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- VIDEO: QPR and Warnock Celebrating
CHAMPIONS
QPR 45 40 88
Norwich 44 24 80
Cardiff 44 25 79
Swansea 45 23 77
Reading 45 25 74
Nott'm F 45 16 72
Leeds 45 10 69
Full Table
- AUDIO OF WARNOCK'S COMMENTS (Final Few Seconds sounds just a little vague about his QPR Future)
Racing Post/Ian Wilkerson - Firms pay out on QPR despite investigation By Ian Wilkerson
- HILLS, Bet365 and Skybet have decided to pay out on QPR winning the Championship even though Neil Warnock’s side may face a points deduction this week.
- Rangers took an unassailable lead at the top of the second tier with a 2-0 victory at Watford yesterday but face an FA investigation this week into a possible breach of the Football League’s ruled over the third-party ownership of players.
- The player at the centre of the controversy is Alejandro Faurlin and the FA is set to hear QPR’s case on Tuesday with a verdict set to be delivered on Friday.
- Boylesports and Blue Square will decide on Friday what action to take but Hills have seen enough..." Racing Post
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - WARNOCK: 'MY FINEST MOMENT'
- Neil Warnock saw his QPR side clinch the npower Championship title - and dubbed it his 'finest moment' in football management.
- In a match of very few clear-cut chances, a stalemate beckoned with Watford before goals from Adel Taarabt and Tommy Smith ensured the Championship trophy will now head to Loftus Road.
- Moments after the final whistle, an emotional Warnock told www.qpr.co.uk: "I'm elated. It's a wonderful feeling to finish as Champions. We've deserved it.
- "We've had such a turnaround in 13 months and I'm so proud of my players.
- "I told them at half-time that we're 45 minutes away from remembering something for the rest of our lives.
- "I thought it epitomised our whole season today.
- "We lost Paddy Kenny in the warm-up, Fitz Hall went off injured and Clint Hill's ankle was in pieces so he couldn't make it.
- "But other lads came in and you saw how much of a group we were today.
- "We've been a great group and have got some character - the bread and butter players and then we've got some quality as well.
- "We've been magnificent. That's 25 clean sheets. It takes some beating.
- "We came under a bit of pressure in the second half but instead of being negative, we decided to leave Adel Taarabt on.
- "It's always a difficult game at Watford. But we were superb. We had to hang on in there but then took the opportunities to win the match."
- Warnock added: "It's been a fantastic season for me. I've never enjoyed myself as much in my life.
- "It's my finest moment. There's no comparison with the other promotions that I've won in my managerial career.
- "I thought I'd be retired by now. Instead, I've got the best team that I've ever had and I've loved it.
- "I've always wanted to manage a team that can go anywhere and win. That's why I've always envied people like Sir Alex Ferguson.
- "The fans and everyone behind the scenes at the Club have been fantastic.
- "Everyone has been really supportive and it's nice to repay that by getting them to where they want to be.
- "Times like this don't happen very often in football and you have to savour every minute." QPR
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - R’S BACK IN THE BIG TIME!
- Queens Park Rangers today (Saturday) sealed their return to the top-flight of English football.
- A 2-0 victory against Watford at Vicarage Road clinched promotion to the Premier League for Neil Warnock's men - and with it, the npower Championship title.
- After a 15-year absence, the R's will now take their place in the top tier, alongside the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as local rivals Chelsea and Fulham.
- On behalf of the Board of Directors, the Club wishes to thank you all for your FAN-tastic support this season.
- Come on you R's! QPR
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
QPR clinched the npower Championship title thanks to a 2-0 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road.
Rangers skipper Adel Taarabt - the division's Player of the Year - saved his finest moment of the campaign for the R's penultimate fixture of the season.
With the clock showing 77 minutes, the Magical Moroccan deftly converted Tommy Smith's centre to send the R's fans into raptures.
The R's added a second in added time, as Smith turned from provider to scorer to drive at the Hornets defence and rifle a low effort into the bottom left-hand corner of the net for his 100th career goal.
In a game of few clear-cut chances, Neil Warnock's men just shaded things, with stand-in keeper Radek Cerny forced into only one meaningful stop throughout the 90 minutes.
Warnock made two changes to his Rangers team for the short trip to face the Golden Boys in a 4-2-3-1 formation - both enforced due to injury.
Clint Hill missed out owing to an ankle injury picked up in training and was replaced by Matt Connolly.
