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- Five Year Flashback: Danny Graham Almost Joins QPR
- Seven Year Flashback: Gianni Paladini's Port Vale Takeover Thwarted at the Last Gasp
- Year Flashback: "Cloud of Confusion at Loftus Road"
- One Year Flashback: Jim Magilton Suspended (Before being Axed)
Neil Warnock/Independent - What I Learnt This Week
Neil Warnock: Now our unbeaten run has gone I've told the lads to enjoy their Christmas do, they've earned it
Obviously we lost our unbeaten run last night against Watford and, in truth, it could have been 10-1 not 3-1 but for Paddy Kenny.
The run was bound to end at some time, I'd never have believed we'd go this far without losing: the big disappointment is the way we lost it. We never gave up, but too many players had bad days.
Watford were better than us, but if a couple of key decisons had gone the other way it could have been a different game. In the opening minutes, with the referee in a superb position, John Eustace got away with knocking the ball off Clint Hill's head at a corner with his hand. Then after half-time, when we had changed a few things and gone out ready to get back into the game, the linesman missed the fact that the scorer of their third goal was offside. On another day we would have been 1-0 up from a penalty, or just a goal down and with momentum and 40 minutes to play. As it was there was too little time left when we finally scored.
But all credit to Watford. They broke well and made our centre-halves look like amateurs at times.
Afterwards I told the lads not to dwell on it but to move on. They have done brilliantly this season. It's their Christmas party tonight. I told them "don't think about this result, take the league table with you and enjoy yourselves".
That's twice we have been on TV this season and not performed. I might get the 'flu when we go to Coventry on the 28th for our next televised game.
2. Now I can keep my legs warm and put on some long johns
The one good thing about last night's result is that I can put trousers and long johns on for the winter. Thank goodness. It wasn't too bad last night, though I did think about wrapping one of those snoods round me.
It does make me laugh, these comments from journalists criticising players for wearing things like that. Have a look at the press box during a game today and see all the layers and accessories they are wearing.
3. Well done to Spurs, they've done great so far this year
The achievement of the week was Spurs topping a tough group in Europe. Their season-ticket holders are getting great value for money this year.
Spurs are like Barry Fry's Barnet were – if the opposition score three, Tottenham are likely to score four. Harry must think the best form of defence is attack and they do look like scoring every time the ball goes forward, so I can't see that attitude changing with all the injuries they have. I remember saying to him after they beat Internazionale, "When I saw you had Lennon and Bale wide, Modric and Huddlestone in midfield, I thought 'how will you defend against Inter? Who will pick up the runners?'" I think his reply was something like, "That's how we felt, so we thought we would attack."
4. Hughton sacking shows owners want to be managers
I wasn't shocked in the slightest by Chris Hughton's sacking by Newcastle. Only a couple of weeks ago on Talksport I said that I didn't expect him to be given a new contract. When asked why, I said, "He got Newcastle straight back up when the ship was rudderless and a lot of people thought they would do a Leeds and go down. He got 100 points to win the Championship. He took Newcastle to 11th in the Premier League. He won at Everton and Arsenal and thrashed Sunderland 5-1. When he wasn't offered a new contract after all that it was obvious they wanted someone else."
But Chris can hold his head up high – the way he has handled the situation has been fantastic. I know he has loved every minute. He's told me there's a lot of good people behind the scenes he has really enjoyed working with. It was impossible for him to do any more in the financial climate and I'll be interested to see how Newcastle progress in the next few years.
As always in management, bad news for one man was good news for another. Alan Pardew deserves an opportunity like this because I didn't think he was treated well at Southampton, West Ham or Charlton. Alan is a good manager, and he'll need to be. He doesn't just need a good start, he needs a bit of luck as well. We all do.
A good start will be hard to achieve as he has some tough fixtures coming up. You'd have thought if they were going to get rid of Chris they would have waited until after these games, but maybe they feared he would win some of them, making it even harder to sack him. I see Mike Ashley intends to run the club like his business, which is selling discount sportswear. Does that mean the players will now be running out with stickers on their backs saying "bargain", "two for one", "sale"?
