QUEENS PARK RANGERS 1 CITY 0
League Division 1
2nd March 1991
attendance 12,376
scorer Ferdinand(13)
ref Keren Barratt
City Coton, Brightwell, Pointon, Reid, Hendry, Redmond, White, Heath, Quinn, Megson, Ward – Subs Harper(48), Allen(66)
QPR Stejskal, Bardsley, Sansom, Tillson, Peacock, Maddix, Wilkins, Barker, Ferdinand, Wegerle, Sinton – Subs Wilson, Lorfa
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 2ND MARCH 1991
Neil Pointon became the first Manchester City player to be sent off this season when he was given a 32nd minute red card at Loftus Road.
It was for a blatant professional foul 35 yards out on Pacy Striker Les Ferdinand whose fifth goal in four games had given Queens Park Rangers a 13th minute lead…
…There was a further blow to City when Mark Ward went off injured after 48 minutes with Alan Harper substituting as makeshift left back, enabling Megson to resume his central midfield role.
Reid returned after a six week absence embracing half a dozen games and quickly swung back into the thick of things with an accurately flighted ball to the right for White, who’s cross towards the far post was headed clear by Bardsley.
Rangers made a potent reply, Ferdinand working the ball in from the left. Wegerle took over, made space for himself before squaring the ball for Sinton to drive in a fierce angled attempt that curled narrowly wide of the far post.
Ferdinand, a constant source of danger, took on Redmond to win a right flanking corner, but the home side lacked vital penetration and Hendry did an effective tidying up job.
But with 13 minutes gone, City found themselves lacking at the back and Rangers bounced into the lead with a goal classically executed and clinically dispatched. Ferdinand did the initial damage with a superbly weighted ball from the centre circle that found Bardsley on the right. The Defenders pace took him into an attacking position and a magnificent cross saw Ferdinand making up ground rapidly before scoring from some 12 yards out with a breathtaking header for his fifth goal in four games…
…City replied instantly with White, recalled to a two-change side in place of Allen, once more flinging the ball in hopefully but his header was well wide. Rangers, however, were still looking the more aggressive and dangerous side…
… Then in the 32nd minute disaster loomed for City. Ferdinand broke clear of the City defence and, when some 35 yards from goal, he was brought down by Pointon and the referee had no option but to send off the City left back for a professional foul…