EPL: QPR vs. Norwich

So today in this battle of promoted squads we got to see both the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personalities of QPR Captain Joey Barton. The Dr. Jekyll side put them on the front foot after Norwich had controlled the first ten minutes. Unfortunately, Mr. Hyde showed up before half time and helped send QPR to their 8th loss in 11 matches.

Neil Warnock's side was hoping things were looking up coming into their first match of the 2012 calendar year. The transfer window was officially open and they had already added Manchester United striker Federico Macheda on loan. Macheda was in uniform and on the bench to start.

However the Canaries had other ideas right from the opening whistle. Of the three promoted teams, Swansea has gotten the most praise for playing possession football, or if you're one of their opponents, you might call it ball hogging. Norwich did their best to emulate that in the opening stages of today's match. Midfielder Simon Lappin made his EPL debut was quite active early on as was Anthony Pilkington.

However it was QPR that managed to strike first, against the run of play. On 11 minutes Clint Hill put a seeing eye centering pass down that somehow found it's way through the Norwich defenders. Barton came dashing into the area and blazed the ball into the back of the net from 12 yards out to make it 1-0 to the West Londoners.

Unfortunately the day didn't end up being all roses for Barton and QPR. In the 36th minute of play, Barton appeared to get into one of his trademark "situations" away from the ball with Norwich's Bradley Johnson. It was hard to see on replay, but Barton appeared to headbutt the Canary midfielder. Referee Neil Swarbrick consulted with his assistants and then proceeded to show the QPR Captain a red card, putting them down to ten men less than ten minutes before the half.

Rangers were hoping to ride the storm out until half time, but it didn't turn out that way. In the 43rd minute Pilkington found himself with space in the area and drilled the shot into the bottom of the goal to make it 1-1 at the half.

HERE COMES THE RED CARD (GETTY IMAGES)

You have to give credit to QPR though. They came out with both barrels blazing in the second half, determined not to just sit back and defend against the Canaries. Shaun Wright-Phillips checked in and got into the action right away, forcing a save out of John Ruddy.

However, eventually the extra man took it's toll and Norwich put the match away. Their coach had made a rare triple substitution in the 65th minute, and it paid off in the 82nd. Wes Hoolahan headed down a cross from Pilkingtion into the path of Steve Morison. Morison calmly stroked the ball into the back of the net to give the Canaries the 1-2 win.

All in all it was a match in which QPR's temper undid them, and Norwich showed a lot of heart to secure a vital 3 points on the road. At the end of the match QPR was sitting just above the drop zone on 17 points. Norwich is currently sitting in 9th at this writing, on 25 points. One would think that puts the Canaries more than half way to safety.