5. Players freeze in the TV cameras' spotlight
I tuned into FC United against Brighton in midweek. It can only have been because the TV cameras were there that they played. I lost count of the number of times people tried to cross a ball, slipped and flew into the advertising boards. All I could think was, "I hope for the referee's sake there is no serious injury."
Brighton are desperate to get back into the Championship and can't afford any injuries. United's players are part-time and risked being off work injured. The attitude of the players was superb, but there's no way I would want to play under those conditions and risk losing one of my best players.
6. Children are achieving on the pitch, and expectant off it
There was good news on the sporting front in the family this week when Amy scored twice in a hockey tournament and William came on as a sub for the under-10s rugby team and scored a try. Unfortunately, I didn't see it as we were training, but I saw the beaming smile on his face when I picked him up and the teacher said, "You have to tell your dad about that try." We got in the car and rung up big brother James. He was pleased to hear from us as he has been pacing up and down for a few days as his wife is expecting my first grandchild. I hope next week's column is a positive one. Poor Sarah fell down the last stair as she was going downstairs and ended up in hospital having a cast put on a broken ankle. We're all crossing fingers.
7. Empty parking spaces eventually get filled
We've been using a local car park when parking in Richmond since March. On the floor nearest the exit there is one complete side of disabled parking. We've never seen one of those positions filled. Whichever one of us is in the car we always turn the corner and check and, as always, if it's empty we give a little ironic cheer. Can you imagine the joy on our faces when we went in this week and to our shock there was a little car in the far end space? After we parked, we had to go and check if there was a disabled badge on it. There was. Whoever it was, thanks for making our day. I have no problem with spaces being set aside for people who are disabled, but am I being overly critical when I ask why there have to be so many when they are obviously not being used?
8. Fat chance of getting me in a small space with Wally
Keith Curle came in on Monday and asked if I'd seen an article in a downmarket Sunday paper. Apparently an old friend of mine, Wally Downes, who's suddenly pitched up at West Ham, said he wouldn't want to be in a room with me because he wouldn't be able to catch me. He'd want to be in a telephone box so I couldn't get away. Let me tell all my readers, you wouldn't get us both in a telephone box unless it was Dr Who's tardis. Have you seen the size of him recently? I'll be looking forward to seeing how their defence get on today against Manchester City.
9. Ashes success would be more fun if we had Aussies at QPR
What a great start to the Ashes. Haven't we waited years to bash the Aussies? Their cricket team has humiliated us over the years and they have loved every minute so it is great to turn the tables. I just had to stop up to see the final session. I kept thinking they were going to get away with it, and they were only 90 minutes away from being saved by the rain. The only disappointment was Stuart Broad's injury. It's a real gut-wrencher in more ways than one that he's injured, but I'm sure he'll bounce back. There is one other disappointment – we don't have any Aussie players at QPR. If only it had happened while Nick Carle was playing for me at Palace. Perhaps we can get him in on loan. Indpendent
QPR 1 Watford 3
Sporting Life - WARNOCK FINDS SILVER LINING
By Andy Sims, Press Association Sport
Neil Warnock has put his shorts away until the spring after his QPR side lost their unbeaten npower Championship record against Watford on Friday night.
A brace from Danny Graham, either side of Jordon Mutch's fortuitous strike, secured a surprise 3-1 win for the Hornets as Rangers blew the chance to go seven points clear at the top.
There was a silver lining for Warnock, though, after he promised his players early in the season he would continue to wear shorts until they lost their first league game.
The 62-year-old probably did not envisage he would still be bare-legged in mid-December, some 19 matches later.
But he can finally pack some winter trousers after watching Watford tear his side apart in front of the TV cameras at Loftus Road.
"Thank God - I can have my long johns under my tracksuit now for the winter," said Warnock.
"It was obviously disappointing. But if you'd told me we'd have got to December unbeaten I wouldn't have believed you."
