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QPR 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday

Last updated on .From the section Championshipcomments158

Andy Johnson

QPR scored twice in three first-half minutes as they came from behind to beat Sheffield Wednesday.

Atdhe Nuhiu netted a low shot to put the visitors ahead on his debut.

But Nedum Onuoha scored his first goal for the London club when he turned the ball home from inside the area, and Andrew Johnson volleyed in soon after.

Wednesday's Jacques Maghoma had a penalty claim turned down after the break when Joey Barton appeared to trip him and later hit the post with a shot.

After relegation from the Premier League last season, QPR were given a reminder of just how frantic England's second tier can be in an exciting affair.

There were six changes from QPR boss Harry Redknapp since his side's last Premier League game against Liverpool in May, with the likes of Loic Remy, Park Ji-sung and Stephane Mbia absent with their futures at the club uncertain.

But perhaps the most surprising change was the inclusion of Barton, who had not played for the club since his red card against Manchester City on the final day of the 2011-12 season.

The English midfielder, who spent last season on loan at Marseille, claimed there was an agreement for him to stay with the French club on a permanent basis and tweeted earlier this summer that "I will not be playing in the Championship next season".

But no such deal has materialised and Barton was back in the blue and white hoops of the London side alongside new signing Karl Henry in the centre of midfield.

Barton's display will have Redknapp thinking he could be a valuable asset in the Championship, despite some second-half drama.

QPR's incisive play early on was finding gaps in Sheffield Wednesday's defence, with Johnson firing a deflected effort just wide before Owls goalkeeper Chris Kirkland saved from the ex-Fulham striker.

But just when it looked like QPR would find a breakthrough, they were caught out at the other end as former Austria Under-21 frontman Nuhiu bustled clear before hitting a low effort past Rob Green in the home goal.

Kirkland could do nothing to stop Onuoha getting his first goal for Rangers as the former Manchester City defender turned home Junior Hoilett's shot to level the game in the 40th minute.

Dave Jones's Owls were caught out again three minutes later as Kirkland saved from Barton at the back post, but the ball broke to Johnson and he volleyed home.

After impressing in the first half by creating a number of chances, Barton was booked after the break by referee Scott Mathieson for a late challenge on Jeremy Helan before he escaped a second - and a red card - moments later.

Mathieson adjudged Maghoma to have dived in the area despite replays showing contact from Barton.

Maghoma's misery was added to when he hit the post with a low strike before Charlie Austin made his debut for the hosts following his move from Burnley on Thursday, but the closest he came to opening his account was a header that flew over.

QPR manager Harry Redknapp told the club website:

"I thought we showed fantastic attitude and commitment to come from a goal down to get in front as we did.

"They had chances and look a decent team. Dave's put a good team together this year.

"But it was a great performance from us - we were first class."

Sheffield Wednesday manager Dave Jones told the club website:

"It is fine lines and you want the big decisions to be the right ones. Unfortunately, it didn't go our way today and it is really disappointing.

"It could have gone either way and we certainly deserved something from the game.

"We've switched off for a crucial spell of the game and you can't do that."

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158 comments

  • Comment posted by U11865374, at 17:22 3 Aug 2013

    SWFC played well... The commentators were the most Bias I've ever heard. This season, the media will be all over QPR, even the BBC having this as the headline and able to comment.

    How we didn't get at least 1 penalty today is beyond me. Yes QPR have some good players, but the ref had no intention of awarding us a Pen... Maghoma even got BOOKED for getting chopped down!

    WAWAW

  • Comment posted by U15531376, at 18:08 3 Aug 2013

    I love how Joey Barton is vilified for saying he wouldn't play in the Championship. But he has clearly got his head down in training and Redknapp has put his faith in him.

    Danny Mills was loaned out from Leeds the season they were relegated and refused to return to them to play in the Championship and in the end he went to City on a free.

    Thats is okay though because he's not Joey Barton.

  • Comment posted by Glad All Over - CPFC, at 17:17 3 Aug 2013

    Joey Barton laughed when someone suggested he might be playing in the Championship this season....

    I'm still laughing.

  • Comment posted by U15174219, at 19:02 3 Aug 2013

    The headline on the BBC's football page is 'QPR begin with comeback victory'. I thought Wigan winning 4-0 away was a better result than 2-1 at home. Actually, didn't Reading also win 2-1?

    A better headline would have been 'All 3 recently relegated teams each begin with a victory'.

