QPR's Leicester Victory - Reports & Comments

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Sunday People By John Percy - LEICESTER 1-3 QPR

MARC NYGAARD finally started punching his weight to earn Queens Park Rangers a vital three points in their bid to get off the Championship canvas and stagger to safety.

The 6ft 5in Dane has been a massive disappointment to manager John Gregory in recent weeks - but he made it a red-face day for embarrassed Leicester as Rangers picked up their first away win since November.

Nygaard hammered in a wonder goal and collected another from the penalty spot, as well as setting up Inigo Idiakez for his first goal since arriving on loan from Southampton.

Leicester disintegrated in a four-minute spell after half-time when Nygaard headed on Marcus Bignot's free-kick for Idiakez to force a close-range header past Wayne Henderson.

Nygaard doubled the lead from the spot after Alan Maybury shoved Paul Furlong.

Rangers keeper Lee Camp had kept Leicester at bay in the first half with three excellent saves, and no-one could see the remarkable turnaround coming.

But Nygaard confirmed the victory in awesome style with a swerving 30-yard effort in the 68th minute for his fourth goal of the season.

This finished off sorry Leicester, who found no consolation in Iain Hume's stoppage time penalty after handball by Danny Cullip. People

QPR Official Site John Gregory's Post-Match Comments LONG TIME COMING

John Gregory could not hide his delight following QPR's first away win since November.

The R's hadn't won outside Loftus Road since their smash-and-grab victory at Cardiff, and after seeing his side comfortably beat Leicester 3-1 this afternoon, Gregory said: "That win has been a long time coming.

"We've been playing very well recently but not getting the points are performances have deserved."

Rangers scored two quick goals at the start of the second half to take control against the Foxes, and the gaffer admitted: "The second goal was vital, and once it went in, it was just a case of running the clock down.

"We didn't look back from there. It was a real battling performance by every one of my players."

Gregory also had high praise for Marc Nygaard, who scored twice.

"He had the bottle to step up and take the penalty," he said, "and his second goal was a sensational strike. I hope he realises that he can't do that every week though.

"Joe Dunbar, who was sat next to me on the bench, actually shouted 'No Marc!' as he went to shoot!

"Now we have to concentrate on making sure we are ready for our next match against West Brom on 31st March." QPR

LEICESTER OFFICIAL SITE - Kelly

Kelly Offers No Excuses

City boss Rob Kelly could not hide his disappointment following his side's 3-1 defeat at the hands of QPR at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday.

The Foxes had gone into the game looking to build on their recent run of results which had seen them defeated just once in their last eight encounters.

But Leicester would come unstuck against John Gregory's men - with two goals at the start of the second period for the visitors doing the real damage.

Kelly said: "I am not going to make any excuses. The bottom line is our performance in the second half today wasn't anywhere near what we as a group are trying to achieve for our football club and its supporters.

"I will hold both hands up. That is my team and we weren't good enough.

"I certainly wouldn't try to pull the wool over anybody's eyes - we weren't anywhere near where we should be if we are going to move forward.

"We knew that QPR's main threat would come from set plays. We didn't defend a free-kick properly at the start of the second half and that effected us too much.

"I had again emphasised that their main threat would come from set pieces when I spoke to the players at half time. But in the end we lose two headers and the ball is in the back of the net.

"We didn't show nearly enough to get back into the game. We are disappointed in ourselves.

"We are also disappointed for the supporters. They have again turned out in great numbers, but we didn't do them justice.

"The fans have got every right to be disappointed.

"We let ourselves down and we have let our supporters down. When we win we win together and when we get beat we get beat together.

"We are where we are in the league because we are inconsistent.

"But we have got a two week break now and we will be working hard to put things right." Leicester

Leicester Official Site - Player's Perspective Darren Kenton

Darren Kenton offered no excuses after City slumped to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of QPR on Saturday afternoon.

It was only their second loss in nine Championship matches but they are now just seven points above the drop zone with eight games remaining this term.

"It was a very disappointing result especially after the way we started the game," said the defender, who came in at centre-half for the injured Gareth McAuley.

"We started quite brightly and had the better chances in the first half but two goals in four minutes at the start of the second half really took it out of us and we faced an uphill challenge after that.

"I thought myself and Paddy Kisnorbo handled their two big strikers quite well but one long ball in to the box which we didn't defend properly and a soft penalty turned the game on its head.

"We tried to force our way back into the game after that but the ball just wouldn't fall for us and their third was just a great strike and summed up our day.