Warnock felt his side should have had a penalty before Watford took the lead, John Eustace appearing to handle in the area.
He also blasted Graham's second goal, and Watford's third, just after half-time, claiming the 12-goal striker was offside.
"For the handball, the referee was in a great position but Eustace has been too clever," added Warnock.
"Then we are losing 2-0, we regrouped at half-time and changed a few things and we get an offside like that!
"But all credit to Watford - we could have been beaten by 10. We'll have to take it on the chin.
"The players have got their Christmas party tomorrow. I told them not to think about tonight but to take the league table with them instead."
Rangers, who pulled one back through Tommy Smith, could find themselves in hot water after Watford midfielder Stephen McGinn appeared to be hit by a bottle thrown from the crowd after Mutch curled in their second goal.
"I'm not sure what happened but Stephen has a large cut, his eye is closed and he's got concussion," said Hornets manager Malky Mackay.
"The fourth official told me three bottles of beer were thrown from the top tier."
But Mackay did not want the incident to overshadow a fine win.
"I'm delighted with way we played," he added.
"We came up against the league leaders who have an experienced manager and experienced players, and they are a team I think will be promoted.
"There was an unbeaten record, it was live on TV and a great atmosphere... it was a game I'd loved to have been playing in and I'm very proud of my players.
"On another day we could have had a few more goals."
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/liv....Nightlead.h tml
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - WARNOCK ON WATFORD
Neil Warnock was at a loss to explain QPR's 3-1 defeat at home to Watford - a result that ended the R's unbeaten start to the season.
Defeat against the Hornets saw Rangers slump to their first loss of the campaign and a frustrated Warnock told www.qpr.co.uk: "I'm disappointed. In the end we did well to lose by three, because it could have been eight or nine.
"But I felt that vital decisions went against us.
"There was a clear handball from John Eustace, who takes it off of Clint's (Hill) head. The referee was in a good position.
"We worked on what we were going to do at half-time, and to lose a goal when the official should spot an offside kills us, really.
"Credit to the lads, they kept going and Paddy (Kenny) kept the score respectable."
Warnock added: "We move on.
"We've just got to get on with it. It's a long season - a hard season.
"At least I can put some tracksuit bottoms on now!"
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/TheGaffer/0,,10373~2241759,00.html
Warnock Audio - Neil Warnock unhappy with officials after Watford loss QPR boss Neil Warnock says that Watford benefited from refereeing decisions as the Hornets inflicted Rangers' first league defeat of the season in their 3-1 win at Loftus Road. LISTEN AUDIO
Watford Official Site - MALKY: “MY TEAM DON’T SURPRISE ME”
WATFORD boss Malky Mackay was full of praise for his side after they toppled Championship leaders Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
Two goals in the first-half from Danny Graham and Jordon Mutch set the Golden Boys on their way in a pulsating affair in west London, while Graham's second of the night proved important at the start of the second period.
Former Hornet Tommy Smith struck for the hosts towards the end of a terrific evening's entertainment but it proved to be too little too late for Hoops.
Speaking at full-time, Watford's gaffer was understandably pleased with the night's work from his committed group of players.
He said: "We knew it was going to be a tough game here tonight against a good team with a great manager who I think are going to be promoted.
"They have a lot of experienced players and I knew we had to match them.
"I think we did that and we passed it well. It's doing it consistency now that counts."
He added: "I knew they were a tough nut to crack and that they hadn't conceded many at home - the atmosphere is always fantastic and I've enjoyed coming here over the last few years, we knew it was tough but you enjoy occasions like this and testing yourself on a nice pitch.
"All of my players to a man gave a nine out of 10 performance this evening - it was a real effort. Our movement was terrific and QPR couldn't handle it."
The Scotsman and his staff had clearly done their homework on Neil Warnock's table-toppers and that came to fruition much to the delight of the noisy band of supporters based in the School End.
"Our tactics worked perfectly on the night and credit should go to Martin Hodge, our opposition analyst, as well as all of the players and staff" commented Malky.
