Sunday was a relatively quiet day in the Premier League with only one game down for decision. There was, however, also action in the Championship and Scottish Premier League.
Queen Park Rangers 1-1 Aston Villa
Ireland’s Richard Dunne was both hero and villain as Aston Villa were held to a late 1-1 draw in London. The defender was superb for the most part, alongside international colleague Shay Given, and helped Alex McLeish’s men kept QPR – who were bidding to record their first win of the season on home ground – at bay for over 90 minutes.
A dubious penalty, slotted home by Barry Bannon, had put the visitors into the lead on the hour mark and QPR’s hopes looked over when full-back Armand Traore was booked for a second time and received his marching orders for a desperate tackle on Marc Albrighton as the clocked ticked into injury time at the end of the game.
There was still time for drama though as a dangerous cross floated into the box by Heidar Helguson was deflected onto Dunne’s body by Stephen Warnock and there was little the Dubliner – the highest scorer of OGs in the Premier League – could do as the ball dribbled over the goal line.
A poor first half was forgotten once Villa upped the tempo after the break and they seemed to get some luck when Traore was penalised for a pull of Gabriel Agbonlahor’s shirt on 57 minutes. Referee Michael Oliver then waved away two QPR penalty calls – both for possibly hand balls by Alan Hutton – but it wasn’t until added time that QPR can any reward for their efforts.
Elsewhere
Up in Scotland, Ireland’s Cillian Sheridan scored in either half as St. Johnstone beat Hearts 2-0 in the SPL, while Leicester City and Cardiff played out a 0-0 in Wales, though Darius Vassell might have claimed all three points for the Foxes when he hit the crossbar in injury time.