Exeter City 0 Queens Park Rangers 2: match report Read a full match report of the Capital One Cup game between Exeter City and Queens Park Rangers at St James Park. From The Guardian By Nigel Walrond10:38PM BST 06 Aug 2013Comment Summer signings Charlie Austin and Danny Simpson scored as Queens Park Rangers brushed past Exeter City with a comfortable victory at St James Park. Exeter – two divisions lower – had won only one of their previous 24 League Cup ties, and they never looked like breaking that sequence. Austin, a £4 million capture from Burnley, was handed his first start by manager Harry Redknapp and took less than two minutes to score. Ali Faurlin’s corner was cleared to Jermaine Jenas on the edge of the penalty box, and his powerful shot, which was going wide, was deflected into the net by Austin. City’s Polish goalkeeper, Artur Krysiak, prevented City from going further behind five minutes later, diving to his left to keep out captain Clint Hill’s downward header from Joey Barton’s corner. Junior Hoilett weaved his way into a great position before delivering a right-foot shot, which Krysiak parried behind for a corner. More great work by Hoilett put Austin through on goal, only for his angled effort to be deflected away for another flag-kick. Liam Sercombe warmed Murphy’s hands with a fierce drive as Exeter rallied, but just before the interval Krysiak again did well to keep out efforts from Bobby Zamora and Jenas, and it was a mystery how QPR reached the break only 1-0 up. Jenas hit a superb 25-yard volley from Barton’s corner soon after the restart that Krysiak punched away. But the second goal was not long in coming, and it was one of real quality. Andy Johnson, a half-time substitute, picked out Simpson’s darting run with a superb pass, and the full-back took the ball in his stride before planting his shot into the far side of the net. It should have been 3-0 soon after, but Barton was denied by Krysiak’s outstretched leg. Exeter’s Arron Davies rattled the bar, but QPR’s Shaun Wright-Phillips also hit the woodwork.
Thanks Grifter, great stuff, watched it 5 times trying to see how Austin got his debut goal, just about got it now! Good goal from Simpson, that should help him too. Great thread.
No worries Os! Supposedly there was a slight deflection but it's hard to see where it was. It's great Austin got that 'first goal' monkey off his back so early, he'll hopefully go from strength to strength now. These early wins are so crucial; they make us a more attractive prospect to potential new recruits, and condemn last seasons debacle to the history books. A win at Huddersfield and you'd have to say we've avoided a PL hangover..
We are even thinking of away wins! I wholeheartedly agree and it is entirely possible. In fact, according to Bet365, we are twice as likely to win as they are!
