Emmanuel Ledesma shows rich promise as QPR battle to win
THE MILLIONAIRES have moved in, but there was scant sign at the moment of an early return to the Premier League by Queens Park Rangers. No comparison at all on the field with the halcyon days of Rodney Marsh, Stan Bowles and Gerry Francis. Or that tantalising, devastating day of the season in 1976 when a totally untypical blunder at Norwich in goal by Phil Parkes doomed QPR to defeat, allowing Liverpool to steal the Championship a point ahead.
Though the Formula One Croesus Flavio Briatore, Lakshmi Mittal and Bernie Ecclestone have all committed themselves to the club, expenditure so far has been very moderate. Loans before actual transfers you might say.
One of them yesterday featured arguably the best player on the field in the shape of the right flanker Emmanuel Ledesma, a young Argentine on loan from Genoa.
When he was eventually substituted 84 minutes into the game, he departed to a significant burst of applause from the QPR fans.
After an uneasy start, especially in defence, QPR gradually settled down against a Barnsley team that last season sensationally eliminated Liverpool away and Chelsea at home en route to a Wembley semi-final of the FA Cup.
Their manager, Simon Davey, though he deplored the two disastrous first half minutes when they gave away both the lead and a couple of goals, feels he has a stronger team than last season.
“I’m pleased with the players other than those two minutes. We’re a stronger team, Darren Moore has come in to give some strength to the back four. We’ll be a better team this season so you’ve not seen the best of us yet.”
Alas, it was Moore who carelessly and clumsily gave away a 58th minute penalty when he brought down Dexter Blackstock in the box. Though fortunately for him the massive QPR centre-back Fitz Hall, who had scored both his teams first half goals, had his shot saved low to his right by the excellent Luke Steele.
Hall’s goals came in almost bewilderingly rapid succession in the 28th and 29th minutes. First, Ledesma’s free kick was saved by Steele, and Blackstock drove the ball against the bar only for Hall to head in. Next minute, just inside the box, the defender hooked in a loose ball. Well might his manager Iain Dowie praise his powerful right foot despite that penalty.
Barnsley’s goal came on four minutes scored by new signing Iain Hume when the lively Brian Howard’s through ball split a distracted home defence.
On 83 minutes, Barnsley’s Marciano Van Homoet was sent off for a lamentable foul on Daniel Pardjo.
Star man: Emmanuel Ledesma (QPR)
Yellow card: L Cook (QPR)
Red card: M van Homoet 83min (Barnsley)
Referee: N Swarbrick
Attendance:14,964
QPR: Cerny 6, Ramage 6, Hall 6, Gorkss 6, Delaney 6, Agyem-ang 6 (Parejo 72min), Mahon 6, Leigertwood 6, Ledesma 8 (Alberti 84min), Cook 6, Blackstock 6
BARNSLEY: Steele 8, Foster 6, Moore 6, Souza 6, Van Homoet 4, Devaney 7, Hassell 7 (Leon 84min), Howard 7, El Hiamaur 6 (Leon 79min), Hume 7, Macken 6 (Odejayi 84min)
