Played
November 28, 2012 3:45 AM SGT
Stadium of Light — Sunderland
Referee: A. Marriner
Attendance: 36513
November 28, 2012 3:45 AM SGT
Stadium of Light — Sunderland
Referee: A. Marriner
Attendance: 36513
Top of the Match
Danny Rose
Sunderland
Sunderland
Adel Taarabt
QPR
QPR
Flop of the Match
Craig Gardner
Sunderland
Sunderland
Djibril Cissé
QPR
QPR
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Sunderland 0-0 QPR: Redknapp regime underway with goalless draw
The veteran manager was welcomed back to the top flight with a welcome point away from home in a game lacking any moments of real quality
By Alex Hess
Getty Images
Harry Redknapp's first game in charge of QPR ended in what is likely to be a satisfactory draw with Sunderland in Tuesday night's Premier League clash.
Though the result will not lift the R’s from the bottom of the table – no outcome would have – an away point, and a performance palpably injected with increased confidence and togetherness, will offer the club’s new manager with plenty to build on as his side enters a string of winnable games in December.
Martin O’Neill’s side, meanwhile, remain in the league's lower echlons, having failed to move significantly clearer of the relegation zone.Redknapp shuffled the pack for his new side, bringing in Esteban Granero, Samba Diakite and Jose Bosingwa back into his starting line-up after Saturday's defeat at Old Trafford.
Martin O'Neill, meanwhile, brought in Craig Gardner and Matthew Kilgallon, with Jack Colback and the injured John O'Shea making way.
The Northern Irishman's decision to risk fielding Lee Cattermole - a doubt before the game - almost immediately backfired, however, as his captain was forced off wih a recurrence of his recent knee injury after only five minutes, replaced in midfield by Colback.
Given the two sides were supposedly lacking in confidence, the game's opening stages were not short of attacking ambition - especially from the visitors. Armand Traore was rarely shy of making his way forward from left-back, while Adel Taarabt's trademark flair too was in plentiful supply.
Less surprising, though, was the game's dearth of technical quality, as Djibril Cisse, Steven Fletcher and Stephane Sessegnon all turned half-chances into tame efforts on goal in the first 20 minutes, and neither side appeared capable of retaining meaningful possession through much of the first period. Tidy ball use from the likes of Granero and Seb Larsson proved largely the exception to a rule of overriding scrappiness.
The latter phase of the half provided a clear chance for each side, however, as Jamie Mackie and Fletcher both saw almost identical chances blocked by onrushing goalkeepers following well-weighted through balls.
A groin injury to Julio Cesar meant that England international Robert Green became the game's second forced introduction at the interval, and the substitute was twice employed early on in the second half, smothering a whipped left-wing cross from Adam Johnson before getting down superbly to keep out a powerful close-range header from Fletcher.
Green was again tested by a speculative long-range strike from Larsson, while substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips saw his shot rebound off the legs of Simon Mignolet after a smart late breakaway.
In the end, though, neither side could conjure a chance truly worthy of sealing the three points, though with QPR desperately needing any sort of result and the home side having kept a much-needed clean sheet, a draw is perhaps not the worst compromise for both parties.
| Make a deposit now and earn up to SGD 388 bonus from 188BET! |
|
| Sign up with Ladbrokes for a free bet up to $100 |
|
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In SGT
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Robin van Persie Striker Man. United |
26 | 3 |
|
Luis Suárez Striker Liverpool |
23 | 0 |
|
Gareth Bale Midfielder Tottenham |
21 | 0 |
|
C. Benteke Striker Aston Villa |
19 | 3 |
|
Michu Midfielder Swansea City |
19 | 0 |