I’ve got to be honest, it wasn’t the toughest editorial decision I’ve ever had to make in selecting the memorable match for this week’s history column as we look back at almost half a century of action against our near neighbours Chelsea.
Chelsea 1 QPR 0, League Cup, Wednesday September 23, 2009
The FA Cup meeting with Chelsea in 2008 came right at the start of the new money laced era at Loftus Road and six brand new signings were included in the QPR squad that day. By the time they returned to Stamford Bridge 18 months later they’d worked their way through three managers and were under the guidance of Jim Magilton. His appointment had not been met with any great deal of enthusiasm in W12 and Rangers had made a drab start to the year with a succession of draws against Blackpool, Plymouth, Peterborough and Nottingham Forest. But the R’s were about to click into form that would see them score 17 goals in four matches in a fortnight and that was preceded by a confident display at Stamford Bridge in the League Cup. Ultimately the game was decided by a scrappy Kalou goal but Wayne Routledge had clearly been fouled in the build up and Rangers were unfortunate not to take more from the game.
Chelsea: Hilario 7, Ivanovic 7, Ferreira 6, Hutchinson 7 (Terry 77, 7), Belletti 7, Malouda 6 (Lampard 46, 8),Zhirkov 7( A Cole 69, 7), Mikel 8, J Cole 7, Borini 7, Kalou 7
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Essien, Matic, Bruma
Goals: Kalou 52 (assisted Cole)
QPR: Heaton 8, Leigertwood 8, Stewart 8, Gorkss 8, Borrowdale 7, Routledge 7, Rowlands 9 (Ephraim 73, 7), Faurlin 8, Buzsaky 7, Vine 7 (Taarabt 66, 7), Simpson 7 (Pellicori 73, 6)
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Ramage, Mahon, Agyemang
Chelsea 1 QPR 0, FA Cup, Saturday January 5, 2008
These sides also met in the FA Cup in January 2008 when QPR were just starting their rebuilding job at the beginning of Flavio Briatore’s first transfer window in charge at Loftus Road. Manager Luigi De Canio gave debuts to four new signings at Stamford Bridge and had another two waiting for their first appearances from the bench. Ultimately the R’s, solid but lacking ambition on the day, succumbed to a soft goal when Claudio Pizarro’s low shot rebounded into the net off QPR keeper Lee Camp after hitting the base of the post. Martin Rowlands fired a second half shot over from similar distance but ultimately second half injuries to Blackstock and Buzsaky put paid to any hopes of QPR springing a shock.
Chelsea: Hilario 7, Ferreira 8, Ben-Haim 7, Alex 7, Ashley Cole 6, Wright-Phillips 5 (Joe Cole 79, 6), Obi 6, Sidwell 8, Sinclair 5 (Drogba 60, 6), Kalou 6, Pizarro 7 (Ballack 71, 7)
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Belletti
Goals: Camp 28 og (assisted Pizarro)
QPR: Camp 7, Hall 8, Stewart 8, Barker 7, Ainsworth 6 (Agyemang 46, 6), Connolly 8, Mahon 8, Rowlands 8, Ephraim 6 (Balanta 65, 6), Blackstock 6, Buzsaky 6 (Lee 50, 7)
Subs Not Used: Bolder, Walton
Booked: Hall (foul)
Head to Head >>> QPR wins 13 >>> Draws 17 >>> Chelsea wins 18 2009/10 Chelsea 1 QPR 0*
2007/08 Chelsea 1 QPR 0**
1995/96 Chelsea 1 QPR 1 (Barker)
1995/96 QPR 1 Chelsea 2** (Quashie)
1995/96 QPR 1 Chelsea 2 (Allen)
1994/95 Chelsea 1 QPR 0
1994/95 QPR 1 Chelsea 0 (Gallen)
1993/94 QPR 1 Chelsea 1 (Ferdinand)
1993/94 Chelsea 2 QPR 0
1992/93 QPR 1 Chelsea 1 (Allen)
1992/93 Chelsea 1 QPR 0
1991/92 Chelsea 2 QPR 1 (Allen)
1991/92 QPR 2 Chelsea 2 (Wilson, Peacock)
1990/91 Chelsea 2 QPR 0
1990/91 QPR 1 Chelsea 0 (Wegerle)
1989/90 QPR 4 Chelsea 2 (Ferdinand 2, Falco, Clarke)
1989/90 Chelsea 1 QPR 1 (Clarke)
1987/88 Chelsea 1 QPR 1 (Kerslake)
1987/88 QPR 3 Chelsea 1 (Bannister 3)