Meanwhile, Paddy Kenny was injured during the warm-up (shoulder), meaning Cerny came into the starting XI just half an hour before the big kick-off to replace the R's number one.
Former Watford fans' favourites Smith and Heidar Helguson both also featured for QPR and were given a healthy reception by the home faithful.
Cerny was in goal for QPR, with Bradley Orr, Fitz Hall, Kaspars Gorkss and Connolly making-up the back four.
Shaun Derry and Alejandro Faurlin were in defensive midfield, behind attacking trio Wayne Routledge, Taarabt and Smith.
Helguson led the Rangers line up front.
Intent on registering a positive result that would seal promotion to the Premier League, the R's started sprightly and almost edged in front inside the first minute.
Neat interplay between Taarabt and Smith eventually saw the former hang a teasing cross from the left to the back post for Helguson, who - albeit on the stretch - could direct an effort with his chest into the side-netting.
Rangers were asking questions of the Hornets early on.
Connolly did remarkably well to reach Faurlin's pass out wide on the left and, when the R's defender looped a high centre from the by-line into the direction of Helguson, the Icelandic front-man out-jumped his marker before forcing a smart save from Scott Loach.
Play then switched to the other end, where Troy Deeney drove at the QPR defence before unleashing a powerful effort that shot just past the left-hand upright.
Moments later, Martin Taylor's measured pass found Lloyd Doyley out wide on the left, who beat his marker before opting to shoot - rather than square the ball back to a whole host of waiting recipients - as the ball sailed over the crossbar.
But the R's were soon back on the attack and, after Taarabt's low free-kick from 30-yards out was spilled by Loach, Adrian Mariappa reacted fastest to knock the ball out of play for a corner.
Rangers then missed arguably their best chance of the half to take the lead.
Smith combined with Taarabt down the left, before the Moroccan ace used his silky skills to beat his marker and square the ball back for the onrushing Faurlin, who could only blaze a shot over the bar from 12-yards out.
The Hornets missed a fine opportunity of their own to find the net before half-time.
Deeney out-muscled Connolly on the right and, when the Watford striker found Championship top scorer Graham at the near post, he got in front of his marker before nodding an effort just inches wide of the target.
Faurlin forced Loach into a stunning one-handed save five minutes after the break.
Taarabt picked out the unmarked Argentinean midfield man from a corner on the edge of the box, before Faurlin's subsequent effort was magnificently tipped over the bar by the Hornets keeper.
At the other end, Don Cowie's quick corner deflected into the path of Deeney, whose half-volley was cleared off the line by a forest of R's bodies.
Chances were few and far between in the second period, though - if anything - Watford were the better side after the interval.
However, regardless of that fact, the R's always kept their shape and were rewarded when Taarabt all-but claimed the title for Rangers in the 77th minute.
Smith - playing against his former Club - found space on the left and, when his pull-back found Taarabt, the R's skipper coolly slotted the ball past Loach for his 19th goal of the season.
There was even time for Rangers to notch a second, as Smith drove at the Hornets defence before drilling a low effort into the bottom left-hand corner.
Watford: Loach, Hodson, Eustace, Taylor (Bennett 54), Mariappa, Cowie, Deeney, Graham, Buckley (Murray 78), Doyley, Sordell (Whichelow 73).
Subs: Gilmartin, Mingoia, Drinkwater, Assombalonga.
QPR: Cerny, Orr, Derry, Hall (Shittu 23), Taarabt (Ramage 90), Helguson, Faurlin, Gorkss, Routledge (Buzsaky 75), Connolly, Smith.
Subs: Agyemang, Hulse, Vaagan Moen, Ephraim.
Goals: Taarabt (77), Smith (90)
Referee: Mr N Swarbrick
Attendance: 15,538 (2171)
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~52509,00.html
WATFORD OFFICIAL SITE
VISITORS Queens Park Rangers eventually came on top this afternoon (Saturday) as the Hornets were beaten by two second-half strikes at Vicarage Road.
It was a tense affair and certainly a close one until Adel Taarabt opened the scoring after 77 minutes.
After press reports over the forthcoming FA enquiry concerning Rangers, the visitors looked nervy during the early exchanges.
Both sides had chances before half-time but the R's late strikes clinched it as firstly Taarabt netted before former Hornet Smith before the game beyond doubt.
The Hornets made two changes for the visitors of the promotion chasers with Will Buckley and Marvin Sordell coming into the starting XI.
Scott Loach started in goal for the hosts, with the usual back four of Lee Hodson, Adrian Mariappa, Martin Taylor and Lloyd Doyley.