"The players kept their cool at key times in the game and that kept us going throughout.
"The third goal was also key for us, the timing was crucial and that gave us added confidence and ensured QPR didn't gather too much momentum at the start of the second half."
http://www.watfordfc.com/page/PostMatchReaction/0,,10400~2241811,00.html
Guardian/Anna Kessel
Danny Graham double sees Watford end QPR's unbeaten record
QPR's 19-game unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt last night as Watford engineered a comprehensive victory over the league leaders. Neil Warnock will no longer be forced to wear shorts – "thank God", he said afterwards – having wagered his players that he would remain bare-legged as long as his side kept winning.
Watford managed to repeat the same result they pulled off this time last season, putting three goals past QPR – although it could have been many more – stifling their hosts' creativity and dismantling a defence that had conceded only nine goals before yesterday's rout. A delighted Malky Mackay praised his team: "To a man tonight, including the subs, they were all nines and tens," he said, brushing away the issue of an unsavoury incident off the pitch when bottles were thrown after Danny Graham scored his second goal of the night. "The fourth official told me there were three beer bottles thrown from the top tier," said Mackay, who indicated he would not pursue the matter.
QPR had started brightly enough, Heidar Helguson shooting from the edge of the box in the opening minutes forcing Scott Loach into a fingertip save. The home side waved for a penalty after the resulting corner kick, when John Eustace appeared to handle the ball, sending Warnock apoplectic.
Mackay's side played remarkably uninhibited football for a team that arrived at Loftus Road with one win in eight games. Halfway through the first half that positivity paid off as Watford took the lead, Don Cowie touching on for Andrew Taylor who sent in a tight cross for Graham to poke in his ninth league goal of the season. More was to come as Jordon Mutch added a second with a beautiful long-range shot from 25 yards out.
QPR's captain, Adel Taarabt, came close for QPR with a free-kick that had the side netting billowing but for the most part the Moroccan and the rest of Warnock's side were short of ideas.
After the break Watford quickly added a third goal, Stephen McGinn surviving a clumsy tackle to set up Graham. Warnock called for offside and the mood soured as the bottle-throwing took place.
With half an hour to go and Watford still creating chances, Warnock substituted Taarabt. With new personnel QPR piled on the pressure in successive set pieces, but had to wait until the 89th minute – Tommy Smith poking in a loose ball in the box – for any reward.
Warnock, however, remained positive. "You can draw four games on the trot but if you win a couple and lose a couple you're better off really," he said. "Obviously we're disappointed but I think if you'd told me we'd go to December unbeaten I'd have called you a whatever, so it's been a good run." QPR are still four points clear at the top of the league but face a testing run in coming fixtures.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/dec/10/qpr-watford-championship
INDPENDENT/Glenn Moore
QPR exposed by Graham as lucky shorts finally fail
At last Neil Warnock can pull a pair of tracksuit bottoms over his frozen legs, but that will be no consolation to the QPR manager after his side's long unbeaten start to the season came to a shock end.
Warnock's "lucky shorts" were neither warm nor lucky as the Championship leaders produced their worst performance of the season in front of the BBC cameras.
Danny Graham scored twice and Jordon Mutch once but it could have been more with Paddy Kenny making several saves and three shots cleared off the line. Also Stephen McGinn appeared to be struck by a bottle thrown from the crowd as Watford celebrated their third goal.
Rangers remain top by four points, but, as this result underlined, this is a very competitive division and they are entering a tough run of fixtures with their next four matches against the teams currently in the play-off places.
Watford now sit just below that group and will feel they can push on after this victory. "I am delighted and very proud of my players," said manager Malky Mackay. "It is great to create so many chances against such a good team, who I think will be promoted. The players are got to have a lot of belief in themselves after that."