1986/87 QPR 1 Chelsea 1 (Bannister)
1986/87 Chelsea 3 QPR 1 (Byrne)
1985/86 QPR 6 Chelsea 0 (Bannister 3, Byrne 2, Rosenior)
1985/86 Chelsea 1 QPR 0
1985/86 Chelsea 0 QPR 2* (McDonald, Robinson)
1985/86 QPR 1 Chelsea 1* (Byrne)
1984/85 Chelsea 1 QPR 0
1984/85 QPR 2 Chelsea 2 (Bannister, McDonald)
1982/83 Chelsea 0 QPR 2 (Sealy, Gregory)
1982/83 QPR 1 Chelsea 2 (Sealy)
1981/82 Chelsea 2 QPR 1 (Gregory)
1981/82 QPR 0 Chelsea 2
1980/81 QPR 1 Chelsea 0 (Langley)
1980/81 Chelsea 1 QPR 1 (Langley)
1979/80 Chelsea 0 QPR 2 (Busby, Burke)
1979/80 QPR 2 Chelsea 2 (C Allen 2)
1978/79 Chelsea 1 QPR 3 (Busby, Goddard, Roeder)
1978/79 QPR 0 Chelsea 0
1977/78 Chelsea 3 QPR 1 (James)
1977/78 QPR 1 Chelsea 1 (Masson)
1974/75 QPR 1 Chelsea 0 (Thomas)
1974/75 Chelsea 0 QPR 3 (Givens 2, Francis)
1973/74 Chelsea 3 QPR 3 (Bowles 2, Givens)
1973/74 QPR 1 Chelsea 0**(Bowles)
1973/74 Chelsea 0 QPR 0**
1973/74 QPR 1 Chelsea 1 (Bowles)
1969/70 QPR 2 Chelsea 4** (Bridges, Venables)
1968/69 Chelsea 2 QPR 1 (Bridges)
1968/69 QPR 0 Chelsea 4
* - League Cup
** - FA Cup
But with Paul Furlong it seemed to be an issue right from the off, despite the fact he actually came to us from Birmingham and originally started his career in the youth team at Loftus Road. He didn’t cut the mustard first time around and was released into non-league with Enfield from where Coventry picked him up several years later. He won the Player of the Year award at Watford in 1993 and earned a £2.3m move to Chelsea as a result. Furlong was part of the Blues side that reached the Cup Winners Cup semi final in 1995 but the following season saw the start of the Mark Hughes, Ruud Gullit, Gianluca Vialli revolution in that part of London and he found himself struggling for first team action.
Furlong went on to score 50 goals in six years at Birmingham, playing mostly under Trevor Francis, but he regularly struggled with injury during that time and had spells on loan at Sheffield United, and briefly at QPR. His first spell with the senior team at Loftus Road lasted just three games at the start of the 2000/01 season in which he scored one fortuitous goal against Crewe when keeper Jason Kearton cleared the ball against him and into the net. Again injury curtailed this spell, a shame because his influence probably would have made a huge difference to a QPR side that was badly missing the injured Rob Steiner and would go on to be relegated that year with an inexperienced Peter Crouch leading the line for much of the campaign.
That meant that when Furlong returned for a third spell in 2002, again initially on loan, we were in the third tier. Furlong started well, scoring on his debut at home to Chesterfield on the opening day of the season but again suffered with injuries after signing permanently and struggled for form. This coincided with some dreadful results for the entire team, including the Vauxhall Motors debacle in which Furlong missed a shoot-out penalty, and he became a target for the Loftus Road boo-boys who pointed to his Chelsea connections and tendency to always score against Rangers for Chelsea and Birmingham as justification. Furlong’s seemingly sarcastic applause towards the away end after a dire 3-0 defeat at Notts County sparked ugly scenes.
The way he turned his career at Loftus Road around to the point where he is now considered one of the true modern day greats in W12 was remarkable. He returned to the side as 2002 turned into 2003 and scored important goals in away games at Northampton and Chesterfield. By the end of the season he was a key man in the side and he finished the campaign with a memorable playoff semi final winner against Oldham at Loftus Road.