Skipper John Eustace and Don Cowie were joined by Will Buckley in midfield, while Danny Graham and Troy Deeney were assisted by Marvin Sordell in attack.
QPR had made just the one change for the game with Clint Hill missing out and Matt Connolly coming into the team, although boss Neil Warnock was forced into a further change when regular stopper Paddy Kenny picked up an injury during the warm-up.
Radek Cerny therefore started in goal with Petter Vaagan Moen joining the other subs on the bench.
Warnock included ex-Watford boys Heidar Helguson and Tommy Smith, while Dan Shittu was on the bench.
It was another glorious day in Hertfordshire for the final home clash of the season - the crowd warmly receiving the news that Danny Graham had collected the Player of the Season award prior to kick-off.
It was an open start to the affair with chances at both ends. Ex-Hornet Smith crossed for Helguson at the far post, but he couldn't steer his effort towards goal.
Helguson also got on the end of Connolly's cross after four minutes and Loach was forced to turn the ball behind for a corner kick.
At the other end Deeney looked lively early on and drilled wide after eight minutes.
Doyley thought he had struck gold again in the 13 minute, again against Rangers, after he burst free down the left flank and cut inside heading for goal. The full-back's eventual effort narrowly went wide - much to the disappointment of the Vicarage Road crowd.
QPR won a free-kick after 20 minutes and Taarabt tried his luck - Loach spilled the initial effort and it was put behind for a corner, but he firmly grasped the following corner kick deep into the six-yard box.
A minute later and Faurlin blasted over Loach's bar after Taarbat's square ball.
Watford created an excellent chance after 27 minutes when Deeney put in a great ball from the right and Graham peeled away from his marker - unfortunately for the 'Orns he planted his header the wrong side of Cerny's post.
Hall had been forced off after 22 minutes and was replaced by Shittu in the heart of the R's defence.
The big defender gave the ball away with nine minutes of the half remaining and Sordell was quick to finish but lucky for the ex-Charlton centre-half the flag had already been raised on Sordell.
Rangers reacted almost immediately and Orr had put the ball in the back of the net after Taarabt's ball over, but once again the player was deemed offside.
Faurlin made a great challenge on Sordell as he burst into the box with the ball - putting the ball behind for a corner kick, just as the striker looked set to shoot at goal.
From the resulting corner Taylor headed at goal at Cerny had it covered and easily collected the ball.
It had been an open half with chances for both sides - but despite opportunities at both ends, the score remained goalless at the interval.
Loach was the first keeper called into action at the start of the second half as he made a great reaction save from Faurlin's great effort after Taarabt's corner kick.
Deeney's close-range shot on 58 minutes was blocked by the Hoops in the box after Buckley's flick-on from Cowie's corner kick.
Taylor was forced off for the 'Orns on 55 minutes and replaced by Dale Bennett - while Sordell also looked like he had picked up an injury after 73 minutes when the striker hobbled off, he place was taken by Whichelow came on.
The pace on the game had certainly dipped with fewer chances for both sides, however the game exploded to life when the visitors took the lead after 77 minutes.
Former Golden Boy Smith wriggled free down the left flank and crossed for Taarabt and he planted a strike past Loach to put the R's 1-0 up.
Malky immediately replied by sending on first-year scholar Sean Murray for Buckley with 12 minutes left.
With three minutes left Loach dived to his left to deny sub Akos Buzsaky's free-kick from 25 yards out.
In time added on Helguson blasted over after Rangers broke away - then in time added on Smith drove the ball past Loach from outside the box and the R's confirmed the three points.
HORNETS: Loach; Hodson, Mariappa, Taylor, (Bennett 55) Doyley; Cowie, Eustace, Buckley (Murray 78); Deeney, Graham, Sordell (Whichelow 73). Subs not used: Gilmartin (gk), Mingoia, Drinkwater, Assombalonga.
RANGERS: Cerny; Connolly, Hall (Shittu 22), Taarabt, Orr; Faurlin, Derry, Routledge (Buzsaky 85), Taarabt (Ramage 90+5), Smith; Helguson. Subs not used: Agyemang, Hulse, Ephraim, Vaagan Moen.
GOALS: WATFORD; none. QPR; Taarabt (77).; Smith (90+3).
ATTENDANCE: 15538 (2,171 R's).
REFEREE: N Swarbrick.
http://www.watfordfc.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10400~52509,00.html
- PHOTOS (from Gianluca Di Marzio -Via Wally West)
