Sousa and Johnson Managerial Comments After QPR's Bristol City Win

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- See also: QPR and Bristol City Official Site Match Reports.... Photos from Game
- QPR Official Site - SOUSA: SPIRIT, CHARACTER & UNITY
- Paulo Sousa praised the spirit, character and unity of his side, as the R's made it two wins in a week with a 2-1 victory against Bristol City.
- Rangers picked up where they left off against Swansea City in midweek, as goals from Jordi Lopez and Adel Taarabt moved the R's on to 56 points - and just seven points adrift of the play-off's.
- "I'm very pleased for all my players," Sousa told www.qpr.co.uk.
- "We have had a lot of critics, so to win two games in a row is very important.
-"We made a great performance in midweek, showing a lot of effort, spirit and unity - and we did the same again today.
- "In the second half we continued to strive for the winner and at 1-1, we showed a very good reaction.
- "That shows we are in a good way and shows the spirit and the belief - it also shows that the players believe in my work.
- "Each team has one or two moments in a season where things go badly, but we have responded very well.
- "Our defensive and offensive organisation is excellent at the moment." QPR


SPORTING LIFE - SOUSA HAILS QPR SPIRIT
- Manager Paulo Sousa answered his doubters by leading QPR to a 2-1 victory at home to Bristol City - their second win in four days.
- A run of nine games without a win recently led to the coach's position coming under scrutiny after just four months in the job.
- But maximum points from games against the promotion-chasing Robins and Swansea have eased the pressure on the former Portugal international.
- Sousa said: "There have been a lot of critics, but now we have had two good results.
- "We have a good spirit and the players believe in me because I always say the same things - because I believe in what I'm saying.
- "During a season, every team has a moment where results are not good. We had that but the important thing is to show spirit and unity, which we did."
- On-loan Tottenham forward Adel Taarabt's late winner kept alive QPR's faint hopes of reaching the play-offs.
- The teenager stole the show along with Spanish midfielder Jordi Lopez, who had earlier put the home side ahead with a brilliant free-kick.
- Former Sevilla man Lopez struck midway through the second half, when he curled a 25-yard effort beyond goalkeeper Adriano Basso and into the top corner.
- Ivan Sproule crossed for Michael McIndoe to beautifully volley home a 77th-minute equaliser from the edge of the penalty area.
- But QPR's lead was restored when the lively Taarabt tucked away Damien Delaney's left-wing cross.
- Sousa said: "In the first half we were very good, showed a lot of effort and were tactically perfect.
- "Bristol City equalised but we showed the right reaction and went back in front. I am very pleased.
- "Two weeks ago people were saying we couldn't make the play-offs. We are still the same team now and I don't want to talk about the play-offs - I am just focusing on the quality of our work."

- The result dealt City a blow in their bid to finish in the top six and manager Gary Johnson admitted that QPR deserved to win.
- "Of course I'm disappointed with the outcome. We didn't do ourselves justice," said Johnson.
- "That wasn't our game we played out there. For some reason we kept lumping the ball forward. It was a poor game for us and I didn't recognise what we were doing.
- "The pitch wasn't great and it wasn't easy to play good football on it, but it's the same for both teams.
- "We didn't deserve anything from the game. We didn't do enough to win it, and that's that. The work rate was there but it was a bit misdirected at times. QPR were solid at the back and deserved this win in my opinion.
- "This result has dented our hopes, but we've got to look to the next game, try to win it and then see how the other teams around us do. Every week it changes in this division." Sporting Life


BristoL City Official Site - PLAY-OFF HOPES DENTED - GARY
- Gary Johnson says the 2-1 defeat at QPR has left a dent in the club's hopes of reaching the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs.
- A late Adel Taarabt goal condemned City to defeat, moments after Michael McIndoe had cancelled out Jordi Gomez's stunning
opener at Loftus Road.
- City have dropped to ninth in the Championship table, five points off Cardiff City in the final play-off position.
- Speaking after the 2-1 loss at QPR, Gary told Bristol City World: "Of course it puts a big dent in our play-off hopes.
- "I didn't think we had a good day and there wasn't enough quality. We lumped it a little bit, got it forward hoping to get something.
- "In the final third we didn't really create enough, apart from the goal, to score twice. We're all really disappointed.
- "We've got two weeks to turn that around, but today we didn't do enough. We didn't do anywhere near enough.
- "We've got liven ourselves up, I've got to liven myself up. That didn't look like one of my teams out there today."
"I didn't think we had a good day and there wasn't enough quality."
Gary Johnson
- City had two penalty appeals turned down in the first half as Dele Adebola and Nicky Maynard crashed to the ground in the area.
- "I think they were both penalties," said Gary. "We'll have to see them again on the video, but I'm sure you'll see they were both fouled.
- "Both Dele and Nicky are really disappointed with the decisions, especially Dele (who was cautioned). I think the referee had the early decision (when Adel Taarabt was booked for diving) in his mind."
- The manager concluded: "On the day it was a poor day. The lads know that and I course [I've] told them that.
- "We've still got the six games left. It's a big dent [to our hopes] but we'll keep going."
- Marvin Elliott made his return as a late substitute following an 11-game absence. Gary admitted he wasn't really ready and will now have the international break to get reserve matches under his belt. QPR

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