-
- For QPR and Football Updates throughout the day, visit the ever-growing (and hopefully always improving!) QPR Report Messageboard/quasi-blog. Either offer your own perspectives on any of the topics (QPR and football only). Or of course, feel free to simply read the various QPR and football-only discussions. -- The QPR Report Messageboard
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Gulf Weekly - TAARABT'S TANTALISING TALENT SHINES
PLAYMAKER Adel Taarabt has been earning rave reviews this season as he has been at the forefront of QPR's march to the head of the NPower Championship table, just one step away from the promised land of the English Premiership.
In the season opener Taarabt was proclaimed as the difference between the teams by his manager, Neil Warnock, as QPR sent a strong message to the competition with a 4-0 demolition of Barnsley.
Arriving at QPR's Harlington training ground, shared with Imperial College, I received a warm welcome at this family-orientated club.
The car park is like a well-stocked car showroom with Audi, Mercedes and Range Rover marques well represented, although the privacy-affording blacked-out windows is betrayed by the personalised number plates identifying the owners.
The opportunity to supervise training is destroyed by the vagaries of the English weather, although the gap was quickly filled by the willingness of the QPR media managers who provided access to some of the injured stars, namely Fitz Hall and Patrick Agyemang.
As the West Ham reserves arrived for a behind-closed-doors match against the QPR reserves, 'One size' Fitz Hall spoke freely of the origins of the unofficial best nickname in English football (If his name is said with this as a prefix then the following can be heard ... 'One Size Fits All').
Once Adel had finished training we were ushered into a long hall next to the players' dining area where the names of Imperial College's past sporting captains reminded us of half a century of amateur glories.
A devout Muslim, Taarabt emerged earlier than his colleagues from training and benefits during Ramadan from having an understanding manager in Neil Warnock who has invited Adel to manage his own training during the Holy Month and advise him of any required rest.
Taarabt only breaks his fast on match days but ensures he catches up on these after the official end of Ramadan.
I had been warned prior to the interview that Adel claimed to speak little English but I found little evidence of this.
He had a warm greeting and welcoming smile although I could hardly fail to notice the full moon of diamonds gleaming from his pink-strapped watch-face. He speaks softly yet confidently with a strong French accent.
I asked Adel whether the rigours of fasting had a negative impact on his performance. On the contrary, he claimed to feel a much heightened sense of awareness due to "his closer proximity to God." Indeed Taarabt stated a stronger commitment to work harder on the pitch to prove his beliefs.
While he was born in Morocco, Taarabt moved to France at the age of nine months. He learned his football at a variety of small clubs yet his special talent was still recognised at an early age and he first represented France at U-15 level.
His progression continued and his performances during the European Championships, in which he was likened to his boyhood idol, Zinedine Zidane, led to him being offered a variety of professional contracts.
He rejected offers from larger clubs like Marseille and Lyon in favour of Lens, believing that he would have more of an opportunity to develop and prove himself. This he did with his flair and trickery bringing him to the attention of a number of English premier clubs.
On crossing the Channel he was lined up to sign for Arsenal yet, against the advice of several 'Gooner' friends, decided to follow Director of Football, Damien Comolli, across North London to bitter rivals, Spurs.
Taarabt openly admits that he had a number of difficulties while at Tottenham Hotspur and struggled particularly under former coach Juande Ramos who, at one stage, failed to even provide him with a squad number.
This changed once Harry Rednapp took charge. While he reveled in training regularly with world 'greats' such as Berbatov and Robbie Keane, due to his inexperience of English conditions and the precarious position that faced Spurs at the time, Adel was twice sent out on loan to Queens Park Rangers.
Rather than reflect on the difficulties faced as a player on loan, Taarabt prefers to focus on the positives of having signed permanently for QPR, knowing he is wanted and feeling the pressure to ensure his own side wins.
Neil Warnock, an experienced set of hands who has revolutionised the club and installed a sense of stability since taking over the reigns, has had a positive impact on Taarabt.
Several times during the interview Adel spoke warmly of the difference he has made, not only on him but on the club as a whole. He spoke of Warnock's 'love' for him and his desire to ensure he is able to use his silky skills for the benefit of the team. However, this is not just a one-way relationship - Taarabt chose Warnock and QPR despite offers from Malaga and Villareal.
It has been reported that Warnock has claimed that if Taarabt spends a "few seasons learning under me he will be one of the best players in the world and will get his big money move to Barcelona or Real Madrid."
I took the opportunity to press this future star on what he is learning.
Warnock has impressed upon him the need to be patient during matches. In the past he admits to having been frustrated as the 'game passed him by'although he now sees that he can still win the game for his team with just the one opportunity.
More specifically, Warnock is working hard with Adel on his positional play and tactics. The coach has apparently admitted that he can bring nothing to Taarabt's technical flair and is therefore focusing on the mental aspects.
Taarabt also spoke of his need to weather the ugly side of the game and ensure that, even if he is 'kicked hard several times' he does not over-react, simply channel his aggression for the benefit of the team.
I feel as though, in talking to Adel, I was given an insight to the famed man-management skills of one of the English game's longest serving and successful managers.
Warnock seems to have recognised the need to make Taarabt feel wanted and is building a side around him that harnesses his match-winning skills.
In the season to date he has succeeded with devastating effect with Adel currently leading the side with goals, assists and shots on goal.
On the back of his exceptional performances Warnock has backed Taarabt further by awarding him the captain's armband, despite his relative youth.
Aged only 21, Taarabt spoke of his honour at this award and 'gratitude at being included in the manager's project'. While English is neither his first or second language, the words chosen and the intent reveal a strong desire and hints that the R's have a special bond and focus this season.
There is also a sense that individually Adel Taarabt is destined for greater achievements. I asked about his reasons for his change in national focus, switching from the junior teams of France for that of his birthplace, Morocco.
At this stage Adel leans forward slightly and a warm smile spreads across his face. "My parents' are from Morocco, my whole family is from Morocco and I am from Morocco and feel more Moroccan," he states.
"I knew that this would make them happy and proud of me."
This is obviously a question that has been posed several times before, as he continued to explain: "I know that I had a better opportunity to play at a higher level with France and achieve more, however, you can still be a great player and have a wonderful career with a smaller nation - just look at Ryan Giggs with Wales and Didier Drogba with the Cote D'Ivoire".
On the day of my interview there were two other TV crews there to interview Taarabt, such is the profile his performances have generated in driving QPR to the top of the table. I learned from them that recently there was a poll conducted in Morocco looking at overall levels of popularity.
Despite having only played a handful of games for the national team, Taarabt apparently polled second behind the King, and in the words of one interviewer, "at this rate even he is likely to lose top spot soon."
The reason for this, it transpires, is that Moroccans love a player with flair and fleet-footed magic - the ability to win the game with one touch, or one pass. They - and the Loftus Road crowd brought up during the glory years with the talents of former stars Rodney Marsh and Stanley Bowles (amongst the most creative players to grace the English stage) - 'love street tricks'.
At one point we were discussing the role of the Middle East in world football and Adel felt that this is a trait the Moroccan's share with locals and expats living in Bahrain and the neighbouring Gulf states, some of whom are his friends.
He admits to receiving regular messages and texts of support from the region with some begging him to join a 'big club' like Barcelona or Real Madrid, names which crop up several times during the interview.
We discussed the growing influence the Middle East has on global football. Despite being positive for the region Taarabt cannot see himself playing in the Middle East until the end of his career, despite there being many Moroccans currently plying their trade at teams in the UAE and Qatar leagues.
Morocco is clearly where his heart is and his close ties are evident from the efforts he makes to visit his family when he returns for international duty.
"It's always great to go home and relax with my family and friends while enjoying the fresh air," he said.
In many respects Taarabt is well suited to QPR - the club also places great emphasis on families, while both are hugely ambitious and yet still have 'loftier' ambitions. There is a strong feeling amoung pundits that they're both on the way up.
Fact file
Favourite Goal: For Morocco vs Togo.
Proudest moment: Signing his first professional contract and calling his father to tell him that he did not need to work any more.
Favourite players: Zinedine Zidane (who was from the same city he grew up in - Marseille) and Eric Cantona.
Charitable work: Establishing a football school with his brother in Morocco to help develop talent and ensure it gets noticed in Europe.
Advice to Children: Work hard to develop the talent that God gave you (and for children in the Middle East - make sure you get noticed by a club in Europe).
What do you listen to? Readings from the Koran
Best friends in football: Benoit Assou-Ekotto (Spurs) and Armand Traore (Arsenal).
Current car: Audi Q7
UK likes: Football
UK dislikes: Weather - Gulf Week
Welcome to QPR REPORT - A completely unofficial and unaffiliated fan site focusing on G-d's Chosen Team, Queen's Park Rangers (QPR) FC. (Visit also QPR Report Messageboard and Follow on Twitter.) QPR Report accepts no sponsorship, advertising or financial contributions. In 2008, QPR Report was named as one of the top two blogs in the Football League
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Hulse & Smith Join QPR - "Subject to Clearance and Approval From the Football League"...Roberts Maybe Next
-
- For QPR and Football Updates throughout the day, visit the ever-growing (and hopefully always improving!) QPR Report Messageboard/quasi-blog. Either offer your own perspectives on any of the topics (QPR and football only). Or of course, feel free to simply read the various QPR and football-only discussions. -- The QPR Report Messageboard
_____________________________________________________________________________________
- No QPR Players in Championship Team of The Week! (First time this season)
ROB HULSE
QPR Official Site - EXCLUSIVE: HULSE AGREES DEAL
- Queens Park Rangers Football Club can confirm a deal has been agreed with Derby County for the signing of Rob Hulse on a three year deal for an undisclosed fee.
- The deal is subject to clearance and approval from the Football League.
- The Club will provide an update on this deal tomorrow (Wednesday). QPR
DERBY COUNTY OFFICIAL SITE - Rob Hulse Statement
- Derby County can confirm that a deal has been agreed in principle for the transfer of Rob Hulse to Queens Park Rangers.
-The deal is subject to approval and clearance from the Football League. Derby
TOMMY SMITH
QPR Official Site - EXCLUSIVE: R'S AGREE SMITH TRANSFER
- Queens Park Rangers Football Club can confirm a deal has been agreed with Portsmouth for the signing of Tommy Smith on a three year deal for an undisclosed fee.
- The deal is subject to clearance and approval from the Football League.
- The Club will provide an update on this deal tomorrow (Wednesday).
- QPR
Portsmouth Official Site - Smith Joins QPR Subject To Clearance
- Tommy Smith has joined Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee, subject to clearance from the Football League.
- The 30-year-old striker made 22 appearances for Pompey after arriving from Watford last August.
- His only goal for the Blues came in a 3-2 Premier League victory over Hull at Fratton Park back in March.
- Smith began his career at Watford and rejoined the Hornets in 2006 after spells with Sunderland and Derby.
- In his second spell at Vicarage Road he scored 28 goals in 139 appearances. Portsmouth
Dave McIntyre Blog - Two in - and the door's still open
No big surprises on deadline day then with the signings of Tommy Smith and Rob Hulse. But the biggest development – or non-development – of the day could be regarding Jason Roberts.
Unless Roberts got himself a move to a Premier League club very late in the day, he should now be easy enough for Rangers to pick up if they want him.
Much has been made of his supposedly massive wages at Blackburn, but Rangers have always had a fair chance of signing him on a permanent basis, even if it turns out to be on an initial loan deal before an eventual transfer.
The stumbling block has been less about money and more about whether Roberts might get an offer from a Premier League club, which would have made it very difficult for QPR to sign him.
There was some talk of Wigan wanting him back, but that may have been more about him being touted to them. For a player perhaps looking to stay in the top division, trying to hook-in Wigan – a place he knows and is popular from his time there – was an obvious thing to do. But, barring a very late development, it seems they haven’t gone for it.
That potentially leaves Roberts available for a loan move, so I wouldn’t bet against him ending up at Loftus Road one way or another - and still being there at the start of next season.
Hulse is an interesting signing. I’ve always believed Neil Warnock would sign one of Hulse, James Beattie or Darius Henderson before the transfer window closed.
With Beattie having gone elsewhere and Henderson out injured, there was only one of them left as Warnock looked to bring in the target man he’s craved for a long time.
In terms of style, Hulse isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. He’s certainly not mine. In terms of substance, he’s definitely a top player by Championship standards. The same can be said of Dave Kitson, who Rangers also asked about.
Hulse has some good attributes and is a goal threat. Derby were always a much better side with him in it. The problem was that injuries meant he was in it pretty rarely.
Rangers say his signing is subject to Football League approval. That should be a formality. I’m not sure why the move went through so late in the day. During the afternoon I even got calls saying there were rumours he’d failed a medical, which was news to me.
I also don’t know why the Smith signing was sorted so late in the day, because during the last few weeks, while Rangers have been linked with loads of players, that one's looked to me to be the easiest of deals for them to do. But no matter, they got there in the end and both transfers should be rubber-stamped when the League open for business tomorrow.
Smith’s a tidy player and a much better signing than Jon Walters would have been in my view.
All in all, Warnock will be pleased with his work. Rangers have signed yet more players – probably enough to tide them over for a whole fortnight – and he’s got the target man he wanted.
Personally I think one of the biggest issues facing Rangers has not been the lack of a big man up front or even an obvious goalscorer, but that the team is possibly a bit one-paced.
I don’t think these signings will do anything to change that, but there’s still the loan market and Rangers being Rangers, there’ll be more players arriving soon. Dave McIntyre Blog
Excerpt from Mihir Bose/Standard Article re Warnock
- "...Warnock has spent around £900,000 although he says: “My budget is a lot more than that.
- “But I doubt if I will spend a lot before the transfer window closes. I think we're going to have to use the loan market until Christmas and then look at exactly what we need.”
- So why has he not spent more? “There are one or two things that are going on behind the scenes which should come to fruition shortly,” he adds in reference to the impending takeover of the club by Bhatia.
“It is a subject Warnock is somewhat reticent about but admits that it has cost him a couple of players."
Despite this Warnock shares Bhatia's ambition to bring Premier League football to Loftus Road.
“Yeah, that's what I said to Amit, I want to try my hardest to get you in the Premier League',” insists Warnock.
“I want to go up this year. I haven't got time on my hands to wait two or three years.
“I wanted to retire at 55. Now at 61 with two young kids, I want to spend a bit of time with them. And I hope it's with QPR.”
Complete Standard/Mihir Bose Article - London is perfect for my family, says Neil Warnock
- There is one only weakness that Neil Warnock readily confesses to as he makes me a brew at his home in Richmond. “I only use one teabag, just dip it in mine, then my wife has it.”
It is not the only thing that Warnock shares with his family, who remain the most important part of his hectic life.
The manager is widely seen as one of the most controversial in the English game with a career littered with clashes with opposing players, managers and referees, yet he smiles as he says: “I tell my children they must have good manners. I'm okay except between five to three and 10 to five during a game. Then somebody else takes over. People say why don't you change? But it's difficult to at my age. To be successful I have to be what I am.”
Yet Warnock has changed. He may still look for his home town Sheffield United's result first but now, he insists: “I absolutely love London. I never thought I'd ever say that.
“I used to think you needed a passport to go south of Watford. But when I came to London the people were fantastic, so good, right down to earth, my kind of people. Palace and QPR fans have been fantastic. I see a lot of rival fans in London every time I go out but it is all good banter.”
Part of this zeal for the capital comes because his family, both his second wife Sharon and his two children William and Amy, feel very at home in their rented Richmond house.
“In 20 minutes we are walking around Covent Garden and it is just lovely,” he says. “The park is just round the corner. We bike round it for two hours three or four times a week, it's absolutely fabulous.”
This means a lot for the nomadic 61- year-old — QPR being his 12th club as a manager, having started with Gainsborough Trinity back in 1980 — because of the disruption it has meant for his family.
“My son William is only nine but he's had four public schools so far, one in Cornwall, one when I was at Sheffield, one in Beckenham when I was at Palace,” he adds. “Then, coming here after moving to QPR, William went to Kings House, his first all boys' school. I felt so sorry for him the first day. There he was in his new uniform with his bag and the tears were flooding down his cheeks. But he's such a fighter, within two days he was fine and he loves it.
“People just do not realise what a football life can be. Since 1968 I've never had more than a few weeks out of work, when I left Sheffield United and I have not had a Christmas.”
All this makes him very keen that William should not follow him into a football career. “No, a cricketer, maybe a golfer,” hopes Warnock. “He's a good batsman, a decent off spinner and a good golfer. It really bugs me, he beats me at golf, it's embarrassing really. But he is such a bad loser, he takes after me.”
His family is so important to Warnock that he took them along for his interview with Queens Park Rangers vice-chairman Amit Bhatia.
“Yeah, Sharon and William went with me. And, during the two hours at Amit's house, he didn't just interview me, I interviewed him as well. It was a joint interview.”
Warnock's departure from Palace was marked by much acrimony with chairman Simon Jordan calling him “disloyal” and the club's administrator alleging Warnock did not have the “stomach for the fight”.
“I don't really take much notice of people like him [the administrator], they don't know anything about football.” His view of Jordan is different. “Simon's comments hurt me deeply,” he reveals. “In the two-and-a-half years I was there, I never said anything about the board not giving me any money.
“You pick the paper up and you read these managers saying, I need three more players and they've got to give me some funds'. But that's has never been my scene.
“Simon apologised to me once. He said, I haven't been able to give you the money that I've given some of the other managers'. And the last 15 months at Palace were as hard as I have ever worked in my career. The situation gradually got worse and Simon didn't know half the things that we had to cope with behind the scenes because the money was not there. I never told him as he had his hands full trying to save the club.
“But he is still the best chairman I've ever had and Sharon loves him as well. People who don't know him think he is arrogant, always in Spain, tanned and all that. But when you know him, he's soft, the most kind person you can meet and like a younger brother.”
There are no such sentiments for Kevin McCabe, the Sheffield United chairman who claimed he regretted letting Warnock manage the club in the top flight after they were relegated from the Premier League in 2007.
“McCabe was not only disrespectful but he ignored what I'd done, building the club following up from 8,000 to 25,000 fans and leaving them with a good training ground and academy instead of the botched-up one they had. That cost £5.5million and other managers would have used that money to buy players. I got 38 points that year in the Premier League.
“That, and my evidence to the commission helped the club get £25m from West Ham over the Carlos Tevez affair. I had a staying-up bonus in my contract. He hasn't even considered paying it or given me a word of thanks. So my allegiance is gone from there.”
The animosity between the two is now so sharp that Warnock believes that QPR's victory at United two weeks ago led to the manager Kevin Blackwell losing his job.
“If it hadn't been my team he wouldn't have gone. The chairman didn't like me winning three-nil.”
The other person who will never get a Christmas card from Warnock is Graham Poll, whose refereeing of Sheffield United's 2003 FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal led to a Warnock outburst and a £3,000 fine.
“I got upset because Poll should've got out the way of Michael Tonge,” he recalls. “The lad was making a straightforward pass to one of our lads in midfield and this referee runs in his way, knocks him over and the ball goes to the Arsenal lad who carries on playing, crosses it and they score. That was the winning goal. For a top referee his positioning was a disgrace. He could've stopped the game. The worst thing was at half-time Graham Poll is laughing his head off coming off the pitch.”
Warnock had to wait three years for his revenge. Then during the 2006 World Cup he got a call from a friend, “You'll never believe it, Poll has just given three yellow cards'. I've got to say it was one of my happiest days.”
But for Warnock real happiness will come, and pain of relegation with Sheffield United cease, when he fulfils his one remaining ambition — to become a Premier League manager again.
And with unbeaten QPR top of the Championship, the moment must be approaching soon.
“No,” argues Warnock. “We have exceeded expectations. We've had seven new players and as any manager will tell you it takes a couple of months to bed them in.
“We're nowhere near a top of the League side. We are really only a sixth to 10th position team with the people we've got. We've got so few forwards. If we lost two then we're right down to the bare knuckle. By Christmas, you'll see who the top sides are and I'd be very surprised if we are top then.”
By then he expects Cardiff, Middlesbrough and Ipswich to be near the top. “Cardiff have just got all the money haven't they? Bellamy, Boothroyd, Chopra, Koumas, they've got so many good forwards, seven or eight. And Middlesbrough have spent nearly £10million.”
Warnock has spent around £900,000 although he says: “My budget is a lot more than that.
