustien 6 (Dobbie 71, 5), Allen 6, Pratley 6, Dyer 5 (Taylor 20, 5), Sinclair 6, Beattie 6 (Easter 71, 5)
Subs Not Used: Ma-Kalambay, Orlandi, Serran, Gower
Sent Off: Tate 19 (fighting)
Booked: Williams (foul)
Swansea 0 QPR 0, Tuesday October 19, 2010, Championship
QPR were indebted to goalkeeper Paddy Kenny when these sides met at the Liberty Stadium last season, but Jamie Mackie should have made the goalkeeper’s first half penalty save all the more crucial by snatching a winner. Kenny dived low to save David Cotterill’s easily telegraphed spot kick five minutes before half time after Darren Pratley was bundled over in the QPR penalty area. Before that Mackie had volleyed into the side netting from close range with the goal gaping after the ball dropped to him from a corner, then in the second half he took too many touches in a one on one situation and allowed Dorus De Vries to race from his goal line and save. Adel Taarabt was substituted late on, although he was lucky not to be sent off just prior to the change with the Swansea players successfully winding him up and tempting a reckless challenge while he was on a yellow card.
Swansea: De Vries 7, Williams 7, Tate 8, Monk 7, Rangel 7, Cotterill 6 (Allen 46, 8), Pratley 7, Orlandi 7 (Beattie 85, -), Dyer 5, Sinclair 6, Dobbie 7 (Nouble 65, 4)
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Serran, Ma-Kalambay, Emnes
Booked: Monk (foul), Tate (foul), Pratley (foul), Rangel (dissent)
QPR: Kenny 8, Walker 7, Gorkss 7, Connolly 8, Hill 6, Derry 7, Faurlin 7, Ephraim 5 (Clarke 88, -), Taarabt 7 (Smith 80, 7),Helguson 6 (Agyemang 80, 6), Mackie 6
Subs Not Used: Orr, Cerny, Hall, Mahon
Booked: Gorkss (kicking ball away), Faurlin (foul), Taarabt (foul)
Head to Head >>> QPR wins 17 >>> Draws 12 >>> Swansea wins 10
2011/12 Swansea 1 QPR 1 (Mackie)
2010/11 QPR 4 Swansea 0 (Taarabt 2, Mackie, Helguson)
2010/11 Swansea 0 QPR 0
2009/10 QPR 1 Swansea 1 (German)
2009/10 Swansea 2 QPR 0
2008/09 QPR 1 Swansea 0 (Leigertwood)
2008/09 Swansea 0 QPR 0
2004/05 QPR 3 Swansea 0** (Cureton, Rowlands, Gallen)
2001/02 Swansea 4 QPR 0*
1980/81 Swansea 1 QPR 2 (Langley, King)
1980/81 QPR 0 Swansea 0
1979/80 QPR 3 Swansea 2 (Goddard 2, C Allen)
1979/80 Swansea 1 QPR 2 (Burke, Stephenson og)
1978/79 QPR 2 Swansea 0 (McGee, Eastoe)
1966/67 Swansea 1 QPR 3 (Lazarus 3)
1966/67 QPR 4 Swansea 2 (L Allen 2, Marsh, Sanderson)
1966/67 Swansea 1 QPR 2** (Hazell, Keen)
1965/66 QPR 6 Swansea 2 (R Morgan 3, Colins 2, Lazarus)
1965/66 Swansea 4 QPR 2 (Collins, L Allen)
1962/63 Swansea 2 QPR 0*
1951/52 Swansea 2 QPR 3 (Gilberg, Hill, Addinall
1951/52 QPR 1 Swansea 1 (Smith)
1950/51 Swansea 1 QPR 0
1950/51 QPR 1 Swansea 1 (Addinall)
1949/50 Swansea 0 QPR 1 (Hudson)
1949/50 QPR 0 Swansea 0
1947/48 QPR 0 Swansea 0
1947/48 Swansea 3 QPR 1 (Durrant)
1924/25 Swansea 2 QPR 0
1924/25 QPR 0 Swansea 0
1923/24 QPR 2 Swansea 2 (Davis, Marsden)
1923/24 Swansea 2 QPR 0
1922/23 Swansea 3 QPR 0
1922/23 QPR 2 Swansea 1 (Davis, Chandler)
1921/22 Swansea 1 QPR 0
1921/22 QPR 1 Swansea 0 (Birch)
1920/21 QPR 1 Swansea 1 (Manning)
1920/21 Swansea 1 QPR 3 (Gregory, Birch, Manning)
1913/14 Swansea 1 QPR 2*
* - FA Cup
** - League Cup
Robbie James >>> Swansea 1973-83 & 1988-90 >>> QPR 1984-87
Swansea born and bred, Robert James graduated from the city’s schoolboy side to play for his hometown club-making his debut in April 1973 aged just sixteen. Over the next decade, James would go on to play almost 500 times for the Swans and became known as ‘the darling of the North Bank’. He was a pivotal part of the side that rose from the Fourth to First division in just three seasons in the late 1970s and early 1980s under the management of John Toshack. He helped the club to sixth place in the first season back in the top flight.
