Reports & Comments of QPR 1 Millwall 0

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Sunday Times
QPR 1 Millwall 0:Waddock in control
Rob Maul at Loftus Road
QUEENS Park Rangers were finally able to put a tempestuous week behind them as they celebrated a win in caretaker-manager Gary Waddock’s first match in charge following the departure of Ian Holloway.
But while Mike Nygaard’s second-half strike, only his fifth goal of the season, halted a run of three successive defeats and pushed Millwall further into the relegation mire, there were ugly scenes that nearly overshadowed it. Riot police were despatched to prevent Millwall fans breaching the South Africa Road stand, while items were thrown and plastic advertising banners torn up.
he trouble flared shortly after Nygaard breached the visitors’ defence. Though his initial header, from Gareth Ainsworth’s cross, was excellently saved by goalkeeper Andy Marshall, Nygaard comfortably slotted the rebound into the net.
Waddock, who had taken over the team after Holloway was placed unexpectedly on “gardening leave” last week, made six changes and the players he selected responded, dominating possession and territory for most of the match. Waddock relished the chance to manage. “I have played for the youth, reserve and first team and have coached at every level. This club has a huge place in my heart,” he said.
Later in the second half, midfielder Alan Dunne was sent off, receiving a second yellow card after his elbow connected with Steve Lomas. It compounded an awful day for the travelling Lions.
“Again, we did not have a shot on goal. How can you win games when you don’t have at least one,” asked Millwall manager David Tuttle. “Whether it is because the boys, low in confidence, think they are being relegated, I don’t know.”
STAR MAN: Lee Cook (QPR)
Player ratings. QPR: Jones 7, Bignot 6, Shittu 7, Evatt 6, Milanese 7, Ainsworth 8, Bircham 7 (Langley 88min, 6), Lomas 7, Cook 8, Furlong 6, Nygaard 7 (Baidoo 77min, 6)
Millwall: Marshall 6, Lawrence 5, Robinson 6, Whitbread 6, Craig 6, Cogan 7 (Dyer 80min, 6), Elliott 6, Dunne 4, Livermore 6, Powel 5 (May 49min, 7), Braniff 6 (Williams 59min, 6) Scorer: QPR: Nygaard 56
Referee: A Wiley
Attendance: 13,757
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2093-2036699,00.html


INDEPENDENT
QPR 1 Millwall 0: Great Dane Nygaard puts bite back in Rangers
Crowd violence mars flying start for Loftus Road's caretaker manager Waddock
By Simon Asquith at Loftus Road
Published: 12 February 2006
Who needs John Gregory? QPR did just fine without him in Gary Waddock's first match in charge as caretaker manager.
Gregory is favourite to succeed the suspended Ian Holloway on a permanent basis but he could have a rival in Waddock. A scrappy winner from the Danish target man Marc Nygaard ended a run of three defeats in succession to give Waddock the perfect start after his promotion from reserve-team duties.
The 43-year-old is QPR through and through, having spent eight years as a player in west London and he might just turn out to be a popular choice after promising to bring back free-flowing football.
Nygaard's winner was anything but, however, coming as it did after the Millwall goalkeeper Andy Marshall could only parry his thunderous header from a simple right-wing cross by Gareth Ainsworth.
Marshall was still lying prone when Nygaard followed up to score his fifth goal of the campaign with a close-range volley on 55 minutes. But Waddock will not worry about that. "It was a great start," he said. "The manner of the win and the way we played was encouraging for the future. We opened them up and had opportunities.
"I played as a schoolboy here, then in the youth team and the reserves before I made it into the first team. I've coached the youths, the reserves and the first team.
"To be caretaker manager of this club, which is in my heart, how can you describe that?" He added: "I've got no idea whether John Gregory's been offered the job. But the chairman has said I'm here until the end of the season. I'll take it as it comes."
For Millwall, it was a dreadful afternoon. Not only did they fail to muster a single decent shot on target, but they had their midfielder Alan Dunne dismissed for two bookings in five mad minutes late on, first fouling and then elbowing Steve Lomas, and their fans traded missiles with the home supporters before riot police restored order.
The Millwall manager, David Tuttle, admitted: "The boys think they're getting relegated. When you're in the bottom three for so long you're going to be low on confidence. We need that spark to get us going but it's not happening at the moment. We were poor."
http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/coca_cola/article344897.ece


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - WADDOCK POST MATCH RESPONSE