“But I doubt if I will spend a lot before the transfer window closes. I think we're going to have to use the loan market until Christmas and then look at exactly what we need.”
So why has he not spent more? “There are one or two things that are going on behind the scenes which should come to fruition shortly,” he adds in reference to the impending takeover of the club by Bhatia.
“It is a subject Warnock is somewhat reticent about but admits that it has cost him a couple of players."
Despite this Warnock shares Bhatia's ambition to bring Premier League football to Loftus Road.
“Yeah, that's what I said to Amit, I want to try my hardest to get you in the Premier League',” insists Warnock.
“I want to go up this year. I haven't got time on my hands to wait two or three years.
“I wanted to retire at 55. Now at 61 with two young kids, I want to spend a bit of time with them. And I hope it's with QPR.” QPR
- For QPR and Football Updates throughout the day, visit the ever-growing (and hopefully always improving!) QPR Report Messageboard/quasi-blog. Either offer your own perspectives on any of the topics (QPR and football only). Or of course, feel free to simply read the various QPR and football-only discussions. -- The QPR Report Messageboard
_____________________________________________________________________________________
- No QPR Players in Championship Team of The Week! (First time this season)
ROB HULSE
QPR Official Site - EXCLUSIVE: HULSE AGREES DEAL
- Queens Park Rangers Football Club can confirm a deal has been agreed with Derby County for the signing of Rob Hulse on a three year deal for an undisclosed fee.
- The deal is subject to clearance and approval from the Football League.
- The Club will provide an update on this deal tomorrow (Wednesday). QPR
DERBY COUNTY OFFICIAL SITE - Rob Hulse Statement
- Derby County can confirm that a deal has been agreed in principle for the transfer of Rob Hulse to Queens Park Rangers.
-The deal is subject to approval and clearance from the Football League. Derby
TOMMY SMITH
QPR Official Site - EXCLUSIVE: R'S AGREE SMITH TRANSFER
- Queens Park Rangers Football Club can confirm a deal has been agreed with Portsmouth for the signing of Tommy Smith on a three year deal for an undisclosed fee.
- The deal is subject to clearance and approval from the Football League.
- The Club will provide an update on this deal tomorrow (Wednesday).
- QPR
Portsmouth Official Site - Smith Joins QPR Subject To Clearance
- Tommy Smith has joined Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee, subject to clearance from the Football League.
- The 30-year-old striker made 22 appearances for Pompey after arriving from Watford last August.
- His only goal for the Blues came in a 3-2 Premier League victory over Hull at Fratton Park back in March.
- Smith began his career at Watford and rejoined the Hornets in 2006 after spells with Sunderland and Derby.
- In his second spell at Vicarage Road he scored 28 goals in 139 appearances. Portsmouth
Dave McIntyre Blog - Two in - and the door's still open
No big surprises on deadline day then with the signings of Tommy Smith and Rob Hulse. But the biggest development – or non-development – of the day could be regarding Jason Roberts.
Unless Roberts got himself a move to a Premier League club very late in the day, he should now be easy enough for Rangers to pick up if they want him.
Much has been made of his supposedly massive wages at Blackburn, but Rangers have always had a fair chance of signing him on a permanent basis, even if it turns out to be on an initial loan deal before an eventual transfer.
The stumbling block has been less about money and more about whether Roberts might get an offer from a Premier League club, which would have made it very difficult for QPR to sign him.
There was some talk of Wigan wanting him back, but that may have been more about him being touted to them. For a player perhaps looking to stay in the top division, trying to hook-in Wigan – a place he knows and is popular from his time there – was an obvious thing to do. But, barring a very late development, it seems they haven’t gone for it.
That potentially leaves Roberts available for a loan move, so I wouldn’t bet against him ending up at Loftus Road one way or another - and still being there at the start of next season.
Hulse is an interesting signing. I’ve always believed Neil Warnock would sign one of Hulse, James Beattie or Darius Henderson before the transfer window closed.
With Beattie having gone elsewhere and Henderson out injured, there was only one of them left as Warnock looked to bring in the target man he’s craved for a long time.
In terms of style, Hulse isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. He’s certainly not mine. In terms of substance, he’s definitely a top player by Championship standards. The same can be said of Dave Kitson, who Rangers also asked about.
Hulse has some good attributes and is a goal threat. Derby were always a much better side with him in it. The problem was that injuries meant he was in it pretty rarely.
Rangers say his signing is subject to Football League approval. That should be a formality. I’m not sure why the move went through so late in the day. During the afternoon I even got calls saying there were rumours he’d failed a medical, which was news to me.
I also don’t know why the Smith signing was sorted so late in the day, because during the last few weeks, while Rangers have been linked with loads of players, that one's looked to me to be the easiest of deals for them to do. But no matter, they got there in the end and both transfers should be rubber-stamped when the League open for business tomorrow.
Smith’s a tidy player and a much better signing than Jon Walters would have been in my view.
All in all, Warnock will be pleased with his work. Rangers have signed yet more players – probably enough to tide them over for a whole fortnight – and he’s got the target man he wanted.
Personally I think one of the biggest issues facing Rangers has not been the lack of a big man up front or even an obvious goalscorer, but that the team is possibly a bit one-paced.
I don’t think these signings will do anything to change that, but there’s still the loan market and Rangers being Rangers, there’ll be more players arriving soon. Dave McIntyre Blog
Excerpt from Mihir Bose/Standard Article re Warnock
- "...Warnock has spent around £900,000 although he says: “My budget is a lot more than that.
- “But I doubt if I will spend a lot before the transfer window closes. I think we're going to have to use the loan market until Christmas and then look at exactly what we need.”
- So why has he not spent more? “There are one or two things that are going on behind the scenes which should come to fruition shortly,” he adds in reference to the impending takeover of the club by Bhatia.
“It is a subject Warnock is somewhat reticent about but admits that it has cost him a couple of players."
Despite this Warnock shares Bhatia's ambition to bring Premier League football to Loftus Road.
“Yeah, that's what I said to Amit, I want to try my hardest to get you in the Premier League',” insists Warnock.
“I want to go up this year. I haven't got time on my hands to wait two or three years.
“I wanted to retire at 55. Now at 61 with two young kids, I want to spend a bit of time with them. And I hope it's with QPR.”
Complete Standard/Mihir Bose Article - London is perfect for my family, says Neil Warnock
- There is one only weakness that Neil Warnock readily confesses to as he makes me a brew at his home in Richmond. “I only use one teabag, just dip it in mine, then my wife has it.”
It is not the only thing that Warnock shares with his family, who remain the most important part of his hectic life.
The manager is widely seen as one of the most controversial in the English game with a career littered with clashes with opposing players, managers and referees, yet he smiles as he says: “I tell my children they must have good manners. I'm okay except between five to three and 10 to five during a game. Then somebody else takes over. People say why don't you change? But it's difficult to at my age. To be successful I have to be what I am.”
Yet Warnock has changed. He may still look for his home town Sheffield United's result first but now, he insists: “I absolutely love London. I never thought I'd ever say that.
“I used to think you needed a passport to go south of Watford. But when I came to London the people were fantastic, so good, right down to earth, my kind of people. Palace and QPR fans have been fantastic. I see a lot of rival fans in London every time I go out but it is all good banter.”
Part of this zeal for the capital comes because his family, both his second wife Sharon and his two children William and Amy, feel very at home in their rented Richmond house.
“In 20 minutes we are walking around Covent Garden and it is just lovely,” he says. “The park is just round the corner. We bike round it for two hours three or four times a week, it's absolutely fabulous.”
This means a lot for the nomadic 61- year-old — QPR being his 12th club as a manager, having started with Gainsborough Trinity back in 1980 — because of the disruption it has meant for his family.
“My son William is only nine but he's had four public schools so far, one in Cornwall, one when I was at Sheffield, one in Beckenham when I was at Palace,” he adds. “Then, coming here after moving to QPR, William went to Kings House, his first all boys' school. I felt so sorry for him the first day. There he was in his new uniform with his bag and the tears were flooding down his cheeks. But he's such a fighter, within two days he was fine and he loves it.
“People just do not realise what a football life can be. Since 1968 I've never had more than a few weeks out of work, when I left Sheffield United and I have not had a Christmas.”
All this makes him very keen that William should not follow him into a football career. “No, a cricketer, maybe a golfer,” hopes Warnock. “He's a good batsman, a decent off spinner and a good golfer. It really bugs me, he beats me at golf, it's embarrassing really. But he is such a bad loser, he takes after me.”
His family is so important to Warnock that he took them along for his interview with Queens Park Rangers vice-chairman Amit Bhatia.
“Yeah, Sharon and William went with me. And, during the two hours at Amit's house, he didn't just interview me, I interviewed him as well. It was a joint interview.”
Warnock's departure from Palace was marked by much acrimony with chairman Simon Jordan calling him “disloyal” and the club's administrator alleging Warnock did not have the “stomach for the fight”.
“I don't really take much notice of people like him [the administrator], they don't know anything about football.” His view of Jordan is different. “Simon's comments hurt me deeply,” he reveals. “In the two-and-a-half years I was there, I never said anything about the board not giving me any money.
“You pick the paper up and you read these managers saying, I need three more players and they've got to give me some funds'. But that's has never been my scene.
“Simon apologised to me once. He said, I haven't been able to give you the money that I've given some of the other managers'. And the last 15 months at Palace were as hard as I have ever worked in my career. The situation gradually got worse and Simon didn't know half the things that we had to cope with behind the scenes because the money was not there. I never told him as he had his hands full trying to save the club.
“But he is still the best chairman I've ever had and Sharon loves him as well. People who don't know him think he is arrogant, always in Spain, tanned and all that. But when you know him, he's soft, the most kind person you can meet and like a younger brother.”
There are no such sentiments for Kevin McCabe, the Sheffield United chairman who claimed he regretted letting Warnock manage the club in the top flight after they were relegated from the Premier League in 2007.
“McCabe was not only disrespectful but he ignored what I'd done, building the club following up from 8,000 to 25,000 fans and leaving them with a good training ground and academy instead of the botched-up one they had. That cost £5.5million and other managers would have used that money to buy players. I got 38 points that year in the Premier League.
“That, and my evidence to the commission helped the club get £25m from West Ham over the Carlos Tevez affair. I had a staying-up bonus in my contract. He hasn't even considered paying it or given me a word of thanks. So my allegiance is gone from there.”
The animosity between the two is now so sharp that Warnock believes that QPR's victory at United two weeks ago led to the manager Kevin Blackwell losing his job.
“If it hadn't been my team he wouldn't have gone. The chairman didn't like me winning three-nil.”
The other person who will never get a Christmas card from Warnock is Graham Poll, whose refereeing of Sheffield United's 2003 FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal led to a Warnock outburst and a £3,000 fine.
“I got upset because Poll should've got out the way of Michael Tonge,” he recalls. “The lad was making a straightforward pass to one of our lads in midfield and this referee runs in his way, knocks him over and the ball goes to the Arsenal lad who carries on playing, crosses it and they score. That was the winning goal. For a top referee his positioning was a disgrace. He could've stopped the game. The worst thing was at half-time Graham Poll is laughing his head off coming off the pitch.”
Warnock had to wait three years for his revenge. Then during the 2006 World Cup he got a call from a friend, “You'll never believe it, Poll has just given three yellow cards'. I've got to say it was one of my happiest days.”
But for Warnock real happiness will come, and pain of relegation with Sheffield United cease, when he fulfils his one remaining ambition — to become a Premier League manager again.
And with unbeaten QPR top of the Championship, the moment must be approaching soon.
“No,” argues Warnock. “We have exceeded expectations. We've had seven new players and as any manager will tell you it takes a couple of months to bed them in.
“We're nowhere near a top of the League side. We are really only a sixth to 10th position team with the people we've got. We've got so few forwards. If we lost two then we're right down to the bare knuckle. By Christmas, you'll see who the top sides are and I'd be very surprised if we are top then.”
By then he expects Cardiff, Middlesbrough and Ipswich to be near the top. “Cardiff have just got all the money haven't they? Bellamy, Boothroyd, Chopra, Koumas, they've got so many good forwards, seven or eight. And Middlesbrough have spent nearly £10million.”
Warnock has spent around £900,000 although he says: “My budget is a lot more than that.
“But I doubt if I will spend a lot before the transfer window closes. I think we're going to have to use the loan market until Christmas and then look at exactly what we need.”
So why has he not spent more? “There are one or two things that are going on behind the scenes which should come to fruition shortly,” he adds in reference to the impending takeover of the club by Bhatia.
“It is a subject Warnock is somewhat reticent about but admits that it has cost him a couple of players."
Despite this Warnock shares Bhatia's ambition to bring Premier League football to Loftus Road.
“Yeah, that's what I said to Amit, I want to try my hardest to get you in the Premier League',” insists Warnock.
“I want to go up this year. I haven't got time on my hands to wait two or three years.
“I wanted to retire at 55. Now at 61 with two young kids, I want to spend a bit of time with them. And I hope it's with QPR.” QPR
Warnock on QPR, Ownership Change at Loftus Road and Loving London
-
- From a couple of Years Ago
-
- For QPR and Football Updates throughout the day, visit the ever-growing (and hopefully always improving!) QPR Report Messageboard/quasi-blog. Either offer your own perspectives on any of the topics (QPR and football only). Or of course, feel free to simply read the various QPR and football-only discussions. -- The QPR Report Messageboard
_____________________________________________________________________________________
- No QPR Players in Championship Team of The Week! (First time this season)
Excerpt from Mihir Bose/Standard Article re Warnock
- "...Warnock has spent around £900,000 although he says: “My budget is a lot more than that.
- “But I doubt if I will spend a lot before the transfer window closes. I think we're going to have to use the loan market until Christmas and then look at exactly what we need.”
- So why has he not spent more? “There are one or two things that are going on behind the scenes which should come to fruition shortly,” he adds in reference to the impending takeover of the club by Bhatia.
“It is a subject Warnock is somewhat reticent about but admits that it has cost him a couple of players."
Despite this Warnock shares Bhatia's ambition to bring Premier League football to Loftus Road.
“Yeah, that's what I said to Amit, I want to try my hardest to get you in the Premier League',” insists Warnock.
“I want to go up this year. I haven't got time on my hands to wait two or three years.
“I wanted to retire at 55. Now at 61 with two young kids, I want to spend a bit of time with them. And I hope it's with QPR.”
Complete Standard/Mihir Bose Article - London is perfect for my family, says Neil Warnock
- There is one only weakness that Neil Warnock readily confesses to as he makes me a brew at his home in Richmond. “I only use one teabag, just dip it in mine, then my wife has it.”
It is not the only thing that Warnock shares with his family, who remain the most important part of his hectic life.
The manager is widely seen as one of the most controversial in the English game with a career littered with clashes with opposing players, managers and referees, yet he smiles as he says: “I tell my children they must have good manners. I'm okay except between five to three and 10 to five during a game. Then somebody else takes over. People say why don't you change? But it's difficult to at my age. To be successful I have to be what I am.”
Yet Warnock has changed. He may still look for his home town Sheffield United's result first but now, he insists: “I absolutely love London. I never thought I'd ever say that.
“I used to think you needed a passport to go south of Watford. But when I came to London the people were fantastic, so good, right down to earth, my kind of people. Palace and QPR fans have been fantastic. I see a lot of rival fans in London every time I go out but it is all good banter.”
Part of this zeal for the capital comes because his family, both his second wife Sharon and his two children William and Amy, feel very at home in their rented Richmond house.
“In 20 minutes we are walking around Covent Garden and it is just lovely,” he says. “The park is just round the corner. We bike round it for two hours three or four times a week, it's absolutely fabulous.”
This means a lot for the nomadic 61- year-old — QPR being his 12th club as a manager, having started with Gainsborough Trinity back in 1980 — because of the disruption it has meant for his family.
“My son William is only nine but he's had four public schools so far, one in Cornwall, one when I was at Sheffield, one in Beckenham when I was at Palace,” he adds. “Then, coming here after moving to QPR, William went to Kings House, his first all boys' school. I felt so sorry for him the first day. There he was in his new uniform with his bag and the tears were flooding down his cheeks. But he's such a fighter, within two days he was fine and he loves it.
“People just do not realise what a football life can be. Since 1968 I've never had more than a few weeks out of work, when I left Sheffield United and I have not had a Christmas.”
All this makes him very keen that William should not follow him into a football career. “No, a cricketer, maybe a golfer,” hopes Warnock. “He's a good batsman, a decent off spinner and a good golfer. It really bugs me, he beats me at golf, it's embarrassing really. But he is such a bad loser, he takes after me.”
His family is so important to Warnock that he took them along for his interview with Queens Park Rangers vice-chairman Amit Bhatia.
“Yeah, Sharon and William went with me. And, during the two hours at Amit's house, he didn't just interview me, I interviewed him as well. It was a joint interview.”
Warnock's departure from Palace was marked by much acrimony with chairman Simon Jordan calling him “disloyal” and the club's administrator alleging Warnock did not have the “stomach for the fight”.
“I don't really take much notice of people like him [the administrator], they don't know anything about football.” His view of Jordan is different. “Simon's comments hurt me deeply,” he reveals. “In the two-and-a-half years I was there, I never said anything about the board not giving me any money.
“You pick the paper up and you read these managers saying, I need three more players and they've got to give me some funds'. But that's has never been my scene.
“Simon apologised to me once. He said, I haven't been able to give you the money that I've given some of the other managers'. And the last 15 months at Palace were as hard as I have ever worked in my career. The situation gradually got worse and Simon didn't know half the things that we had to cope with behind the scenes because the money was not there. I never told him as he had his hands full trying to save the club.
“But he is still the best chairman I've ever had and Sharon loves him as well. People who don't know him think he is arrogant, always in Spain, tanned and all that. But when you know him, he's soft, the most kind person you can meet and like a younger brother.”
There are no such sentiments for Kevin McCabe, the Sheffield United chairman who claimed he regretted letting Warnock manage the club in the top flight after they were relegated from the Premier League in 2007.
“McCabe was not only disrespectful but he ignored what I'd done, building the club following up from 8,000 to 25,000 fans and leaving them with a good training ground and academy instead of the botched-up one they had. That cost £5.5million and other managers would have used that money to buy players. I got 38 points that year in the Premier League.
“That, and my evidence to the commission helped the club get £25m from West Ham over the Carlos Tevez affair. I had a staying-up bonus in my contract. He hasn't even considered paying it or given me a word of thanks. So my allegiance is gone from there.”
The animosity between the two is now so sharp that Warnock believes that QPR's victory at United two weeks ago led to the manager Kevin Blackwell losing his job.
“If it hadn't been my team he wouldn't have gone. The chairman didn't like me winning three-nil.”
The other person who will never get a Christmas card from Warnock is Graham Poll, whose refereeing of Sheffield United's 2003 FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal led to a Warnock outburst and a £3,000 fine.
“I got upset because Poll should've got out the way of Michael Tonge,” he recalls. “The lad was making a straightforward pass to one of our lads in midfield and this referee runs in his way, knocks him over and the ball goes to the Arsenal lad who carries on playing, crosses it and they score. That was the winning goal. For a top referee his positioning was a disgrace. He could've stopped the game. The worst thing was at half-time Graham Poll is laughing his head off coming off the pitch.”
Warnock had to wait three years for his revenge. Then during the 2006 World Cup he got a call from a friend, “You'll never believe it, Poll has just given three yellow cards'. I've got to say it was one of my happiest days.”
But for Warnock real happiness will come, and pain of relegation with Sheffield United cease, when he fulfils his one remaining ambition — to become a Premier League manager again.
And with unbeaten QPR top of the Championship, the moment must be approaching soon.
“No,” argues Warnock. “We have exceeded expectations. We've had seven new players and as any manager will tell you it takes a couple of months to bed them in.
“We're nowhere near a top of the League side. We are really only a sixth to 10th position team with the people we've got. We've got so few forwards. If we lost two then we're right down to the bare knuckle. By Christmas, you'll see who the top sides are and I'd be very surprised if we are top then.”
By then he expects Cardiff, Middlesbrough and Ipswich to be near the top. “Cardiff have just got all the money haven't they? Bellamy, Boothroyd, Chopra, Koumas, they've got so many good forwards, seven or eight. And Middlesbrough have spent nearly £10million.”
Warnock has spent around £900,000 although he says: “My budget is a lot more than that.
“But I doubt if I will spend a lot before the transfer window closes. I think we're going to have to use the loan market until Christmas and then look at exactly what we need.”
