QPR pull off Villa upset
Villa dominated from start to finish but a second-half header from Damion Stewart handed Iain Dowie’s side a superb victory.
The hosts peppered the QPR goal, with John Carew, Gareth Barry and Wayne Routledge all missing fantastic chances, but could not find the elusive equaliser
Villa boss Martin O’Neill rested keeper Brad Friedel and Gabriel Agbonlahor but otherwise kept a strong side, faced with the Championship’s richest club.
And the hosts were quickly on top, gaining the upper hand in the middle of the pitch and pegging the visitors’ back.
Marlon Harewood should have given themthe lead on ten minutes when released through the middle by a deft through ball from Gareth Barry.
The powerful striker was faced with Radek Cerny in the QPR goal, but wasted a glorious chance shooting over from 12 yards when he should have done better.
Villa continued to press, but found further clear-cut chances hard to come by. Isaiah Osbourne worked his way into the QPR box and threatened down the right side.
Osbourne had the chance to pull the trigger but unselfishly looked to square the ball and his cross was cut out by a sprawling Cerny.
Villa looked comfortably in control as QPR continued to lose possession in the middle of the pitch, but the West Londoners did have a sight of goal on 25 minutes.
Daniel Parejo, on loan from Real Madrid, fired in a free-kick that looked goal-bound before it glanced off the top of the wall and flew over the bar.
That was as close as QPR came in the first half while Villa continued to probe and prod in front of the visitors' back four.
Harewood should have put them ahead moments before the break after fine build up play involving Barry and Ashley Young. Young beat QPR right back Matthew Connolly on the right-hand side and whipped the ball into Harewood, who again could not keep his effort on target and headed over from six yards out.
And QPR made the hosts pay for their profligacy ten minutes after the restart. The lively Parejo picked up a loose ball on the right-hand side and put in a deep cross that found Stewart rising above the Villa defence to head the ball home.
With Villa chasing the game, QPR began a rear-guard action and bravely tried set about keeping the hosts at bay.
But John Carew had a fantastic chance to drag them back in the game midway through the second half. Ashley Young, who was a constant threat, whipped in a dangerous cross that found Carew unmarked in the middle.
The big striker was six yards out but could not direct his header either side of the keeper and left Cerny with a simple stop as Villa fans waited for the net to bulge.
And minutes later Villa missed the chance of the match. Barry ran onto a long ball forward from Nicky Shorey, and found himself one-on-one with Cerny through the middle. The former Villa skipper lifted his effort over the keeper but placed it wide of the left-hand post.
And with Villa still bemoaning thjeir luck, QPR raced up the other end and almost doubled their advantage through Parejo. The young Spaniard fired in an effort that was excellently saved by stand-in stopper Brad Guzan diving to his right.
With time ticking away, substitute Wayne Routledge had another excellent chance to pull the hosts level, but sliced a late effort wide of Cerny's goal.