James’ utility was seen as a vital commodity as he could play as effectively in defence as he could midfield. He earned international recognition with Wales whilst at the Vetch Field and would go on to win 47 caps for his country.
In 1983, after ten seasons with Swansea, James looked for a fresh challenge in England and signed for Stoke City. Despite being an ever-present in his season there he moved on a year later to Queens Park Rangers. He made his debut from the subs bench against Arsenal in November 1984 and went on to be an important part of the R’s squad over the next four seasons, memorably scoring in a home win against the Gunners in 1985.
Mainly playing as full-back for Rangers, James’ enthusiasm and pace saw him regularly playing out from the back and prompting the attack. He played his part in the team that went all the way to the League Cup Final in 1986 but he couldn’t prevent Rangers from a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Oxford after beating Chelsea and Liverpool in the quarter and semi finals. A year later James left Loftus Road and signed for Leicester before appearing once again for his beloved Swansea and then winding down his career with Bradford and Cardiff. He had a brief spell in the Welsh Leagues and managed both Merthyr and Llanelli before his untimely death from a heart disease in 1998. Still seen as a true Swansea legend, a bust of James stands proudly by the ticket offices at the Liberty Stadium.
Others >>> Wayne Routledge, Swansea 2011-present, QPR (loan) 2011, 2009-2010 >>> Scott Sinclair, Swansea 2010-present, QPR (loan) 2007 >>> Scott Donnelly, QPR 2004-2007, Swansea 2010-present >>> Paulo Sousa, Swansea (manager) 2009-2010, QPR (manager) 2008-2009 >>> Brian Murphy, Swansea 2003-2006, QPR 2011-present >>> Jordi Lopez, Swansea 2009-2011, QPR 2009 >>> Tommy Williams, QPR (loan) 2002-2003, (loan) 2003, (loan) 2009, Swansea 2006-2007 >>> Leon Knight, QPR (loan) 2001, Swansea 2006-2007 >>> Marcus Bean, QPR 2002-2006, Swansea (loan) 2005 >>> Kenny Jackett, QPR (coach) 2001-2004, Swansea (manager) 2004-2007 >>> Karl Connolly, QPR 2000-2003, Swansea 2003-2004 >>> John Hollins, QPR 1975-1977, QPR (coach) 1995-1998, Swansea (manager) 1998-2001 >>> Robbie James, Swansea 1973-1983, 1988-1990, QPR 1984-1987 >>> Leighton James, QPR 1977-1978, Swansea 1980-1983 >>> Jeremy Charles, Swansea 1976-1983, QPR 1983-1985
QPR 3 Swansea 2, Saturday February 2, 1980, Second Division
Games against Swansea have been few and far between during recent history, but we’re going back to a Second Division meeting between the sides in 1980 for the memorable match this week. Swansea were in the middle of a meteoric climb from the bottom division to the top under John Toshack while Rangers were in a lull between the great Dave Sexton and Terry Venables eras at Loftus Road.
The R’s had beaten local rivals Fulham 2-0 the week before to notch up their first win for eight games. Swansea had also just tasted victory over rivals, with a 2-1 win over Cardiff which had continued a decent run the Swans were enjoying since the turn of the year. So an exciting game was in prospect a rain-soaked Loftus Road.
After a pretty even first half an hour it was the R’s who struck first from the penalty spot. Clive Allen’s first attempt was saved but got a second chance thanks to an encroachment from Swan’s defender Leighton Phillips and the Rangers striker made no mistake to net his twenty first goal of the season.
Five minutes later the R’s doubled their lead, after a horrible mistake from Phillips once again. His attempted back-pass fell woefully short and Paul Goddard was on hand to steer the ball past Glen Letheran.
Rangers looked firmly in control at this point but Swansea nicked a goal just before the break. Ian Callaghan’s corner was aimed for player boss Toshack but instead came off the head of Rangers Steve Wicks and looped into the top corner for 2-1. Swansea now had the bit between their teeth and pushed for an equaliser throughout the second half. Rangers managed to hold-off until the seventy third minute, when Toshack fired in to draw the Swans level.
Both teams went looking for a win and those who left early missed some late drama from the home side. Steve Burke’s whipped corner caused panic in the Swansea penalty box and Paul Goddard was hand to bundle the ball home and collect all three points for the Super Hoops. Rangers went on to finish fifth, six points behind eventual league winners Leicester. Swansea finished midtable and were promoted again a year later.
QPR: Woods, Shanks, Gillard, McCreery, Wicks, Roeder, Goddard, Waddock, Allen, Currie, Burke
Swansea City: Letheran, Marustik, Rushbury, Charles, Phillips, Giles, Craig, James, Waddle, Toshack, Callaghan (Robinson)
Highlights >>> QPR 4 Swansea 0, 2010/11 >>>QPR 1 Swansea 0, 2008/09
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Pictures – Action Images