So why has he not spent more? “There are one or two things that are going on behind the scenes which should come to fruition shortly,” he adds in reference to the impending takeover of the club by Bhatia.
“It is a subject Warnock is somewhat reticent about but admits that it has cost him a couple of players."
Despite this Warnock shares Bhatia's ambition to bring Premier League football to Loftus Road.
“Yeah, that's what I said to Amit, I want to try my hardest to get you in the Premier League',” insists Warnock.
“I want to go up this year. I haven't got time on my hands to wait two or three years.
“I wanted to retire at 55. Now at 61 with two young kids, I want to spend a bit of time with them. And I hope it's with QPR.” QPR
- Kiyan Prince's Father Effort to Reform Offenders
- On This Day: QPR Loss at Highbury and QPR Slaughter at Craven Cottage
- On This Day Three Years Ago: QPR Sign Leigertwood - The first signing of the Briatore-Ecclestone Era. On This Day Five Years Ago: QPR Resign Richard Langley and Lomas - The first signings of the post-"coup" Era
- Terry Mancini Today
- September 5: QPR Masters Play in National Masters Championships
- Championship Drop in Summer Transfer Income
- USA Soccer Coach, Bob Bradley Staying on with USA - Signs New Four Year Deal
- The Fate of Non-League Clubs
- A Virtual Tour of Loftus Road: The Stands...The Trophy Room...The Changing Room (A couple of years old)
- Updated Championship Promotion Odds
- The Briatore-Ecclestone Takeover of QPR Being Reported: Three Year Flashback
- Time for a QPR Fan Forum (Almost Three and a half years since last one) - And How Things Were
- Survey of Premiership Crowds and Costs
- Ex-QPR Mark Lazarus Interviewed on JNet Radio, September 6
- An Involved QPR Fan Offers His Perspective/His Stated Experiences re The Club Shop/Club Merchandising
- Ugo Ukah on Video!
- From a couple of Years Ago-
- For QPR and Football Updates throughout the day, visit the ever-growing (and hopefully always improving!) QPR Report Messageboard/quasi-blog. Either offer your own perspectives on any of the topics (QPR and football only). Or of course, feel free to simply read the various QPR and football-only discussions. -- The QPR Report Messageboard
_____________________________________________________________________________________
- No QPR Players in Championship Team of The Week! (First time this season)
Excerpt from Mihir Bose/Standard Article re Warnock
- "...Warnock has spent around £900,000 although he says: “My budget is a lot more than that.
- “But I doubt if I will spend a lot before the transfer window closes. I think we're going to have to use the loan market until Christmas and then look at exactly what we need.”
- So why has he not spent more? “There are one or two things that are going on behind the scenes which should come to fruition shortly,” he adds in reference to the impending takeover of the club by Bhatia.
“It is a subject Warnock is somewhat reticent about but admits that it has cost him a couple of players."
Despite this Warnock shares Bhatia's ambition to bring Premier League football to Loftus Road.
“Yeah, that's what I said to Amit, I want to try my hardest to get you in the Premier League',” insists Warnock.
“I want to go up this year. I haven't got time on my hands to wait two or three years.
“I wanted to retire at 55. Now at 61 with two young kids, I want to spend a bit of time with them. And I hope it's with QPR.”
Complete Standard/Mihir Bose Article - London is perfect for my family, says Neil Warnock
- There is one only weakness that Neil Warnock readily confesses to as he makes me a brew at his home in Richmond. “I only use one teabag, just dip it in mine, then my wife has it.”
It is not the only thing that Warnock shares with his family, who remain the most important part of his hectic life.
The manager is widely seen as one of the most controversial in the English game with a career littered with clashes with opposing players, managers and referees, yet he smiles as he says: “I tell my children they must have good manners. I'm okay except between five to three and 10 to five during a game. Then somebody else takes over. People say why don't you change? But it's difficult to at my age. To be successful I have to be what I am.”
Yet Warnock has changed. He may still look for his home town Sheffield United's result first but now, he insists: “I absolutely love London. I never thought I'd ever say that.
“I used to think you needed a passport to go south of Watford. But when I came to London the people were fantastic, so good, right down to earth, my kind of people. Palace and QPR fans have been fantastic. I see a lot of rival fans in London every time I go out but it is all good banter.”
Part of this zeal for the capital comes because his family, both his second wife Sharon and his two children William and Amy, feel very at home in their rented Richmond house.
“In 20 minutes we are walking around Covent Garden and it is just lovely,” he says. “The park is just round the corner. We bike round it for two hours three or four times a week, it's absolutely fabulous.”
This means a lot for the nomadic 61- year-old — QPR being his 12th club as a manager, having started with Gainsborough Trinity back in 1980 — because of the disruption it has meant for his family.
“My son William is only nine but he's had four public schools so far, one in Cornwall, one when I was at Sheffield, one in Beckenham when I was at Palace,” he adds. “Then, coming here after moving to QPR, William went to Kings House, his first all boys' school. I felt so sorry for him the first day. There he was in his new uniform with his bag and the tears were flooding down his cheeks. But he's such a fighter, within two days he was fine and he loves it.
“People just do not realise what a football life can be. Since 1968 I've never had more than a few weeks out of work, when I left Sheffield United and I have not had a Christmas.”
All this makes him very keen that William should not follow him into a football career. “No, a cricketer, maybe a golfer,” hopes Warnock. “He's a good batsman, a decent off spinner and a good golfer. It really bugs me, he beats me at golf, it's embarrassing really. But he is such a bad loser, he takes after me.”
His family is so important to Warnock that he took them along for his interview with Queens Park Rangers vice-chairman Amit Bhatia.
“Yeah, Sharon and William went with me. And, during the two hours at Amit's house, he didn't just interview me, I interviewed him as well. It was a joint interview.”
Warnock's departure from Palace was marked by much acrimony with chairman Simon Jordan calling him “disloyal” and the club's administrator alleging Warnock did not have the “stomach for the fight”.
“I don't really take much notice of people like him [the administrator], they don't know anything about football.” His view of Jordan is different. “Simon's comments hurt me deeply,” he reveals. “In the two-and-a-half years I was there, I never said anything about the board not giving me any money.
“You pick the paper up and you read these managers saying, I need three more players and they've got to give me some funds'. But that's has never been my scene.
“Simon apologised to me once. He said, I haven't been able to give you the money that I've given some of the other managers'. And the last 15 months at Palace were as hard as I have ever worked in my career. The situation gradually got worse and Simon didn't know half the things that we had to cope with behind the scenes because the money was not there. I never told him as he had his hands full trying to save the club.
“But he is still the best chairman I've ever had and Sharon loves him as well. People who don't know him think he is arrogant, always in Spain, tanned and all that. But when you know him, he's soft, the most kind person you can meet and like a younger brother.”
There are no such sentiments for Kevin McCabe, the Sheffield United chairman who claimed he regretted letting Warnock manage the club in the top flight after they were relegated from the Premier League in 2007.
“McCabe was not only disrespectful but he ignored what I'd done, building the club following up from 8,000 to 25,000 fans and leaving them with a good training ground and academy instead of the botched-up one they had. That cost £5.5million and other managers would have used that money to buy players. I got 38 points that year in the Premier League.
“That, and my evidence to the commission helped the club get £25m from West Ham over the Carlos Tevez affair. I had a staying-up bonus in my contract. He hasn't even considered paying it or given me a word of thanks. So my allegiance is gone from there.”
The animosity between the two is now so sharp that Warnock believes that QPR's victory at United two weeks ago led to the manager Kevin Blackwell losing his job.
“If it hadn't been my team he wouldn't have gone. The chairman didn't like me winning three-nil.”
The other person who will never get a Christmas card from Warnock is Graham Poll, whose refereeing of Sheffield United's 2003 FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal led to a Warnock outburst and a £3,000 fine.
“I got upset because Poll should've got out the way of Michael Tonge,” he recalls. “The lad was making a straightforward pass to one of our lads in midfield and this referee runs in his way, knocks him over and the ball goes to the Arsenal lad who carries on playing, crosses it and they score. That was the winning goal. For a top referee his positioning was a disgrace. He could've stopped the game. The worst thing was at half-time Graham Poll is laughing his head off coming off the pitch.”
Warnock had to wait three years for his revenge. Then during the 2006 World Cup he got a call from a friend, “You'll never believe it, Poll has just given three yellow cards'. I've got to say it was one of my happiest days.”
But for Warnock real happiness will come, and pain of relegation with Sheffield United cease, when he fulfils his one remaining ambition — to become a Premier League manager again.
And with unbeaten QPR top of the Championship, the moment must be approaching soon.
“No,” argues Warnock. “We have exceeded expectations. We've had seven new players and as any manager will tell you it takes a couple of months to bed them in.
“We're nowhere near a top of the League side. We are really only a sixth to 10th position team with the people we've got. We've got so few forwards. If we lost two then we're right down to the bare knuckle. By Christmas, you'll see who the top sides are and I'd be very surprised if we are top then.”
By then he expects Cardiff, Middlesbrough and Ipswich to be near the top. “Cardiff have just got all the money haven't they? Bellamy, Boothroyd, Chopra, Koumas, they've got so many good forwards, seven or eight. And Middlesbrough have spent nearly £10million.”
Warnock has spent around £900,000 although he says: “My budget is a lot more than that.
“But I doubt if I will spend a lot before the transfer window closes. I think we're going to have to use the loan market until Christmas and then look at exactly what we need.”
So why has he not spent more? “There are one or two things that are going on behind the scenes which should come to fruition shortly,” he adds in reference to the impending takeover of the club by Bhatia.
“It is a subject Warnock is somewhat reticent about but admits that it has cost him a couple of players."
Despite this Warnock shares Bhatia's ambition to bring Premier League football to Loftus Road.
“Yeah, that's what I said to Amit, I want to try my hardest to get you in the Premier League',” insists Warnock.
“I want to go up this year. I haven't got time on my hands to wait two or three years.
“I wanted to retire at 55. Now at 61 with two young kids, I want to spend a bit of time with them. And I hope it's with QPR.” QPR
- Kiyan Prince's Father Effort to Reform Offenders
- On This Day: QPR Loss at Highbury and QPR Slaughter at Craven Cottage
- On This Day Three Years Ago: QPR Sign Leigertwood - The first signing of the Briatore-Ecclestone Era. On This Day Five Years Ago: QPR Resign Richard Langley and Lomas - The first signings of the post-"coup" Era
- Terry Mancini Today
- September 5: QPR Masters Play in National Masters Championships
- Championship Drop in Summer Transfer Income
- USA Soccer Coach, Bob Bradley Staying on with USA - Signs New Four Year Deal
- The Fate of Non-League Clubs
- A Virtual Tour of Loftus Road: The Stands...The Trophy Room...The Changing Room (A couple of years old)
- Updated Championship Promotion Odds
- The Briatore-Ecclestone Takeover of QPR Being Reported: Three Year Flashback
- Time for a QPR Fan Forum (Almost Three and a half years since last one) - And How Things Were
- Survey of Premiership Crowds and Costs
- Ex-QPR Mark Lazarus Interviewed on JNet Radio, September 6
- An Involved QPR Fan Offers His Perspective/His Stated Experiences re The Club Shop/Club Merchandising
- Ugo Ukah on Video!
QPR Report Tuesday Football Snippets...Waiting..Waiting...Waiting!
-
-
- For QPR and Football Updates throughout the day, visit the ever-growing (and hopefully always improving!) QPR Report Messageboard/quasi-blog. Either offer your own perspectives on any of the topics (QPR and football only). Or of course, feel free to simply read the various QPR and football-only discussions. -- The QPR Report Messageboard
_____________________________________________________________________________________
- It's Transfer Deadline Day and QPR Fans are waiting for deeds, not words; not rumours; not ITK claims (which all-too-often turn out to be empty words).
- Will it Be Hulse?
- Kiyan Prince's Father Effort to Reform Offenders
- On This Day: QPR Loss at Highbury and QPR Slaughter at Craven Cottage
- On This Day Three Years Ago: QPR Sign Leigertwood - The first signing of the Briatore-Ecclestone Era. On This Day Five Years Ago: QPR Resign Richard Langley and Lomas - The first signings of the post-"coup" Era
- Terry Mancini Today
- September 5: QPR Masters Play in National Masters Championships
- Championship Drop in Summer Transfer Income
- The Last Surviving Player from the First World Cup of 1930 has Died
- USA Soccer Coach, Bob Bradley Staying on with USA - Signs New Four Year Deal
- The Fate of Non-League Clubs
- A Virtual Tour of Loftus Road: The Stands...The Trophy Room...The Changing Room (A couple of years old)
- Updated Championship Promotion Odds
- The Briatore-Ecclestone Takeover of QPR Being Reported: Three Year Flashback
- Time for a QPR Fan Forum (Almost Three and a half years since last one) - And How Things Were
QPR Official Site - MACKIE: 'WE ALWAYS BELIEVE!'
Posted on: Tue 31 Aug 2010
Last-gasp hero Jamie Mackie was still brimming from ear to ear this morning after his late, late heroics against Derby County on Saturday.
Mackie bagged the R's all-important 95th minute equaliser at Pride Park, after Patrick Agyemang had reduced arrears in the second minute of second half stoppage-time.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, the 24 year-old expressed his delight, commenting: "It's one of the best comebacks I've ever been involved in and a lot of the lads were saying similar things after.
"It was just incredible. We looked down and out, dead and buried at 2-0 down, but we showed the belief that we have as a group of players.
"The celebrations were unreal at the end."
With Rangers trailing 2-0 heading into added time, Agyemang gave the Hoops hope with a fine solo goal, before the former Plymouth Argyle front-man capped a stunning comeback with virtually the last kick of the game.
"I had to hold off a couple of defenders to create the space, but once I was in the box it was all about staying calm and composed," he said.
"It all happened so quickly, and thankfully I managed to drill it beyond (Stephen) Bywater's outstretched arm."
If Mackie was coolness personified inside the box, he was anything but afterwards, as he peeled off his shirt and raced towards the R's faithful.
"I lost it!" he admitted, "I was so emotional.
"We know we didn't play at all well, but to show such courage and resilience to get a positive result tells you all you need to know about this group of players.
"There's an unbelievable spirit in the camp and that showed with the celebrations at full-time.
"It felt like a victory coming so late in the day."
The R's late show preserved their position at the summit of the table and Mackie added: "To be sitting at the top of the table going into the break is a massive boost for the lads.
"If we'd have lost at the weekend with a two week break looming it would have been tough, but we got a draw and we're still top of the table with an unbeaten record.
"That's a huge fillip for the lads and changes the complexity of the whole break." QPR
- Survey of Premiership Crowds and Costs
- Ex-QPR Mark Lazarus Interviewed on JNet Radio, September 6
- An Involved QPR Fan Offers His Perspective/His Stated Experiences re The Club Shop/Club Merchandising
- Ugo Ukah on Video!
-
- For QPR and Football Updates throughout the day, visit the ever-growing (and hopefully always improving!) QPR Report Messageboard/quasi-blog. Either offer your own perspectives on any of the topics (QPR and football only). Or of course, feel free to simply read the various QPR and football-only discussions. -- The QPR Report Messageboard
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- It's Transfer Deadline Day and QPR Fans are waiting for deeds, not words; not rumours; not ITK claims (which all-too-often turn out to be empty words).
- Will it Be Hulse?
- Kiyan Prince's Father Effort to Reform Offenders
- On This Day: QPR Loss at Highbury and QPR Slaughter at Craven Cottage
- On This Day Three Years Ago: QPR Sign Leigertwood - The first signing of the Briatore-Ecclestone Era. On This Day Five Years Ago: QPR Resign Richard Langley and Lomas - The first signings of the post-"coup" Era
- Terry Mancini Today
- September 5: QPR Masters Play in National Masters Championships
- Championship Drop in Summer Transfer Income
- The Last Surviving Player from the First World Cup of 1930 has Died
- USA Soccer Coach, Bob Bradley Staying on with USA - Signs New Four Year Deal
- The Fate of Non-League Clubs
- A Virtual Tour of Loftus Road: The Stands...The Trophy Room...The Changing Room (A couple of years old)
- Updated Championship Promotion Odds
- The Briatore-Ecclestone Takeover of QPR Being Reported: Three Year Flashback
- Time for a QPR Fan Forum (Almost Three and a half years since last one) - And How Things Were
QPR Official Site - MACKIE: 'WE ALWAYS BELIEVE!'
Posted on: Tue 31 Aug 2010
Last-gasp hero Jamie Mackie was still brimming from ear to ear this morning after his late, late heroics against Derby County on Saturday.
Mackie bagged the R's all-important 95th minute equaliser at Pride Park, after Patrick Agyemang had reduced arrears in the second minute of second half stoppage-time.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, the 24 year-old expressed his delight, commenting: "It's one of the best comebacks I've ever been involved in and a lot of the lads were saying similar things after.
"It was just incredible. We looked down and out, dead and buried at 2-0 down, but we showed the belief that we have as a group of players.
"The celebrations were unreal at the end."
With Rangers trailing 2-0 heading into added time, Agyemang gave the Hoops hope with a fine solo goal, before the former Plymouth Argyle front-man capped a stunning comeback with virtually the last kick of the game.
"I had to hold off a couple of defenders to create the space, but once I was in the box it was all about staying calm and composed," he said.
"It all happened so quickly, and thankfully I managed to drill it beyond (Stephen) Bywater's outstretched arm."
If Mackie was coolness personified inside the box, he was anything but afterwards, as he peeled off his shirt and raced towards the R's faithful.
"I lost it!" he admitted, "I was so emotional.
"We know we didn't play at all well, but to show such courage and resilience to get a positive result tells you all you need to know about this group of players.
"There's an unbelievable spirit in the camp and that showed with the celebrations at full-time.
"It felt like a victory coming so late in the day."
The R's late show preserved their position at the summit of the table and Mackie added: "To be sitting at the top of the table going into the break is a massive boost for the lads.
"If we'd have lost at the weekend with a two week break looming it would have been tough, but we got a draw and we're still top of the table with an unbeaten record.
"That's a huge fillip for the lads and changes the complexity of the whole break." QPR
- Survey of Premiership Crowds and Costs
- Ex-QPR Mark Lazarus Interviewed on JNet Radio, September 6
- An Involved QPR Fan Offers His Perspective/His Stated Experiences re The Club Shop/Club Merchandising
- Ugo Ukah on Video!
Monday, August 30, 2010
QPR Report Monday Update...Derby Reports...Tommy Smith?...Virtual Tour of Loftus Road...Briatore/Ecclestone Flashback
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- For QPR and Football Updates throughout the day, visit the ever-growing (and hopefully always improving!) QPR Report Messageboard/quasi-blog. Either offer your own perspectives on any of the topics (QPR and football only). Or of course, feel free to simply read the various QPR and football-only discussions. -- The QPR Report Messageboard
_____________________________________________________________________________________
- Tommy Smith to QPR?
- Daily Mail: "QPR manager Neil Warnock has made a fresh £1.5m move for Portsmouth striker Tommy Smith." Daily Mail
- Derby's Hulse Also Reported QPR Target
- A Virtual Tour of Loftus Road: The Stands...The Trophy Room...The Changing Room (A couple of years old)
- Southampton Axe Manager Alan Pardew and Coaching Team
- Updated Championship Promotion Odds
- The Briatore-Ecclestone Takeover of QPR Being Reported: Three Year Flashback
- Time for a QPR Fan Forum (Almost Three and a half years since last one) - And How Things Were
- On This Day: Tommy Langley Scores his First QPR Goal...Mark Hateley's Father Destroy's Table-Topping QPR
- Crystal Palace Post-Simon Jordan...Simon Jordan Post-Crystal Palace
- Posted Earlier: Compilation of Derby vs QPR Match Reports
Derby 2-2 QPR: Daily Mirror/Ian Bayle
Neil Warnock is ready to fight them on the beaches this season to keep Rangers’ Premier League dream alive.
And defender Clint Hill warns the players are ready to put their manager’s defiant words into action.
Warnock praised Rangers “Dunkirk spirit” after they clung on to top spot in the Championship against all the odds at Pride Park.
Hill put it down to the never-say-die attitude Warnock has instilled since taking over last March after leaving Crystal Palace when the club went into administration.
The full-back, reunited with his old boss after signing from Palace in the summer, says Warnock drilled the same mentality into his players at Selhurst Park.
