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- Audio of Warnock re Traore Getting himself Sent off "An absolute Disgrace"
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - WARNOCK: 'GREAT TEAM SPIRIT'
Posted on: Sun 25 Sep 2011
Neil Warnock praised the spirit in the R's camp, after his side battled back from adversity to grab a deserved 93rd minute equaliser against Aston Villa.
Villa took the lead on 58 minutes, after Barry Bannan struck home from the penalty spot when Armand Traore was harshly adjudged to have tugged back Gabriel Agbonlahor in the box.
Traore was then shown his marching orders in the 90th minute with a second bookable offence following a late challenge on Marc Albrighton, before Richard Dunne's late own goal handed Rangers a point.
Following a breathless second half, Warnock told www.qpr.co.uk: "To come away with a point is credit to the lads.
"The way that we try and play and the attitude of the players is fantastic.
"We've got a great spirit and that won us the Championship last season - you need that.
He added: "We were all disappointed with the decisions - not one Aston Villa player appealed for the penalty.
"There could also have been a couple of Villa players sent off for second bookable offences.
"I thought it was a good game. It takes away from our performance today because I thought we were superb.
"It's one of those days - but we responded in the right way. We kept going.
"I thought we deserved more than a point - but I'm more than happy with it."
QPR
Aston Villa Official Site
McLeish pleased with second half showing but gutted with late leveller
Alex McLeish's post-match verdict.
25th Sep 2011
McLeish pleased with second half showing but gutted with late leveller
By Dan Harrison at Loftus Road
Alex McLeish hailed Villa's second-half response in the draw against QPR - but was gutted to see his team's hard work undone by a stoppage time own-goal.
The Villa boss admitted his side needed to raise their game in the second period after being on the back foot in the early stages.
He got the desired response as the claret and blues took the lead through Barry Bannan's penalty.
But a late Richard Dunne own-goal denied Villa a victory and McLeish felt for the Irishman and his fellow defenders who performed heroically all afternoon.
He said: "I am gutted that we threw it away in the dying embers of the game after a second half performance which is much more what I expected from these players.
"The first half was pretty woeful and I let them know that at half-time.
"I thought we restricted QPR to only a few gilt-edge chances in the first half and defended well but the irony was that two of our best players - Richard Dunne and Stephen Warnock - ended up contributing to their equalising goal which both were involved in. I really felt for them."
McLeish said Villa "looked like a different team" after the break following a timid display in the opening 45 minutes.
He was pleased to see a marked improvement in their attacking play.
He added: "In the second half we looked like a different team.
"I gave them a few home truths at half-time. It was very poor.
"We were chasing shadows, not putting a foot in and not making runs off the ball. It was insipid and not an Aston Villa performance.
"I let them know that and it was a much better performance after the break.
"I thought the players looked afraid, they looked frightened in the first half and I don't know why that should be the case because they are playing in a great game and they should relish every moment.
"Our passing and touch was very poor up until half-time and thankfully we got a grip in the second half."
Despite obvious delight at an improved second half display, McLeish was gutted Vila couldn't increase their lead when in front.
He added: "We started to look really dangerous in the second half and I thought we should have done better to increase our lead.
"These are opportunities that we are not making the most of."
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QPR v Aston Villa: manager Neil Warnock rounds on referee Michael Oliver and Armand Traore
QPR manager Neil Warnock admitted he was more disappointed with left-back Armand Traore than he was with referee Michael Oliver.
Richard Dunne's last-gasp own goal helped 10-man Queens Park Rangers grab a deserved 1-1 draw from this afternoon's Premier League clash with Aston Villa.
Despite dominating the play, QPR fell behind to a Barry Bannan penalty after a soft-looking decision, before Alan Hutton twice handled the ball in the box at the other end.
Oliver did not give either decision but, while frustrated, Warnock believes QPR can be proud of their performance.
''When I was a young man, my father was a referee and he always said that a 'good referee you don't very often see','' he said.
''I thought in today's game the two main decisions went against us.
''When not one Aston Villa supporter behind the goal appeals for a penalty you know there is something wrong.
''It is a very soft one. From his position he assures me he saw this and technically you've still got to change the course of the play.
''You could have blown him down with the amount of contact you're actually talking about.
''If he gives that, there have got to be 20 or 30 more decisions given in the box every game because there is a lot more pulling than that.
''Likewise, I thought he was in a good position for the first handball on 70-odd minutes.
''The lad actually moved his arm down for the handball and it is the most certain 100 per cent penalty you'll ever see when you see it tonight.
''So, we've been unlucky on both counts but, if I am honest, I don't think there was anything to referee.
