Shittu & Waddock Comments Post QPR 1 Stoke 2

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Post Stoke Defeat Comments

Danny Shittu - DON'T BLAME WADS
QPR OFFICIAL SITE

Vice captain Dan Shittu has issued the following statement in the wake of Wednesday night's 2-1 defeat to Stoke City.Shittu was skipper on the night and approached the Press Office on behalf of the players and asked to issue the following few words:
"As a collective group, we - the players - must take full responsibility for last night's 2-1 defeat to Stoke.
"In no way whatsoever should any blame be attached to Gary Waddock and his coaching staff, who, since taking over from Ian Holloway, have given the whole place a huge lift.
"We let the entire coaching staff, the fans and ultimately ourselves down last night, and we can only apologise for such a poor display.
"In general, we feel we've underachieved in recent weeks and should definitely have recorded much better results. However, that is entirely down to the players' performances and not Gary Waddock and his staff.
"It's been a pleasure for us all to work with the new-look coaching team in recent weeks and we would all be delighted if they were given the role on a full-time basis once the situation regarding Ian Holloway is sorted out.
"It's a privilege to play for Wads and Macca and, as a squad, we're thoroughly enjoying the new style of football they've introduced and everything that comes with it.
"I can promise you - the fans - that we will be doing everything we can between now and Saturday afternoon to ensure the wrongs of Wednesday's performance are put to right against Crewe Alexandra this weekend.
"Your support will again be valued and we are determined to get three points and end the season on a high.''
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~809454,00.html


WADDOCK - Unacceptable
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
Gary Waddock deemed the 2-1 defeat to Stoke City as 'totally unacceptable.'
The Rangers Caretaker Manager had just seen his side succumb to a shock defeat - only his second in charge of the Superhoops.
"It was totally unacceptable and I've let the players know that in no uncertain terms.
"The penalty miss knocked the stuffing out of us. We were totally deflated after that, but we've only got ourselves to blame for the defeat.
"There can be no excuses - we simply didn't perform on the night.''
Stoke came from behind to win 2-1 at Loftus Road, but only after Gareth Ainsworth missed a first half spot kick and Rangers squandered a hatful of other golden opportunities.
Gareth Ainsworth's spot kick was easily saved by Steve Simonsen
"We've been punished for our poor finishing in the first half and it's something we've been talking about to the players for the last few weeks.
"We can't keep relying on Jonah and the back four to bail us out when we've missed chances at the other end and tonight we've paid the ultimate price.
"Thankfully we've got another game on Saturday to put things right and we might shuffle the pack.'' http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/ManagersComments/0,,10373~809136,00.html


SPORTING LIFE/PA NEWS

TAGGART STANDS IN FOR ILL BOSKAMP
By Andy Sims, PA Sport
Stoke veteran Gerry Taggart revealed that manager Johan Boskamp missed what could be the last game under his stewardship with flu ahead of the board meeting which will determine his future.
Taggart, who is currently the Potters' assistant manager with Jan de Koning and John Rudge having been told to keep their distance from the club, oversaw Stoke's 2-1 win at fellow mid-table side QPR, and then refused to comment on the Dutchman's prospects at the Britannia Stadium.
Boskamp is due to meet with the board tomorrow as the club look to finally reach a decision on the management trio.
"I'm not going to comment on what goes on behind the scenes," said former Leicester defender Taggart.
"It has entirely nothing to do with me. Johan has flu, it's the second time he has come down with it this season, and he stayed at the team hotel. I hope the result cheered him up."
The Potters were forced to come from behind to earn the three points which have helped them leapfrog Rangers into 13th spot after Marc Nygaard's seventh-minute opener for the Londoners.
The hosts would have gone in two up at half-time but for Gareth Ainsworth's weak penalty, which was comfortably saved by Steve Simonsen in the visitors' goal.
The penalty miss seemed to galvanise Stoke, who began to string some decent moves together, but they had to wait until the 73rd minute to haul themselves level when Dan Shittu tripped Darel Russell in the area.
Carl Hoefkens stepped up to show Ainsworth how it should be done, sending Paul Jones the wrong way, before Hannes Sigurdsson hit his first Stoke goal 11 minutes from time.
"We didn't start that brightly and got an early kick up the backside," added Taggart.
"But we had a chat at half-time and changed it around and it worked.
"We've got nothing to play for but it's still about getting as many wins as possible."
QPR caretaker boss Gary Waddock admitted Ainsworth's penalty miss was the turning point of the game, but he refused to blame the wideman for his side's defeat."Obviously we could have gone two up, and the penalty has changed the game, but we only have ourselves to blame," he said.
"Gareth has apologised, but he didn't mean to miss and he's been outstanding since I've been here. We're all in it together.
"It's deflating, but we really need to be more clinical in front of goal. We need to take our chances."
Waddock insisted he was in the dark about reports this morning that he is going to allow six players to leave Loftus Road in the summer, and once again admitted he can only look at the contract situation when his own future is sorted out.
"I don't know where that has come from," added Waddock, who is continuing to stand in at Loftus Road while Ian Holloway is on gardening leave.
"But I'm not in a position to do that (release players) as I am only the caretaker manager.
"Everyone is playing for their future here, me included, and if I need to freshen it up I will. If the focus isn't right, I'll change the personnel.
"I'm not knocking my experienced players, but if I need to blood some new players I will."
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_championship/qpr/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/03/29/SOCCER_QPR_2nd_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=qpr