Dons 1 QPR 1: late heartbreak prevents famous win
A LATE goal spared the blushes of QPR and denied Dons what would have been a fully deserved win over their Premier League hosts.
In front of a record Dons crowd at stadiummk, the hosts played superbly in the FA Cup third round tie and were more than a match for the top flight opposition.
Dean Bowditch put Karl Robinson's men in front but with barely minutes left, a mix-up involving keeper David Martin allowed Heidar Helguson to pounce.
It was cruel luck for Dons who deserved their place in round four but the sides will have to do it all again at Loftus Road a week on Tuesday.
Karl Robinson was able to take his place on the touchline for the game after being sent to the stands against Colchester on Monday, as his FA hearing has yet to be heard.
Striker Charlie MacDonald missed out on the tie with a knee problem, meaning that Jabo Ibehre played as the lone striker, and Dan Powell was promoted into the starting line-up.
Adam Smith returned from suspension to play at right back and Shaun Williams kept his place in defence at the expense of Mathias Doumbe who dropped to the bench.
Hoops boss Neil Warnock made five changes but stuck to his promise of naming a strong side for the tie.
It was an attacking line-up which took to the pitch for the Premier League new boys including Jamie Mackie, Tommy Smith, DJ Campbell and on-loan Manchester United forward Federico Macheda.
Both sides started brightly and there were early chances at either end of the pitch.
Bowditch just missed out on connecting with Powell's well placed cross and Scotland international Mackie lashed high and wide for Rangers after chasing down a beautifully weighted through ball.
Ibehre then slipped in behind the QPR back-line but the Hoops were able to recover before the frontman could get his shot away.
Dons then strung together a beautiful move and at the end of it they thought they had opened the scoring.
It started in defence with a lovely bit of skill by Williams and the hosts sublimely played the ball out from the back to allow skipper Dean Lewington space for a surging run up field.
The captain played in Luke Chadwick who forced a save from Radek Cerny, but when Ibehre tapped home the scraps what would have been an excellent team goal was ruled out by an offside flag.
It was a lightning start to the match with action in both boxes and both sides seemed intent on winning the tie.
Macheda's threatening cross was narrowly out of Campbell's reach and Chadwick could only shoot straight at Cerny after Ibehre, following a strong forward run that began in his own half, had set up him with a side-footed cross.
Dons then had a strong shout for a penalty which was waved away by ref Michael Oliver.
Powell received the ball deep into the area and after initially slipping he fired in a shot at the second time of asking which seemed to be blocked on its route to goal by Clint Hill's hand.
The ball spun out of play and Dons were only awarded a corner much to Robinson's bemusement on the touchline, and there was suddenly more drama at the other end when Campbell slotted the ball past David Martin.
There were cheers from the away end but just like Ibehre's effort earlier the goal was ruled out for offside and the match remained scoreless.
Dons were breaking superbly against their higher level visitors who allowed them plenty of room and no gulf in leagues was noticeable as the match ebbed and flowed.
Smith darted forward and found Powell but the winger took the ball too close to the keeper when well placed and the chance came and went.
This was a recurring theme as strong runs forward often ended before Dons could provide a killer touch but it was encouraging how often they were cutting through QPR up until the final moment.
Robinson was forced into a central defensive change at half-time with Gary MacKenzie making way for Doumbe and the hosts picked up where they left off with another quick move into Rangers territory.
Powell found the overlapping Smith – although Bowditch was better positioned on the other flank – but the full-back's delivery fitted the bill as neither a cross or shot and drifted disappointingly wide.
At the other end Tommy Smith dragged a weakly hit effort for QPR – their first shot on goal for some time – before Macheda's cross was slightly too well struck for Campbell.
The striker could have no excuses moments later though when Macheda again delivered from the left flank.
This time Campbell was well placed for a simple header at the back post but he somehow conspired to nod wide from just yards out – spurning the best chance of the match.
Campbell was replaced soon after for QPR's top scorer Helguson, an excellent player in the air, but the Icelandic player had barely touched it when Dons forced their way in front thanks to his error.
Lewington put in a superb tackle to stop a QPR break and Dons won a corner immediately afterwards which Rangers failed to clear.
Williams chipped back in towards the back post and Helguson made a mess of trying to chest the ball, allowing Bowditch to nip in and bury a finish at Cerny's far corner.
There was no let-up as Dons maintained their blistering tempo and they continued to soar forward at pace, while QPR also mounted attacks but with little urgency.
With ten minutes remaining Martin had not been forced into a save and the frustrated away supporters launched into a chant of 'Premier League, you're having a laugh' when another move fizzed out to nothing.
A further blow was struck for QPR when Alejandro Faurlin was carried off – but as Neil Warnock had used all three substitutes his team had to finish the game with ten men.
It looked like it would be the Dons' day but disaster struck with two minutes of regulation time remaining with a QPR leveller from nothing.
Martin rushed to the edge of his box to collect a bouncing through ball but he couldn't reach it, allowing Helguson to nip around the keeper and slot the ball home.
It was an awful mix-up after 90 minutes of battling work for Dons against the Premier League boys.
The goal gave QPR emphasis with five minutes of stoppage time left but the game ticked to a conclusion to confirm the replay.
Dons: Martin, A.Smith, Lewington, MacKenzie (Doumbe 46), Gleeson, Potter, Bowditch, Williams, Powell, Ibehre, Chadwick. Unused subs: McLoughlin, Flanagan, O'Shea, Lobjoit, Alli, Collins.
Goals: Bowditch.
QPR: Cerny, Young, Hill, Hall, Gabbidon, Derry (Buzsaky 77), Faurlin, Mackie, T.Smith, Campbell (Helguson 61), Macheda (Bothroyd 71). Unused subs: Connolly, Murphy, Andrade, Orr.
Goals: Helguson.
Ref: Michael Oliver
Att: 19,506 :laugh:
