Manchester City v QPR: Premier League – as it happened
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http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/may/10/manchester-city-v-qpr-premier-league-live Version 0 of 1. 3.27pm BST15:27 Summary Match report: Manchester City 6-0 QPR There were so many things that went badly for QPR today, but you have to say that Ramsey got his tactics all wrong, playing a 3-5-2. Under Harry Redknapp, QPR started the season with that formation and they struggled. It is a cruel bit of symmetry to see them finish the season in the same manner. They will play in the Championship next season and must make a complete overhaul of the squad in the summer: there are still too many old, overpaid players that appear to be coasting. City confirm their Champions League place with this win. They need one more point from their final two matches to effectively seal a top three finish and avoid a Champions League play-off. Sergio Aguero was the stand out performer, obviously, with his hat-trick: he is comfortably the Premier League’s top scorer with 25. “How come Sergio wan’t even nominated for PFA Player of the Year? Staggering, really...” emails Damon Burnard. Quite. Thanks for your emails and tweets. See you next time. Bye! Updated at 3.40pm BST 3.19pm BST15:19 Full-time: Manchester City 6-0 QPR QPR are relegated. Clint Hill is crying. What a miserable way to go down. 3.19pm BST15:19 90 +1 min: Caulker is in trouble here, clutching his hamstring. QPR have made all their changes. 3.18pm BST15:18 89 min: QPR have just given up now. Toure squares to Bony, who has time to take a touch and finish at the back post. He takes two touches, three, and Caulker is able to make a challenge. He should have scored. 3.16pm BST15:16 QPR might be tiring, but this is lovely stuff from City. Aguero feeds Bony, who, with his back to goal, backheels the ball through Caulker’s legs. Nobody is tracking Silva, who dances through, rounds Green and neatly tucks the ball into the empty net. A great goal. 3.15pm BST15:15 GOAL! Manchester City 6-0 QPR (Silva 86) What a wonderful goal. Updated at 3.33pm BST 3.14pm BST15:14 85 min: Wright-Phillips is on for Yun, who has had a torrid day this afternoon. Exposed on the left and a horrible error for Aguero’s second goal. 84. SUB QPR: A brilliant reception for @swp29 - he's still such a hero round these parts! Sweep replaces Yun. #cityvqpr 3.13pm BST15:13 84 min: QPR having a bit of possession here. Their fans ironically cheering every pass. Olé! 3.12pm BST15:12 83 min: Milner off, Navas on. The crowd rise in applause, they obviously don’t want to see the back of him this summer. 3.11pm BST15:11 82 min: Bony hits the post! Another QPR corner, another City counter-attack, so nearly another City goal. Aguero plays a lovely diagonal to Silva, who slips in Bony. The £25m man is forced wide but somehow gets his shot away, striking the inside of the post and bouncing just clear of Milner. 3.08pm BST15:08 80 min: One pass, and QPR are cut open. Bony plays a simple lay-off to Toure, who is completely devoid of markers, running like a freight train through the middle of the pitch. He has just Caulker to beat, and could easily square the ball to an unmarked Aguero, but the Ivorian shoots wide instead. What a waste. 3.05pm BST15:05 78 min: Kranjcar replaces Fer as QPR make another change. 3.03pm BST15:03 76 min: “This has been harsh on QPR” co-commentator Niall Quinn quips. No it’s not Niall. This is exactly what QPR deserve. They’ve been awful today. Ramsey has got his tactics all wrong. Disastrous decision to play 3-5-2. Updated at 3.24pm BST 3.02pm BST15:02 74 min: Here comes Yaya Touré, who comes on for Fernandinho. It just gets better and better for QPR. Touré gets a good reception, and somebody in the crowd holds up a banner with a birthday cake: it’s the Ivorian’s birthday next week, he’ll be 32. Updated at 3.21pm BST 3.00pm BST15:00 Kolarov whips in the corner, Bony leaps and flicks the ball on, Aguero is alive at the back post and turns the ball back across goal where Milner taps in. Milner looked offside there? Oh it doesn’t matter anymore, does it? Ramsey has his head in his hands, would be better now to just defend and not lose 8-0? Updated at 3.11pm BST 2.57pm BST14:57 GOAL! Manchester City 5-0 QPR (Milner 69) This is turning into a cricket score. Updated at 3.09pm BST 2.57pm BST14:57 68 min: Bony gets free on the left, and unleashes a shot, but Green gets down well to his left. Corner to City. 2.55pm BST14:55 Milner again gets free on the right, and chips a ball towards Silva at the back post. The Spaniard is completely unmarked and Phillips can only barge Silva over as the ball arrived. It’s a clear-cut penalty, and Aguero sends Green the wrong way from the spot, smashing the ball into the left-hand corner. 