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Mirror/Ann Gripper - HOOPS THEY DID IT AGAIN
Leicester are the fall guys this time as QPR roar on
Queens Park Rangers won the battle of the Championship rich kids to ease their relegation fears and go into Saturday's FA Cup glamour derby with Chelsea brimming with confidence.
It was the first time Leicester boss Ian Holloway had been beaten by his former club, but it was one of his former players - Akos Buzsaky, who he managed at Plymouth until the Hungarian's October loan switch to London - who provided Rangers with the spark of creativity Leicester lacked.
Goals from Damion Stewart, Adam Bolder and the hardworking Dexter Blackstock put Rangers three up within an hour before Iain Hume gave Leicester hope.
And after seeing his side move above Leicester in the table, Rangers boss Luigi De Canio demanded even more from his squad.
He said: "They can and they must play better. When we score we can't be content, we have to keep attacking."
"It's a good and happy time for Damion - he's managing to get there at the right time and make the most of every set piece.
"When Damion learns to remain concentrated and defend for 90 minutes he will be a world class player."
Leicester owner Milan Mandaric has a fortune estimated at £75million and has made a £6million warchest available for Holloway. The former Plymouth boss has been quick to get spending, naming £1.5million Derby Premiership flop Steve Howard on the bench and sending old warhorse Barry Hayles straight into battle after his arrival from Plymouth.
But Mandaric's bank account looks like small change compared to the combined wealth of the new regime at QPR.
The Loftus Road takeover team, £2.25billion Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone and £70 million Flavio Briatore and billionaire steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal leave even Roman Abramovich looking unimpressive.
Big arrivals are expected in the transfer window at QPR but with the only new signing so far, Gavin Mahon, just a second half substitute, this was an impressive performance from the old guard. And with just one loss in their last seven games it is difficult to imagine Rangers will be battling it out at the wrong end of the table for much longer.
Oozing belief after their demolition of Watford, Rangers were in front after 15 minutes when Stewart headed in a Buzsaky corner to notch his fifth of the season.
And when the lively Blackstock nodded Rowan Vine's hanging back post centre back across goal, the unmarked Bolder doubled the lead. After going two behind, Holloway went on the attack, sending on Howard, but it made little difference as the Leicester policy appeared to be aim for Hayles' head and see if something happened - generally nothing did.
Blackstock could have made it three before the break, glancing Vine's centre just wide, but he made up for it after 56 minutes when Vine mesmerised James Chambers and Blackstock was allowed to run onto another wicked cross, this time powering his header into the net.
Leicester had started the half with more fight, Howard blasting a thunderous 25 yard shot against the post, and they pulled one back on the hour, Iain Hume powering a free kick beyond the stunned Lee Camp.
It was the last game of Vine's loan deal, the former Luton man returning to the Midlands today, but De Canio admits he would love to bring him back to Loftus Road.
Holloway, frustrated at his side's lack of fight, warned his players they need to start playing if they are to survive at the club, saying: "If they carry on like this I will be changing all of them - because I want success. And you only get success when you believe and work your socks off and keep going when things don't go your way. Mirror
THE SUN/Adam Simmons -
IAN HOLLOWAY admitted he felt like a turkey after a stuffing from his former club.
The Leicester boss left new £1million signing Steve Howard on the bench at Loftus Road.
And the Foxes were already 2-0 down when he came on as a 32nd-minute substitute.
Barry Hayles — also making his debut up front having signed from Plymouth — barely troubled the Rangers defence.
But ex-QPR manager Holloway said: “Both Steve and Barry showed what they are all about.
“Steve, who played 90 minutes for Derby the day before yesterday, did well and Barry chased everything.
"Good luck to QPR with all the money they’ve got. I’m pleased for them but I don’t like them at the moment because they’ve stuffed me. I feel like a turkey.
“I’m obviously disappointed but I have spoken to my players about positivity. We have to look to the future.”
Damion Stewart’s header from Akos Buzsaky’s corner put Rangers ahead.
