Jeepers keepers: Redknapp names two goalies on the bench as QPR hold City to a 0-0 draw 29 Jan 2013 21:51 Rangers boss sends none too subtle transfer hint to owner Tony Fernandes REPORT STATS There may be trouble ahead: Redknapp sent a message to Tony Fernandes with team selection There may be trouble ahead: Redknapp sent a message to Tony Fernandes with team selection Kent Gavin The Daily Mirror They won the League against Mark Hughes' Rangers in May, an afternoon no City fan will ever forget. Last night, though, it felt like Roberto Mancini and his men might have lost it against Harry Redknapp's version. On an evening when City wanted to draw a line under Mario Balotelli, Mancini was left wondering whether he might have kept hold of the Italian for another 24 hours. This was the chance for Mancini's men to send out a message of intent, to let their closest rivals feel the heat of the race for the crown. Instead, with Mancini's last throws of the dice seeing him bring on Jack Rodwell and Scott Sinclair, the Balotelli option no longer available, it felt like a pivotal evening the other way, a precious point for Rangers earned by the defiance of Julio Cesar. City may have dropped just two points in five games since Boxing Day but if United beat Southampton at Old Trafford tonight, the gap will be back at seven - what it was on December 26. For Rangers, though, four unbeaten makes survival feel more possible. And if Redknapp can get a couple in by tomorrow night, that view may strengthen. While Mancini was presumably happy to be getting shot of Balotelli, naming two goalkeepers, Rob Green and Brian Murphy, on the bench, was hardly a subtle signal by Redknapp to Loftus Road owner Tony Fernandes. Yet as the Rangers boss watched Julio Cesar so nearly gift City the lead inside 10 minutes, Redknapp might have been pondering an early change. David Silva's inswinging corner caught the billowing wind and came down under the bar but Cesar's dreadful punch should have been lashed home, rather than over the top, by Joleon Lescott. The England centre-half, partnered by Javier Garcia as Mancini opted not to risk Matija Nastasic, knew he should have scored but as City exposed the Rangers right flank, a goal seemed set to come. Redknapp might have played Fabio Da Silva in front of former City man Nedum Onuoha but the pair, combined, had no answer to the trickery of Silva, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez. For all that approach play, though, City lacked the final pass, the killer touch. Aguero should have given Tevez a tap-in but failed to squeeze past Toronto-bound Ryan Nelsen and then when Silva did deliver from that flank, Pablo Zabaleta's diving header from the penalty spot pinged back off the bar. Rangers had now switched to five at the back, Onuoha moving inside and Fabio wide on the right, in a bid to counter the wind-assisted raids, which saw Garcia whistling narrowly wide from 40 yards. Loic Remy, on his home debut, saw a snap-shot flick off Garcia's heels before a real danger moment as City were caught on the counter. Adel Taarabt was far to good for the isolated Gael Clichy, a terrific step-over opening up the target, only for Joe Hart to use every inch of his frame to save. That stop was almost matched at the other end, Cesar down to his right to turn behind Gareth Barry's instant strike following interplay with Tevez. Lots of the ball. Nothing to show for it. Frustration was starting to show for City, Silva taking a sly whack at Shaun Derry after being hustled off the ball. Taarabt's pace and directness was also a concern for Mancini's men and the call for Edin Dzeko, replacing the woeful Samir Nasri before the hour, was no surprise. Aguero's wild shot, well wide, summed up the City mood, Rangers began to believe, Remy curling not far wide as the increasing desperation left holes for the home side to exploit. Dzeko gave City some threat. The Bosnian mis-controlled when James Milner threaded through and then, after Silva's shot was well held by Cesar, headed over the bar. Aguero squandered another chance, blazing over from Zabaleta's nod back, before Remy and the home fans bayed for a penalty when Remy went looking for Lescott's outstretched leg. Phil Dowd was not impressed, nor when Sinclair went over under an Onuoha challenge. Where it mattered though, City could not get it right, Silva presented with a late chance to nick it by Dzeko but once more thwarted by Cesar. Not good enough.
It is also possible that green was not 100% and Harry didnt want to risk having no back up keeper if needed, green if ok to come on, if not then murphy!
Did Harry really know TF wasn't at the game, he was very cagey and I didn't believe him when he acted surprised when told.