4-0. 2.53pm BST14:53 GOAL! Manchester City 4-0 QPR (Aguero pen 63) That’s his hat-trick! Updated at 3.07pm BST 2.52pm BST14:52 62 min: Bony comes on for Lampard. This could well be his last appearance in front of the home fans. They have one home game left against Southampton, but he might not play of course. 2.52pm BST14:52 61 min: Barton chops down Zabaleta, who had dribbled past two or three QPR players. Barton is booked, and Kolarov has another set-piece chance. He curls it over the wall towards the near corner, but Green gets across to beat it clear. My word, Kolarov can strike a ball. 2.49pm BST14:49 58 min: It really is deathly quiet out there at the moment. Hart comes for a cross, calls for it, his voice reverberating around the stadium. “Atmosphere of a tennis match at the Etihad today!” emails Daniel Spencer. Not half Daniel. Updated at 3.19pm BST 2.47pm BST14:47 56 min: Rasping shot from Hoilett, saved by Hart. The sub has looked bright since he came on. 2.45pm BST14:45 55 min: What a miss from Lampard. Milner plays a nice low cross to the veteran midfield, who (you guessed it) had made a late run to the near post, but Lampard somehow manages to scoop the ball over the bar from five yards out! 2.43pm BST14:43 53 min: Chance for QPR! But Hoilett and Dunne get in each other’s way at the back post. It would have been an easy header for either of them, but they barge into each other and the ball skews away from goal! 2.42pm BST14:42 51 min: QPR make a change: Hoilett on for Zamora, who never looked fit to be honest. He was struggling with a hip problem prior to today’s match. 2.42pm BST14:42 QPR is self-destruct mode. They push nearly everyone forward for a corner and after Demichelis clears, City break forward. Silva tries to find Aguero, but his pass is short and Yun looks to intercept… but completely misses the ball. Aguero is completely free and runs 50 yards unopposed, before slotting it to the right of Green into the net. Never before has a striker looked more certain to score. Updated at 2.52pm BST 2.37pm BST14:37 GOAL! Manchester City 3-0 QPR (Aguero 50) All stemming from a terrible error from Yun. Game (and season) over. Updated at 3.04pm BST 2.36pm BST14:36 48 min: Hart nearly makes a costly mistake! I say costly, but it would just mean QPR would lose 4-1 or something. He drops a cross at the feet of Zamora, but is just able to pad it out of harm’s way. Lucky boy. 2.32pm BST14:32 Peeep peeep. We’re off. Surely QPR will at least have a go? 2.20pm BST14:20 Half-time entertainment 2.17pm BST14:17 Half-time: Manchester City 2-0 QPR QPR need to score at least three times in the second half if they are to stay up. Place your bets. 2.16pm BST14:16 45 min: One minute added on here. 2.16pm BST14:16 43 min: Silva, has been excellent this half. His balance is just beautiful, skipping round the challenges of both Henry and Fer, but shooting high and wide. 2.15pm BST14:15 41 min: Milner is enjoying the freedom of this right-hand flank. Time and time again Yun is caught too far up the pitch. Milner, so normally reliable with his delivery, drives to the byline, but with five City attackers breaking into the box, pulls the ball back to… nobody. 2.13pm BST14:13 39 min: Chance for QPR! Yun tosses a hopeful ball up towards Austin, who beat Kolarov and heads back into the box, where Fer, Zamora and Barton are all waiting. All three of offside, all three are not flagged, and Fer attempts to lob Hart, who is sprinting off his line. The ball loops over the keeper, hits the top of the bar, comes back out and Zamora can’t get the power needed to head the ball into the empty net: his effort is caught by Hart scampering back. That was close! 2.10pm BST14:10 37 min: Under no pressure, Demichelis slips and inexplicably hand-balls it. Mike Dean doesn’t give a free-kick. The Etihad laughs. 2.09pm BST14:09 35 min: Aguero is running riot here. He curves his run to beat the offside trap – this three at the back business is simply not working for QPR – and Aguero through on goal. He is forced onto his weaker left foot, and Green saves well down to his left. QPR need to just get to half-time. Updated at 2.36pm BST 2.07pm BST14:07 Aguero comes deep yet again, and Dunne follows him out, chopping him down just outside the area. Kolarov sweeps the resulting free-kick over the wall and into the bottom-left corner. Green didn’t move – he’s shouting at his wall for not being a wall, but in reality, you have to just say that is too good. Kolarov’s shot had pace, swerve and dip. 2-0! 