adminThe game ended goalless.
QPR chairman Tony Fernandes apologised to supporters of the club after a dismal Premier League season was capped with the goalless draw at Reading which saw both sides relegated back to the Championship on the same day.
The Malaysian entrepreneur has poured millions into the west London club since becoming majority shareholder in August 2011.
Under Fernandes, who is also the founder of Formula One team Caterham, the club signed the likes of Joey Barton, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Loic Remy, Christopher Samba and Bobby Zamora. He posted on his official Twitter feed: “Sorry to all QPR fans. But the plan goes on. Now more than ever. We owe it to you. Took 3 years to get Caterham right. No quitting”
He added that he will be meeting the manager this morning to plot an escape route from the country’s second tier.
He added: “Planning starts tomorrow (today). Meeting Harry at 11 to discuss squad. Going to be tough but we will come back stronger.”
Redknapp said: “I will get to see him this week and we will have some meetings and talk about things going forward, with the team with the players” he said.
“I have said many times they are good people, so I would love to see them get back in the Premier league and build a team that will stay there next time.”
His message to the fans was: “Keep coming, keep supporting us — we will have fun trying to get out the Championship.”
Both sides were guilty of wasting the few chances that fell their way as they both bowed out of the top flight with a whimper.
A win for either would have kept them mathematically in the hunt for survival and relegated the losers, whereas the draw condemned both clubs to the Championship
Reading boss Nigel Adkins had remained positive ahead of the game while his QPR counterpart Redknapp had seemingly already accepted his side’s fate and both will now spend the summer building teams to fight for promotion straight back into the Premier League.
Reading arguably started the better of two sides who were obviously nervous but they could not test QPR goalkeeper Robert Green.
The visitors got back into the game and both Jermaine Jenas and Esteban Granero went close to putting Rangers ahead, with the latter clipping the crossbar from a free-kick.
While their fans vented their anger at former manager Mark Hughes the QPR players were still trying to prise open the Reading defence.
Stephane Mbia played a perfect ball into Jay Bothroyd whose lofted effort beat Alex McCarthy but dropped just wide of the post.
With half an hour on the clock Reading had still yet to force Green into a noticeable save.
But the former England goalkeeper had a scare as Jobi McAnuff chased a weak pass back from Jose Bosingwa and Green’s kick hit the on-rushing Reading captain before flying behind for a goal-kick.
Adel Taarabt side-footed wide from outside of the box before Bothroyd’s clever backheel found Armand Traore, whose shot was deflected wide.
Seven minutes before the break Adrian Mariappa and Pavel Pogrebnyak almost bundled Reading into the lead but QPR kept the ball out through a combination of Green and Bosingwa. McAnuff then stung the palms of Green on the stroke of half-time with the Royals enjoying a rare spell in the ascendancy.
Taarabt had another great opportunity to put Redknapp’s side ahead after he exchanged passes with Loic Remy seven minutes after the re-start but he fluffed his lines.
The Morocco international was guilty of placing another shot wide moments later with Adkins introducing Hal Robson-Kanu from the bench in his search to unlock the QPR defence.
Pogrebnyak was almost the man to break the deadlock for Reading as he picked up McAnuff’s pass before cutting inside Bosingwa and bending an effort inches wide of Green’s post.
The home supporters had been singing the name of leading goalscorer Adam Le Fondre throughout the game and he was introduced with 25 minutes remaining as Garath McCleary made way.
But it was Pogrebnyak who again wasted a chance as he headed Chris Gunter’s cross into the ground and safely into Green’s hands. Redknapp freshened up his side with Junior Hoilett and Fabio coming off the bench as the game started to open up. — Mailonline
Online Reporter