Norwich City 0 QPR 1: Tireless Rowlands rewards Dowie's faith

John Nisbet
Wednesday 17 September 2008 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Queen's Park Rangers enhanced their promotion credentials as Martin Rowland's first-half free-kick earned Iain Dowie's 10-men all three points against Norwich at Carrow Road.

Rowlands' goal came when his ferocious 30th-minute free-kick from 20 yards evaded everyone, including the helpless Canaries goalkeeper David Marshall to give the visitors an unexpected lead. The goal came just five minutes after Dowie's men had been reduced to 10 men after Matthew Connolly had been dismissed for a second bookable offence.

The hosts dominated the second period, but the visitors withstood late pressure to hang on for a hard-fought three points.

QPR have started to live up to the expectations created by their Flavio Briatore-funded summer spending spree, but after 25 minutes they found themselves on the receiving end of the referee Rob Shoebridge's wrath as Connolly was dismissed for a second bookable offence. The defender had been booked 15 minutes earlier and, after a reckless lunge on Matty Pattison, Shoebridge had little hesitation in giving Connolly his marching orders.

Dowie left the Real Madrid loanee Daniel Parejo on the bench in favour of the tireless Rowlands and, five minutes after the red card, his decision was vindicated as Rowlands smashed home the opener with a free-kick from 20 yards after Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma's free-kick had been handled in the wall.

Norwich: Marshall; Omozusi, Kennedy (Grounds, 62), Stefanovic, Pattison, Fotheringham, Russell, Bertrand, Hoolahan (Cureton, 66), Sibierski, Lupoli (Croft, 46). Substitutes not used: Nelson (gk), Koroma.

Queen's Park Rangers: Cerny; Ramage, Stewart, Connolly, Delaney, Rowlands, Mahon, Leigertwood, Cook (Gorkss, 30), Blackstock (Agyemang, 77), Ledesma (Buzsaky, 82). Substitutes not used: Camp, Parejo, Agyemang.

Referee: R Shoebridge (Derbyshire)

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in