Reputation firmly restored Furlong hit the ground running in 2003/04 and went on to bag 16 goals, including a crucial one at Hillsborough on the last day, as Rangers won promotion. With the team stepping up a level and Furlong not getting any younger the need to replace him seemed to be high on Ian Holloway’ agenda that summer – but he started with him in the Championship in 2004/05 and Furlong spent the season in the form of his career. He scored a world class goal in an early 2-2 draw at Sunderland and finished the campaign with 18 goals to his name. In fact Furlong played Championship football for Rangers for another two seasons, signing off with a last gasp diving header against Luton at the Loft End to put the seal on QPR’s survival and relegate the Hatters in the process – the fifty eighth QPR goal he’d scored in 183 appearances.
He went on to play for Luton, as well as Southend, Barnet and Kettering and is currently turning out for his home town club St Albans aged 43. During the recent League Cup tie between Chelsea and Rangers he was paraded on the pitch at half time to a standing ovation from the away end. A classy person, true gentleman, and modern day hero of the QPR fans who he comprehensively won over on and off the pitch.
Others >>> Shaun Wright Phillips, Chelsea 2005-2008, QPR 2011-present >>> Scott Sinclair, Chelsea 2005-2010, QPR (loan) 2007 >>> Ben Sahar, Chelsea 2006-2009, QPR (loan) 2007 >>> Michael Mancienne, Chelsea 2006-2011, QPR (loan) 2006-2008 >>> Jimmy Smith, Chelsea 2005-2009, QPR (loan) 2006-2007 >>> Leon Knight, Chelsea 1999-2003, QPR (loan) 2001 >>> Gavin Peacock, QPR 1984-1987, 1996-2002, Chelsea 1993-1996 >>>John Spencer, Chelsea 1992-1997, QPR 1997-1998 >>> Ray Wilkins, Chelsea 1973-1979, (coach) 2000, (coach) 2009-2010, QPR 1989-1994, (player-manager) 1994-1996 >>> Clive Wilson, Chelsea 1987-1990, QPR 1990-1995 >>> Vinnie Jones, Chelsea 1991-1992, QPR 1998-1999 >>> Mick Harford, Chelsea 1992-1993, QPR (coach) 2006-2007, (manager) 2010 >>> Paul Parker, QPR 1987-1991, Chelsea 1997 >>> Mark Stein, QPR 1988-1989, Chelsea 1993-1998 >>> Nigel Spackman, Chelsea 1983-1987, 1992-1996, QPR 1989 >>> Roy Wegerle, Chelsea 1986-1988, QPR 1990-1992 >>> Steve Wicks, Chelsea 1974-1978, 1986-1988, QPR 1979-1981, 1981-1986 >>> Clive Walker, Chelsea 1976-1984 QPR 1986-1987 >>> Tommy Langley, Chelsea 1974-1980, QPR 1980-1981 >>> Derek Richardson, Chelsea 1974-1976, QPR 1976-1979 >>> Gary Chivers, Chelsea 1978-1983, QPR 1984-1987 >>> Mike Fillery, Chelsea 1978-1982, QPR 1983-1986 >>> Clive Allen, QPR 1978-1980, 1981-1984, Chelsea 1991-1992 >>> Tommy Cunningham, Chelsea 1973-1975, QPR 1975-1979 >>> Terry Venables, Chelsea 1960-1966, QPR 1969-1974, (manager) 1980-1984 >>> John Hollins, Chelsea 1963-1975, 1983-1984, (manager) 1985-1988, QPR 1975-1979, (coach) 1993-1997 >>> Dave Webb, Chelsea 1968-1974, (manager) 1993, QPR 1974-1977 >>> Dave Sexton, Chelsea (manager) 1967-1974, QPR (manager) 1974-1977 >>> Alan Mayes, QPR 1971-1974, Chelsea 1980-1983 >>> Tommy Docherty, Chelsea 1961-1962, (manager) 1962-1967, QPR (manager) 1968, (manager) 1979-1980 >>> Barry Bridges, Chelsea 1958-1966, QPR 1968-1970 >>> Allan Harris, Chelsea 1960-1964, QPR 1967-1971 >>> Les Allen, Chelsea 1954-1959, QPR 1965-1969, (manager) 1968-1971 >>> Allan Harris, Chelsea 1960-1964, 1966-67, QPR 1967-1971 >>> Alan Wilks, Chelsea 1963-1965, QPR 1965-1971
QPR 6 Chelsea 0, Monday March 31, 1986
Well, which other game was I going to choose? When these sides met at Loftus Road on Easter Monday in 1986 the match came just 12 days after the first meeting had been played at Stamford Bridge. That 1-1 draw and a subsequent 4-0 defeat by West Ham, had dented Chelsea’s push towards a rare league title win but they still arrived in W12 in fourth place, well in the hunt, and as favourites to beat midtable Queens Park Rangers.