QPR began confidently but after Scott Loach prevented Heider Helguson giving them an early lead all the threat came from Watford. The pace and movement of their attacking players seemed to bewilder a Rangers back four which had been largely unchanged, and only occasionally breached this season. Graham was allowed to stab in Andrew Taylor's 25th-minute cross unchallenged then Mutch curled in a hopeful cross that skidded off Kasper Gorkss's head and past Kenny. The game was won when McGinn, though on the ground, fed an offside-looking Graham to score two minutes after the break. Rangers launched a late assault but Tommy Smith's 89th-minute goal was far too late to launch a comeback.
Queen's Park Rangers (4-2-3-1): Kenny; Walker, Connolly, Gorkss, Hill; Derry, Faurlin (Orr, 59); Mackie, Taarabt (Clarke, 59), Smith; Helguson (Hulse, 59). Substitutes not used: Cerny (gk), Hall, Rowlands, Ephraim.
Booked: Walker, Hulse.
Watford (4-1-4-1): Loach; Doyley, Mariappa, M Taylor, A Taylor; Eustace; Buckley (Deeney, 80), McGinn (Sordell, 75), Mutch, Cowie; Graham. Substitutes not used: Gilmartin (gk), Hodson, Jenkins, Bennett, Massey.
Booked: Buckley, A Taylor.
Referee: D Deadman (Cambridgeshire).
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footb....l-21575 87.html
Mail/Sami Mokbel
QPR 1 Watford 3: Bottle missile injures Hornets star Stephen McGinn as Rangers throw away unbeaten Championship record
Queens Park Rangers lost their unbeaten record at Loftus Road last, but that was overshadowed by a nasty bottle-throwing incident as Watford celebrated their third goal.
Watford midfielder Stephen McGinn suffered a gashed head after he was struck by a missile thrown by Rangers supporters just after Danny Graham had scored his second goal of the night and 12th of the season.
McGinn continued after treatment but was substituted 27 minutes later. A bottle also narrowly missed Graham.
Watford manager Malky Mackay said: 'I'm not sure how it happened but Stephen has got a large cut, his eye is closed and he's got a concussion.
'The fourth official told me three bottles of beer were thrown from the top tier but until such time I hear categorically what has happened I don't want to comment on whether we will look to take action.'
Rangers would have equalled a record of 20 League games without defeat had they not been beaten last night, and superstitious manager Neil Warnock has worn his training
shorts for all their Championship games this season and vowed not to change until his side lost.
But Graham's double means Warnock can finally add a pair of trousers to his match-day wardrobe after Rangers lost their first game of the campaign.
Warnock said: 'I'm glad I can put my trackie bottoms on now. I'll have my long johns on as well now it's winter. It'll be a lot more convenient.
'We've got a run of tough games ahead, a lot of them are away. So if we can be there or thereabouts after the next 10 games or so I'll be happy.
'We're disappointed to lose our unbeaten run but if you had told me we'd get to December without losing, I'd have called you crazy.'
Heidar Helguson forced Watford keeper Scott Loach into an excellent save with a wellstruck shot in the opening five minutes as Rangers started brightly.
But Warnock warned his side about Graham before the defeat, so he was livid when the striker was given the freedom of the six-yard box to fire home Andy Taylor's cross in the 26th minute.
What a spectacle: Outraged QPR boss Neil Warnock vents his anger towards the assistant referee
Watford doubled their lead four minutes later as Jordon Mutch's inswinging left-footed cross flew over everyone before arrowing into the net.
Clint Hill saved Warnock's side from going three down before halftime with a goal-saving block from Mutch's close-range effort after a rapid Watford breakaway.
But Warnock's half-time rocket had zero effect as Graham hit Watford's third just three minutes into the second period after McGinn's cheeky back heel.
No way through: It was a frustrating night for the hosts and star midfielder Adel Taarabt
A disastrous night could have been so much worse for the West London side as Shaun Derry cleared another Mutch effort off the line before keeper Paddy Kenny made a point-blank stop to prevent Graham scoring a hat-trick.
Former Watford striker Tommy Smith reduced the deficit in the 89th minute, but Warnock knew it was scant consolation.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footbal....en-record.html
MIRROR hot streak ground to a halt in the cold snap as the npower Championship leaders fell one game short of equalling their club record unbeaten run.
