Sheffield United knock QPR out in stunning style
ByReuters
Updated 04/01/2015 at 16:16 GMT
Sheffield United pulled off the biggest shock of FA Cup third round weekend when the League One side won 3-0 away at top flight QPR.
Jamal Campbell-Ryce of Sheffield United (20) celebrates as he scores their third goal during the FA Cup Third Round match between Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield United at Loftus Road
Image credit: Getty Images
Rangers, struggling near the foot of the Premier League table, had more misery heaped on them at their Loftus Road home, with a second-half double from winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce sealing the emphatic victory for League One's sixth-placed team.
Yet on the weekend when the minnows of England's lower leagues traditionally go hunting for the Premier League Goliaths, Crystal Palace, under new manager Alan Pardew, comfortably sidestepped any possible embarrassment with a 4-0 stroll at little Conference side Dover Athletic.
[FULL MATCH REPORT: Crystal Palace cruise past non-league Dover in Alan Pardew's bow]
Another Premier League team Sunderland also prevailed 1-0 against the Championship's Leeds United, a goal from Patrick van Aanholt ensuring the result mirrored that of the teams' famous 1973 Cup final.
Marc McNulty slotted in a 36th-minute opener for League One Sheffield United after being put through by Louis Reed's pass, and Campbell-Ryce netted early in the second half after keeper Alex McCarthy was unable to claim Reed's corner.
Campbell-Ryce struck again in the final seconds when he gratefully collected Leroy Fer's wayward back-header and skipped past McCarthy to cap a brilliant Blades victory.
The result continued United's remarkable recent cup record. Nigel Clough's men reached the FA Cup semi-finals last season, beating top-flight Aston Villa and Fulham along the way, and have knocked Southampton and West Ham out of the this term's Capital One Cup.
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Jamal Campbell-Ryce of Sheffield United (C) celebrates victory with team mates after the FA Cup Third Round match between Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield United
Image credit: Getty Images
QPR, meanwhile, have suffered numerous early exits, several against lower-division opposition, in the 18 years since they last made it past the FA Cup third round without needing a replay. The west London outfit have won only two cup ties in the last 11 years.
Rangers boss Harry Redknapp made seven changes to his starting line-up but nevertheless named an experienced side which included the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Fer and top scorer Charlie Austin.
They made a decent start, with Fer seeing a stinging shot saved at the near post by keeper Mark Howard, who also kept out an effort from Jordon Mutch.
But the R's never looked comfortable at the back and Campbell-Ryce gave the hapless Armand Traore the runaround on the right flank.
Stefan Scougall was also a constant threat for the visitors and fired over before they eventually went ahead nine minutes before half-time courtesy of McNulty's ninth goal of the season.
Redknapp sent Bobby Zamora on at half-time in an effort to change the course of the game, but United were two ahead within four minutes of the restart.
Traore needlessly conceded the corner, and McCarthy, in for the rested Rob Green, got nowhere near Reed's right-wing delivery. After the ball bounced off Mutch, Campbell-Ryce had the simple task of scoring from close range.
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Jamal Campbell-Ryce of Sheffield United (20) scores their second goal during the FA Cup Third Round match between Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield United
Image credit: Getty Images
Zamora squandered a golden opportunity to quickly pull a goal back when he headed Matt Phillips' cross wide of the target.
Phillips was also guilty of a glaring miss, slicing a shot high and wide from inside the box following a surging run by Mauricio Isla.
Rangers, whose electrifying performances at Loftus Road have given them a fighting chance of avoiding relegation, were listless throughout.
Fer's stoppage-time error in the build-up to the third goal summed up their display and they were booed off by the home fans at the final whistle.
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