''I thought the attitude of the players was brilliant, up to the penalty decision.''
Asked whether he spoke to Oliver afterwards, he said: ''Yeah, I always do. I just tell him my opinion.
''I think when you are a young referee you listen and hopefully you learn not just from your assessors but those that have played the game or manage.
''I made one or two points, which I think will help him when something like that happens again.'
Warnock was quick to deny that the 26-year-old was too young to referee in the top flight, with left-back Traore instead feeling the force of his ire.
The Frenchman was sent off for a reckless challenge on Marc Albrighton in the 90th minute, which earned him a second yellow card and looked to have ended any hopes of a QPR comeback.
Although the Hoops managed to snatch a late equaliser, Warnock was furious with Traore.
''I thought it was a disgrace. Not the referee, the player,'' he said.
''I am going to fine him as much as I can. Total amateur Sunday league sending off.
''They must be laughing their heads off, Villa. At that stage, losing 1-0 and he goes in for a tackle like that?
''I would have got him sent off. I would have been there because I knew he was going to knock .125the ball away.375 and jump.
''You've got James Collins and Charles N'Zogbia, who both should have had a second yellow card.
''But both were cleverer, both know what they are doing and they are both playing next week.
''What Traore did, that's not clever at all. He is a young lad, he obviously has got to learn and he can become a very good player.
''But like the referee sometimes you have to learn from experience - and I think Traore will learn from it.''
Warnock pulled the Frenchman back from the tunnel after the sending off and when asked why, he responded: ''To tell him what a disgrace he was. I think he understood what I was saying.''
Counterpart Alex McLeish was visibly frustrated having seen seeing Aston Villa throw away the chance of victory late on and admitted he had stern words with his team at the break.
''I am gutted that we should throw that away in the dying embers of the game,'' he said. ''Especially after a second half performance that was much more what I expect of these players.
''The first half was pretty woeful and I let them know that at half-time.
''Fortunately we restricted QPR to not many gilt-edged chances in the first-half as the back five defended well.
''The irony was that two of the top players ended up in the equalising goal. I felt sorry for those guys.'' Telegraph
WEST LONDON SPORT - QPR rescue point after late own goal
Richard Dunne’s injury-time own goal gave QPR a point – and their first goal at Loftus Road since returning to the Premier League.
Rangers, down to 10 men after the 90th-minute sending-off of Armand Traore, looked set to suffer a controversial defeat until Stephen Warnock’s clearance from Heidar Helguson’s low cross hit Dunne and went in.
Barry Bannan’s hotly disputed penalty had given Aston Villa, who remain unbeaten in the league this season, a 57th-minute lead.
Referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot following Traore’s slight tug of Gabriel Agbonlahor’s shirt, but later gave Alan Hutton the benefit of the doubt after Shaun Derry’s header from Adel Taarabt’s corner struck the Villa defender’s arm.
Rangers dominated most of the first half and went close to going ahead after only six minutes, when Taarabt turned away from Stiliyan Petrov and sent a curling 25-yard shot against the post.
Jay Bothroyd headed wide from a Joey Barton free-kick and then served up an excellent cross from the right only for Barton to miscue at the far post.
Having been a virtual spectator, R’s keeper Paddy Kenny produced a fine save to prevent his team falling behind a minute before the break, diving to his left to claw away Bannan’s free-kick.
It was a sign of things to come as Villa were much more effective after the restart and almost scored when Fabian Delph shot wide after drifting behind the QPR defence to collect Bannan’s pass.
Rangers were fortunate on that occasion but luck was certainly not on their side when Oliver handed Bannan the chance to score his first Premier League goal.
There was no obvious foul when Agbonlahor failed to connect with Warnock’s left-wing cross, but Traore’s contact with the Villa forward was enough for Oliver to award a spot-kick.
As with his earlier free-kick, Bannan put his penalty to Kenny’s left but this time managed to place it beyond his reach.
It was tough on Rangers but a consequence of their failure to take their chances.
Just as against Newcastle in their previous home match, Neil Warnock’s men struggled to make the most of their possession and Bothroyd was unable to find his elusive first goal for the club.
With England manager Fabio Capello watching at Loftus Road, Bothroyd will regard his first-half header wide as an opportunity missed in more ways than one.
Capello is expected to recall Shaun Wright-Phillips to the international fold, although the former Manchester City man was not as influential as in his previous games for Rangers.
But Bothroyd’s England chances probably didn’t improve despite some decent hold-up play, and DJ Campbell made an impact when he replaced him midway through the second half.
Campbell knocked the ball down to Wright-Phillips, whose shot was superbly tipped away by keeper Shay Given.