Hill said: ‘‘That’s what he brings to a club, a really good team spirit.
‘‘He got everyone really close together at Palace and we reached the play-offs. Then unfortunately the money was pulled out, circumstances changed, and it became an uphill battle.
‘‘The lads he’s signed and those who were already here have really gelled together and it shows on the pitch. It’s never-say-die right up until the last minute.’’
Derby were cruising to three points after goals from Kris Commons and James Bailey – his first for the club since his summer move from Crewe.
But they panicked after Patrick Agyemang pulled a goal back in the first minute of injury time before Jamie Mackie snatched an equaliser four minutes later.
Hill said: ‘‘If we are being honest, we have no idea how we managed to get away with a point.
‘‘That was the worst we have played this season – we just weren’t at the races.
‘‘But when you’ve got players of the quality we have got you always feel you are still in with a shout no matter what and when Jamie pulled out that shot right at the end it felt like a win.
‘‘It proved the game is cruel and we know we have got to play better .
‘‘We are top at the moment but we know it’s going to be a tough old battle to stay there and there are going to be ups and downs. It’s a great start but we are not getting carried away. We are asking ourselves – can we buildon it?’’
Derby skipper Robbie Savage said: ‘‘I suppose we were a little naive attacking in the 90th minute and we left Agyemang one-on-one to pull a goal back.
‘‘After that we knew it was going to be a tough few minutes.’’
Goalscorer Commons added: ‘‘It was frustrating for us after being in such a commanding position.
‘‘It was our errors which led to their goals – missed tackles and misplaced passes.
‘‘But we will regroup. We’ve got players missing, new signings and others who have come in from the lower leagues.
‘‘It’s a learning curve, but the more games they play the better we will become. We just need to stay positive.’’ Mirror
- A Year Ago's QPR Signing of Indian Internatinal Striker (but refused work permit)
- VIDEOS: From Derby County vs QPR Game
- Survey of Premiership Crowds and Costs
- QPR Supposed;u Want Eddie Johnson?
- Next: QPR Masters Play in National Masters Championships, September 5
- Ex-QPR Mark Lazarus Interviewed on JNet Radio, September 6
- Pellicori at Torino
- An Involved QPR Fan Offers His Perspective/His Stated Experiences re The Club Shop/Club Merchandising
- Carling Cup Third Round Draw
- Ugo Ukah on Video!
-
- For QPR and Football Updates throughout the day, visit the ever-growing (and hopefully always improving!) QPR Report Messageboard/quasi-blog. Either offer your own perspectives on any of the topics (QPR and football only). Or of course, feel free to simply read the various QPR and football-only discussions. -- The QPR Report Messageboard
_____________________________________________________________________________________
- Tommy Smith to QPR?
- Daily Mail: "QPR manager Neil Warnock has made a fresh £1.5m move for Portsmouth striker Tommy Smith." Daily Mail
- Derby's Hulse Also Reported QPR Target
- A Virtual Tour of Loftus Road: The Stands...The Trophy Room...The Changing Room (A couple of years old)
- Southampton Axe Manager Alan Pardew and Coaching Team
- Updated Championship Promotion Odds
- The Briatore-Ecclestone Takeover of QPR Being Reported: Three Year Flashback
- Time for a QPR Fan Forum (Almost Three and a half years since last one) - And How Things Were
- On This Day: Tommy Langley Scores his First QPR Goal...Mark Hateley's Father Destroy's Table-Topping QPR
- Crystal Palace Post-Simon Jordan...Simon Jordan Post-Crystal Palace
- Posted Earlier: Compilation of Derby vs QPR Match Reports
Derby 2-2 QPR: Daily Mirror/Ian Bayle
Neil Warnock is ready to fight them on the beaches this season to keep Rangers’ Premier League dream alive.
And defender Clint Hill warns the players are ready to put their manager’s defiant words into action.
Warnock praised Rangers “Dunkirk spirit” after they clung on to top spot in the Championship against all the odds at Pride Park.
Hill put it down to the never-say-die attitude Warnock has instilled since taking over last March after leaving Crystal Palace when the club went into administration.
The full-back, reunited with his old boss after signing from Palace in the summer, says Warnock drilled the same mentality into his players at Selhurst Park.
Hill said: ‘‘That’s what he brings to a club, a really good team spirit.
‘‘He got everyone really close together at Palace and we reached the play-offs. Then unfortunately the money was pulled out, circumstances changed, and it became an uphill battle.
‘‘The lads he’s signed and those who were already here have really gelled together and it shows on the pitch. It’s never-say-die right up until the last minute.’’
Derby were cruising to three points after goals from Kris Commons and James Bailey – his first for the club since his summer move from Crewe.
But they panicked after Patrick Agyemang pulled a goal back in the first minute of injury time before Jamie Mackie snatched an equaliser four minutes later.
Hill said: ‘‘If we are being honest, we have no idea how we managed to get away with a point.
‘‘That was the worst we have played this season – we just weren’t at the races.
‘‘But when you’ve got players of the quality we have got you always feel you are still in with a shout no matter what and when Jamie pulled out that shot right at the end it felt like a win.
‘‘It proved the game is cruel and we know we have got to play better .
‘‘We are top at the moment but we know it’s going to be a tough old battle to stay there and there are going to be ups and downs. It’s a great start but we are not getting carried away. We are asking ourselves – can we buildon it?’’
Derby skipper Robbie Savage said: ‘‘I suppose we were a little naive attacking in the 90th minute and we left Agyemang one-on-one to pull a goal back.
‘‘After that we knew it was going to be a tough few minutes.’’
Goalscorer Commons added: ‘‘It was frustrating for us after being in such a commanding position.
‘‘It was our errors which led to their goals – missed tackles and misplaced passes.
‘‘But we will regroup. We’ve got players missing, new signings and others who have come in from the lower leagues.
‘‘It’s a learning curve, but the more games they play the better we will become. We just need to stay positive.’’ Mirror
- A Year Ago's QPR Signing of Indian Internatinal Striker (but refused work permit)
- VIDEOS: From Derby County vs QPR Game
- Survey of Premiership Crowds and Costs
- QPR Supposed;u Want Eddie Johnson?
- Next: QPR Masters Play in National Masters Championships, September 5
- Ex-QPR Mark Lazarus Interviewed on JNet Radio, September 6
- Pellicori at Torino
- An Involved QPR Fan Offers His Perspective/His Stated Experiences re The Club Shop/Club Merchandising
- Carling Cup Third Round Draw
- Ugo Ukah on Video!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
QPR Report Sunday: Further QPR-Derby Reports...OTD: QPR Lose Charity Shield Final Replay!
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- On This Day: QPR Lose Charity Shield Final Replay to Manchester United!
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- For QPR and Football Updates throughout the day, visit the ever-growing (and hopefully always improving!) QPR Report Messageboard/quasi-blog. Either offer your own perspectives on any of the topics (QPR and football only). Or of course, feel free to simply read the various QPR and football-only discussions. -- The QPR Report Messageboard
_____________________________________________________________________________________
- VIDEOS: From Derby County vs QPR Game
- Survey of Premiership Crowds and Costs
- QPR Supposed;u Want Eddie Johnson?
- Next: QPR Masters Play in National Masters Championships, September 5
- Ex-QPR Mark Lazarus Interviewed on JNet Radio, September 6
- Pellicori at Torino
- Flashback VIDEO: Gordon Jago's QPR of Bowles, Thomas Givens and Franci guarantee Promotion with win at Millwall
- An Involved QPR Fan Offers His Perspective/His Stated Experiences re The Club Shop/Club Merchandising
- Opinions: Platini's Naivete...Blatter's "Reelection" Goals and England's 2018 Bid
- Carling Cup Third Round Draw
- Ugo Ukah on Video!
OBSERVER/Jonny Weeks - Jamie Mackie's late strike earns QPR an unlikely draw against Derby
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When Flavio Briatore and his cohorts bought QPR three years ago, the Italian promised rich investment and a glorious future. "Our programme is to reach the Premier League within three years. Within four years we will challenge Milan in Europe," he announced with typical hubris.
QPR have experienced no such joy. Instead, the reins of managerial power at Loftus Road have changed hands 11 times in the past three seasons and, although the stadium's corrugated shell has been licked with fresh paint, the refurbishment of the squad has been hitherto unremarkable.
Having won three consecutive league games and conceded no goals before the trip to Pride Park, QPR finally found themselves leading the Championship table for the first time since their relegation in 1996. And this incredible comeback against Derby will only have amplified optimism in west London.
Stoppage-time goals from Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie kept QPR's unbeaten run going in the most dramatic fashion as Derby were denied their first win since the opening day. "It feels like a win when it comes so late in the game," the QPR manager, Neil Warnock, said. "A lot of teams might just have packed up at that late stage. I said to them before the game: 'I think we can score goals in a split second'. I didn't realise it'd be 90 odd minutes when we'd get them, but it just shows you what you can do."
Nigel Clough's side took the lead in the 39th minute when Kris Commons deftly scooped over Paddy Kenny at the far post. Derby's second came from the midfielder James Bailey, who swept a shot into the bottom corner of Kenny's net from the edge of the box.
Yet QPR could have been ahead in the fourth minute when Adel Taarabt bamboozled Robbie Savage and drifted through Derby's defence only for Stephen Bywater to parry his shot and the danger to be cleared. The Icelander Heidar Helguson beat Bywater with a lob in the 33rd minute and Mackie side-footed into the net after the interval, but both efforts were ruled offside.
Former Spurs midfielder Taarabt, arguably the Championship signing of the summer – notwithstanding Craig Bellamy's arrival at Cardiff – was a sporadic menace to the home side. While the Moroccan was elegant and nimble in possession, Savage, making his 100th appearance for Derby, was rumbustious in pursuit; no other surname in the football league can be as apposite as his.
Derby were without several recognised strikers and Clough persisted with a dynamic 4-2-3-1 formation, anchored by Savage, which had looked effective but been unrewarded in recent matches. The comeback by Warnock's side left Derby and their fans stunned.
Substitute Agyemang slotted QPR's first goal from a tight angle before Kenny made a critical save from Bailey. Mackie then fired the equaliser from 18 yards in the final minute. Warnock remains grounded: "How we can be up in the favourites [for promotion] I haven't got a clue," he said. Observer
INDEPENDENT/Geoff Brown - Championship round-up: Rangers draw on true grit at Derby as Town please Keane
Having swept to the top of the Championship with three expansive wins, Queens Park Rangers revealed their grittier side at Pride Park when, 2-0 down going into time added on, Patrick Agyemang and James Mackie both scored to rescue a point from a 2-2 draw with Derby County. It had seemed an unlikely outcome on the hour when James Bailey added to Kris Commons' fine opener.
"It feels like a win when you score so late in the game," said the QPR manager Neil Warnock, praising his side's "Dunkirk spirit". "We have got seven or eight new players and it does take a while, so how we can be among the favourites [for promotion] I haven't got a clue." Independent
Derby's Robbie Savage - Robbie: "We're Devastated" - Derby Official Site
"We're devastated" were the words from the lips of Robbie Savage after Derby County's 2-2 draw with Queens Park Rangers this afternoon.
Derby led 2-0 going into injury time at Pride Park, but the visitors hit back with two goals to take a share of the spoils.
The Rams skipper admitted Derby should have seen the game out, after being in the driving seat for the majority of the afternoon.
Speaking to dcfc.co.uk, Robbie said: "I don't know what to say to be honest; we are devastated right now.
"At 2-0 up we should have seen the game out and it feels like we lost in all honesty.
"I suppose we were a little naive attacking in the 90th minute and we left Agyemang one-on-one with Shaun Barker to pull a goal back.
"After that we knew it was going to be a tough few minutes, and it is so disappointing we let the equaliser in.
"We should have won and yet again we've played well and not taken the points.
"QPR didn't get a kick for most of the game, and remember we were down to the bare bones again.
"We're suffering badly with injuries, and the lads are devastated in the dressing room.
"It hurts right now, but there are so many positives to take from today.
"It will be a long two weeks until the Sheffield United game, but we will just keeping working hard and hopefully we will get our rewards against them." Derby
News of The World/Tony Leighton - CLOUGH LUCK ON DERBY STATUES Derby 2 QPR 2
DERBY froze in injury time, throwing away a two-goal lead on the day they unveiled a monument to legendary boss Brian Clough.
Just like Old Big 'Ead, the nine-foot bronze statue of Cloughie and managerial partner Peter Taylor is larger than life.
Cloughie's son Nigel, in charge of the Rams 37 years after his dad's departure, cuts a more modest figure.
And he was certainly not as incensed as his father would surely have been after seeing his team concede two stoppage- time goals to level a game they should have comfortably won.
The Derby players who were First Division champions under Clough in 1972 would have got a right ear-bashing. But Clough junior was more forgiving.
He said: "It was frustrating. We played so well for so long then got punished at the end.
"That's three league games in a row now that we've not got our rewards. Their first goal changed the game totally but we should have then finished it off by making it 3-1.
"That would have been game over. But the effort was magnificent and I can't ask for any more. We scored two very good goals and there was certainly encouragement there for the next 42 games."
QPR boss Neil Warnock saw his team's 100 per cent record bite the dust but was delighted to grab a dramatic point.
Derby were coasting after goals by striker Kris Commons and midfielder James Bailey put them in compete control.
But the home side retreated in injury time and it cost them.
Substitute Patrick Agyemang reduced the arrears then right-winger Jamie Mackie levelled the scores in the fifth minute of added time.
Warnock said: "We've had three good wins but now you've seen the other side of us. We had to fight for everything.
"'Never say Die' is a motto of mine and a lot of teams might have packed up.
"Funnily enough, I said before the game there'd be a time when we went 2-0 down and would have to battle back.
"But I know we can score in a split second, I just didn't reckon it would be so deep into stoppage time.
"It's a point but it feels like a win with the goals coming so late. It's a hard lesson for Nigel, they must have thought they were home and dry."
The Rams should have been lapping up a victory after dominating most of the match.
They had an early scare when keeper Stephen Bywater had to make a fine one-handed save from QPR's Adel Taarabt.
But they soon took over and Commons and centre-back Shaun Barker both went close.
And Commons did put the home side ahead in the 40th minute, guiding the ball in from four yards after Paul Green and Dean Moxey combined to create the chance.
Bailey then bagged his first Derby goal since arriving from Crewe just before the hour.
Taking a short pass from sub Tomasz Cywka, the midfielder expertly curled a 20-yard shot just inside a post.
At 2-0 up, the home side were content to sit on their lead. But they were stunned in the second minute of added time when Agyemang burst into the penalty area to clip an angled shot past Bywater.
Mackie then broke Derby hearts when he collected a long boot upfield by keeper Paddy Kenny, brushed off two weak challenges and fired a low cross-shot into the far corner.
Despite his team's unbeaten start to the season Warnock refused to talk up the League leaders' promotion chances.
He said: "Why we are up in the favourites, I haven't a clue.
"We're a sixth to 10th team at the moment and I need to bring in more players - hopefully a striker and a wide player before the end of the transfer window on Tuesday."
Clough's day was not altogether wrecked by the result after driving into the ground past the statue of his celebrated dad.
The Rams boss said: "It would have been nice to have unveiled the statue on a day we kept a clean sheet.
"The statue means a lot to both families. It was the supporters' idea and they pushed the project through - and I'm very grateful to them." News Of The World
MAIL - Derby County 2 v 2 QPR: Rams stunned by Rangers' injury-time double
Queens Park Rangers have enjoyed the East Midlands air in the past and it had a sweet taste again yesterday as they staged a dramatic late fightback to deny a determined Derby team.
A neat close range finish from Kris Commons and James Bailey's first senior goal for the club looked certain to condemn Rangers to their first defeat at Derby since February 1990.
But first Patrick Agyemang and then James Mackie pounced in stoppage time to preserve the Londoner's unbeaten start to the season.
They had not lost on their last six visits to the city so it was perhaps not surprising that they began confidently and came close to scoring in the 4th minute.
Former Spurs midfielder Adel Taarabt had tormented Nigel Clough's team at Pride Park last season and the Moroccan sliced the home defence open with ominous ease before forcing Stephen Bywater into a fine one handed save.
That proved to be misleading as Derby more than matched the Championship leaders and deserved to take the lead five minutes before half-time with a well worked goal.
Injuries to three strikers meant Clough pushed Commons up front and he was in the right place to turn in Dean Moxey's low cross from the left after an astutue pass from Paul Green.
Clough is tracking West Brom's Chris Wood's and former Real Madrid striker Alberto Bueno to bolster his attack so the sight of Commons being replaced in the 45th minute only highlighted the need for reinforcements.
But this latest setback did not knock Derby out of their stride and just before the hour, they doubled their advantage with another well worked goal.
This time it was Commons's replacement, Polish midfielder Tomasz Cywka, who created the opening with a surging run into the box before setting up Bailey who curled a low shot into the bottom left corner.
Neil Warnock responded with three substitutions in the space of nine minutes but Derby's defence showed no signs of cracking and it was the home side who looked more likely to score again.
Warnock was cutting an increasingly frustrated figure as he stood scowling on the edge of his technical area and the Derby fans had another reason to cheer when he was spoken to by referee Mark Haywood.
But Warnock had the last laugh as his side ambushed Derby to salvage an improbable draw.
First Agyemang showed his power by going past Shaun Barker to lift the ball over Bywater and in an astonishing finale, Derby almost scored again when Cywka was denied by Paddy Kenny.
The importance of that was underlined when Mackie took a long ball on the chest, span past two white shirts before sliding a low shot past Bywater's right hand to spark off wild celebrations from the Rangers fans behind the goal. Mail
REPOSTED BELOW: FROM YESTERDAY'S QPR REPORT
- QPR Stay top, after coming from 0-2 to score twice in injury time to draw 2-2 at Derby County. Agyemang and Mackie scoring
- Warnock Audio Comments/BBC
Sporting Life - WARNOCK PRAISES SPIRIT OF PLAYERS
QPR manager Neil Warnock paid tribute to the "Dunkirk spirit" of his players after they snatched a dramatic draw at Derby.
Rangers looked certain to suffer their first npower Championship defeat of the season when they trailed 2-0 to goals from Kris Commons and James Bailey.
But stoppage-time goals from Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie stunned the Pride Park faithful to earn the visitors an unlikely point which keeps them top of the table.
Warnock said: "I think a lot of teams might have packed up at that late stage.
"But I said to the players before the game that there are going to be times this season when we go two or three nil down.
"But I always think that we can get a result because I believe we are capable of scoring goals in a split second.
"I didn't realise it was going to be 90 plus minutes when we scored two goals but it just goes to show that you never give in.
"I thought we were poor in the first half but all credit to the players, we went positive with the substitutions and Paddy (Kenny) made a great save at 2-1 so it was a great team effort to scrap and get a result.
"It feels like a win when you score so late in the game. We have got seven or eight new players and it does take a while so how we can be among the favourites (for promotion) I haven't got a clue.
"I think we are a sixth to 10th team at the moment although results like this do help with morale. It helps build confidence.
"Last year, we had eight loan players so we didn't have what I call Dunkirk spirit that we showed today."
Derby manager Nigel Clough felt the result was harsh on his players, with the Rams without a win since the opening day of the season.
He said: "It's frustrating. We played so well for so long and then we got punished at the end but that's been the story of the last three league games.
"There have been three good performances but we've not quite got our reward for them. We always felt that if the first one goes in it changes the game.
"If you don't concede it doesn't give them the inspiration to throw everything forward and then anything can happen.
"I thought that we should have finished it off and made it 3-1 in stoppage time but at the moment, we can't finish games off and we can't quite hang on at the other end.
"They (the players) are going to have a few days in Spain so that will help them to get over this and it would have been nice to go into the break with three points.
"But I think that when we sit down and analyse it and put it into context the performance today without a striker on the pitch in the second half and the effort that has gone in was absolutely magnificent.
"We can't ask any more from the players so that's a good start and there was some good play and two very good goals so that gives us a lot of encouragement." Sporting Life
QPR Official Site - WARNOCK: 'DUNKIRK SPIRIT!'
Posted on: Sat 28 Aug 2010
R's gaffer Neil Warnock failed to hide his delight, as the R's fought back from two goals down to grab an unlikely share of the spoils against Derby.
Stoppage time goals from Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie ensured Rangers' unbeaten start to the season continued in dramatic fashion.
"All credit to the players - that was Dunkirk spirit in every sense of the word," he told www.qpr.co.uk.
