...Qpr v Man.United

17. marts 1996

Match Report: Premier League Qpr 1-1 Man United

Copyright 1996 The Sunday Telegraph Limited

BYLINE: By PATRICK BARCLAY at Loftus Road

QPR 1 MAN UNITED 1 THE BRAVE and adventurous approach of Ray Wilkins

was so nearly granted full vindication. His team, gravely threatened by

relegation, were only seconds from what would have been an invigorating

first home victory of the year when Eric Cantona's equaliser put

Manchester United on top of the Premiership. A single point, though,

disappointed both sides, for United, once their gratitude at taking

something from an epic match had worn off, could reflect on a lost

opportunity to increase the pressure on Newcastle, trailing for the first

time since September but merely on goal difference with the first of their

two matches in hand at St James' Park tomorrow night. United

outclassed Queens Park Rangers in the first half when it seemed Wilkins'

decision to employ three up front would backfire badly and Jurgen Sommer

had to perform heroics in goal to prevent a rout. Yet Wilkins had another

idea - and sending on Andrew Impey to work the right flank after the

interval was a good one. The resurgent spirit of his players forced Denis

Irwin to concede an own goal from which United, for all their fire, struggled

to recover until in the third minute of stoppage time a clever cross from Ryan Giggs floated over Sommer and a crowd of defenders to

Cantona, whose ninth goal in 13 matches was the simplest of headers into an

unguarded net. Poor Rangers. Owing much to the industry of names

seldom acclaimed - Simon Barker and Ian Holloway in midfield notably - they

had made their neat little stadium reverberate. But one point was

not enough for them either. Two lost compounded the woes of their

popular manager, who said afterwards that the referee, Robbie Hart, had

added time for undue delays by Sommer. Asked if he had known that before,

Wilkins replied: "Only in the Super Bowl." An 11th consecutive

win for United appeared inexorable before the interval. Rangers fought as if

well aware their Premiership lives depended on it - and were still so

embarrassed by United's quality, especially in hitting swiftly on the

break, that Sommer was obliged to bring off difficult saves from

Giggs, Brian McClair and David Beckham, whose crisp, first-time shot he did

outstandingly well to stop with a outstretched hand. There was

nothing he could do about Giggs' ball into the goalmouth from the left,

where theWelshman was tormenting David Bardsley; only the mercy of Andy

Cole, who side-footed wide, reprieved Rangers on this occasion. In

retrospect it was a costly miss by the pounds 7 million man. Nevertheless,

few could have guessed that Alex Ferguson had taken any

risk in begging to contradict the old saying that you should never change a

winning team. He had left both Nicky Butt, one of his most improved

players, and Lee Sharpe on the bench and rested Philip Neville, giving

McClair a first start since before Christmas. But all three substitutes

were to see action as the match turned and began to slip away

from United. The effect of Impey's introduction was radical,

emphasised almost immediately when a corner was cleared to him 25 yards out

and he thumped the ball with such power and accuracy that Peter

Schmeichel's achievement in touching it over the crossbar took the breath

away. Rangers remained in control and the growing tension of the exchanges

was illustrated by a mini-brawl after which the restored David

May, having fouled then jostled Trevor Sinclair, was cautioned.

Ferguson reacted by using the first of his substitutes, but Paul Scholes,

his leading scorer, was powerless to repel the hooped tide and Rangers moved

in front, their relentless effort pulling the United defence apart

so that Holloway was able to find Daniele Dichio in space to the

left of the penalty area; he tried to curl the ball inside the far post and,

though it may or may not have gone in, Irwin felt impelled to

intervene with a header that fairly flew into the opposite corner of the

net. Sinclair, one of those being scrutinised by Terry Venables, was the

third prong of Wilkins' attack and rather spoiled a resourceful display

by missing a relatively simple opportunity to increase Rangers'

lead towards the end. There was still time for Scholes to shoot high,

and Roy Keane inches wide, before Cantona sent Rangers, in the

words of Wilkins, "from euphoria to anger and depression". And probably

an acceptance of their fate.