2.04pm BST14:04 GOAL! Manchester City 2-0 QPR (Kolarov 31) Another one of his lovely lovely free-kicks. Updated at 2.25pm BST 2.03pm BST14:03 28 min: What a tackle from Dunne. Kolarov whips in a low cross, and Dunne just manages to stretch out a leg to divert the ball behind with Aguero lurking dangerously behind. 2.01pm BST14:01 26 min: The biggest cheer of the day, save for the goal, and it’s for Shaun Wright-Phillips, who comes off the QPR bench to warm up along the sidelines. Getting a very warm reception. @michaelbutler18 there's only one winner - SWP https://t.co/jRQdjDNjJq #mcfc 1.59pm BST13:59 24 min: Ooooo, this is nice stuff from City. Fernando plays a one-two with Silva, and then with Lampard but he just fails to latch onto the return ball. A minute later, Milner dummies a square pass, and reaches a clever reverse pass from Silva. Milner flashes the ball across the six-yard box, but Mangala miscues at the back post! One-touch stuff, QPR can’t live with it. 1.55pm BST13:55 21 min: Now QPR have the ball in the net! But Austin’s bullet header is (rightly) ruled out for offside. He stole a yard a little too early as Yun crossed in from the left. Updated at 2.30pm BST 1.54pm BST13:54 20 min: This is much better from QPR. They have had 51% possession in the last five minutes. Henry and Fer combine well and throw a hopeful ball up towards Zamora, who is judged to fouled Mangala. Austin cracks the ball against the bar, but the whistle had already gone for the foul. 1.51pm BST13:51 17 min: It’s taken 17 minutes, but QPR put their first decent move together, culminating in Phillips dribbling past Kolarov on City’s left. Phillips is fouled and Barton delivers the resulting free-kick to the back post. Fernando is just able to beat Dunne to the ball and heads behind. That was good defending, Hart was in no-mans land. Updated at 1.55pm BST 1.49pm BST13:49 15 min: This is more a case of when City will score, rather than if. More wasteful play from Fer, and with players out of position, QPR look vulnerable as City counter-attack. Silva feeds Aguero on the left, who scoops a lovely cross with the outside of his foot to the back post towards Milner at the back post, who is completely unmarked. Milner stretches, Green saves, and Fernando flashes the rebound well over the bar. HEAT MAP: QPR didn't have a single touch of the ball inside the final third in the opening 15 minutes. Going down. pic.twitter.com/8GYfxogjtF Updated at 2.08pm BST 1.46pm BST13:46 11 min: City could be 3-0 up by now. Aguero, dropping deep again, has acres of space and a deflection allows Zabaleta to get to the byline. Lampard is free and the near post – he only needs a simple five-yard pass to tap home – but it’s a terrible cross from Zabaleta. Too high, too hard. 1.44pm BST13:44 9 min: All of City’s chances have come from QPR mistakes. Kolarov hoofs long, Dunne ducks under the ball and Aguero oh-so-nearly latches onto it, but Green scampers out of his box and takes it off the toe of the City striker. Updated at 2.13pm BST 1.41pm BST13:41 8 min: QPR have hardly kicked the ball since they conceded, save for a free-kick which they pumped harmlessly into City’s box, which was easily gathered by Hart. This 3-5-2 idea isn’t looking like the best. 1.39pm BST13:39 This is desperately poor defending from QPR, they’ve started this game terribly. Aguero has time to turn, and travels 25 yards with the ball at his feet without a challenge. Eventually Phillips cuts in from the right to tackle the Argentinian, but it’s only a half-hearted challenge and actually takes the ball away from QPR covering defender, Caulker. Aguero is through on goal, and simply lifts the ball over the onrushing Green. 1-0. If Chris Ramsey had any hair, he would surely be pulling it out. 1.36pm BST13:36 GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 QPR (Aguero 5) Well that’s that then. Yeah? Updated at 1.45pm BST 1.36pm BST13:36 3 min: QPR are very lucky to still be in front. Fer plays a careless pass, which is easily intercepted by Silva. Aguero overlaps round the left and receives a pass, cuts inside Caulker and unleashes a shot… blocked by Dunne, who hacks clear. There was a suspicion on handball there, but Dunne’s block saved a certain goal. What a let off. 1.33pm BST13:33 2 min: It’s a strange atmosphere at the Etihad. Eerily quiet, to the point where you can hear people talking. A murmur if you will. There are lots of empty seats. 