"We were very positive with the substitutions and it had the impact I hoped it would.
"It was a great team effort at the end, even though we were nowhere near our best.
"It feels like a win when it comes so late in the game!"
Despite the last-gasp heroics, Warnock once again refused to get carried away, adding: "How we can be amongst the favorites to win the division with eight new players in the squad is beyond me.
"I think we're sixth to tenth position at the moment.
"Results like that will help the morale and the confidence within the group.
"We never had any of that spirit with all the loan players last year, but we have now and that's fantastic."
With just days remaining before the transfer window closes, Warnock is still confident he can add to his squad, commenting: "I still want to bring two players in to the Club.
"I've got four strikers and three wide players on my list and I'd like one of each.
"We just need a couple more to add to the options we've got." QPR
BBC - Warnock cools QPR's promotion expectations
Warnock is keen to bring in two players at QPR
QPR manager Neil Warnock played down suggestions his side are among the favourites for Championship promotion, after a nail-biting draw with Derby.
Warnock's men came back from 2-0 down with two dramatic stoppage-time goals to share the points and stay top.
"How we can be amongst the favourites to win the division with eight new players in the squad is beyond me," said Warnock.
"I think we're [likely to finish in] sixth to 10th position at the moment."
Kris Commons and James Bailey had put Derby ahead at Pride Park and they looked on course for victory until Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie struck in the 92nd and 95th minutes for the visitors.
"I think a lot of teams might have packed up at that late stage," added Warnock.
"But I said to the players before the game that there are going to be times this season when we go two or three-nil down.
"I always think that we can get a result because I believe we are capable of scoring goals in a split second.
We can't finish games off and we can't quite hang on at the other end
Derby boss Nigel Clough
"I didn't realise it was going to be 90-plus minutes when we scored two goals but it just goes to show that you never give in.
"I thought we were poor in the first half but all credit to the players, we went positive with the substitutions and Paddy [Kenny] made a great save at 2-1 so it was a great team effort to scrap and get a result.
"It feels like a win when you score so late in the game."
Warnock also revealed he will be attempting to reinforce his squad before the transfer deadline at 1800 BST on Tuesday.
"I still want to bring two players to the club," he said. "I've got four strikers and three wide players on my list and I'd like one of each.
606: DEBATE
What are your thoughts on the game?
"We just need a couple more to add to the options we've got."
Derby boss Nigel Clough believes his side need to learn how to close out games but tried to take the positives from their display.
"It's frustrating. We played so well for so long and then we got punished at the end but that's been the story of the last three league games," said Clough.
"There have been three good performances but we've not quite got our reward for them.
"I thought that we should have finished it off and made it 3-1 in stoppage time but, at the moment, we can't finish games off and we can't quite hang on at the other end.
"They [the players] are going to have a few days in Spain so that will help them to get over this
"It would have been nice to go into the break with three points but I think that when we sit down and analyse it and put it into context the performance and the effort that has gone in was absolutely magnificent." BBC
QPR Official Site
QPR snatched a point from the jaws of defeat, as two second-half stoppage time strikes from Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie earned the R's a dramatic share of the spoils at Pride Park.
On a rollercoaster afternoon for the Hoops, the Rams took the lead five minutes before half-time when Kris Commons expertly tucked away Paul Green's cutting centre from close range.
Rangers started the second half brightly, but they were further behind on 59 minutes when James Bailey put the hosts two goals to the good.
Tomasz Cywka found space down the left before squaring the ball back to James Bailey on the edge of the penalty area, who swept the ball home into the bottom right-hand corner.
However, such is the spirit in the R's camp at present, they bounced back with two injury-time strikes in the second half to clinch a point.
First, Agyemang stole through on goal to slot home from 10-yards out following Leon Clarke's flick-on.
And four minutes into stoppage time, the comeback was complete.
Mackie evaded two challenges before bursting into the area and smashing the ball low past Stephen Bywater to send the travelling R's masses into delirium.
Rangers remained unchanged in a 4-2-3-1 formation for the trip to hosts Derby.
Paddy Kenny was in goal for the R's, behind a back four of Bradley Orr, Matt Connolly, Kaspars Gorkss and Clint Hill.
Shaun Derry and Alejandro Faurlin were in defensive midfield, with Mackie, Adel Taarabt and Hogan Ephraim operating in more advanced positions.
Frontman Heidar Helguson led the Hoops attack.
In front a healthy and loud R's following in the East Midlands, QPR were straight out of the traps and only a splendid one-handed save from Stephen Bywater ensured the match remained without a goal.
Hill's clearance from deep was superbly controlled by Ephraim, who in turn touched the ball to Taarabt. The Moroccan magician danced past two players and into the area before unleashing a stinging low drive that was excellently beaten away from the target - but only as far as Mackie.
The R's attacker looked certain to net from the follow-up, only to see his shot blocked away on the goal-line for a corner kick.
Moments later, the Rams fashioned their first effort at goal. Commons picked up possession midway into the QPR half before running at the visitors' defence and drilling an effort just wide of Kenny's bottom left-hand post.
It was to be a lively opening 15 minutes to the fixture, with the pre-match hype surrounding the much-anticipated clash of Taarabt and Robbie Savage living up to its billing at Pride Park.
Taarabt was then soon involved again, firing a ridiculously ambitious free-kick just wide from all of 35 yards from the target.
The clash may have started at quite a pace, but a period of lull was soon to follow, as a midfield battle began to ensue in the driving late summer rain.
It was a battle that the Rams momentarily took control of as they raced into a 40th minute lead - the first goal that QPR have conceded this season.
Paul Green played the architect, doing well to slip past his marker down the left and cut the ball back into the area in the direction of Commons.
Unmarked at the back post, Commons remained as cool as a cucumber to dink the ball over the diving Kenny and into the back of the net.
Just before the interval Taarabt again tried an audacious free-kick effort from 35-yards out, but his shot sailed handsomely over the goal.
Mindful of being a goal down, QPR came out for the second period with a spell of neat, intricate football in the opening five minutes.
Indeed, super possession play between Gorkss, Hill and Taarabt set Ephraim free down the left before the R's wing wizard was brought down on the left-hand side of the box for a free-kick.
From the resultant set-piece, Taarabt's lovely, out-swinging corner needed only a touch to find the target before the ball was nodded behind for a corner.
However, though they made a positive start to the closing half, QPR found themselves two behind on 59 minutes.
Fantastic endeavour from substitute Cywka saw the striker beat his marker down the left-hand channel before he laid the ball back to James Bailey on the edge of the penalty area.
Bailey took a touch before executing a fantastic finish, curling the ball around Kenny and into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.
In an attempt to reduce the deficit, R's gaffer Neil Warnock made three changes in next ten minutes that were to follow, with Derry, Helguson and Taarabt making way for Akos Buzsaky, Agyemang and Clarke respectively.
The substitutions didn't have an immediate impact, but as stoppage time approached Rangers would defy the odds to snatch a remarkable point.
It was to be one of the substitutes who hauled QPR right back into the affair.
Following a long ball from deep, Clarke rose highest midway into the Rams half to nod the ball on for Agyemang.
The striker did brilliantly to beat his marker - and his finish was even better, tucking the ball away from an acute angle and past Bywater.
If anyone deserved a point for their individual display it was the hard-working Mackie, whose determination was ever-present even when the R's were dead and buried.
And he got his reward in some style in the fourth minute of added time.
Mackie picked up possession just outside the box, before muscling his way past two challenges and drilling the ball low past Bywater and into the bottom left-hand corner - cueing absolute carnage amongst the R's faithful in the visitors' end.
Derby County: Bywater, Brayford, Roberts, Green, Barker, Leacock, Savage, Commons (Cywka 45), Bailey, Moxey (Ball 90), Doyle (Martin 57).
Subs: Deeney, Buxton, Pringle, O'Brien.
Goals: Commons (40), Bailey (59)
Bookings: Moxey (33)
QPR: Kenny, Orr, Hill, Derry (Buzsaky 61), Taarabt (Clarke 70), Helguson (Agyemang 62), Faurlin, Mackie, Gorkss, Connolly, Ephraim.
Subs: Cerny, Leigertwood, Ramage, German.
Goals: Agyemang (90 +1), Mackie (90 +4)
Bookings: Hill (37)
Referee: Mr M Haywood
Attendance: 25, 874 (1655 - QPR
Telegraph - Derby County 2 Queens Park Rangers 2: match report
Read a full match report of the Championship game between Derby County and Queens Park Rangers at Pride Park on Saturday Aug 28 2010.
Queens Park Rangers struck twice in injury-time to rescue a dramatic 2-2 draw and preserve both their unbeaten record and top spot in the Championship.
Trailing to goals from Kris Commons and James Bailey, Neil Warnock's side looked beaten but substitute Patrick Agyemang scored what looked like a consolation goal in the second minute of added time.
Jamie Mackie then struck with virtually the last kick of the game to leave Derby deflated.
The Rams went into the game having lost their last three matches in all competitions since beating Leeds on the opening day of the campaign, while Rangers arrived at Pride Park with a 100% league record.
Adel Taarabt, who shone in this fixture last season, was denied by a fine save from Stephen Bywater following a mazy run early on.
Perhaps Derby had learned their lesson of almost 12 months ago as Nigel Clough used Robbie Savage to man-mark the Moroccan for long periods and that was as dangerous as he was all afternoon.
The Rams should have gone ahead after 13 minutes when Conor Doyle's cross was deflected into the path of Savage who laid the ball off to Shaun Barker, but the big defender shot into the side-netting.
Alejandro Faurlin threatened either side of the half-hour mark but failed to work Bywater on both occasions.
Paul Green and Dean Moxey linked up well to create the opening goal for Commons after 40 minutes. The Scotland international latched on to Moxey's pass from the left before casually lifting the ball over the advancing Paddy Kenny.
It was the first Championship goal that QPR had conceded this season.
Bailey put Derby 2-0 up just before the hour mark when he found the bottom corner with a shot from the edge of the area.
Clough's side looked comfortable but Agyemang, a 62nd-minute replacement for Heidar Helguson, beat Barker for pace before firing the ball beyond Bywater.
Kenny kept Rangers in the game with a fine parrying save to thwart Bailey before the visitors broke and, to the amazement of everyone inside Pride Park, levelled through Mackie's 18-yard shot in the six-minute of injury-time. Telegraph
DERBY COUNTY OFFICIAL SITE
Derby County surrended two goals in injury time as Championship leaders QPR held the Rams to a 2-2 draw at Pride Park.
Kris Commons' goal late in the first half put Derby on their way, and James Bailey looked to wrapped up the victory before the hour.
But Patrick Agyemang and then Jamie Mackie crashed home injury time goals to break Derby's hearts when a deserved win looked to be the outcome.
With Rob Hulse and Chris Porter still nursing injuries, Commons led the line up front as Nigel Clough named an unchanged side from last week's line-up at Coventry.
The only change was tactical, with Commons operating up top and Dean Moxey on the left of the attacking midfield three.
Youngsters Mark O'Brien and Callum Ball drafted into the matchday squad as substitutes as a result of Derby's injury problems.
Hulse and Porter joined Pearson, Addison, Davies and Anderson on the sidelines and Tomasz Cywka was deemed unfit to start after sustaining a fractured cheekbone a fortnight ago against Cardiff City.
In his pre-match press briefing this week Clough had stated that one of QPR's main strengths was the way their have made blistering starts to games this season.
Neil Warnock's side showed their danger within three minutes, with Bywater called into action to make a low stop to keep out the dangerous Adel Taarbat.
The loose ball fell to Jamie Mackie, but his goalwards effort was blocked by Roberts for a corner.
Commons was pivotal to Derby's best moves of the half, getting on the ball and keeping the Rs defence on their toes.
He tried his range on eight minutes with a long range effort, but Kenny saw the shot drift wide.
Shaun Barker almost registered his name on the scoresheet for the first time this season before the fifteen minute mark, but he dragged his left-foot shot into the side netting from Conor Doyle's corner.
Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested in the first period, but five minutes before the interval Derby got the breakthrough their persistence deserved.
Moxey and Green combined well down the left, and the former's low cross expertly guided into the back of the net by Commons from a few yards out.
The Scot shimmied to shoot, leaving Kenny grounded as he slotted the ball past the former Sheffield United goalkeeper for his second goal of the season.
It was the first goal Rangers had conceded in the Championship this season, with Derby showing their quality to create and finish the move in expert fashion.
Moments before the break Commons was withdrawn from the action as a precaution after feeling his hamstring tighten, and he was replaced by Cywka.
That move saw Moxey move up front, and Cywka - with the aid of his protective mask - slotted into the attacking midfield three.
Derby continued to frustrate their opponents early in the second period, who were given no time on the ball and little opportunity to get the influential Taarabt into the game.
Clough opted to make his second change of the game early in the half, bringing Dave Martin on for the hardworking Doyle who had run himself into the ground.
But it was the other substitute, Cywka, who stretched the visitors' defence for the Rams to double their lead a minute before the hour.
Cywka worked is way into the area with some neat footwork, and he picked out Bailey lurking unmarked on the edge of the box, and he curled a delightful effort from outside the area beyond Kenny for his first ever career goal.
Derby didn't rest on their laurels, and kept the high energy approach which had seen them deservedly get into the winning position their found themselves in.
Roberts, Cywka and Bailey all had the confidence to try their luck from range, but on each occasion they were thwarted by Kenny.
QPR rang the changes in hope of pulling back at least a goal, and their travelling support were rewarded with a late goal from Agyemang from close range but Derby had done more than enough to take the points.
Bailey had a golden chance to make it 3-1 in the closing seconds, but Kenny pulled off a fine save....and it was a miss Derby that would come back to haunt the Rams.
Straight down the other end Mackie let fly with a thunderous low drive which flew past Bywater to send the QPR players, staff and fans wild.
From nowhere, they had fought back to take a point.
It was heartbreaking stuff for Derby who left the field with their chins on the floor.
It may be hard right now, but there so many positives to take from the game.
Derby frustratingly have to wait two weeks now for their next game, at home to Sheffield United.
Attendance: 25,874 (1,655 QPR fans)
Collstream Man of the Match: James Bailey - Derby
1 QPR 4 9 10
2 Cardiff 4 7 10
3 Ipswich 4 5 10
4 Millwall 4 7 9
5 Burnley 4 3 7
6 Leeds United 4 2 7
7 Norwich 4 2 7
8 Coventry 4 1 7
9 Doncaster 4 0 7
10 Barnsley 4 -1 7
11 Scunthorpe 4 1 6
12 Swansea 4 1 6
13 Reading 4 0 5
14 Watford 4 0 5
15 Derby 4 -1 4
16 Middlesbrough 4 -3 4
17 Sheff Utd 4 -3 4
18 Hull 4 -4 4
19 Nott'm Forest 4 -1 3
20 Crystal Palace 4 -4 3
21 Preston 4 -6 3
22 Bristol City 4 -5 2
23 Leicester 4 -5 1
24 Portsmouth 4 -5 1 BBC
- News of The World
- On This Day: QPR Lose Charity Shield Final Replay to Manchester United!
- On This Day: QPR Lose Charity Shield Final Replay to Manchester United!-
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- VIDEOS: From Derby County vs QPR Game
- Survey of Premiership Crowds and Costs
- QPR Supposed;u Want Eddie Johnson?
- Next: QPR Masters Play in National Masters Championships, September 5
- Ex-QPR Mark Lazarus Interviewed on JNet Radio, September 6
- Pellicori at Torino
- Flashback VIDEO: Gordon Jago's QPR of Bowles, Thomas Givens and Franci guarantee Promotion with win at Millwall
- An Involved QPR Fan Offers His Perspective/His Stated Experiences re The Club Shop/Club Merchandising
- Opinions: Platini's Naivete...Blatter's "Reelection" Goals and England's 2018 Bid
- Carling Cup Third Round Draw
- Ugo Ukah on Video!
OBSERVER/Jonny Weeks - Jamie Mackie's late strike earns QPR an unlikely draw against Derby
-
When Flavio Briatore and his cohorts bought QPR three years ago, the Italian promised rich investment and a glorious future. "Our programme is to reach the Premier League within three years. Within four years we will challenge Milan in Europe," he announced with typical hubris.
QPR have experienced no such joy. Instead, the reins of managerial power at Loftus Road have changed hands 11 times in the past three seasons and, although the stadium's corrugated shell has been licked with fresh paint, the refurbishment of the squad has been hitherto unremarkable.
Having won three consecutive league games and conceded no goals before the trip to Pride Park, QPR finally found themselves leading the Championship table for the first time since their relegation in 1996. And this incredible comeback against Derby will only have amplified optimism in west London.
Stoppage-time goals from Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie kept QPR's unbeaten run going in the most dramatic fashion as Derby were denied their first win since the opening day. "It feels like a win when it comes so late in the game," the QPR manager, Neil Warnock, said. "A lot of teams might just have packed up at that late stage. I said to them before the game: 'I think we can score goals in a split second'. I didn't realise it'd be 90 odd minutes when we'd get them, but it just shows you what you can do."
Nigel Clough's side took the lead in the 39th minute when Kris Commons deftly scooped over Paddy Kenny at the far post. Derby's second came from the midfielder James Bailey, who swept a shot into the bottom corner of Kenny's net from the edge of the box.
Yet QPR could have been ahead in the fourth minute when Adel Taarabt bamboozled Robbie Savage and drifted through Derby's defence only for Stephen Bywater to parry his shot and the danger to be cleared. The Icelander Heidar Helguson beat Bywater with a lob in the 33rd minute and Mackie side-footed into the net after the interval, but both efforts were ruled offside.
Former Spurs midfielder Taarabt, arguably the Championship signing of the summer – notwithstanding Craig Bellamy's arrival at Cardiff – was a sporadic menace to the home side. While the Moroccan was elegant and nimble in possession, Savage, making his 100th appearance for Derby, was rumbustious in pursuit; no other surname in the football league can be as apposite as his.
Derby were without several recognised strikers and Clough persisted with a dynamic 4-2-3-1 formation, anchored by Savage, which had looked effective but been unrewarded in recent matches. The comeback by Warnock's side left Derby and their fans stunned.
Substitute Agyemang slotted QPR's first goal from a tight angle before Kenny made a critical save from Bailey. Mackie then fired the equaliser from 18 yards in the final minute. Warnock remains grounded: "How we can be up in the favourites [for promotion] I haven't got a clue," he said. Observer
INDEPENDENT/Geoff Brown - Championship round-up: Rangers draw on true grit at Derby as Town please Keane
Having swept to the top of the Championship with three expansive wins, Queens Park Rangers revealed their grittier side at Pride Park when, 2-0 down going into time added on, Patrick Agyemang and James Mackie both scored to rescue a point from a 2-2 draw with Derby County. It had seemed an unlikely outcome on the hour when James Bailey added to Kris Commons' fine opener.
"It feels like a win when you score so late in the game," said the QPR manager Neil Warnock, praising his side's "Dunkirk spirit". "We have got seven or eight new players and it does take a while, so how we can be among the favourites [for promotion] I haven't got a clue." Independent
Derby's Robbie Savage - Robbie: "We're Devastated" - Derby Official Site
"We're devastated" were the words from the lips of Robbie Savage after Derby County's 2-2 draw with Queens Park Rangers this afternoon.
Derby led 2-0 going into injury time at Pride Park, but the visitors hit back with two goals to take a share of the spoils.
The Rams skipper admitted Derby should have seen the game out, after being in the driving seat for the majority of the afternoon.
Speaking to dcfc.co.uk, Robbie said: "I don't know what to say to be honest; we are devastated right now.
"At 2-0 up we should have seen the game out and it feels like we lost in all honesty.
"I suppose we were a little naive attacking in the 90th minute and we left Agyemang one-on-one with Shaun Barker to pull a goal back.
"After that we knew it was going to be a tough few minutes, and it is so disappointing we let the equaliser in.
"We should have won and yet again we've played well and not taken the points.
"QPR didn't get a kick for most of the game, and remember we were down to the bare bones again.
"We're suffering badly with injuries, and the lads are devastated in the dressing room.
"It hurts right now, but there are so many positives to take from today.
"It will be a long two weeks until the Sheffield United game, but we will just keeping working hard and hopefully we will get our rewards against them." Derby
News of The World/Tony Leighton - CLOUGH LUCK ON DERBY STATUES Derby 2 QPR 2
DERBY froze in injury time, throwing away a two-goal lead on the day they unveiled a monument to legendary boss Brian Clough.