  • Comment posted by U15807602, at 18:02 3 Aug 2013

    supermitchelljohnson - No mate. QPR got relegated because they deserved it. Tried to buy Premier League status rather than play their way.

  • Comment posted by TheGMen, at 09:53 4 Aug 2013

    Wigan win 4-0 away and yet QPR win 2-1 at home and get the lead story.
    There needs to be more objectivity in the choice of which is the big story and not relying on 'Arry because he's got a good repertoire of sound bites.
    Most of which are variations of the same theme.

  • Comment posted by Luke, at 17:20 3 Aug 2013

    Wednesday unlucky not to get something, couple of penalty shouts, hit the post and had strong spells at times, just another sloppy 5 minutes which cost us so many points last season. But lots of positives to take from the game, UTO

  • Comment posted by WJS1981, at 12:14 4 Aug 2013

    Birmingham, Blackburn, Bolton, Burnley, Derby, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Middlesbrough, Forest, Sheff Weds- all bigger clubs than QPR, yet the BBC persists with QPR-centred headlines.

    If QPR were based anywhere but West London they'd be ignored by the national media, as so many of the aforementioned are. I'd personally much rather hear about Wigan or Yeovil's wins yesterday.

  • Comment posted by markiemark, at 17:37 3 Aug 2013

    #7 Wow first game of the season & all the QPR haters are out already!! I guess you can't always be popular!!! Would be nice to hear a few more remarks about the actual match..........Like we have from RRR'SSS & Owls fans!!! #13 Barton will go there's no doubt about that just a question of money!! If you rate him so much why not have him back!!?? Will cost you a fair bit a week though!!!

  • Comment posted by Glad All Over - CPFC, at 18:47 3 Aug 2013

    Joey Barton kept on tweeting on and on saying he 'deserved' his chance to play in the Champions League. He slated the QPR squad and said it was their job to take them back up, not his. Those people are now his team mates. That is why he deserves the stick he is getting.

  • Comment posted by iberini, at 11:54 4 Aug 2013

    I agree with all the other non-QPR supporters.

    BBC, please stop giving us top-billing and allowing comments on our games.

    Yours, a QPR supporter.

  • Comment posted by Bob_Noxious, at 11:31 4 Aug 2013

    As soon as the Premier League kicks off. The BBC won't care less about the championship

    It will be Queens Park who...
    Bolton wonder who they are

  • Comment posted by Madden83, at 11:08 4 Aug 2013

    Could the bbc stop forcing harry redknapp content on us.

  • Comment posted by jim, at 10:42 4 Aug 2013

    ref bottled it barton should have been sent off, QPR were very lucky

  • Comment posted by Joe King, at 10:06 4 Aug 2013

    Thought QPR struggled to beat Wednesday today - in fact the ref gifted them the three points with the "not a penalty" incident. Wonder what influence having to send Barton off on his return had on the ref?

    Despite having 'Arry and loadsamoney, I don't see QPR going up.

  • Comment posted by Blacknell, at 07:09 4 Aug 2013

    Good game yesterday and great to be at a full Loftus Road in the sun with my son.

    Superb turn out and support from Wednesday, I hope they do well as they're a first class club.

    Onwards and upwards for the Hoops. The last two Premiership seasaons were no fun at all.

  • Comment posted by Si_1985 , at 22:08 3 Aug 2013

    And so begins the BBC's 9-month obsession with 'Arry and QPR

  • Comment posted by Billywhizz, at 18:23 3 Aug 2013

    @29 We're a Premiership club really syndrome...well actually no your not. You've spent more time in 3rd level than 1st this century and you'll be playing Yeovil because, on a budget of 50% of nothing, they've got to the same level as you. If every "big club" who are "Premiership really" actually were there would be about 40 teams in the Premiership.

  • Comment posted by Nelly, at 18:05 3 Aug 2013

    @29, say that when Yeovil have beaten you. Football is about merit, not 'who's got the most clout'. Well, apart from the Red NW pair that is...

  • Comment posted by kevin, at 18:05 3 Aug 2013

    @7 Barton isn't a slave and Blatter is an idiot. Barton's no more held against his will than any other player under contract. By that logic Suarez should be free to walk away from Liverpool too. They have contracts they have to honour, simple as that.

    @19 must have been his identical twin playing for QPR today then. His loan to OM was for one season.

    @21 Tony Fernandes, is that you? ;)

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