That lifted Rangers and they should have had a penalty when Hutton handled in the box. They again appealed in vain when substitute Tommy Smith’s cross struck Hutton’s arm, although that time it was purely accidental.
When Traore, yellow-carded after conceding the penalty, fouled Marc Albrighton and was dismissed for a second bookable offence, Villa looked home and dry.
But Rangers did not give up and Dunne, who has scored more own goals than any other top-flight player, came to their rescue in the final seconds. West London Sport
GUARDIAN - Late own-goal salvages a deserved point for QPR against Aston Villa
Sachin Nakrani at Loftus Road guardian.co.uk, Sunday 25 September 2011 15.37 EDT Article history
Aston Villa's Richard Dunne, standing left, scores an own-goal as QPR snatch a late point at Loftus Road. Photograph: Alex Morton/Action Images
Neil Warnock stated in the programme for this contest a desire to be "ultra careful" with his comments to the media having, in his opinion, created too many controversial headlines already this year. Well, that lasted long. The QPR manager's tongue was at its acidic best here, unleashing a stream of rage and ridicule towards the referee, Michael Oliver, for the decisions which livened up this otherwise underwhelming stalemate.
At the centre of Warnock's fury was the penalty with which Aston Villa took the lead. Oliver deemed that Armand Traoré had pulled back Gabriel Agbonlahor as he prepared to convert Stephen Warnock's cross and pointed to the spot. The decision certainly took those in attendance – which included the prime minister, David Cameron – by surprise. Even the away supporters required a few seconds of silence before they broke into cheers.
Barry Bannan converted the penalty for Villa but they, according to their own manager, Alex McLeish, had been "woeful" up to then, especially in the first half when they were unable to exert any pressure against hosts who had pinned them back with their high-pressing approach, creating several scoring chances, the most notable being Adel Taarabt's curling drive on four minutes that clipped the post.
They deserved an equaliser and until Richard Dunne's injury-time own-goal it appeared they would not get one, with Warnock convinced his team should have had at least two penalties for handballs by the Villa right-back Alan Hutton.
"I don't think [Villa's] penalty would have been a penalty at a lot of grounds and I think we would have got a penalty on certain days. Not one Aston Villa supporter appeals for their penalty," said Warnock. "Referees should be seen and not heard and it takes away from our performance – we were superb."
Those comments were made to Sky Sports immediately after the final whistle and in an unusual move Warnock returned to the cameras moments later.
"How has the linesman not seen that? He [Hutton] deliberately handballs it," said Warnock in a noticeably more agitated state. "Their penalty – he [the referee] wanted to give it. My boys deserve better than that."
Warnock had calmed down by the time he addressed the written press, still standing by the view "that all the decisions went against us" but less willing to criticise Oliver directly, although there was something rather patronising about the way he described his meeting with the official – who, aged 25, became the Premier League's youngest referee last August – after the game.
"When you're a young referee you listen and learn from people in the game," Warnock said. "I made one or two points which I think will help him."
The QPR manager did also describe Oliver as "one of the best referees" in the Premier League and in fairness to him his decisions here were hardly scandalous. Traoré did appear at least to put off Agbonlahor prior to the penalty and Hutton did illegally obstruct Shaun Derry's 71st‑minute header. The Scotland international's block of a Tommy Smith cross was also dubious but happened at a speed which made Oliver's job difficult.
Warnock's criticism also stretched to Traoré who, having been booked for his role in Villa's penalty, received a second yellow card for a lunge on Marc Albrighton. "The player was a disgrace and I'll fine him as much as I can," said Warnock.
Down to 10 men, QPR looked set for a third defeat of the season, an unjust reward for a committed and eye-catching display. But then Stephen Warnock's clearance of Heidar Helguson's cross hit Dunne and went into the net to secure the hosts' first goal here this season. Guardian
INDEPENDENT/Sam Wallace - Another Dunne disaster allows Rangers to escape with a point
If you want to get a measure of just how angry Neil Warnock was with the performance of referee Michael Oliver yesterday, then the fact he insisted on giving two television interviews to Sky Sports might give you an idea.
In the first, Warnock was angry. By the second, having seen the replays, he was livid. By the time he came to speak to the newspapers an hour after the end of the game, the Queen's Park Rangers manager had only just started to calm down. His team only got their equaliser in stoppage-time, an own-goal by Richard Dunne, having been denied a penalty of their own by what their manager called an "embarrassing" decision by Oliver.
With the Prime Minister and Villa fan David Cameron in attendance, Rangers dominated the first half, in which Alex McLeish admitted his team were "insipid". Having told them so at half-time, the Villa manager saw his team take the lead with Barry Bannan's penalty before the hour, its award the first of a series of borderline decisions by Oliver that transformed the match.