Just like Old Big 'Ead, the nine-foot bronze statue of Cloughie and managerial partner Peter Taylor is larger than life.
Cloughie's son Nigel, in charge of the Rams 37 years after his dad's departure, cuts a more modest figure.
And he was certainly not as incensed as his father would surely have been after seeing his team concede two stoppage- time goals to level a game they should have comfortably won.
The Derby players who were First Division champions under Clough in 1972 would have got a right ear-bashing. But Clough junior was more forgiving.
He said: "It was frustrating. We played so well for so long then got punished at the end.
"That's three league games in a row now that we've not got our rewards. Their first goal changed the game totally but we should have then finished it off by making it 3-1.
"That would have been game over. But the effort was magnificent and I can't ask for any more. We scored two very good goals and there was certainly encouragement there for the next 42 games."
QPR boss Neil Warnock saw his team's 100 per cent record bite the dust but was delighted to grab a dramatic point.
Derby were coasting after goals by striker Kris Commons and midfielder James Bailey put them in compete control.
But the home side retreated in injury time and it cost them.
Substitute Patrick Agyemang reduced the arrears then right-winger Jamie Mackie levelled the scores in the fifth minute of added time.
Warnock said: "We've had three good wins but now you've seen the other side of us. We had to fight for everything.
"'Never say Die' is a motto of mine and a lot of teams might have packed up.
"Funnily enough, I said before the game there'd be a time when we went 2-0 down and would have to battle back.
"But I know we can score in a split second, I just didn't reckon it would be so deep into stoppage time.
"It's a point but it feels like a win with the goals coming so late. It's a hard lesson for Nigel, they must have thought they were home and dry."
The Rams should have been lapping up a victory after dominating most of the match.
They had an early scare when keeper Stephen Bywater had to make a fine one-handed save from QPR's Adel Taarabt.
But they soon took over and Commons and centre-back Shaun Barker both went close.
And Commons did put the home side ahead in the 40th minute, guiding the ball in from four yards after Paul Green and Dean Moxey combined to create the chance.
Bailey then bagged his first Derby goal since arriving from Crewe just before the hour.
Taking a short pass from sub Tomasz Cywka, the midfielder expertly curled a 20-yard shot just inside a post.
At 2-0 up, the home side were content to sit on their lead. But they were stunned in the second minute of added time when Agyemang burst into the penalty area to clip an angled shot past Bywater.
Mackie then broke Derby hearts when he collected a long boot upfield by keeper Paddy Kenny, brushed off two weak challenges and fired a low cross-shot into the far corner.
Despite his team's unbeaten start to the season Warnock refused to talk up the League leaders' promotion chances.
He said: "Why we are up in the favourites, I haven't a clue.
"We're a sixth to 10th team at the moment and I need to bring in more players - hopefully a striker and a wide player before the end of the transfer window on Tuesday."
Clough's day was not altogether wrecked by the result after driving into the ground past the statue of his celebrated dad.
The Rams boss said: "It would have been nice to have unveiled the statue on a day we kept a clean sheet.
"The statue means a lot to both families. It was the supporters' idea and they pushed the project through - and I'm very grateful to them." News Of The World
MAIL - Derby County 2 v 2 QPR: Rams stunned by Rangers' injury-time double
Queens Park Rangers have enjoyed the East Midlands air in the past and it had a sweet taste again yesterday as they staged a dramatic late fightback to deny a determined Derby team.
A neat close range finish from Kris Commons and James Bailey's first senior goal for the club looked certain to condemn Rangers to their first defeat at Derby since February 1990.
But first Patrick Agyemang and then James Mackie pounced in stoppage time to preserve the Londoner's unbeaten start to the season.
They had not lost on their last six visits to the city so it was perhaps not surprising that they began confidently and came close to scoring in the 4th minute.
Former Spurs midfielder Adel Taarabt had tormented Nigel Clough's team at Pride Park last season and the Moroccan sliced the home defence open with ominous ease before forcing Stephen Bywater into a fine one handed save.
That proved to be misleading as Derby more than matched the Championship leaders and deserved to take the lead five minutes before half-time with a well worked goal.
Injuries to three strikers meant Clough pushed Commons up front and he was in the right place to turn in Dean Moxey's low cross from the left after an astutue pass from Paul Green.
Clough is tracking West Brom's Chris Wood's and former Real Madrid striker Alberto Bueno to bolster his attack so the sight of Commons being replaced in the 45th minute only highlighted the need for reinforcements.
But this latest setback did not knock Derby out of their stride and just before the hour, they doubled their advantage with another well worked goal.
This time it was Commons's replacement, Polish midfielder Tomasz Cywka, who created the opening with a surging run into the box before setting up Bailey who curled a low shot into the bottom left corner.
Neil Warnock responded with three substitutions in the space of nine minutes but Derby's defence showed no signs of cracking and it was the home side who looked more likely to score again.
Warnock was cutting an increasingly frustrated figure as he stood scowling on the edge of his technical area and the Derby fans had another reason to cheer when he was spoken to by referee Mark Haywood.
But Warnock had the last laugh as his side ambushed Derby to salvage an improbable draw.
First Agyemang showed his power by going past Shaun Barker to lift the ball over Bywater and in an astonishing finale, Derby almost scored again when Cywka was denied by Paddy Kenny.
The importance of that was underlined when Mackie took a long ball on the chest, span past two white shirts before sliding a low shot past Bywater's right hand to spark off wild celebrations from the Rangers fans behind the goal. Mail
REPOSTED BELOW: FROM YESTERDAY'S QPR REPORT
- QPR Stay top, after coming from 0-2 to score twice in injury time to draw 2-2 at Derby County. Agyemang and Mackie scoring
- Warnock Audio Comments/BBC
Sporting Life - WARNOCK PRAISES SPIRIT OF PLAYERS
QPR manager Neil Warnock paid tribute to the "Dunkirk spirit" of his players after they snatched a dramatic draw at Derby.
Rangers looked certain to suffer their first npower Championship defeat of the season when they trailed 2-0 to goals from Kris Commons and James Bailey.
But stoppage-time goals from Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie stunned the Pride Park faithful to earn the visitors an unlikely point which keeps them top of the table.
Warnock said: "I think a lot of teams might have packed up at that late stage.
"But I said to the players before the game that there are going to be times this season when we go two or three nil down.
"But I always think that we can get a result because I believe we are capable of scoring goals in a split second.
"I didn't realise it was going to be 90 plus minutes when we scored two goals but it just goes to show that you never give in.
"I thought we were poor in the first half but all credit to the players, we went positive with the substitutions and Paddy (Kenny) made a great save at 2-1 so it was a great team effort to scrap and get a result.
"It feels like a win when you score so late in the game. We have got seven or eight new players and it does take a while so how we can be among the favourites (for promotion) I haven't got a clue.
"I think we are a sixth to 10th team at the moment although results like this do help with morale. It helps build confidence.
"Last year, we had eight loan players so we didn't have what I call Dunkirk spirit that we showed today."
Derby manager Nigel Clough felt the result was harsh on his players, with the Rams without a win since the opening day of the season.
He said: "It's frustrating. We played so well for so long and then we got punished at the end but that's been the story of the last three league games.
"There have been three good performances but we've not quite got our reward for them. We always felt that if the first one goes in it changes the game.
"If you don't concede it doesn't give them the inspiration to throw everything forward and then anything can happen.
"I thought that we should have finished it off and made it 3-1 in stoppage time but at the moment, we can't finish games off and we can't quite hang on at the other end.
"They (the players) are going to have a few days in Spain so that will help them to get over this and it would have been nice to go into the break with three points.
"But I think that when we sit down and analyse it and put it into context the performance today without a striker on the pitch in the second half and the effort that has gone in was absolutely magnificent.
"We can't ask any more from the players so that's a good start and there was some good play and two very good goals so that gives us a lot of encouragement." Sporting Life
QPR Official Site - WARNOCK: 'DUNKIRK SPIRIT!'
Posted on: Sat 28 Aug 2010
R's gaffer Neil Warnock failed to hide his delight, as the R's fought back from two goals down to grab an unlikely share of the spoils against Derby.
Stoppage time goals from Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie ensured Rangers' unbeaten start to the season continued in dramatic fashion.
"All credit to the players - that was Dunkirk spirit in every sense of the word," he told www.qpr.co.uk.
"We were very positive with the substitutions and it had the impact I hoped it would.
"It was a great team effort at the end, even though we were nowhere near our best.
"It feels like a win when it comes so late in the game!"
Despite the last-gasp heroics, Warnock once again refused to get carried away, adding: "How we can be amongst the favorites to win the division with eight new players in the squad is beyond me.
"I think we're sixth to tenth position at the moment.
"Results like that will help the morale and the confidence within the group.
"We never had any of that spirit with all the loan players last year, but we have now and that's fantastic."
With just days remaining before the transfer window closes, Warnock is still confident he can add to his squad, commenting: "I still want to bring two players in to the Club.
"I've got four strikers and three wide players on my list and I'd like one of each.
"We just need a couple more to add to the options we've got." QPR
BBC - Warnock cools QPR's promotion expectations
Warnock is keen to bring in two players at QPR
QPR manager Neil Warnock played down suggestions his side are among the favourites for Championship promotion, after a nail-biting draw with Derby.
Warnock's men came back from 2-0 down with two dramatic stoppage-time goals to share the points and stay top.
"How we can be amongst the favourites to win the division with eight new players in the squad is beyond me," said Warnock.
"I think we're [likely to finish in] sixth to 10th position at the moment."
Kris Commons and James Bailey had put Derby ahead at Pride Park and they looked on course for victory until Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie struck in the 92nd and 95th minutes for the visitors.
"I think a lot of teams might have packed up at that late stage," added Warnock.
"But I said to the players before the game that there are going to be times this season when we go two or three-nil down.
"I always think that we can get a result because I believe we are capable of scoring goals in a split second.
We can't finish games off and we can't quite hang on at the other end
Derby boss Nigel Clough
"I didn't realise it was going to be 90-plus minutes when we scored two goals but it just goes to show that you never give in.
"I thought we were poor in the first half but all credit to the players, we went positive with the substitutions and Paddy [Kenny] made a great save at 2-1 so it was a great team effort to scrap and get a result.
"It feels like a win when you score so late in the game."
Warnock also revealed he will be attempting to reinforce his squad before the transfer deadline at 1800 BST on Tuesday.
"I still want to bring two players to the club," he said. "I've got four strikers and three wide players on my list and I'd like one of each.
606: DEBATE
What are your thoughts on the game?
"We just need a couple more to add to the options we've got."
Derby boss Nigel Clough believes his side need to learn how to close out games but tried to take the positives from their display.
"It's frustrating. We played so well for so long and then we got punished at the end but that's been the story of the last three league games," said Clough.
"There have been three good performances but we've not quite got our reward for them.
"I thought that we should have finished it off and made it 3-1 in stoppage time but, at the moment, we can't finish games off and we can't quite hang on at the other end.
"They [the players] are going to have a few days in Spain so that will help them to get over this
"It would have been nice to go into the break with three points but I think that when we sit down and analyse it and put it into context the performance and the effort that has gone in was absolutely magnificent." BBC
QPR Official Site
QPR snatched a point from the jaws of defeat, as two second-half stoppage time strikes from Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie earned the R's a dramatic share of the spoils at Pride Park.
On a rollercoaster afternoon for the Hoops, the Rams took the lead five minutes before half-time when Kris Commons expertly tucked away Paul Green's cutting centre from close range.
Rangers started the second half brightly, but they were further behind on 59 minutes when James Bailey put the hosts two goals to the good.
Tomasz Cywka found space down the left before squaring the ball back to James Bailey on the edge of the penalty area, who swept the ball home into the bottom right-hand corner.
However, such is the spirit in the R's camp at present, they bounced back with two injury-time strikes in the second half to clinch a point.
First, Agyemang stole through on goal to slot home from 10-yards out following Leon Clarke's flick-on.
And four minutes into stoppage time, the comeback was complete.
Mackie evaded two challenges before bursting into the area and smashing the ball low past Stephen Bywater to send the travelling R's masses into delirium.
Rangers remained unchanged in a 4-2-3-1 formation for the trip to hosts Derby.
Paddy Kenny was in goal for the R's, behind a back four of Bradley Orr, Matt Connolly, Kaspars Gorkss and Clint Hill.
Shaun Derry and Alejandro Faurlin were in defensive midfield, with Mackie, Adel Taarabt and Hogan Ephraim operating in more advanced positions.
Frontman Heidar Helguson led the Hoops attack.
In front a healthy and loud R's following in the East Midlands, QPR were straight out of the traps and only a splendid one-handed save from Stephen Bywater ensured the match remained without a goal.
Hill's clearance from deep was superbly controlled by Ephraim, who in turn touched the ball to Taarabt. The Moroccan magician danced past two players and into the area before unleashing a stinging low drive that was excellently beaten away from the target - but only as far as Mackie.
The R's attacker looked certain to net from the follow-up, only to see his shot blocked away on the goal-line for a corner kick.
Moments later, the Rams fashioned their first effort at goal. Commons picked up possession midway into the QPR half before running at the visitors' defence and drilling an effort just wide of Kenny's bottom left-hand post.
It was to be a lively opening 15 minutes to the fixture, with the pre-match hype surrounding the much-anticipated clash of Taarabt and Robbie Savage living up to its billing at Pride Park.
Taarabt was then soon involved again, firing a ridiculously ambitious free-kick just wide from all of 35 yards from the target.
The clash may have started at quite a pace, but a period of lull was soon to follow, as a midfield battle began to ensue in the driving late summer rain.
It was a battle that the Rams momentarily took control of as they raced into a 40th minute lead - the first goal that QPR have conceded this season.
Paul Green played the architect, doing well to slip past his marker down the left and cut the ball back into the area in the direction of Commons.
Unmarked at the back post, Commons remained as cool as a cucumber to dink the ball over the diving Kenny and into the back of the net.
Just before the interval Taarabt again tried an audacious free-kick effort from 35-yards out, but his shot sailed handsomely over the goal.
Mindful of being a goal down, QPR came out for the second period with a spell of neat, intricate football in the opening five minutes.
Indeed, super possession play between Gorkss, Hill and Taarabt set Ephraim free down the left before the R's wing wizard was brought down on the left-hand side of the box for a free-kick.
From the resultant set-piece, Taarabt's lovely, out-swinging corner needed only a touch to find the target before the ball was nodded behind for a corner.
However, though they made a positive start to the closing half, QPR found themselves two behind on 59 minutes.
Fantastic endeavour from substitute Cywka saw the striker beat his marker down the left-hand channel before he laid the ball back to James Bailey on the edge of the penalty area.
Bailey took a touch before executing a fantastic finish, curling the ball around Kenny and into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.
In an attempt to reduce the deficit, R's gaffer Neil Warnock made three changes in next ten minutes that were to follow, with Derry, Helguson and Taarabt making way for Akos Buzsaky, Agyemang and Clarke respectively.
The substitutions didn't have an immediate impact, but as stoppage time approached Rangers would defy the odds to snatch a remarkable point.
It was to be one of the substitutes who hauled QPR right back into the affair.
Following a long ball from deep, Clarke rose highest midway into the Rams half to nod the ball on for Agyemang.
The striker did brilliantly to beat his marker - and his finish was even better, tucking the ball away from an acute angle and past Bywater.
If anyone deserved a point for their individual display it was the hard-working Mackie, whose determination was ever-present even when the R's were dead and buried.
And he got his reward in some style in the fourth minute of added time.
Mackie picked up possession just outside the box, before muscling his way past two challenges and drilling the ball low past Bywater and into the bottom left-hand corner - cueing absolute carnage amongst the R's faithful in the visitors' end.
Derby County: Bywater, Brayford, Roberts, Green, Barker, Leacock, Savage, Commons (Cywka 45), Bailey, Moxey (Ball 90), Doyle (Martin 57).
Subs: Deeney, Buxton, Pringle, O'Brien.
Goals: Commons (40), Bailey (59)
Bookings: Moxey (33)
QPR: Kenny, Orr, Hill, Derry (Buzsaky 61), Taarabt (Clarke 70), Helguson (Agyemang 62), Faurlin, Mackie, Gorkss, Connolly, Ephraim.
Subs: Cerny, Leigertwood, Ramage, German.
Goals: Agyemang (90 +1), Mackie (90 +4)
Bookings: Hill (37)
Referee: Mr M Haywood
Attendance: 25, 874 (1655 - QPR
Telegraph - Derby County 2 Queens Park Rangers 2: match report
Read a full match report of the Championship game between Derby County and Queens Park Rangers at Pride Park on Saturday Aug 28 2010.
Queens Park Rangers struck twice in injury-time to rescue a dramatic 2-2 draw and preserve both their unbeaten record and top spot in the Championship.
Trailing to goals from Kris Commons and James Bailey, Neil Warnock's side looked beaten but substitute Patrick Agyemang scored what looked like a consolation goal in the second minute of added time.
Jamie Mackie then struck with virtually the last kick of the game to leave Derby deflated.
The Rams went into the game having lost their last three matches in all competitions since beating Leeds on the opening day of the campaign, while Rangers arrived at Pride Park with a 100% league record.
Adel Taarabt, who shone in this fixture last season, was denied by a fine save from Stephen Bywater following a mazy run early on.
Perhaps Derby had learned their lesson of almost 12 months ago as Nigel Clough used Robbie Savage to man-mark the Moroccan for long periods and that was as dangerous as he was all afternoon.
The Rams should have gone ahead after 13 minutes when Conor Doyle's cross was deflected into the path of Savage who laid the ball off to Shaun Barker, but the big defender shot into the side-netting.
Alejandro Faurlin threatened either side of the half-hour mark but failed to work Bywater on both occasions.
Paul Green and Dean Moxey linked up well to create the opening goal for Commons after 40 minutes. The Scotland international latched on to Moxey's pass from the left before casually lifting the ball over the advancing Paddy Kenny.
It was the first Championship goal that QPR had conceded this season.
Bailey put Derby 2-0 up just before the hour mark when he found the bottom corner with a shot from the edge of the area.
Clough's side looked comfortable but Agyemang, a 62nd-minute replacement for Heidar Helguson, beat Barker for pace before firing the ball beyond Bywater.
Kenny kept Rangers in the game with a fine parrying save to thwart Bailey before the visitors broke and, to the amazement of everyone inside Pride Park, levelled through Mackie's 18-yard shot in the six-minute of injury-time. Telegraph
DERBY COUNTY OFFICIAL SITE
Derby County surrended two goals in injury time as Championship leaders QPR held the Rams to a 2-2 draw at Pride Park.
Kris Commons' goal late in the first half put Derby on their way, and James Bailey looked to wrapped up the victory before the hour.
But Patrick Agyemang and then Jamie Mackie crashed home injury time goals to break Derby's hearts when a deserved win looked to be the outcome.
With Rob Hulse and Chris Porter still nursing injuries, Commons led the line up front as Nigel Clough named an unchanged side from last week's line-up at Coventry.
The only change was tactical, with Commons operating up top and Dean Moxey on the left of the attacking midfield three.
Youngsters Mark O'Brien and Callum Ball drafted into the matchday squad as substitutes as a result of Derby's injury problems.
Hulse and Porter joined Pearson, Addison, Davies and Anderson on the sidelines and Tomasz Cywka was deemed unfit to start after sustaining a fractured cheekbone a fortnight ago against Cardiff City.
In his pre-match press briefing this week Clough had stated that one of QPR's main strengths was the way their have made blistering starts to games this season.
Neil Warnock's side showed their danger within three minutes, with Bywater called into action to make a low stop to keep out the dangerous Adel Taarbat.
The loose ball fell to Jamie Mackie, but his goalwards effort was blocked by Roberts for a corner.
Commons was pivotal to Derby's best moves of the half, getting on the ball and keeping the Rs defence on their toes.
He tried his range on eight minutes with a long range effort, but Kenny saw the shot drift wide.
Shaun Barker almost registered his name on the scoresheet for the first time this season before the fifteen minute mark, but he dragged his left-foot shot into the side netting from Conor Doyle's corner.
Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested in the first period, but five minutes before the interval Derby got the breakthrough their persistence deserved.
Moxey and Green combined well down the left, and the former's low cross expertly guided into the back of the net by Commons from a few yards out.