On the infamous plastic pitch and with Chelsea playing in an all red change strip and managed by former QPR midfielder John Hollins Rangers took the lead in the eighth minute when a long free kick downfield by Alan McDonald sparked a neat interchange on the edge of the area during which John Byrne saw an ambitious shot deflected into the path of Gary Bannister by a Chelsea defender. Bannister appeared to have made the angle too acute for himself by carrying the ball to the left of the goal but in trademark fashion he created a finish across the goal and into the far corner of the net past goalkeeper Steve Francis.
The lead was doubled in the twenty fifth minute when Chelsea twice, first through a hilarious David Speedie fresh air kick, gave the ball away and were then punished when Terry fenwick headed a right wing cross from John Byrne up in the air and Bannister stole in to complete the simple task of heading home unmarked from close range.
And Rangers notched up three before half time when John Byrne was allowed to turn midway through the Chelsea half and proceeded to torment the visitors with a mazy run that carried him past three increasingly desperate tackles into the penalty area where he dispatched a fine finish into the bottom corner.
The second half started in much the same fashion with McDonald executing a fantastic sliding tackle on Speedie on the edge of the QPR penalty box and then setting Wayne Fereday away on a trademark lightning fast run down the right flank but having reached the penalty area his low cross was bundled wide of the near post at the Loft End by Byrne. That was only a brief reprieve though because in the very next attack Chelsea’s creaky defence was caught stepping up for an offside decision that never came and Bannister had all the time and space he needed to complete a hat trick. Bannister had already scored once against the Blues in a 2-2 draw two seasons prior to this and would go on to score another four goals in two home games against them in 1987 including another hat trick in a 3-0 win at the start of the 1987/88 campaign.
John Byrne liked playing against Chelsea too - the Irish international scored against them in 1984/85 and 1986/87 and he picked up a brace of goals in this thrashing as well. Bannister was the provider this time, again finding acres of space behind a decimated Chelsea offside trap and this time finding an inch perfect pass across the face of the penalty area to Byrne who chipped TO CHECK for the fifth QPR goal and his second.
Chelsea’s misery was completed when David Speedie was sent off for elbowing Ian Dawes and substitute Leroy Rosenior raced from the halfway line onto a flick on and powered home a sixth goal which Francis probably should have done better with.
Rangers fans taunted Chelsea chairman Ken Bates with chants of “blame the pitch, blame the pitch” after his criticism of QPR’s artificial surface prior to the match as the 4,000+ visiting supporters started to file quietly out of the ground.
Looking back on that day for the club’s official website John Byrne said: “I'll never forget that day! It was just one of those occasions when everything went right for us. I remember one of my goals where I picked up possession on the halfway line. It was funny on that plastic pitch, because bodies would fall all around you if you got into your stride. So eventually I wriggled free and slotted a shot into the bottom corner. There were some big name players in the Chelsea line-up, including centre-back Doug Rougvie who seemed like he wanted to kill somebody when the score was 5-0. He was certainly looking for blood. We had the Milk Cup Final coming up and I remember saying to Banna with about 15 minutes to go 'I ain't going anywhere near Rougvie' and Gary replied 'Neither am I'. So we both ended up playing on the wings with no one in the middle.”
QPR: Barron, Dawes, Fenwick, Wicks, McDonald, Fereday, Allen, James, Robinson, Byrne, Bannister
Sub: Rosenoir
Links >>> Chelsea 1 QPR 0 Match Report >>> QPR 6 Chelsea 0 Highlights >>> Paul Furlong QPR career highlights