Villas-Boas praises ´decisive´ Cesar

12 January 2013 17:20

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas praised Julio Cesar after the Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper salvaged a 0-0 draw for his side.

The former Inter Milan shot-stopper kept Tottenham at bay throughout Saturday's Premier League clash at Loftus Road.

A double save in the first half, which included tipping a Jermain Defoe effort onto his post and denying Emmanuel Adebayor, helped Cesar keep his second clean sheet in three matches.

Villas-Boas was frustrated his side could only pick up a draw on the road, but said the Brazilian's efforts were 'decisive'.

"We're a bit disappointed, but we'll take a point away from home and I think it's the first time we haven't scored for quite some time," he told Sky Sports.

"The boys did well. We came out strong at the beginning and strong in the second half, we just couldn't keep the momentum.

"Maybe we didn't create as much as normal but we still take the point against a team that's just won away from home (at Chelsea) and is full of confidence.

"Julio made some great, great saves, and in the end they are decisive because if you score one it unlocks QPR.

"They're well organised, they defend well and can hit you on the counter, so to get that first goal was important for us. It's a pity we couldn't take those chances."

Tottenham midfielder Sandro was substituted in the 25th minute of the clash, but Villas-Boas said he should be fit to face Manchester United on January 20.

QPR manager Harry Redknapp was delighted with Cesar's performance and hailed the result a 'great point'.

"He's a world class goalkeeper, there's no doubt about that," Redknapp said.

"It's a great point. I couldn't have asked for more from them. They stuck to their jobs and did everything I asked.

"We were playing against a top-class team and have taken four points from Chelsea and Tottenham – and that's how it's going to have to be if we're going to stay up."

Redknapp said he was close to bringing Tottenham midfielder Jake Livermore to the club on loan, while he is also interested in signing West Brom forward Peter Odemwingie.

Premier League: QPR 0 Tottenham 0

12 January 2013 15:52

Harry Redknapp's dogged QPR held his former club Tottenham to a 0-0 draw at Loftus Road on Saturday.

The stalemate frustrated Andre Villas-Boas' high-flying side and earned QPR a vital point to boost their hopes of Premier League survival.

The derby started quietly but sprang into life after five minutes as Julio Cesar made a world-class double stop to deny both Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor in quick succession.

Defoe was allowed to find time and space to hit a vicious effort from 20 yards which the Brazilian brilliantly tipped onto the post, and Adebayor's follow-up was expertly stopped by the 33-year-old when the striker should have scored.

Not to be outdone in the early stages, Shaun Wright-Phillips also had an excellent chance to put the hosts ahead after 11 minutes after a delightful through ball from Adel Taarabt.

The Moroccan found the winger's clever run in behind the Spurs back line, and as Wright-Phillips set to finish, only a crucial deflection from Michael Dawson prevented the former Chelsea winger finding the near corner of Hugo Lloris' net.

Villas-Boas was forced into an early substitution with Sandro being replaced by Scott Parker after appearing to damage his knee hooking a half-volley.

Wright-Phillips fashioned a chance on 45 minutes after great work from the left wing but fired wastefully wide with Taarabt a better option in the middle.

Spurs flew out of the blocks from the restart - Defoe earned a free kick a minute in after a clumsy foul from Nelsen, and Bale tested Cesar with a dipping effort to signal Spurs' intentions.

Lennon won a contentious free kick on the left-hand side of the area moments afterwards, which Kyle Walker put inches over the bar with Cesar motionless.

A minute later Defoe again worked space and was denied an opener by the legs of Cesar.

Defoe's clever flick on 67 minutes released Adebayor but although the tall forward found himself in space, he delayed his effort and the chance was wasted, with Villas-Boas reacting by substituting him a minute later.

Taarabt unleashed Wright-Phillips in a rare break for the hosts with 13 minutes remaining, but Lloris was alert to the danger and rushed out to clear the ball.

The diminutive QPR winger should have perhaps won the game with six minutes remaining but scuffed the turf instead of shooting, but Redknapp's side will welcome a much-needed point.

Redknapp pleased with Levy relations

11 January 2013 10:14

Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp insists he has no problem with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.

Redknapp was sacked by Spurs at the end of last season after guiding the White Hart Lane club to fourth place in the Premier League, but the Englishman says he bears no hostility to his former employer.

"If I see Daniel, I'll shake his hand, no problem," Redknapp told reporters. "On the day I started at QPR, the first call I got was from Daniel wishing me luck.

"What's happened has happened and is in the past. He is the chairman, he decided he wanted a change of direction with regard to the manager and that's that.

"I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Spurs but now my focus is to get three points for Rangers when we play them because we are in a lot of trouble at the bottom of the table."

Redknapp, who was linked with the England job before Roy Hodgson took over, is now embroiled in a relegation fight with QPR.

His side meet Spurs at Loftus Road this weekend and Redknapp is eager to take three points in front of QPR's home fans.

He added: "It's business. All I want to do is win the game and then afterwards have a glass of wine with Andre if he fancies one.

"Life does move on. That is football. I have not got a problem with anyone at Tottenham, for sure."

Premier League preview: QPR v Tottenham

10 January 2013 14:26

QPR get the chance to jump off the bottom of the Premier League table when they host Tottenham in the lunchtime kick-off on Saturday.

Harry Redknapp's men enter the clash with just 13 points in the league, but could jump above Reading and into 19th with a positive result against their London rival.

It was 2-1 to Tottenham when the two sides met at White Hart Lane back in September, with an own goal from Alejandro Damian Faurlin and a strike from Jermain Defoe cancelling out Bobby Zamora's first-half effort for QPR.

But that match was played before Redknapp joined QPR and the west London club have improved considerably since the arrival of the veteran manager.

Redknapp has overseen both of QPR's league wins this campaign, with the most recent of those a 1-0 upset of west London rival Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Since that confidence-boosting victory, QPR played out a 1-1 draw at home in their third-round FA Cup encounter with West Bromwich Albion so Redknapp's men can at least lay claim to being unbeaten in 2013.

Still, they have a lot of work to do if they are to remain in the top flight next season as they are five points plus goal difference away from the drop zone.

While things haven't gone as planned for QPR so far this season, it has been a different story for high-flying Tottenham.

Andre Villas-Boas' side currently sit in third place and haven't lost in the league since December 9.

Spurs have won their past three matches, scoring nine goals in the process and conceding just two.

One of the main reasons for their recent good run of form has been the outstanding play of Welsh international Gareth Bale.

Bale scored a hat-trick in Tottenham's 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa on Boxing Day and now has nine league goals this campaign.

Only Defoe can better that mark - he has 10 league goals - so QPR's defence will need to keep a close eye on Tottenham's two danger men.

Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul will miss the QPR clash with a knee problem, while influential midfielder Scott Parker could be in line to start the match.

Luke Young, Anton Ferdinand, Hogan Ephraim, Rob Hulse and Ale Faurlin all featured for QPR reserves in a midweek friendly against Reading and may be included in Redknapp's match-day squad, but veterans Kieron Dyer and Ryan Nelson will not be.

Dyer was released by the club on Tuesday, while Nelson left Loftus Road to join MLS team Toronto in a managerial role.