Sport

Plenty of work left to avoid dropping into mire

Swansea 1 QPR 1: TWO TEAMS in need of a win to keep them out of the relegation dogfight could manage only a point apiece and…

JOE LOVEJOY
Wed Dec 28 2011 - 00:00

Swansea 1 QPR 1:TWO TEAMS in need of a win to keep them out of the relegation dogfight could manage only a point apiece and, promoted from the Championship last summer, they are by no means safe from returning whence they came.

Swansea, knocking the ball around fluently as is their custom, were rewarded for a bright start with a goal in the 14th minute.

Danny Graham, well attended, appeared to have nowhere to go when Wayne Routledge’s pass from the right found him on the edge of the penalty area but the Welsh club’s record signing turned one way and then the other, bemusing Luke Young and Fitz Hall, before burying a right-footed shot low inside Paddy Kenny’s left-hand post.

QPR claimed the ball hit Graham’s hand during his execution and replays suggested they had a case but it was a quality finish nevertheless for his sixth goal in his last 11 games.

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Graham had Kenny scrambling again, this time to his right, to keep out another low drive struck from the edge of the 18-yard area.

At half-time QPR had only Joey Barton’s shot from distance, comfortably saved, and a couple of inaccurate headers to show for much inconsequential huffing and puffing.

In the 58th minute, however, with the game turned scrappy, they drew level with a “route one” equaliser.

Leon Britton made a hash of repelling Kenny’s long clearance, succeeding only in back-heading the ball to Jamie Mackie, who avoided Ashley Williams before shooting past Michel Vorm at close range.

Swansea claimed in vain for a penalty when Graham went down under challenge from Armand Traore but the force was with QPR now and the increasingly influential Adel Taarabt would have given them victory from 20 yards but for a top-notch save from Vorm.

Guardian Service

SWANSEA: Vorm, Rangel (Moore 57), Williams, Caulker, Richards, Sinclair, Britton,Agustien, Allen, Routledge (Dyer 56), Graham. Subs not used: Tremmel, Dobbie Monk, Lita, Gower. Booked: Richards.

QPR: Kenny, Young, Hill, Hall, Traore, Mackie Barton, Derry, Faurlin, Taarabt, Helguson. Subs not used: Cerny, Orr, Gabbidon, Bothroyd, Connolly, Smith, Wright-Phillips. Booked: Hill, Barton, Taarabt.

Referee: Lee Probert(Wiltshire).