QPR Report Twitter Feed

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Snippets: Ainsworth on Burnley and Bolder...Stand-in Captain, Gavin Mahon on Burnley....Kosky on Defensive Departures...Steffan Moore Update.

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Ex-QPR last night: Kevin Gallen helped MK Dons to a 3=0 lead, before they drew 3-3...Baidoo came on in the last few minutes (didn't score) as Dagenham won 6-2...Pat Kanyuka was on the bench for Swindon. As was Donnelly for Aldershot. Bignot played for Millwall... Doherty for Wycombe...Bircham didn't feature for Yeovil.

Gareth Ainsworth/Kilburn Times
"...I've said for a while now that we're looking upwards, not behind us and, without seeming arrogant or cocky, it's good to see that change of attitude in the dressing room.
Of course, it was a bit more subdued after Tuesday - throwing away a two-goal lead against Burnley brought us all down to earth.
It dhows how important the timing of goals can be. Burnley must have gone in at half-time wondering how the hell they were still in the game, but they had a sniff at 2-1 down and they won the second half by some distance.
Credit to Andy Cole - he deservedly took the plaudits for his hat-trick, but it was Ade Akinbiyi who caused us the most problems and that physical side is something I feel we're still lacking.
It's a lesson we've got to learn from. We experienced the other side of the coin at Southampton, displaying strong character after going 1-0 down inside a minute.
I said 'we're going to win this game' to Dexter as we were sitting on the bench, and part of the reason for my confidence was the fantastic noise from the Rangers fans who made the trip. They never stopped cheering and shouting, just as they did last season to help us stay up.
Someone else who played a massive part in our survival was Adam Bolder and I think Sheffield Wednesday have made a great acquisition in getting him to Hillsborough.
If it hadn't been for the contributions of people like Adam Bolder and Danny Cullip, their leadership and guts, in keeping QPR in the Championship last season, the future wouldn't look as bright as I feel it does now."Kilburn Times


Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times
STAND-IN skipper Gavin Mahon admitted QPR have some harsh lessons to learn after throwing away a two-goal lead at home to Burnley on Tuesday.
Mahon headed his first goal for the club and Patrick Agyemang's purple patch continued with his eighth in six games before Burnley mounted an astonishing comeback to win 4-2.
Andy Cole's hat-trick sentenced hapless Rangers to their first home defeat in six games, with substitute Ade Akinbiyi also on target.
Mahon, who took the captain's armband when a hip injury curtailed Martin Rowlands' evening just before half-time, said: "As a team we've got to get into the mentality of winning matches.
"At 2-0 up we've got to keep our shape and see it out. We didn't and that's probably why we are where we are in the league.
"I think Cole's goal just before half-time knocked us back a bit. The dressing room wasn't lively - we were quite worried and agitated.
"We have to make sure we all stick together and get our heads up - you are going to get these setbacks, but you've got to start the run going again. A lot of players have come in the last three or four weeks and you're not all going to gel straight away. "
Mahon hit the nail on the head - but the Rs' problems stem less from the players they have brought in than those they casually ditched without a moment's thought.
The decisions to release Sampsa Timoska, Danny Cullip and Pat Kanyuka - as well as loaning Simon Walton to Hull - look ever more foolish, with Fitz Hall's injury exposing the paucity of Rangers' remaining defensive options.

The back line were completely unable to deal with Akinbiyi and Cole in the second half and Rangers paid the price, even though they had been thoroughly dominant during the first period.
Agyemang created the opener in the 14th minute, disposessing Jon Harley and back-heeling the ball to Akos Buzsaky, whose cross was met by the head of the onrushing Mahon.
The in-form Agyemang then became the first player to score in six consecutive QPR games since Rodney Marsh 41 years ago as he made it 2-0 on the half-hour.
Left-back Damien Delaney burst into the Burnley half and threaded a pass through for Agyemang, who eased the ball around Brian Jensen and tucked it away.
Perhaps the highlight of some eye-catching football from Rangers was the sight of Zesh Rehman powering forward, cutting inside and thumping a left-foot drive that Jensen dived to scramble away.... Kilburn Times

re Steffan Moore - The Age: "...Victory has yet to decide on whether to offer trial player Stefan Moore a contract. The 24-year-old former Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers striker has been training with Melbourne.
"We have got him here on a two-week trial. He's pretty quick, but it's far too early to be making the call," Victory football operations manager Gary Cole said." The Age

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