1.30pm BST13:30 Peeeeep! And we’re off. 1.29pm BST13:29 The teams are out: City is their sky blue, QPR in red and black stripes. It looks like QPR are going to play 3-5-2, with Yun and Phillips playing as wide players, with the pacy trio of Clint Hill, Richard Dunne and Steven Caulker at the back. They’re going for it. It’s either brave or stupid. 1.25pm BST13:25 @michaelbutler18 Close call between SWP and Dunnie. Dunnie was player of year for 3 years and was unfairly treated at end but SWP is a blue. @michaelbutler18 Don't think anybody misses Barton. Biggest thing he did for City was get sent off on that memorable afternoon 3 yrs ago. 1.18pm BST13:18 Manuel Pellegrini has been talking. An absolute master of statin-the-bleedin-obvious. Manuel Pellegrini: "Premier League games are difficult. QPR are trying to stay up and I'm sure they will fight for each ball." #MCIQPR Cheers Manuel. 12.58pm BST12:58 JOEY BARTON: CITY LEGEND (?) Barton is one of a number of players back at his old club today. Richard Dunne and Shaun Wright-Phillips also return. City fans, who of these three do you hold most dear? Answers on a postcard please to michael.butler@theguardian.com or you can tweet me @michaelbutler18 12.44pm BST12:44 Today’s teams: Kompany and Toure fit enough for the bench! Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Mangala, Demichelis, Kolarov, Fernando, Fernandinho, Milner, Lampard, Silva, Aguero. Subs: Sagna, Kompany, Dzeko, Caballero, Bony, Jesus Navas, Toure. QPR: Green, Caulker, Dunne, Hill, Phillips, Barton, Henry, Yun, Fer, Austin, Zamora. Subs: Wright-Phillips, McCarthy, Kranjcar, Hoilett, Furlong, Grego-Cox, Comley. Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral) 12.41pm BST12:41 Just some typical QPR news breaking an hour or so before kick-off, nothing to see here. The QPR midfielder Sandro has been ruled out of his club’s vital relegation clash against Manchester City due to an issue with his residency visa. The 26-year-old was due to start for his side, who are desperate for a win as they attempt to prolong their stay in the Premier League. However a problem with the expiry date on his visa has meant he can no longer play “The club can confirm it was informed by the Home Office on Thursday 7th May that there is an issue with Sandro’s UK Residency Visa,” read a QPR atatement. “The club are working with Sandro and the Home Office to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. While this is ongoing, the club have been advised not to select Sandro for match involvement.” If you want to read this in a proper article, with a picture and everything, you can do so here. If you want to see a video of Sandro being a good-time guy, playing his guitar, you can do so here… 12.32pm BST12:32 AGÜÜEERROOOOOOOOOO!!! Whether you recall the memory with fondness or disdain, that game will always be synonymous with this fixture. Among all the Sky Sports hyperbole and Best League In the World™ nonsense, it was a genuinely jaw-dropping moment. As with Liverpool in 2005, or Messi v Boateng on Wednesday, you didn’t have to be a fan of the relevant teams, you simply had to support Association Football to revel in the majesty of the moments. The fact that some people did support City that day, and went absolutely potty because of it, only serves to enhance the memory for the rest of us. But that was then, and this is now. The Premier League is crying out for a denouement akin to 2012, but alas: Chelsea have had the title wrapped up AGESSSSS ago, there isn’t really any any top-four race to speak of, West Ham are going to nab the Fifa Fair Play award (!!!) and there is only one relegation spot still to fight for. Probably. QPR are all but down. But in the interest of romance and an interesting MBM report, reader, they can still make it! Just! They have to win at the Etihad today, and beat Newcastle and Leicester, whilst hoping Hull mess up that both Sunderland and Newcastle fail to earn another point. It’s all very unlikely. QPR are bottom of the league, having earned just nine points in 2015, and travel to Manchester with the worst away record in the division, with just seven points from 17 matches, and have conceded a league-high 61 times. Gulp. At least there will be goals. Chris Ramsey has got to go for broke, which could lead to a dramatic 2012-esqe situation for Charlie Austin and co, but will probably result in City winning 5-0. Let’s wait and see. Kick-off: 1.30pm BST Updated at 12.33pm BST |