QPR Returning for Cranie Loan?...Ainsworth on Defending...QPR's "League Cup" Record

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Ealing Gazette - By Yann Tear & David Mcintyre
Rs must heed early defensive warning

QPR will look to take Martin Cranie on loan again if their defensive woes continue - and if he isn't sold by Portsmouth.
Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Sheffield United was a nasty setback for Rangers and came after shaky defensive performances in victories over Barnsley and Swindon.
The form of summer signing Kaspars Gorkss is a concern. The Latvian featured in only two pre-season games because of the wrangling over his move from Blackpool and his lack of match sharpness has been exposed.
Gorkss is a centre-back of proven Championship quality and is expected to prove it in time, but the Rangers hierarchy are looking at possible reinforcements.
Cranie impressed before a broken leg cut short his loan spell at Loftus Road last season and earlier this summer the Rs tried hard to secure his return on a season-long loan deal.
Now they have approached Portsmouth again in an attempt to bring the player back on loan.
Pompey are willing to sell the England U21 international for around £1.5m but could struggle to find a buyer, particularly given Cranie's recent injury.
That would pave the way for Cranie to rejoin QPR on loan if Rangers continue to struggle like they did at Bramall Lane.
Iain Dowie's side were 2-0 down after just 13 minutes following two goals from
striker Billy Sharp, who completed his hat-trick six minutes after half-time by pouncing to score after keeper Radek Cerny failed to gather a corner.
"Our inability to defend set plays cost us dearly," Dowie admitted.
"We're one of the biggest teams on the planet, so it's bizarre. Although we pressed in the second half we fell to another set-piece, which really sticks in the throat. I think we've got enough ability to cope.
"We don't want to overreact because we've had a mad 20 minutes."
Gareth Ainsworth believes the defeat will act as a good wake-up call.
"I thought they overpowered us physically, which in a strange way is going to be good because it's a lesson learned very early," the winger-coach told the Gazette.
"It's also a message to everyone that we're not the Chelsea of the Championship. We're not going to romp it as the bookies keep saying. It's going to be tough to get out of the division.
"Hopefully the reaction will be good and we can't wait for the next game now to put it right."
Ainsworth added: "We are great with free-kicks we get but it's a question of tightening up at the other end. It was the problem last year and we don't want a repeat.
"We are going to work hard at defending corners and freekicks. It's unbelievably important. Get that right and you won't go far wrong."
Dowie will be able to call upon Martin Rowlands for this weekend's home game against Doncaster.
The Rangers captain is available again after serving a three-match suspension and featured in a midweek behindclosed-doors friendly at West Ham, where Hogan Ephraim returned after a spell on the sidelines with shin splints.
Former Hammer Ephraim scored in the 2-2 draw, with Italian winger Matteo Alberti netting from the penalty spot....Ealing Gazette


QPR's League Cup Record: Ealing Gazette - Twice finalists, but League Cup has been no love affair
FOR a club with such fond memories of the League Cup, there will be no great feelings of optimism about Tuesday night's second round tie against Carlisle.
Rangers will be attempting to reach the third round of the competition for only the second time in a decade and the last time they managed it, they were easily brushed aside by Man City at Loftus Road.
It is only the fourth time they have reached the second round in 10 attempts, which is a poor return for a club that should be amongst the strongest of first round opponents.
No QPR fan will need reminding that 41 years ago, their team enjoyed the most romantic moment in their history when they triumphed in the first League Cup final to be played at Wembley. And they were a Third Division team too.
But that success was by no means typical, even though the Rs made it to the final again in 1986 - when a very good Oxford United side swept to an easy 3-0 win in the days when the competition was sponsored by the Milk Marketing Board.
Rangers last reached the fourth round (the last 16) in 1995 when they lost 1-0 at Aston Villa.
They last reached the quarter-finals in 1989 when eventual winners Nottingham Forest beat them 5-2 at the City Ground.
Although they flopped in the 86 final, Rangers have good reasons to remember that glorious cup run because they beat Chelsea 2-0 away in a quarter final replay and ousted Liverpool 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals after a 1-0 home win.
The results since then have been in stark contrast and Rangers fans will feel it is high time the club re-connected with those happy League Cup moments. Ealing Gazette