The Scot shimmied to shoot, leaving Kenny grounded as he slotted the ball past the former Sheffield United goalkeeper for his second goal of the season.
It was the first goal Rangers had conceded in the Championship this season, with Derby showing their quality to create and finish the move in expert fashion.
Moments before the break Commons was withdrawn from the action as a precaution after feeling his hamstring tighten, and he was replaced by Cywka.
That move saw Moxey move up front, and Cywka - with the aid of his protective mask - slotted into the attacking midfield three.
Derby continued to frustrate their opponents early in the second period, who were given no time on the ball and little opportunity to get the influential Taarabt into the game.
Clough opted to make his second change of the game early in the half, bringing Dave Martin on for the hardworking Doyle who had run himself into the ground.
But it was the other substitute, Cywka, who stretched the visitors' defence for the Rams to double their lead a minute before the hour.
Cywka worked is way into the area with some neat footwork, and he picked out Bailey lurking unmarked on the edge of the box, and he curled a delightful effort from outside the area beyond Kenny for his first ever career goal.
Derby didn't rest on their laurels, and kept the high energy approach which had seen them deservedly get into the winning position their found themselves in.
Roberts, Cywka and Bailey all had the confidence to try their luck from range, but on each occasion they were thwarted by Kenny.
QPR rang the changes in hope of pulling back at least a goal, and their travelling support were rewarded with a late goal from Agyemang from close range but Derby had done more than enough to take the points.
Bailey had a golden chance to make it 3-1 in the closing seconds, but Kenny pulled off a fine save....and it was a miss Derby that would come back to haunt the Rams.
Straight down the other end Mackie let fly with a thunderous low drive which flew past Bywater to send the QPR players, staff and fans wild.
From nowhere, they had fought back to take a point.
It was heartbreaking stuff for Derby who left the field with their chins on the floor.
It may be hard right now, but there so many positives to take from the game.
Derby frustratingly have to wait two weeks now for their next game, at home to Sheffield United.
Attendance: 25,874 (1,655 QPR fans)
Collstream Man of the Match: James Bailey - Derby
1 QPR 4 9 10
2 Cardiff 4 7 10
3 Ipswich 4 5 10
4 Millwall 4 7 9
5 Burnley 4 3 7
6 Leeds United 4 2 7
7 Norwich 4 2 7
8 Coventry 4 1 7
9 Doncaster 4 0 7
10 Barnsley 4 -1 7
11 Scunthorpe 4 1 6
12 Swansea 4 1 6
13 Reading 4 0 5
14 Watford 4 0 5
15 Derby 4 -1 4
16 Middlesbrough 4 -3 4
17 Sheff Utd 4 -3 4
18 Hull 4 -4 4
19 Nott'm Forest 4 -1 3
20 Crystal Palace 4 -4 3
21 Preston 4 -6 3
22 Bristol City 4 -5 2
23 Leicester 4 -5 1
24 Portsmouth 4 -5 1 BBC
- News of The World - On This Day: QPR Lose Charity Shield Final Replay to Manchester United!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
QPR Stay Top! QPR's Comeback Draw at Derby: Compilation of Reports and Warnock Comments...Still Hopes for Additional Signings
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- Telegraph
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- For QPR and Football Updates throughout the day, visit the ever-growing (and hopefully always improving!) QPR Report Messageboard/quasi-blog. Either offer your own perspectives on any of the topics (QPR and football only). Or of course, feel free to simply read the various QPR and football-only discussions. -- The QPR Report Messageboard
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- QPR Stay top, after coming from 0-2 to score twice in injury time to draw 2-2 at Derby County. Agyemang and Mackie scoring
- Warnock Audio Comments/BBC
Sporting Life - WARNOCK PRAISES SPIRIT OF PLAYERS
QPR manager Neil Warnock paid tribute to the "Dunkirk spirit" of his players after they snatched a dramatic draw at Derby.
Rangers looked certain to suffer their first npower Championship defeat of the season when they trailed 2-0 to goals from Kris Commons and James Bailey.
But stoppage-time goals from Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie stunned the Pride Park faithful to earn the visitors an unlikely point which keeps them top of the table.
Warnock said: "I think a lot of teams might have packed up at that late stage.
"But I said to the players before the game that there are going to be times this season when we go two or three nil down.
"But I always think that we can get a result because I believe we are capable of scoring goals in a split second.
"I didn't realise it was going to be 90 plus minutes when we scored two goals but it just goes to show that you never give in.
"I thought we were poor in the first half but all credit to the players, we went positive with the substitutions and Paddy (Kenny) made a great save at 2-1 so it was a great team effort to scrap and get a result.
"It feels like a win when you score so late in the game. We have got seven or eight new players and it does take a while so how we can be among the favourites (for promotion) I haven't got a clue.
"I think we are a sixth to 10th team at the moment although results like this do help with morale. It helps build confidence.
"Last year, we had eight loan players so we didn't have what I call Dunkirk spirit that we showed today."
Derby manager Nigel Clough felt the result was harsh on his players, with the Rams without a win since the opening day of the season.
He said: "It's frustrating. We played so well for so long and then we got punished at the end but that's been the story of the last three league games.
"There have been three good performances but we've not quite got our reward for them. We always felt that if the first one goes in it changes the game.
"If you don't concede it doesn't give them the inspiration to throw everything forward and then anything can happen.
"I thought that we should have finished it off and made it 3-1 in stoppage time but at the moment, we can't finish games off and we can't quite hang on at the other end.
"They (the players) are going to have a few days in Spain so that will help them to get over this and it would have been nice to go into the break with three points.
"But I think that when we sit down and analyse it and put it into context the performance today without a striker on the pitch in the second half and the effort that has gone in was absolutely magnificent.
"We can't ask any more from the players so that's a good start and there was some good play and two very good goals so that gives us a lot of encouragement." Sporting Life
QPR Official Site - WARNOCK: 'DUNKIRK SPIRIT!'
Posted on: Sat 28 Aug 2010
R's gaffer Neil Warnock failed to hide his delight, as the R's fought back from two goals down to grab an unlikely share of the spoils against Derby.
Stoppage time goals from Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie ensured Rangers' unbeaten start to the season continued in dramatic fashion.
"All credit to the players - that was Dunkirk spirit in every sense of the word," he told www.qpr.co.uk.
"We were very positive with the substitutions and it had the impact I hoped it would.
"It was a great team effort at the end, even though we were nowhere near our best.
"It feels like a win when it comes so late in the game!"
Despite the last-gasp heroics, Warnock once again refused to get carried away, adding: "How we can be amongst the favorites to win the division with eight new players in the squad is beyond me.
"I think we're sixth to tenth position at the moment.
"Results like that will help the morale and the confidence within the group.
"We never had any of that spirit with all the loan players last year, but we have now and that's fantastic."
With just days remaining before the transfer window closes, Warnock is still confident he can add to his squad, commenting: "I still want to bring two players in to the Club.
"I've got four strikers and three wide players on my list and I'd like one of each.
"We just need a couple more to add to the options we've got." QPR
BBC - Warnock cools QPR's promotion expectations
Warnock is keen to bring in two players at QPR
QPR manager Neil Warnock played down suggestions his side are among the favourites for Championship promotion, after a nail-biting draw with Derby.
Warnock's men came back from 2-0 down with two dramatic stoppage-time goals to share the points and stay top.
"How we can be amongst the favourites to win the division with eight new players in the squad is beyond me," said Warnock.
"I think we're [likely to finish in] sixth to 10th position at the moment."
Kris Commons and James Bailey had put Derby ahead at Pride Park and they looked on course for victory until Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie struck in the 92nd and 95th minutes for the visitors.
"I think a lot of teams might have packed up at that late stage," added Warnock.
"But I said to the players before the game that there are going to be times this season when we go two or three-nil down.
"I always think that we can get a result because I believe we are capable of scoring goals in a split second.
We can't finish games off and we can't quite hang on at the other end
Derby boss Nigel Clough
"I didn't realise it was going to be 90-plus minutes when we scored two goals but it just goes to show that you never give in.
"I thought we were poor in the first half but all credit to the players, we went positive with the substitutions and Paddy [Kenny] made a great save at 2-1 so it was a great team effort to scrap and get a result.
"It feels like a win when you score so late in the game."
Warnock also revealed he will be attempting to reinforce his squad before the transfer deadline at 1800 BST on Tuesday.
"I still want to bring two players to the club," he said. "I've got four strikers and three wide players on my list and I'd like one of each.
606: DEBATE
What are your thoughts on the game?
"We just need a couple more to add to the options we've got."
Derby boss Nigel Clough believes his side need to learn how to close out games but tried to take the positives from their display.
"It's frustrating. We played so well for so long and then we got punished at the end but that's been the story of the last three league games," said Clough.
"There have been three good performances but we've not quite got our reward for them.
"I thought that we should have finished it off and made it 3-1 in stoppage time but, at the moment, we can't finish games off and we can't quite hang on at the other end.
"They [the players] are going to have a few days in Spain so that will help them to get over this
"It would have been nice to go into the break with three points but I think that when we sit down and analyse it and put it into context the performance and the effort that has gone in was absolutely magnificent." BBC
QPR Official Site
QPR snatched a point from the jaws of defeat, as two second-half stoppage time strikes from Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie earned the R's a dramatic share of the spoils at Pride Park.
On a rollercoaster afternoon for the Hoops, the Rams took the lead five minutes before half-time when Kris Commons expertly tucked away Paul Green's cutting centre from close range.
Rangers started the second half brightly, but they were further behind on 59 minutes when James Bailey put the hosts two goals to the good.
Tomasz Cywka found space down the left before squaring the ball back to James Bailey on the edge of the penalty area, who swept the ball home into the bottom right-hand corner.
However, such is the spirit in the R's camp at present, they bounced back with two injury-time strikes in the second half to clinch a point.
First, Agyemang stole through on goal to slot home from 10-yards out following Leon Clarke's flick-on.
And four minutes into stoppage time, the comeback was complete.
Mackie evaded two challenges before bursting into the area and smashing the ball low past Stephen Bywater to send the travelling R's masses into delirium.
Rangers remained unchanged in a 4-2-3-1 formation for the trip to hosts Derby.
Paddy Kenny was in goal for the R's, behind a back four of Bradley Orr, Matt Connolly, Kaspars Gorkss and Clint Hill.
Shaun Derry and Alejandro Faurlin were in defensive midfield, with Mackie, Adel Taarabt and Hogan Ephraim operating in more advanced positions.
Frontman Heidar Helguson led the Hoops attack.
In front a healthy and loud R's following in the East Midlands, QPR were straight out of the traps and only a splendid one-handed save from Stephen Bywater ensured the match remained without a goal.
Hill's clearance from deep was superbly controlled by Ephraim, who in turn touched the ball to Taarabt. The Moroccan magician danced past two players and into the area before unleashing a stinging low drive that was excellently beaten away from the target - but only as far as Mackie.
The R's attacker looked certain to net from the follow-up, only to see his shot blocked away on the goal-line for a corner kick.
Moments later, the Rams fashioned their first effort at goal. Commons picked up possession midway into the QPR half before running at the visitors' defence and drilling an effort just wide of Kenny's bottom left-hand post.
It was to be a lively opening 15 minutes to the fixture, with the pre-match hype surrounding the much-anticipated clash of Taarabt and Robbie Savage living up to its billing at Pride Park.
Taarabt was then soon involved again, firing a ridiculously ambitious free-kick just wide from all of 35 yards from the target.
The clash may have started at quite a pace, but a period of lull was soon to follow, as a midfield battle began to ensue in the driving late summer rain.
It was a battle that the Rams momentarily took control of as they raced into a 40th minute lead - the first goal that QPR have conceded this season.
Paul Green played the architect, doing well to slip past his marker down the left and cut the ball back into the area in the direction of Commons.
Unmarked at the back post, Commons remained as cool as a cucumber to dink the ball over the diving Kenny and into the back of the net.
Just before the interval Taarabt again tried an audacious free-kick effort from 35-yards out, but his shot sailed handsomely over the goal.
Mindful of being a goal down, QPR came out for the second period with a spell of neat, intricate football in the opening five minutes.
Indeed, super possession play between Gorkss, Hill and Taarabt set Ephraim free down the left before the R's wing wizard was brought down on the left-hand side of the box for a free-kick.
From the resultant set-piece, Taarabt's lovely, out-swinging corner needed only a touch to find the target before the ball was nodded behind for a corner.
However, though they made a positive start to the closing half, QPR found themselves two behind on 59 minutes.
Fantastic endeavour from substitute Cywka saw the striker beat his marker down the left-hand channel before he laid the ball back to James Bailey on the edge of the penalty area.
Bailey took a touch before executing a fantastic finish, curling the ball around Kenny and into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.
In an attempt to reduce the deficit, R's gaffer Neil Warnock made three changes in next ten minutes that were to follow, with Derry, Helguson and Taarabt making way for Akos Buzsaky, Agyemang and Clarke respectively.
The substitutions didn't have an immediate impact, but as stoppage time approached Rangers would defy the odds to snatch a remarkable point.
It was to be one of the substitutes who hauled QPR right back into the affair.
Following a long ball from deep, Clarke rose highest midway into the Rams half to nod the ball on for Agyemang.
The striker did brilliantly to beat his marker - and his finish was even better, tucking the ball away from an acute angle and past Bywater.
If anyone deserved a point for their individual display it was the hard-working Mackie, whose determination was ever-present even when the R's were dead and buried.
And he got his reward in some style in the fourth minute of added time.
Mackie picked up possession just outside the box, before muscling his way past two challenges and drilling the ball low past Bywater and into the bottom left-hand corner - cueing absolute carnage amongst the R's faithful in the visitors' end.
Derby County: Bywater, Brayford, Roberts, Green, Barker, Leacock, Savage, Commons (Cywka 45), Bailey, Moxey (Ball 90), Doyle (Martin 57).
Subs: Deeney, Buxton, Pringle, O'Brien.
Goals: Commons (40), Bailey (59)
Bookings: Moxey (33)
QPR: Kenny, Orr, Hill, Derry (Buzsaky 61), Taarabt (Clarke 70), Helguson (Agyemang 62), Faurlin, Mackie, Gorkss, Connolly, Ephraim.
Subs: Cerny, Leigertwood, Ramage, German.
Goals: Agyemang (90 +1), Mackie (90 +4)
Bookings: Hill (37)
Referee: Mr M Haywood
Attendance: 25, 874 (1655 - QPR
Telegraph - Derby County 2 Queens Park Rangers 2: match report
Read a full match report of the Championship game between Derby County and Queens Park Rangers at Pride Park on Saturday Aug 28 2010.
Queens Park Rangers struck twice in injury-time to rescue a dramatic 2-2 draw and preserve both their unbeaten record and top spot in the Championship.
Trailing to goals from Kris Commons and James Bailey, Neil Warnock's side looked beaten but substitute Patrick Agyemang scored what looked like a consolation goal in the second minute of added time.
Jamie Mackie then struck with virtually the last kick of the game to leave Derby deflated.
The Rams went into the game having lost their last three matches in all competitions since beating Leeds on the opening day of the campaign, while Rangers arrived at Pride Park with a 100% league record.
Adel Taarabt, who shone in this fixture last season, was denied by a fine save from Stephen Bywater following a mazy run early on.
Perhaps Derby had learned their lesson of almost 12 months ago as Nigel Clough used Robbie Savage to man-mark the Moroccan for long periods and that was as dangerous as he was all afternoon.
The Rams should have gone ahead after 13 minutes when Conor Doyle's cross was deflected into the path of Savage who laid the ball off to Shaun Barker, but the big defender shot into the side-netting.
Alejandro Faurlin threatened either side of the half-hour mark but failed to work Bywater on both occasions.
Paul Green and Dean Moxey linked up well to create the opening goal for Commons after 40 minutes. The Scotland international latched on to Moxey's pass from the left before casually lifting the ball over the advancing Paddy Kenny.
It was the first Championship goal that QPR had conceded this season.
Bailey put Derby 2-0 up just before the hour mark when he found the bottom corner with a shot from the edge of the area.
Clough's side looked comfortable but Agyemang, a 62nd-minute replacement for Heidar Helguson, beat Barker for pace before firing the ball beyond Bywater.
Kenny kept Rangers in the game with a fine parrying save to thwart Bailey before the visitors broke and, to the amazement of everyone inside Pride Park, levelled through Mackie's 18-yard shot in the six-minute of injury-time. Telegraph
DERBY COUNTY OFFICIAL SITE
Derby County surrended two goals in injury time as Championship leaders QPR held the Rams to a 2-2 draw at Pride Park.
Kris Commons' goal late in the first half put Derby on their way, and James Bailey looked to wrapped up the victory before the hour.
But Patrick Agyemang and then Jamie Mackie crashed home injury time goals to break Derby's hearts when a deserved win looked to be the outcome.
With Rob Hulse and Chris Porter still nursing injuries, Commons led the line up front as Nigel Clough named an unchanged side from last week's line-up at Coventry.
The only change was tactical, with Commons operating up top and Dean Moxey on the left of the attacking midfield three.
Youngsters Mark O'Brien and Callum Ball drafted into the matchday squad as substitutes as a result of Derby's injury problems.
Hulse and Porter joined Pearson, Addison, Davies and Anderson on the sidelines and Tomasz Cywka was deemed unfit to start after sustaining a fractured cheekbone a fortnight ago against Cardiff City.
In his pre-match press briefing this week Clough had stated that one of QPR's main strengths was the way their have made blistering starts to games this season.
Neil Warnock's side showed their danger within three minutes, with Bywater called into action to make a low stop to keep out the dangerous Adel Taarbat.
The loose ball fell to Jamie Mackie, but his goalwards effort was blocked by Roberts for a corner.
Commons was pivotal to Derby's best moves of the half, getting on the ball and keeping the Rs defence on their toes.
He tried his range on eight minutes with a long range effort, but Kenny saw the shot drift wide.
Shaun Barker almost registered his name on the scoresheet for the first time this season before the fifteen minute mark, but he dragged his left-foot shot into the side netting from Conor Doyle's corner.
Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested in the first period, but five minutes before the interval Derby got the breakthrough their persistence deserved.
Moxey and Green combined well down the left, and the former's low cross expertly guided into the back of the net by Commons from a few yards out.
The Scot shimmied to shoot, leaving Kenny grounded as he slotted the ball past the former Sheffield United goalkeeper for his second goal of the season.
It was the first goal Rangers had conceded in the Championship this season, with Derby showing their quality to create and finish the move in expert fashion.
Moments before the break Commons was withdrawn from the action as a precaution after feeling his hamstring tighten, and he was replaced by Cywka.
That move saw Moxey move up front, and Cywka - with the aid of his protective mask - slotted into the attacking midfield three.
Derby continued to frustrate their opponents early in the second period, who were given no time on the ball and little opportunity to get the influential Taarabt into the game.
Clough opted to make his second change of the game early in the half, bringing Dave Martin on for the hardworking Doyle who had run himself into the ground.
But it was the other substitute, Cywka, who stretched the visitors' defence for the Rams to double their lead a minute before the hour.
Cywka worked is way into the area with some neat footwork, and he picked out Bailey lurking unmarked on the edge of the box, and he curled a delightful effort from outside the area beyond Kenny for his first ever career goal.
Derby didn't rest on their laurels, and kept the high energy approach which had seen them deservedly get into the winning position their found themselves in.
Roberts, Cywka and Bailey all had the confidence to try their luck from range, but on each occasion they were thwarted by Kenny.
QPR rang the changes in hope of pulling back at least a goal, and their travelling support were rewarded with a late goal from Agyemang from close range but Derby had done more than enough to take the points.
Bailey had a golden chance to make it 3-1 in the closing seconds, but Kenny pulled off a fine save....and it was a miss Derby that would come back to haunt the Rams.
Straight down the other end Mackie let fly with a thunderous low drive which flew past Bywater to send the QPR players, staff and fans wild.
From nowhere, they had fought back to take a point.
It was heartbreaking stuff for Derby who left the field with their chins on the floor.
It may be hard right now, but there so many positives to take from the game.
Derby frustratingly have to wait two weeks now for their next game, at home to Sheffield United.
