RANGERS were struggling to make an impact on the Second Division as Swansea City visited W12.
Teams: Queens Park Rangers v Swansea City
Date: Saturday February 2 1980.
Competition: Football League Division Two.
Venue: Loftus Road, London.
See Also: Swansea City 1-2 QPR – 1979-80.
The R`s had recently overcome West London rivals Fulham who sat rock-bottom of the Second Division. The 2-0 victory proved to be sweet relief for QPR who prior to this game had lost four games on the bounce and were without a win in eight games in all competitions.
Indeed the 4-0 victory at home to Charlton Athletic was the last time the R`s had won prior to the Fulham win – which was their first in the New Year of 1980. This was despite the intentions of Clive Allen who continued his good run of form with four goals in six games.
By contrast John Toshack`s Swansea City were beginning to put a few results together after a poor spell just before Christmas seeing them defeated at home by Leyton Orient, then on their travels at Chelsea and Bristol Rovers.
Since then the Swans had picked up somewhat since Boxing Day drawing away at Burnley, and victories over Preston North End, but more importantly local rivals Cardiff City whom they defeated 2-1 at the Vetch Field.
In the side`s earlier meeting Swansea played hosts to QPR with the R`s coming away with the win back in September 1979. Steve Burke and an own goal from Nigel Stevenson sealed the win for QPR with skipper Jeremy Charles having handed the hosts the lead.
Inclement conditions at Loftus Road made for a tough fixture in W12, however not even rain-soaked pitch could dampen the atmosphere or the entertainment at Loftus Road.
Clive Allen had a chance to hand the R`s the lead from the penalty spot, but his penalty kick was saved by Geoff Crudgington`s successor Glan Letheran. However Mr Letts from Basingstoke deemed Welsh international defender Leighton James had encroached so the kick was re-taken.
Allen made no mistake from the second attempt dispatching his 21st goal of the season, five of which had now come from the spot. The goal timed at 38 minutes incurred the wrath of player manager John Toshack who received a booking for his over-zealous protest.
Goddard was the next to score after another catastrophe from Leighton Phillips. Letheran had pulled off another excellent stop to deny Clive Allen a second, and Phillips` attempted backpass fell woefully short as Paul Goddard helped himself to squeeze home from an acute angle.
Some would be forgiven in thinking that the game was sewn up from that point with the home side 2-0 up and coasting and the Swans without an away win in their last seven attempts.
Toshack`s side had different ideas as just before the break they halves the arrears courtesy of moment of madness from Steve Wicks. Former Liverpool stalwart Ian Callaghan sent in a testing corner for which Wicks and Toshack contested. Wicks neatly guided the whipping cross straight into the corner of the net.
From that moment onwards the Swans had their tails up and attacked Rangers in search of an equaliser which duly came after the break. It came through the sizeable figure of Toshack who was making quite an impact on proceedings. He scored a dramatic leveller in the 73rd minute to bring the Swans back from the dead and save the blushes of defender James.
Time ticked away as Rangers sensed they had thrown it away. A crowd of over 11,000 began filing out of Loftus Road in disappointment, but those who left missed late drama as Rangers took the lead and the win in emphatic fashion.
Steve Burke`s whipped corner caused all manner of problems in the Swansea rearguard who failed to clear their lines. Paul Goddard bundled the ball over the line deep into time added on for his second of the game and three much needed points for the R`s.
Rangers finished in fifth place with 42 points, a mere six points off eventual winners Leicester City. The R`s progress stuttered as they drew six games from their final ten fixtures to finish narrowly short.
Newly promoted Swansea City will have been delighted with their 12th placed finish as they began to find their feet in the second division. The subsequent season they took the league by storm to finish third and gain promotion to the First Division.
Final Score: Queens Park Rangers 3-2 Swansea City
QPR: Woods, Shanks, Gillard, McCreery, Wicks, Roeder, Goddard, Waddock, Allen, Currie, Burke.
Swansea City: Letheran, Marustik, Rushbury, Charles, Phillips, Giles, Craig, James, Waddle, Toshack, Callaghan (Robinson 69).
Attendance: 11,153
To read the full catalogue from Rangers games in history, click here.
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