"But we can't make excuses, it just wasn't good enough."

The match marked Kenton's first start since New Year's Day but while pleased to be back in the starting line-up, the defeat left a bitter taste in his mouth.

"It has been a while since I started and it is frustrating when you are not playing but up until a couple of games ago we had been on a good run," he added.

"It was disappointing again to lose and not get the three points. The last game I started was against Sunderland and we lost that as well!"

City now have an extended break due to internationals and are not back in action until March 31 when they travel to Midlands rivals Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.

"You always want to go into a break with three points in the bag but we can't afford to dwell, this game has now gone and we must prepare ourselves for the next one," Kenton said.

"We must remain focused and upbeat because there is still work to be done." Leicester

BBC - MANAGERIAL COMMENTS

# Leicester boss Rob Kelly:
"There was a lack of concentration in the second half. In the first half I thought we were dominant but you need to be scoring in those spells.

"It's now a long two weeks until our next game when we really need one tomorrow but we haven't and will just have to work hard to put it right.

"We've still got a lot of work to do this season. Our target has to be that we get over that 50-points barrier."

# QPR manager John Gregory:
"In the first half we were horrendous. We were tired and lethargic and allowed Leicester to dominate the early exchanges.

"I would have expected Leicester to do much better with all the possession they had but they never really punished us.

"It was a fine win in the end and we now have three matches at home. If we manage to win those it might just get us across the finishing line." BBC

SPORTING LIFE
QPR boss John Gregory set his players a survival target of three more wins after a superb second-half performance at Leicester lifted them out of the relegation zone in the Coca-Cola Championship.

The Londoners leapfrogged Southend as they recorded a first away victory since last November when they won at Cardiff.

Leicester dominated the first half but could not find a way past QPR goalkeeper Lee Camp.

The visitors netted two quick goals after the break as Inigo Idiakez headed home on 47 minutes and Marc Nygaard added a penalty four minutes later, with Alan Maybury penalised for bundling over Paul Furlong.

Leicester's problems increased when Nygaard struck a stunning third from 30 yards, a drive from the right which flew into the top left corner.

Gregory said: "In the first half we were horrendous. We were tired and lethargic and allowed Leicester to dominate the early exchanges.

"For 30 minutes we were second best and second to every ball.

"But we needed to get to half-time at 0-0 because we have a lot of energy in the side and lots of strength and we do tend to kick on in the second half.

"I would have expected Leicester to do much better with all the possession they had but they never really punished us.

"We now have three matches at home and if we manage to win those it might just get us across the finishing line."

Leicester manager Rob Kelly apologised to City fans and described his team's performance in the second half as the worst of his reign.

He said: "There was a lack of concentration in the second half. In the first half I thought we were dominant but you need to be scoring in those spells.

"In the second half we were nowhere near where we need to be and we need performances that will move this club forward.

"It's now a long two weeks until our next game when we really need one tomorrow but we haven't and will just have to work hard to put it right because we've still got a lot of work to do this season.

"Our target has to be that we get over that 50-points barrier.

"The second half was as poor as we've played since I've been in charge.

"The two goals really rocked us but unlike against Leeds the other night when we hit back, you could see that their two goals affected us too much, drained us and stopped us being brave.

"And then they scored a sensational third."

Leicester's reply came from a late Iain Hume penalty, after Danny Cullip had been penalised for handball. Sporting Life

Sunday Mail - Gregory pep talk just the job for QPR
QPR did their Championship survival hopes a power of good with a stunning win at the Walkers Stadium.

Whatever manager John Gregory said in his half-time team talk did wonders for Rangers who struck three times after the break to earn their first win on their travels since November.

First Leicester failed to cope with a Marcus Bignot free-kick which Marc Nygaard nodded on for Inigo Idiakez to head home within two minutes of the restart.

Nygaard then converted a 51st-minute penalty after Shaun Newton had bundled over Paul Furlong.

And City’s nightmare worsened on 68 minutes when Nygaard smashed a 30-yard drive from out on the right which flew into the top left-hand corner.

Deep in time added on at the end of the game Iain Hume scored a consolation penalty for Leicester after Danny Cullip had handled inside the box.

It was all in total contrast to a first half that Leicester dominated and Rangers had failed to get a single effort on target.

Indeed, Rangers might easily have turned around three goals down had not the excellent Lee Camp pulled off great saves to deny Alan Maybury, Hume and Stephen Hughes Mail

Also: Earlier Reports re QPR's Win at Leicester