It was the big Jamaican defender’s fourth goal in just seven games.
QPR then went further in front when Dexter Blackstock rose to head Rowan Vine’s left-wing cross into the path of Adam Bolder, who nodded in from close range.
Howard did at least threaten the Rangers defence four minutes before the break but the striker’s 30-yard drive came back off the post.
And Rangers’ lucky escape proved to be crucial as they went 3-0 up just eight minutes later. Again a left-wing cross from Vine did the damage.
This time Blackstock headed home himself for his first goal since the first day of the campaign. Iain Hume did give Holloway’s side hope on 59 minutes with a sweetly-struck free-kick.
But they never looked like coming back and Howard missed a golden chance when he headed wide late on.
QPR boss Luigi De Canio said: “We played well but we still can and must play better.
“The players need to keep on improving in certain areas and defending is an example of that. We must concentrate for 90 minutes.
“We must keep trying to score a second and third goal because the best form of defence is attack.”
With the transfer window now open, QPR are set to splash the cash following a recent takeover by mega-rich Formula One magnates Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore.
They are set to sign defenders Fitz Hall from Wigan and Matt Connolly from Arsenal today.
And on-loan Buzsaky’s permanent move from Plymouth looks set to be rubber-stamped within the next week.
Young West Ham winger Hogan Ephraim, 19, is also on his way to West London.
And Rangers are keen to capture Vine now his temporary switch from Birmingham has ended.
De Canio added: “We will sit down with the board and see who enters the club’s plans.
“Anyone who can be beneficial to QPR will be taken into consideration.
“We’d definitely like to sign Vine, so we will talk about that too.”
SUN STAR MAN ROWAN VINE (QPR). Set up two goals. The Sun
TELEGRAPH/Charles Carrick - Ian Holloway optimistic for Leicester future
Former QPR manager Ian Holloway insisted there was more to come from his strikers Steve Howard and Barry Hayles, after the pair began their Leicester careers with a 3-1 defeat at Loftus Road.
Goals from Damion Stewart, Adam Bolder and Dexter Blackstock put QPR in command, before Iain Hume pulled one back with a sweetly struck free-kick.
Howard, a £1 million signing from Derby, came on as a 32nd-minute substitute, with Leicester already 2-0 down. But Holloway said: "Both Steve and Barry showed what they are all about. Steve, who played 90 minutes for Derby the day before yesterday, hit the post and Barry chased everything."
Stewart's header from Akos Buzsaky's corner gave Rangers the lead after a quarter of an hour. They went further ahead when Blackstock headed Rowan Vine's cross into the path of Bolder, who nodded in from close range.
Vine did the damage again in the 56th minute, this time enabling Blackstock to head home his first goal since the opening day of the season.
Hume's goal gave Leicester hope, but they never looked like coming back. Telegraph
The Times/Tom Collomosse - Rowan Vine displays his worth as QPR convince
Luigi De Canio hopes to conclude a permanent deal for Rowan Vine, the Birmingham City striker, after he finished his loan spell at Queens Park Rangers with a superb display against Leicester City, creating the second and third goals.
“I would like to have Rowan Vine back,” De Canio said. “I will sit down with the board of directors and see who we can bring in.”
Damion Stewart headed the first goal in the fifteenth minute, before Adam Bolder doubled QPR’s advantage with a close-range header.
Ian Holloway, the Leicester manager, brought on Steve Howard, his £1.5 million signing from Derby County, for Joe Mattock, the left back, after only 32 minutes with his new team two goals behind.
The plan almost paid off when Howard volleyed against the post shortly after half-time, but Leicester’s hopes of a revival were rendered even slimmer in the 56th minute when Dexter Blackstock headed in Vine’s excellent cross. Leicester clawed one goal back, though, when Ian Hume curled in a free kick from 25 yards.
Holloway said: “We need to sign a couple more players to give us the boost and the lift that QPR were given when they brought players in.” The Times
Also QPR Report, 1/1 Compilation: "QPR Win Again: Defeating Ian Holloway's Leicester"
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