Attendance: 25,874 (1,655 QPR fans)
Collstream Man of the Match: James Bailey - Derby
1 QPR 4 9 10
2 Cardiff 4 7 10
3 Ipswich 4 5 10
4 Millwall 4 7 9
5 Burnley 4 3 7
6 Leeds United 4 2 7
7 Norwich 4 2 7
8 Coventry 4 1 7
9 Doncaster 4 0 7
10 Barnsley 4 -1 7
11 Scunthorpe 4 1 6
12 Swansea 4 1 6
13 Reading 4 0 5
14 Watford 4 0 5
15 Derby 4 -1 4
16 Middlesbrough 4 -3 4
17 Sheff Utd 4 -3 4
18 Hull 4 -4 4
19 Nott'm Forest 4 -1 3
20 Crystal Palace 4 -4 3
21 Preston 4 -6 3
22 Bristol City 4 -5 2
23 Leicester 4 -5 1
24 Portsmouth 4 -5 1 BBC
- On This Day QPR Games
- Two Year Flashback: QPR and Frazier Campbell and Ledesma
- Birthdays Today: Ray Jones (RIP) and Jamie Cureton
- Reminder I: QPR Masters Play in National Masters Championships, September 5
- Reminder II: Ex-QPR Mark Lazarus Interviewed on JNet Radio, September 6
- Blaming the Kit Colours for Defeats
- England Seeking to Get Spaniard to Play for England
- Allesandro Pellicori Returning to Italy (on Loan)
- Flashback: Pellicori Joins QPR
- Flashback VIDEO: Gordon Jago's QPR of Bowles, Thomas Givens and Franci guarantee Promotion with win at Millwall
- Portsmouth Programme Idea: Reproduce Old Programmes
- Video: QPR's 1975/76 Championship Battle at Home to Derby County (Sadly NOT the 5-1 away win at Derby County that same season)
-
- Telegraph-
- For QPR and Football Updates throughout the day, visit the ever-growing (and hopefully always improving!) QPR Report Messageboard/quasi-blog. Either offer your own perspectives on any of the topics (QPR and football only). Or of course, feel free to simply read the various QPR and football-only discussions. -- The QPR Report Messageboard
_____________________________________________________________________________________
- QPR Stay top, after coming from 0-2 to score twice in injury time to draw 2-2 at Derby County. Agyemang and Mackie scoring
- Warnock Audio Comments/BBC
Sporting Life - WARNOCK PRAISES SPIRIT OF PLAYERS
QPR manager Neil Warnock paid tribute to the "Dunkirk spirit" of his players after they snatched a dramatic draw at Derby.
Rangers looked certain to suffer their first npower Championship defeat of the season when they trailed 2-0 to goals from Kris Commons and James Bailey.
But stoppage-time goals from Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie stunned the Pride Park faithful to earn the visitors an unlikely point which keeps them top of the table.
Warnock said: "I think a lot of teams might have packed up at that late stage.
"But I said to the players before the game that there are going to be times this season when we go two or three nil down.
"But I always think that we can get a result because I believe we are capable of scoring goals in a split second.
"I didn't realise it was going to be 90 plus minutes when we scored two goals but it just goes to show that you never give in.
"I thought we were poor in the first half but all credit to the players, we went positive with the substitutions and Paddy (Kenny) made a great save at 2-1 so it was a great team effort to scrap and get a result.
"It feels like a win when you score so late in the game. We have got seven or eight new players and it does take a while so how we can be among the favourites (for promotion) I haven't got a clue.
"I think we are a sixth to 10th team at the moment although results like this do help with morale. It helps build confidence.
"Last year, we had eight loan players so we didn't have what I call Dunkirk spirit that we showed today."
Derby manager Nigel Clough felt the result was harsh on his players, with the Rams without a win since the opening day of the season.
He said: "It's frustrating. We played so well for so long and then we got punished at the end but that's been the story of the last three league games.
"There have been three good performances but we've not quite got our reward for them. We always felt that if the first one goes in it changes the game.
"If you don't concede it doesn't give them the inspiration to throw everything forward and then anything can happen.
"I thought that we should have finished it off and made it 3-1 in stoppage time but at the moment, we can't finish games off and we can't quite hang on at the other end.
"They (the players) are going to have a few days in Spain so that will help them to get over this and it would have been nice to go into the break with three points.
"But I think that when we sit down and analyse it and put it into context the performance today without a striker on the pitch in the second half and the effort that has gone in was absolutely magnificent.
"We can't ask any more from the players so that's a good start and there was some good play and two very good goals so that gives us a lot of encouragement." Sporting Life
QPR Official Site - WARNOCK: 'DUNKIRK SPIRIT!'
Posted on: Sat 28 Aug 2010
R's gaffer Neil Warnock failed to hide his delight, as the R's fought back from two goals down to grab an unlikely share of the spoils against Derby.
Stoppage time goals from Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie ensured Rangers' unbeaten start to the season continued in dramatic fashion.
"All credit to the players - that was Dunkirk spirit in every sense of the word," he told www.qpr.co.uk.
"We were very positive with the substitutions and it had the impact I hoped it would.
"It was a great team effort at the end, even though we were nowhere near our best.
"It feels like a win when it comes so late in the game!"
Despite the last-gasp heroics, Warnock once again refused to get carried away, adding: "How we can be amongst the favorites to win the division with eight new players in the squad is beyond me.
"I think we're sixth to tenth position at the moment.
"Results like that will help the morale and the confidence within the group.
"We never had any of that spirit with all the loan players last year, but we have now and that's fantastic."
With just days remaining before the transfer window closes, Warnock is still confident he can add to his squad, commenting: "I still want to bring two players in to the Club.
"I've got four strikers and three wide players on my list and I'd like one of each.
"We just need a couple more to add to the options we've got." QPR
BBC - Warnock cools QPR's promotion expectations
Warnock is keen to bring in two players at QPR
QPR manager Neil Warnock played down suggestions his side are among the favourites for Championship promotion, after a nail-biting draw with Derby.
Warnock's men came back from 2-0 down with two dramatic stoppage-time goals to share the points and stay top.
"How we can be amongst the favourites to win the division with eight new players in the squad is beyond me," said Warnock.
"I think we're [likely to finish in] sixth to 10th position at the moment."
Kris Commons and James Bailey had put Derby ahead at Pride Park and they looked on course for victory until Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie struck in the 92nd and 95th minutes for the visitors.
"I think a lot of teams might have packed up at that late stage," added Warnock.
"But I said to the players before the game that there are going to be times this season when we go two or three-nil down.
"I always think that we can get a result because I believe we are capable of scoring goals in a split second.
We can't finish games off and we can't quite hang on at the other end
Derby boss Nigel Clough
"I didn't realise it was going to be 90-plus minutes when we scored two goals but it just goes to show that you never give in.
"I thought we were poor in the first half but all credit to the players, we went positive with the substitutions and Paddy [Kenny] made a great save at 2-1 so it was a great team effort to scrap and get a result.
"It feels like a win when you score so late in the game."
Warnock also revealed he will be attempting to reinforce his squad before the transfer deadline at 1800 BST on Tuesday.
"I still want to bring two players to the club," he said. "I've got four strikers and three wide players on my list and I'd like one of each.
606: DEBATE
What are your thoughts on the game?
"We just need a couple more to add to the options we've got."
Derby boss Nigel Clough believes his side need to learn how to close out games but tried to take the positives from their display.
"It's frustrating. We played so well for so long and then we got punished at the end but that's been the story of the last three league games," said Clough.
"There have been three good performances but we've not quite got our reward for them.
"I thought that we should have finished it off and made it 3-1 in stoppage time but, at the moment, we can't finish games off and we can't quite hang on at the other end.
"They [the players] are going to have a few days in Spain so that will help them to get over this
"It would have been nice to go into the break with three points but I think that when we sit down and analyse it and put it into context the performance and the effort that has gone in was absolutely magnificent." BBC
QPR Official Site
QPR snatched a point from the jaws of defeat, as two second-half stoppage time strikes from Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie earned the R's a dramatic share of the spoils at Pride Park.
On a rollercoaster afternoon for the Hoops, the Rams took the lead five minutes before half-time when Kris Commons expertly tucked away Paul Green's cutting centre from close range.
Rangers started the second half brightly, but they were further behind on 59 minutes when James Bailey put the hosts two goals to the good.
Tomasz Cywka found space down the left before squaring the ball back to James Bailey on the edge of the penalty area, who swept the ball home into the bottom right-hand corner.
However, such is the spirit in the R's camp at present, they bounced back with two injury-time strikes in the second half to clinch a point.
First, Agyemang stole through on goal to slot home from 10-yards out following Leon Clarke's flick-on.
And four minutes into stoppage time, the comeback was complete.
Mackie evaded two challenges before bursting into the area and smashing the ball low past Stephen Bywater to send the travelling R's masses into delirium.
Rangers remained unchanged in a 4-2-3-1 formation for the trip to hosts Derby.
Paddy Kenny was in goal for the R's, behind a back four of Bradley Orr, Matt Connolly, Kaspars Gorkss and Clint Hill.
Shaun Derry and Alejandro Faurlin were in defensive midfield, with Mackie, Adel Taarabt and Hogan Ephraim operating in more advanced positions.
Frontman Heidar Helguson led the Hoops attack.
In front a healthy and loud R's following in the East Midlands, QPR were straight out of the traps and only a splendid one-handed save from Stephen Bywater ensured the match remained without a goal.
Hill's clearance from deep was superbly controlled by Ephraim, who in turn touched the ball to Taarabt. The Moroccan magician danced past two players and into the area before unleashing a stinging low drive that was excellently beaten away from the target - but only as far as Mackie.
The R's attacker looked certain to net from the follow-up, only to see his shot blocked away on the goal-line for a corner kick.
Moments later, the Rams fashioned their first effort at goal. Commons picked up possession midway into the QPR half before running at the visitors' defence and drilling an effort just wide of Kenny's bottom left-hand post.
It was to be a lively opening 15 minutes to the fixture, with the pre-match hype surrounding the much-anticipated clash of Taarabt and Robbie Savage living up to its billing at Pride Park.
Taarabt was then soon involved again, firing a ridiculously ambitious free-kick just wide from all of 35 yards from the target.
The clash may have started at quite a pace, but a period of lull was soon to follow, as a midfield battle began to ensue in the driving late summer rain.
It was a battle that the Rams momentarily took control of as they raced into a 40th minute lead - the first goal that QPR have conceded this season.
Paul Green played the architect, doing well to slip past his marker down the left and cut the ball back into the area in the direction of Commons.
Unmarked at the back post, Commons remained as cool as a cucumber to dink the ball over the diving Kenny and into the back of the net.
Just before the interval Taarabt again tried an audacious free-kick effort from 35-yards out, but his shot sailed handsomely over the goal.
Mindful of being a goal down, QPR came out for the second period with a spell of neat, intricate football in the opening five minutes.
Indeed, super possession play between Gorkss, Hill and Taarabt set Ephraim free down the left before the R's wing wizard was brought down on the left-hand side of the box for a free-kick.
From the resultant set-piece, Taarabt's lovely, out-swinging corner needed only a touch to find the target before the ball was nodded behind for a corner.
However, though they made a positive start to the closing half, QPR found themselves two behind on 59 minutes.
Fantastic endeavour from substitute Cywka saw the striker beat his marker down the left-hand channel before he laid the ball back to James Bailey on the edge of the penalty area.
Bailey took a touch before executing a fantastic finish, curling the ball around Kenny and into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.
In an attempt to reduce the deficit, R's gaffer Neil Warnock made three changes in next ten minutes that were to follow, with Derry, Helguson and Taarabt making way for Akos Buzsaky, Agyemang and Clarke respectively.
The substitutions didn't have an immediate impact, but as stoppage time approached Rangers would defy the odds to snatch a remarkable point.
It was to be one of the substitutes who hauled QPR right back into the affair.
Following a long ball from deep, Clarke rose highest midway into the Rams half to nod the ball on for Agyemang.
The striker did brilliantly to beat his marker - and his finish was even better, tucking the ball away from an acute angle and past Bywater.
If anyone deserved a point for their individual display it was the hard-working Mackie, whose determination was ever-present even when the R's were dead and buried.
And he got his reward in some style in the fourth minute of added time.
Mackie picked up possession just outside the box, before muscling his way past two challenges and drilling the ball low past Bywater and into the bottom left-hand corner - cueing absolute carnage amongst the R's faithful in the visitors' end.
Derby County: Bywater, Brayford, Roberts, Green, Barker, Leacock, Savage, Commons (Cywka 45), Bailey, Moxey (Ball 90), Doyle (Martin 57).
Subs: Deeney, Buxton, Pringle, O'Brien.
Goals: Commons (40), Bailey (59)
Bookings: Moxey (33)
QPR: Kenny, Orr, Hill, Derry (Buzsaky 61), Taarabt (Clarke 70), Helguson (Agyemang 62), Faurlin, Mackie, Gorkss, Connolly, Ephraim.
Subs: Cerny, Leigertwood, Ramage, German.
Goals: Agyemang (90 +1), Mackie (90 +4)
Bookings: Hill (37)
Referee: Mr M Haywood
Attendance: 25, 874 (1655 - QPR
Telegraph - Derby County 2 Queens Park Rangers 2: match report
Read a full match report of the Championship game between Derby County and Queens Park Rangers at Pride Park on Saturday Aug 28 2010.
Queens Park Rangers struck twice in injury-time to rescue a dramatic 2-2 draw and preserve both their unbeaten record and top spot in the Championship.
Trailing to goals from Kris Commons and James Bailey, Neil Warnock's side looked beaten but substitute Patrick Agyemang scored what looked like a consolation goal in the second minute of added time.
Jamie Mackie then struck with virtually the last kick of the game to leave Derby deflated.
The Rams went into the game having lost their last three matches in all competitions since beating Leeds on the opening day of the campaign, while Rangers arrived at Pride Park with a 100% league record.
Adel Taarabt, who shone in this fixture last season, was denied by a fine save from Stephen Bywater following a mazy run early on.
Perhaps Derby had learned their lesson of almost 12 months ago as Nigel Clough used Robbie Savage to man-mark the Moroccan for long periods and that was as dangerous as he was all afternoon.
The Rams should have gone ahead after 13 minutes when Conor Doyle's cross was deflected into the path of Savage who laid the ball off to Shaun Barker, but the big defender shot into the side-netting.
Alejandro Faurlin threatened either side of the half-hour mark but failed to work Bywater on both occasions.
Paul Green and Dean Moxey linked up well to create the opening goal for Commons after 40 minutes. The Scotland international latched on to Moxey's pass from the left before casually lifting the ball over the advancing Paddy Kenny.
It was the first Championship goal that QPR had conceded this season.
Bailey put Derby 2-0 up just before the hour mark when he found the bottom corner with a shot from the edge of the area.
Clough's side looked comfortable but Agyemang, a 62nd-minute replacement for Heidar Helguson, beat Barker for pace before firing the ball beyond Bywater.
Kenny kept Rangers in the game with a fine parrying save to thwart Bailey before the visitors broke and, to the amazement of everyone inside Pride Park, levelled through Mackie's 18-yard shot in the six-minute of injury-time. Telegraph
DERBY COUNTY OFFICIAL SITE
Derby County surrended two goals in injury time as Championship leaders QPR held the Rams to a 2-2 draw at Pride Park.
Kris Commons' goal late in the first half put Derby on their way, and James Bailey looked to wrapped up the victory before the hour.
But Patrick Agyemang and then Jamie Mackie crashed home injury time goals to break Derby's hearts when a deserved win looked to be the outcome.
With Rob Hulse and Chris Porter still nursing injuries, Commons led the line up front as Nigel Clough named an unchanged side from last week's line-up at Coventry.
The only change was tactical, with Commons operating up top and Dean Moxey on the left of the attacking midfield three.
Youngsters Mark O'Brien and Callum Ball drafted into the matchday squad as substitutes as a result of Derby's injury problems.
Hulse and Porter joined Pearson, Addison, Davies and Anderson on the sidelines and Tomasz Cywka was deemed unfit to start after sustaining a fractured cheekbone a fortnight ago against Cardiff City.
In his pre-match press briefing this week Clough had stated that one of QPR's main strengths was the way their have made blistering starts to games this season.
Neil Warnock's side showed their danger within three minutes, with Bywater called into action to make a low stop to keep out the dangerous Adel Taarbat.
The loose ball fell to Jamie Mackie, but his goalwards effort was blocked by Roberts for a corner.
Commons was pivotal to Derby's best moves of the half, getting on the ball and keeping the Rs defence on their toes.
He tried his range on eight minutes with a long range effort, but Kenny saw the shot drift wide.
Shaun Barker almost registered his name on the scoresheet for the first time this season before the fifteen minute mark, but he dragged his left-foot shot into the side netting from Conor Doyle's corner.
Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested in the first period, but five minutes before the interval Derby got the breakthrough their persistence deserved.
Moxey and Green combined well down the left, and the former's low cross expertly guided into the back of the net by Commons from a few yards out.
The Scot shimmied to shoot, leaving Kenny grounded as he slotted the ball past the former Sheffield United goalkeeper for his second goal of the season.
It was the first goal Rangers had conceded in the Championship this season, with Derby showing their quality to create and finish the move in expert fashion.
Moments before the break Commons was withdrawn from the action as a precaution after feeling his hamstring tighten, and he was replaced by Cywka.
That move saw Moxey move up front, and Cywka - with the aid of his protective mask - slotted into the attacking midfield three.
Derby continued to frustrate their opponents early in the second period, who were given no time on the ball and little opportunity to get the influential Taarabt into the game.
Clough opted to make his second change of the game early in the half, bringing Dave Martin on for the hardworking Doyle who had run himself into the ground.
But it was the other substitute, Cywka, who stretched the visitors' defence for the Rams to double their lead a minute before the hour.
Cywka worked is way into the area with some neat footwork, and he picked out Bailey lurking unmarked on the edge of the box, and he curled a delightful effort from outside the area beyond Kenny for his first ever career goal.
Derby didn't rest on their laurels, and kept the high energy approach which had seen them deservedly get into the winning position their found themselves in.
Roberts, Cywka and Bailey all had the confidence to try their luck from range, but on each occasion they were thwarted by Kenny.
QPR rang the changes in hope of pulling back at least a goal, and their travelling support were rewarded with a late goal from Agyemang from close range but Derby had done more than enough to take the points.
Bailey had a golden chance to make it 3-1 in the closing seconds, but Kenny pulled off a fine save....and it was a miss Derby that would come back to haunt the Rams.
Straight down the other end Mackie let fly with a thunderous low drive which flew past Bywater to send the QPR players, staff and fans wild.
From nowhere, they had fought back to take a point.
It was heartbreaking stuff for Derby who left the field with their chins on the floor.
It may be hard right now, but there so many positives to take from the game.
Derby frustratingly have to wait two weeks now for their next game, at home to Sheffield United.
Attendance: 25,874 (1,655 QPR fans)
Collstream Man of the Match: James Bailey - Derby
1 QPR 4 9 10
2 Cardiff 4 7 10
3 Ipswich 4 5 10
4 Millwall 4 7 9
5 Burnley 4 3 7
6 Leeds United 4 2 7
7 Norwich 4 2 7
8 Coventry 4 1 7
9 Doncaster 4 0 7
10 Barnsley 4 -1 7
11 Scunthorpe 4 1 6
12 Swansea 4 1 6
13 Reading 4 0 5
14 Watford 4 0 5
15 Derby 4 -1 4
16 Middlesbrough 4 -3 4
17 Sheff Utd 4 -3 4
18 Hull 4 -4 4
19 Nott'm Forest 4 -1 3
20 Crystal Palace 4 -4 3
21 Preston 4 -6 3
22 Bristol City 4 -5 2
23 Leicester 4 -5 1
24 Portsmouth 4 -5 1 BBC
- On This Day QPR Games
- Two Year Flashback: QPR and Frazier Campbell and Ledesma
- Birthdays Today: Ray Jones (RIP) and Jamie Cureton
- Reminder I: QPR Masters Play in National Masters Championships, September 5
- Reminder II: Ex-QPR Mark Lazarus Interviewed on JNet Radio, September 6
- Blaming the Kit Colours for Defeats
- England Seeking to Get Spaniard to Play for England
- Allesandro Pellicori Returning to Italy (on Loan)
- Flashback: Pellicori Joins QPR
- Flashback VIDEO: Gordon Jago's QPR of Bowles, Thomas Givens and Franci guarantee Promotion with win at Millwall
- Portsmouth Programme Idea: Reproduce Old Programmes
- Video: QPR's 1975/76 Championship Battle at Home to Derby County (Sadly NOT the 5-1 away win at Derby County that same season)
-
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