Caretaker Manager Gary Waddock hailed the end of a 'fantastic week' as Rangers beat Millwall 1-0 at Loftus Road.
Marc Nygaard's second half strike ended a barren run of three consecutive defeats for the Hoops, to the delight of Waddock.
"It's a great finish to a fantastic first week. We prepared from Monday onwards. I was calm Thursday and Friday and even surprised myself with how calm I was today.
"It got a bit edgy towards the end and Biggy could've settled by nerves, but I'd have taken a 1-0 win before the game, so I'm delighted.
"The lads have been positive all week and I think that came over in their performance today. It's a good result and we really want to keep it going now.''
Rangers' attacking style of play was a joy to watch at times and although Waddock was impressed by what he saw, he insists there is still a 'lot of work to be done.'
"There was some good movement, but there is still a lot of work to be done on our play in the final third. That's the most important area of the pitch, it's where games are won and we'll be working on it in training.''
Waddock also paid tribute to the Rangers supporters, who were vocal from start to finish.
"The reception that me and Macca got was fantastic. Also, the crowd were great towards Ollie, chanting his name, applauding in numbers and I joined in with them. He's done a fantastic job for this football club and that will never be forgotten.
''The nature of football is that manager's move on and I'm in Caretaker charge now to do the best I possibly can.'' http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/ManagersComments/0,,10373~781918,00.html


QPR OFFICIAL SITE MATCH REPORT
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10373~30882,00.html


SPORTING LIFE
WADDOCK EYES EXPERIENCED SIDEKICK
By Tom Collomosse, PA Sport
QPR caretaker-boss Gary Waddock revealed he was desperate to add experience to his coaching staff after marking his first game in charge with victory over 10-man Millwall.
Marc Nygaard scored the only goal of the game in the 56th minute to earn Waddock - who stepped in earlier this week after former boss Ian Holloway was placed on gardening leave - three vital points.
Former Rangers boss Jim Smith rejected the chance to re-join the club in a consultancy role earlier this week, and Waddock wants a similar figure to help him through his first steps in management.
"I would like to bring in someone with experience and knowledge, who I can ask for advice," said Waddock, who played down reports that former Aston Villa and Derby boss John Gregory - a friend of chairman Gianni Paladini - had been offered a position at Loftus Road.
"But I will definitely be deciding who is appointed.
"I am glad the fans gave Ian Holloway the recognition he deserved, because he did a fantastic job during his five years here."
Although Millwall were very poor, Rangers played fluently in spells and should have won by more than one goal.
Waddock, who is likely to be in charge until the end of the season, made clear before the game his intention to play with a less direct style to that of Holloway - and the early signs were promising.
Waddock continued: "It was a great start. The manner of the way we played was encouraging for the future.
"I cannot describe how I feel [about becoming manager]. I was with the club from 1979-87 and again from 1991-92, so to become manager is fantastic.
"I think I could have taken over one of the stands if I had given tickets to all the family and friends that wanted to come today."
Millwall manager David Tuttle admitted his players are beginning to lose faith in their ability to stay in the Championship.
Alan Dunne was sent off late on for the visitors, whose home clash with Hull on Tuesday now assumes huge importance.
Tuttle said: "The boys are very deflated, because they think they are getting relegated and their confidence is low.
"It was a poor performance. We had a game-plan, and we didn't stick to it. We remain desperate to bring in an experienced forward on loan.
"After every game we say we need an attacker, but we haven't managed to make it happen. The board haven't told me why that is the case.
"When we played the ball to our frontmen, it came straight back, whereas QPR's were able to hold onto it. That was the difference between the teams."
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_championship/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/02/11/SOCCER_QPR_2nd_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=nationwide1


- SUNDAY MIRROR LANGLEY: WE DON'T MISS IAN
RICHARD LANGLEY says QPR are better off without axed boss Ian Holloway.
Hoops chairman Gianni Paladini suspended Holloway on Tuesday for reportedly showing an interest in the vacant Leicester City job.
And midfielder Langley claims the players are happier working under caretaker boss Gary Waddock. He said: "There was no cohesion in the team. We didn't play with as much composure as we'd like, and we weren't playing the best football.
"A lot of the players like Gary Waddock's style, though. He appreciates a lot of the qualities we have in the team, and he's well liked. As long as the fans see us trying to pass it, they'll appreciate that.
"All the lads are behind Gary. It's going to be a hard job for him, but we'll give it everything. It will help Gary that he was such a legend as a player for QPR.
"We weren't surprised Ian was placed on gardening leave. There was a lot of speculation that he'd be moving on. http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_objectid=16693435%26method=full%26siteid=62484%26headline=langley%2d%2dwe%2ddon%2dt%2dmiss%2dian%2d-name_page.html