After Armand Traoré was sent off for two bookings, the first of which was given for the foul on Gabriel Agbonlahor for the penalty, Warnock had to shepherd his players away from the referee on the pitch at the end of the game. For the penalty, there was evidence that Traoré grabbed the Villa striker's shirt but in the context of the whole incident it still looked like a harsh decision by Oliver.
As far as a Football Association charge goes, Warnock sailed closest to the wind in his initial, expansively voiced televised criticism of Oliver, the youngest Premier League referee at 26, for the penalty given against Traoré. "Traoré's penalty, come on, I've never seen anything like that," Warnock said. "He [Traoré] blows on him. He [Oliver] wants to give the penalty and it's wrong."
Earlier in the same interview, Warnock was also indignant about Oliver's decision not to give two penalties for hand-ball incident involving full-back Alan Hutton in the second half; in particular, the first from a Shaun Derry header on 71 minutes.
"How has the linesman not seen that?" Warnock asked. "He deliberately hand-balls it. And the second one [hand-ball by Hutton], we're told that if you raise your hands it's a hand-ball. He's raised his hands against Tommy Smith. But the first one is embarrassing. How that cannot be given a penalty – he can't even say he's in a bad position."
Later, in his press conference, Warnock said that he had spoken to Oliver after the game and that he hoped the young referee "would learn" from some of the points he had made to him: "I was disappointed. When I was a young man my father refereed and he always said, a good referee, you don't very often see them.
"The two major decisions have gone against us. When not one Aston Villa supporter behind the goal appeals for a penalty, you know there is something wrong. It was a very soft one. From his [Oliver's] position, he assures me it was. Technically, you still have to change the course [of the player] ... so if he gives that, there has to be 20 or 30 more free-kicks in the box, because there is a lot more pulling than that.
"The [decision on the] Derry header, the lad [Hutton] almost moved his hand down and it is the most certain, 100 per cent penalty you will ever see. So we have been unlucky with both counts. I always [talk to the referee] just tell him my opinion. When you are a young referee you learn not just from your assessors but from people who played the game or manage. I made one or two points to him that I think will help him for when something like that happens again."
If Warnock was hard on Oliver he was even harder on Traoré, who was sent off for a silly lunge on substitute Marc Albrighton in the 90th minute. Warnock stopped the player from going down the tunnel to admonish him on the touchline in full view of the whole stadium, later calling Traoré a "disgrace".
Warnock said: "I will fine him as much as I can. Total amateur, Sunday League sending off. They must be laughing their heads off, Villa. We are losing 1-0 and he [Traoré] goes in like that. If I was a player I would have got him sent off because he went in and jumped. [James] Collins and [Charles] N'Zogbia both should have had a second yellow card, but they are both cleverer, both know what they are doing and they are both playing next week.
"He [Traoré] obviously has a lot to learn, he has become a very good player. Sometimes you have to learn from experience. I told him what a disgrace he was, I think he understood what I was saying."
McLeish had equally harsh words for his team at half-time and praised their second-half performance, in which Bannan excelled. In the absence of the team's usual penalty-taker, Darren Bent, the Scottish midfielder took responsibility himself to give Villa the lead. Dunne scored the ninth own-goal of his Premier League career – a record – when substitute Heidar Helguson's cross cannoned off Stephen Warnock, against the Irishman and in.
McLeish said: "I'm frustrated we should throw it away in the dying embers of the game. The first half was pretty woeful and I let them know that at half-time, but the second half was much better. In the first half, there were no direct forward runs and we couldn't even control the ball.
"We have to make forward runs and control the ball. They looked frightened in the first half and I don't know why that should be. It's the greatest game they'll ever play football and they should relish."
The Villa manager disagreed with Warnock's assessment of the penalty for Villa, saying that he thought Oliver had made the right decision.
"As soon as he blew the whistle I thought it was a pen," McLeish said, although by then he had heard of Warnock's point of view and looked more than a little keen to contradict his counterpart.
Substitutes: Queen's Park Rangers Campbell 5 (Bothroyd, 66), Helguson (Derry, 79), Smith (Wright-Phillips, 86). Aston Villa Albrighton (Bannan, 72), Weimann (N'Zogbia, 85).
Booked: QPR Traoré. Aston Villa Warnock, Hutton, Collins, Petrov, Agbonlahor, N'Zogbia. Sent off: QPR Traoré (90)
Man of the match Bannan. Match rating 6/10. Possession: QPR 54% Aston Villa 46%.
Attempts on target: QPR 9 Aston Villa 4. Referee M Oliver (Northumberland).
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