EPL: Reading and QPR relegated after drab draw
London:
Reading and QPR have both been relegated from the Premier League after
the two sides played out a turgid 0-0 stalemate at the Madejski Stadium
on Sunday afternoon.Pavel Pogrebnyak had the best of the chances for the hosts, missing out in a goalmouth scramble and firing wide, while Adel Taarabt wasted several opportunities for Harry Redknapp’s side before Robert Green saved late on from Sean Morrison.
The result confirms both sides’ drop to the Championship as neither side can catch both Aston Villa and Wigan, with the two playing each other on the final day of the season.
Adam Federici was still ruled out with an ankle problem, meaning that Alex McCarthy kept his place in the Reading goal as Nigel Adkins named the same XI from the defeat to Norwich City.
Redknapp, meanwhile, made five changes from QPR’s loss at home to Stoke City, bringing Nedum Onouha in for Chris Samba at the back while Armand Traore returned at full-back. There were also starts for Esteban Granero, Jermaine Jenas and Jay Bothroyd in the Rs line-up.
The tension was palpable around the ground as the game got under way but Granero had the best chance early on as he grazed the crossbar with a free kick, before the visitors had a glorious opportunity when Bothroyd latched on to the Spaniard’s lofted pass and tried to lift the ball over McCarthy - but the ball dropped inches wide of the post.
Reading soon enjoyed a sustained period of pressure but could not fashion a chance, before Adel Taarabt hammered wide from the edge of the box at the other end.
The impressive Jobi McAnuff was then fouled by Jose Bosingwa and Garath McCleary’s header back from the free kick was nearly diverted in by first Pogrebnyak and then Adrian Mariappa but Bosingwa cleared off the line and QPR somehow survived.
The hosts had two penalties denied within a few minutes by the referee as Nick Blackman was brought down before Bosingwa challenged Stephen Kelly, but the officials were not interested.
McAnuff then saw his swerving effort parried away by Green in first-half stoppage time as the hosts went into the break the better of the two sides.
Both sides started rapidly in the second half, with corners at both ends, and Loic Remy headed over for the visitors before setting up an excellent chance for Taarabt, who scuffed his shot straight at the goalkeeper from 12 yards.
Reading soon found their rhythm again and Pogrebnyak showed excellent skill to cut inside Bosingwa before curling an effort just the wrong side of Green’s far post.
Both sides made changes, knowing that a draw would not be enough, but the wave of substitutions slowed the game right down. Jenas fired a volley just over before spurning a glorious opportunity, slicing wide after good work by Bothroyd.
Morrison`s powerful header was denied late on by Green who did well to tip the ball over before McCarthy gathered a Bothroyd effort at the second attempt, but the game ended goalless, confirming the inevitable relegation for both sides. --------------------- ZEENEWS.com
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