Chelsea completely lost their discipline as two sending
offs, seven yellow cards and a penalty handed QPR a
1-0 win - their first victory over their arch-rivals
for 16 years.
Jose Bosingwa and Didier Drogba both saw red in the
clash at Loftus Road, while Ashley Cole also picked
up a suspension for his fifth booking of the season.
The rot set in when David Luiz needlessly conceded
an eighth-minute penalty which Heidar Helguson scored,
but the nine men wasted more than one chance to level,
most notably when Nicolas Anelka headed straight at
Paddy Kenny.
The defeat saw Chelsea blow the chance to capitalise
on Manchester United's derby humiliation and move second
in the Premier League, while also leaving them six points
adrift of Manchester City.
That merely added to the jubilation for the home fans
as they celebrated their side's first home victory since
promotion.
Captain Joey Barton's personal attack on opposite number
John Terry six days earlier did not prevent the pair
shaking hands before kick-off but there was no love
lost between the rival fans in what was a cracking atmosphere
at Loftus Road.
Daniel Sturridge and Luiz threatened early on but the
latter's habit of making daft challenges cost Chelsea
dear in the eighth minute when they failed to deal with
a long clearance and the defender nudged Helguson over
in the box.
Referee Chris Foy pointed to the spot and Helguson
snatched the ball from a far-from impressed Adel Taraabt
and sent the penalty into the top corner via Petr Cech's
fingertips.
The were bossing possession without creating anything
of note and their afternoon took another turn for the
worse in the 32nd minute when Bosingwa was controversially
sent off.
Bosingwa hauled down Shaun Wright-Phillips when the
winger threatened to burst clear, with Foy deeming the
right-back to be last man and brandishing red.
Chelsea were livid with the decision, which was followed
by Taraabt curling the resultant free-kick too close
to Cech.
Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas sacrificed Sturridge for
Branislav Ivanovic but his misery was far from over,
with Drogba getting himself sent off four minutes before
half-time.
The striker lunged in two footed on Taraabt and - unlike
his other two major decisions - left Foy with little
option.
Villas-Boas took action again in first-half stoppage-time,
withdrawing Mata for Nicolas Anelka.
It looked a lost cause for the nine men, who were sent
out a full two minutes before their opponents after
the break.
Incredibly, they went close to levelling straight away
when Lampard was just beaten to Raul Meireles' brilliant
cross.
Kenny also flapped at a dangerous Ivanovic ball but
they were soon hit on the break and John Obi Mikel was
booked for upending Taraabt.
Lampard and Shaun Derry had to be dragged away from
each other following a penalty-box scramble, with Foy
booking both.
Luke Young screwed a great chance wide as Rangers finally
began to make their advantage tell, while Ivanovic became
the latest man cautioned for clattering Taraabt.
Barton picked up a customary yellow for going in late
on Terry before Taraabt was withdrawn for Tommy Smith
on the hour mark, the Moroccan also living up to his
reputation for storming down the tunnel.
Young got in behind again five minutes later but he
drilled his cross straight at Cech.
Lampard was furious midway through the half when he
felt Fitz Hall had bundled him over in the box only
to see the officials unmoved.
Luiz was booked for another poor challenge before seeing
a penalty appeal turned down when he hit the deck under
challenge from Helguson.
Barton almost scored on the break, and Meireles was
booked for dissent before being immediately withdrawn
for Florent Malouda.
But there was no stopping the yellow tide, Cole almost
made to pay for his booking when Helguson volleyed over
from point-blank range.
Chelsea should have capitalised with just over 10 minutes
left when Ivanovic put the ball on a plate for Anelka,
who somehow headed the ball straight at Kenny from four
yards.
Jamie Mackie replaced Derry but Chelsea wasted another
great chance to level when Lampard deflected Luiz's
overhead kick over the crossbar.
With time running out, Villas-Boas made his feelings
clear to the fourth official, while tempers flared late
on when Terry closed down Kenny and the pair squared
up on the six-yard line.
There was still time for Cole to nod a weak header
at Kenny and Cech - of all people - nearly to get his
head on the end of a free-kick.
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