Post-Match Comments From Dowie and Davey

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QPR OFFICIAL SITE - ONE DOWN, 45 TO GO!
Posted on: Sat 09 Aug 2008

Iain Dowie was content at the final whistle after seeing his R's beat Barnsley 2-1 on the opening day of the campaign.

Two goals from centre-back Fitz Hall saw the Hoops come from behind to claim all three points, but the demanding Dowie told www.qpr.co.uk: "Sure, I am delighted with the result, but there is a lot more to come from this group of players.
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"Performance-wise, we were too open for my liking."

Barnsley opened the scoring on five minutes to stun the Loftus Road faithful, but Dowie was impressed with how his men reacted.

"When they scored we got a foot-hold on the match and I was pleased with the character of the lads.

"That was the reaction I was looking for and knowing the lads as I do, I never had any doubt that would be their response."

And a new starlet of the terraces was born in the shape of Emmanuel Ledesma, who produced a scintillating performance on the right wing, and received a standing ovation as he was subbed late on.

"He has got great talent," added Dowie.

"He needs to learn the shape and the system, but it was a great debut from him."

Dowie also revealed the decision for Hall to take a second-half spot-kick - which he missed - was made prior to kick-off, and had nothing to do with the fact he was on a hat-trick.

"He was our penalty taker in the absence of the injured Martin Rowlands, and practiced yesterday," he said.

"He scored five out of five in training, and I'll have no problems with him taking another for us.

"This victory is a small step on a long road. It's a long season and we're one out of one on a 46-game ladder." QPR


BARNSLEY OFFICIAL SITE
OST MATCH REACTION FROM LOFTUS ROAD
Posted on: Sat 09 Aug 2008

REDS boss Simon Davey gave his thoughts following today's undeserved defeat at QPR.

Simon said: "We had a fantastic start to the game with a great finish by Iain (Hume). We could have had another one or two. We were very pleased with what we saw today.

"We had a bad five minutes and conceded twice from set pieces, which was disappointing. You have to give credit to QPR because they did well in those five minutes although the first one came from a very dubious free kick.

"There was only one team in it in the second half. We took the game to them and there was only one side out there. There was nothing in it - we have come here and had the lions share of the play. We were the better team.

"We have not won the game which is very disappointing for everybody but there were a lot of positives. We are obviously disappointed with the result but we can take a lot from that performance.

"It was never a penalty but Luke (Steele) saved it anyway. I have no complaints though about the sending off.

"We have to take this performance and move forward". Barnsley



Sporting Life -DOWIE SHRUGS OFF RIFT REPORTS

QPR boss Iain Dowie shrugged off speculation about his future following his team's 2-1 victory at home to Barnsley on the opening day of the Coca-Cola Championship season.

Fitz Hall scored twice and then missed a penalty as Rangers came from behind to beat the Tykes, who had Marciano van Homoet sent off.

But Dowie remains under pressure with Rangers among the favourites for promotion and his position is reported to be under threat following a disagreement with the club's co-owner Flavio Briatore.

"People will make mischief," said Dowie.

"It always surprises me when people don't want to be positive and instead write negative stories. I'm a positive person.

"We have high-profile owners here and the tag of favourites is going to stay. But we have to embrace that and tackle it head-on."

Dowie's side went behind after five minutes when Barnsley's £1.2million summer signing Iain Hume collected Brian Howard's pass and slotted past goalkeeper Radek Cerny.

Rangers were struggling before two goals from Hall in as many minutes.

First, goalkeeper Luke Steele parried Emmanuel Ledesma's free-kick into Hall's path and he bundled the ball home after his first effort came back off the bar.

Then, after Barnsley failed to clear a Lee Cook corner, the ball dropped to Hall near the edge of the area and he brilliantly hooked it back over his shoulder and into the far corner of the net.

But Hall was denied a hat-trick when Steele saved his 57th-minute spot-kick after Darren Moore tripped Dexter Blackstock.

Barnsley played the last seven minutes with 10 men after Van Homoet was red-carded for a crude challenge on QPR's on-loan Real Madrid midfielder Dani Parejo.

"Barnsley played well and defensively we were too open. We were a little bit too gung-ho," Dowie admitted.

"But in the end we got a win out of a potentially difficult situation. It says a lot about the character of the team.

"We got the job done without being great - I'm not going to pretend otherwise. It's a result we're delighted with, without getting carried away.

"It's a small step on a long road for us. It's the first rung on a 46-rung ladder."

Barnsley boss Simon Davey insisted his team were unlucky to lose and remain on course to enjoy an improved season.

He said: "We had a fantastic start. Iain Hume finished well and we could maybe have scored one or two more.

"In the second half there was only one team in it. We took the game to them. QPR have spent a lot of money and I felt we not only had the lion's share, we were actually the better side.

"I'm disappointed with the result but in terms of the performance, there were good things to come out of it and we'll take that and move on.

"We're a stronger squad than we were last season and we will be a better team."

Davey added: "There's always pressure when you sign a striker for over £1million and there's pressure on Iain Hume, so it was good to see him score." Sporting Life