A brace from Danny Graham, either side of Jordon Mutch's fortuitous strike, secured a surprise win for Watford as Rangers blew the chance to go seven points clear at the top.
There was a silver lining for manager Neil Warnock, though, after he promised early in the season to continue to wear shorts on the touchline until they lost their first league game.
The 62-year-old probably did not envisage he would still be bare-legged in mid-December, some 19 matches later.
But he can finally pack some warm trousers after watching Watford tear his side apart in front of the TV cameras at Loftus Road.
The hosts actually twice came close to opening the scoring in the first five minutes when Jamie Mackie shot inches wide and former Hornet Heidar Helguson's volley brought a fine save from Scott Loach.
Warnock's temperature rose considerably moments later when John Eustace appeared to handle a cross in the area but referee Darren Deadman was not interested.
Rangers survived a scare in the 11th minute when Will Buckley scampered through on goal but Paddy Kenny spread himself well to keep out the shot.
But the Hornets took a 26th-minute lead when Andrew Taylor overlapped down the left and his deflected cross fell at the feet of Graham to fire home.
Four minutes later the visitors were two up when Mutch's speculative curler deceived everyone, including Kenny, and ended up in the back of the net.
Rangers captain Adel Taarabt was having one of his more eccentric evenings, but he came close to pulling one back when his curling free-kick flew narrowly wide.
However, Rangers were indebted to a brave block from Clint Hill, who flung himself in front of another Mutch shot from eight yards out to keep the deficit to two just before the break.
But the Hornets did grab a third three minutes into the second half when, with Rangers appealing for an offside, Graham burst clear again and tucked his shot past Kenny.
It could have got worse for the hosts, with Shaun Derry heading another Mutch effort off the line with Kenny beaten and Graham somehow shooting over from underneath the crossbar.
Ex-Watford striker Tommy Smith sidefooted a consolation for the hosts with two minutes left but the Football League's only remaining unbeaten record had long since been shattered
Telegraph -By Neil Trainis
History cold-shouldered Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. The Championship leaders were primed to emulate a record unbeaten league run stretching back 38 years but have to satisfy themselves that defeat to Watford has inflicted superficial damage.
Whether this setback is prophetic as far as QPR are concerned is open to conjecture but they have not been consistently swashbuckling despite setting the pace. Watford’s tenacity in the tackle and exuberance going forward demanded much of them but they failed to respond.
"I was delighted with the way we played against a team I think will be promoted personally," enthused Watford manager Malky Mackay.
This fixture was an ordeal for the hosts. Watford regularly reminded QPR they are not the finished article. Will Buckley skipped past Kaspars Gorkss, who appears too ungainly to patrol the defence of a title-chasing team, but was denied by Paddy Kenny.
That was a glimpse of the difficulties to come. Kyle Walker did not track Andrew Taylor’s run and Gorkss misjudged the flight of his cross. Danny Graham thudded in. Vulnerability lacerated QPR. Moment later Kenny smothered Graham’s effort but that reprieve was short-lived.
Jordon Mutch engineered a yard to whip the ball in. Kenny, distracted by Martin Taylor’s presence, was rooted to the spot. A two-goal lead was not flattering. Watford impersonated the intrepid outfit QPR aspire to be and coupled zest with discipline.
John Eustace nullified Adel Taarabt, although the impressive Scott Loach repelled Heidar Helguson’s header. There was, though, little to encourage QPR. They were reduced to damage limitation and Shaun Derry nodded Mutch’s shot off the goal-line.
Irritation spread to the stands and Stephen McGinn was struck by an object thrown from the crowd in the second half. It was his pass while on the ground that allowed Graham to score.
"He's half a yard offside, a major decision," said Neil Warnock, who thought QPR were denied a penalty in the first half when Eustace handled a corner.
"But credit to Watford. They broke well and made our centre halves look like amateurs." Tommy Smith’s late goal added respectability but camouflaged none of QPR’s deficiencies.
