Additional Gregory Comment - "what really disappointed me was that Cardiff worked harder as a team than my players"

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Souith Wales Echo/Terry Phillips - Victorious Bluebirds hint at better times ahead
John Gregory was brutally honest about Cardiff City’s dominance in this Coca-Cola Championship match at Loftus Road.
The former Derby County, Aston Villa and Portsmouth manager, who has been in charge of 400-plus matches, said: “Cardiff City have a wealth of experience.
“Everybody contributes. There are no weak links.
“Cardiff kept the ball so well. They tackled, headed and challenged to get it and then simply didn’t give it up easily. They were first to react in every area of the pitch.
“We know they have an exceptional squad, but what really disappointed me was that Cardiff worked harder as a team than my players.
“They harassed my player at every opportunity. My Rangers teams have always worked harder than the opposition even if we have not been the prettiest to watch.”
The Bluebirds kept a second successive clean sheet, having earned Carling Cup victory against Brighton in midweek, and were excellent value for all three points.
The only criticism can be that City should have scored four, maybe five goals, such was their superiority.
QPR, it has to be said, were poor. They look a team destined to struggle unless Gregory can strengthen his squad.
He has Chris Barker and Gareth Ainsworth, both former Cardiff players, to step back in, but his team simply could not match City.
At one stage, when Rangers realised they were going to be second best, they even resorted to bullying tactics.
There were some big, physical challenges as QPR decided rough-house tactics might work.
They didn’t. Cardiff, to their credit, stood tall, held their ground and maintained their discipline.
The Bluebirds kept standards high, kept things simple and tight at the back, kept the ball with great ease and launched attacks which created loads of chances.
Steve MacLean scored one and should have had a second, while Parry headed the other. There were plenty of other chances and QPR must have been relieved to be beaten by only two goals by the end.
For Cardiff, Gavin Rae produced his best performance so far. He is strong, good in possession and those driving runs had QPR stretched to the limit.
Stephen McPhail, captain and fellow central midfielder, has been in exceptional form so far. He continued to impress, a player who can keep possession under pressure and has a range of passing that many in his position can only dream about.
On the left Joe Ledley ran at the QPR defence and pinned his man back, while Trevor Sinclair looks a quality signing. He helps those around him, links up in triangles which leave the opposition gasping and gets stuck in, earning a booking for a thumping, mistimed tackle. There will be far tougher tests this season and Rangers rarely looked like scoring, but City do look solid as a defensive unit.
New signing Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink watched from the directors’ box. He must have been delighted to see Cardiff serve up so many chances.
Hasselbaink and Robbie Fowler must feel they will gobble them up if the Bluebirds continue to play in this style.
Gregory, though, is not so sure, saying: “Signing Fowler and Hasselbaink will cost Cardiff a lot of money.
“We can’t compete with that. Neither of them have played yet and we will have to wait and see whether they prove to be big signings or not.”
While Gregory ponders his own problems, though, City are showing signs they are developing a belief and ability to launch a challenge.
They went ahead after 30 minutes. Ledley and Rae combined and it was Rae who slid a defence-splitting pass through for MacLean.
Rangers’ goalkeeper Lee Camp was out quickly to save, but he merely delayed MacLean’s first goal.
From the resulting corner by Sinclair the ball fell short, but was helped on by Roger Johnson. MacLean was on hand to thump his shot home from 12 yards.
MacLean should have made it 2-0, but the ball skidded off his head as he tried to steer a header into a gaping net after a build-up involving McPhail, Parry and Sinclair had ripped the home side apart.
Sinclair just missed from a delightful McPhail chip, while Parry made it 2-0 after 59 minutes.
Man of the match Rae was again involved, picking out McPhail’s run down the right. When the City skipper whipped the ball across goal it was Parry, outpacing a defender, who timed his run well to head home from close range.
There were appeals for a penalty when MacLean was brought down, while the Scottish striker also went close with a fierce shot which flew over.
Parry, too, might have scored as Cardiff eased to a win – ending a run of three successive 1-0 defeats at Loftus Road – that will lift confidence ahead of Saturday’s home clash with fourth-placed Coventry City. terry.phillips@wme.co.uk IC Wales

See also Gregory's comments on QPR Official Site