QUEENS PARK RANGERS 2 (Hall 29, 31)
BARNSLEY 1 (Hume 5, Van Homoet Sent Off 84)
BARNSLEY showed more than a glimpse of a bright Oakwell future as they dominated Queens Park Rangers for most of the game but just could not find a goal which would have rocked Loftus Road to its foundations.
It was the dawn of a new era at Rangers and Reds boss Simon Davey sent his side out to crash the billionaire's party on the opening day of the season. There were debuts for Darren Moore, Mounir El Haimour and Iain Hume as Barnsley looked to end a 58-year jinx at Loftus Road and pick up all three points. Latest signing Maceo Rigters was on the bench.
Rangers, under the guidance of Iain Dowie, handed debuts to Radek Cerny, Kaspars Gorkss, Peter Ramage, Emmanuel Ledesma and Lee Cook while Real Madrid star Daniel Parejo was on the bench. Although the first day of a new season is normally one of the hottest days of the year, the Reds met driving rain and wind inside a new-look Loftus Road, which has had a massive facelift since last term.
The teams entered the stadium to the kind of firework display normally reserved for Olympic opening ceremonies as Rangers announced their intentions to blow away the Championship dramatic fashion.
Bobby Hassell stamped his authority on a mouthwatering midfield battle with Gavin Mahon with just seconds on the clock as the Reds star flew into a crunching challenge which left the ex-Watford man limping. Barnsley should have been in front on two minutes when Martin Devaney's burst and pass gave Jon Macken a great chance on the penalty spot but the striker could only shoot straight at Cerny. At the other end Luke Steele was called into action seconds later when he had to claw away Mikele Leigertwood's header. Devaney had Rangers at sixes and sevens again on five minutes when his cross fell to Brian Howard but the skipper saw his shot cannon away off a defender.
Barnsley's excellent start finally had its rewards just seconds later when Howard's pass split the Rangers defence wide open and Hume raced through to mark his debut with a fine finish.
Hume got in again on nine minutes when he drifted off the back of Gorkss to meet Marciano Van Homoet's cross but could not put his header past Cerny. The QPR keeper had to be at his very, very best just seconds later when Hume raced clear yet again and thundered a shot goalward but Cerny managed to parry the ball away to safety. Leigertwood managed to head over his own crossbar on 13 minutes from Howard's great inswinging corner as the Reds lay siege to the Rangers goal. The second was only a yard or so away on 14 minutes when El Haimour let fly from 20 yards but his well-struck effort flew wide of the post with Cerny well beaten.
Rangers pace and power threatened on the counter attack and the odd half sniff lifted the Loftus Road crowd. The hosts got one in on Steele on 20 minutes Emmanuel Ledesma let fly from 25 yards but the Reds keeper was always behind the ball and made a comfortable stop. Steele then managed to hold Leigertwood's drive two minutes later.
Rangers were gifted a great chance on 28 minutes when Devaney was inexplicably adjudged to have fouled Cook on the edge of the area. Barnsley paid for a howler of a decision when Steele could only parry Ledesma's free kick out to Fitz Hall, who netted at the second attempt after smashing his first effort against the bar.
Things went from bad to worse just two minutes later when the Reds thought they had dealt with Cook's corner only for Hall to smash the ball back past Steele and into the roof of the net from 30 yards.
Patrick Agyemang was a couple of feet away from a third goal for Rangers on 41 minutes when he lashed a shot just wide from distance after holding off Dennis Souza.
Barnsley were left scratching their heads in the opening stages of the second half by a string of baffling decisions by the officials which repeatedly pegged the Reds back and cut short their bright start. They finally got a decision on 52 minutes when Cook went straight through Howard 30 yards from goal although there was no way the winger could have got away without a caution. Hume's free kick smacked the wall and was easy for Cerny to take although he keeper opted to punch clear. Steele then did well at the other end on 55 minutes when he raced out of his goal to deny Agyemang a certain strike after Rangers had struck on the counter.
Rangers had the benefit of another controversial refereeing decision on 58 minutes when Blackstock threw himself over Moore's outstretched leg and hit the deck in the area. Barnsley were incensed as the official pointed to the spot but justice was done when Steele dove well to save Hall's penalty.
Hume and Macken almost created an opening for El Haimour on 67 minutes but the wet pitch just beat the Frenchman and the ball skidded through to Cerny. Steele again had to be at his very best on 69 minutes to turn Ladesma's well-struck free kick around the foot of the post. Barnsley still pushed on and only Hall's fine header stopped Souza hauling the Reds back level on 75 minutes after Moore had knocked the ball across goal from Howard's free kick. The visitors had a massive let off just a minute later when Blackstock managed to get behind Van Homoet but his shot flashed well wide of Steele's far post.
Moore then almost beat Cerny to another dangerous Howard free kick on 78 minutes as the Barnsley onslaught continued to force Rangers deeper and deeper. The Reds could have had a penalty on 80 minutes when Macken's header struck Hall's arm in the area but nothing was given. Cerny then got down quickly make a smart stop on 81 minutes after Hassell's free kick looked to be creeping in at the post.
The game finally went away from the Reds on 83 minutes following a moment of madness by Van Homoet on the half way line. The Dutchman, riled by a late challenge, lunged into Ladesma and took the winger out at knee height giving the referee no alternative but to brandish a straight red card.
Although down to ten men, Simon Davey threw caution to the wind with Kayode Odejayi and Diego Leon replacing Macken and Hassell on 84 minutes but that deserved second goal just would not come. Rigters did manage to get a sight of goal in stoppage time as he raced through only to be taken down by a tackle from behind. Hall did take the ball but had gone straight through the Dutchman and got the decision to play on.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS: Cerny, Delaney, Mahon, Hall, Leigertwood, Blackstock, Agyemang (Parejo 72), Gorkss, Ramage, Cook, Ledesma (Alberti 84).
Subs: Camp, Connolly, Balanta.
BARNSLEY: Steele, Foster, Moore, Souza, Van Homoet, Devaney, Howard, Hassell (Leon 84), El Haimour (Rigters 74), Macken (Odejayi 84), Hume.
Subs: Kozluk, Mostto.
Referee: Mr ND Swarbrick
Assistant Referee: Mr IF Bentley
Assistant Referee: Mr W Bull
Fourth Official: Mr MF Thompson
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