Match details
QPR (4-2-3-1): Kenny; Walker, Connolly, Gorkss, Hill; Derry, Faurlin (Orr 59); Mackie, Taarabt (Clarke 59) Smith; Helguson (Hulse 70).
Subs: Cerny (g), Hall, Rowlands, Ephraim.
Booked: Walker, Hulse
Watford (4-1-4-1): Loach; Doyley, Mariappa, M Taylor, A Taylor; Eustace; Buckley (Deeney 80), Mutch, McGinn (Sordell 75), Cowie; Graham.
Subs: Gilmartin (g), Hodson, Jenkins, Bennett, Massey.
Booked: Buckley, A Taylor
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footbal....ch-re port.html
Express - QPR 1, WATFORD 3: WARNOCK LEFT SHORT
Neil Warnock has told his QPR players to go out and enjoy their Christmas party tonight and forget about losing their 19-game unbeaten run.
A Danny Graham double backed by a Jordon Mutch strike completed a Watford win that Warnock admitted could have run into double figures, though Tommy Smith scored a late consolation.
But Warnock – who can now abandon his promise to wear shorts as long as his side’s run continued – insisted Rangers can bounce back.
He said: “I’ve told them to go out, don’t think about this result and take a copy of the league table with them instead.
“The run had to end sometime and I’m disappointed with the way it ended because it could have been double figures. Keeper Paddy Kenny was our best player. But thank god I can take my shorts off now.”
Watford manager Malky Mackay said: “I’m delighted with the way we played against the league leaders.”
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/216799/QPR-1-Watford-3-Warnock-left-short
MIRRORQPR's hot streak ground to a halt in the cold snap as the npower Championship leaders fell one game short of equalling their club record unbeaten run.
A brace from Danny Graham, either side of Jordon Mutch's fortuitous strike, secured a surprise win for Watford as Rangers blew the chance to go seven points clear at the top.
There was a silver lining for manager Neil Warnock, though, after he promised early in the season to continue to wear shorts on the touchline until they lost their first league game.
The 62-year-old probably did not envisage he would still be bare-legged in mid-December, some 19 matches later.
But he can finally pack some warm trousers after watching Watford tear his side apart in front of the TV cameras at Loftus Road.
The hosts actually twice came close to opening the scoring in the first five minutes when Jamie Mackie shot inches wide and former Hornet Heidar Helguson's volley brought a fine save from Scott Loach.
Warnock's temperature rose considerably moments later when John Eustace appeared to handle a cross in the area but referee Darren Deadman was not interested.
Rangers survived a scare in the 11th minute when Will Buckley scampered through on goal but Paddy Kenny spread himself well to keep out the shot.
But the Hornets took a 26th-minute lead when Andrew Taylor overlapped down the left and his deflected cross fell at the feet of Graham to fire home.
Four minutes later the visitors were two up when Mutch's speculative curler deceived everyone, including Kenny, and ended up in the back of the net.
Rangers captain Adel Taarabt was having one of his more eccentric evenings, but he came close to pulling one back when his curling free-kick flew narrowly wide.
However, Rangers were indebted to a brave block from Clint Hill, who flung himself in front of another Mutch shot from eight yards out to keep the deficit to two just before the break.
But the Hornets did grab a third three minutes into the second half when, with Rangers appealing for an offside, Graham burst clear again and tucked his shot past Kenny.
It could have got worse for the hosts, with Shaun Derry heading another Mutch effort off the line with Kenny beaten and Graham somehow shooting over from underneath the crossbar.
Ex-Watford striker Tommy Smith sidefooted a consolation for the hosts with two minutes left but the Football League's only remaining unbeaten record had long since been shattered
- Photos of The QPR Supporters Club Committe of 1962 and The QPR Supporters Club - Ladies Section of 1952
- QPR Snow/Training Photo From 1962
- Sammy Youssouf Flashback
- Donate to QPR GIRLS ONLINE
- Additional Photos - QPR-Indian Youth Tournament