Neil Warnock praised goalscorer Heidar Helguson for his impact at Crystal Palace on Saturday, but it’s been another bad weekend for Rowan Vine after his loan move to Hull City.

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Neil Warnock was keen to praise Helguson following the striker’s last gasp winner at Selhurst Park. The 33 year old Icelandic international has been playing against all medical logic in recent weeks with a worsening tear in his groin but stayed fit and sharp to bag an injury time winner against the beleaguered Eagles at the weekend.

Warnock told the club’s official website: “It's took the best header I've seen in years to win the game. I thought Helguson was absolutely outstanding today. I wish I'd have had him a few years ago. It was just a fantastic goal. He's jumped miles ahead of everybody else and put it in. You could say we were fortunate today, but I don't think so, we looked solid. My lot don't know when they're beaten. We were two nil down at Derby in the 93rd minute and got a draw.

"We're really enjoying it at the minute. I've never seen Derry and Hill play better. I'm really proud of the lads like that. Jamie Mackie and Tarbs had a bit of a go at each other at half-time and then he goes and unselfishly gives him that tap-in. It's what it's all about. I can't speak highly enough of them. It's just a fantastic start. I'm looking forward to the next two weeks, because I need a break.”

Warnock’s counterpart George Burley could do with a different kind of break with Palace beset by injuries and now firmly in the bottom three.

He told Palace’s official website afterwards: “After conceding a bad goal to go behind we hung in there and worked hard as we created opportunities but were naive after we scored. After we got back in the game we should have gone on the front foot in their half but instead went the other way. Queens Park Rangers are an experienced outfit and have a strong set of players. In the last few days we have played two sides are at the top of the division and even though we have nine or ten players out we have put in good performances and the youngsters have continued to do well. "Julian went up to catch the ball but it’s one of those decisions that can go either way. The referees usually give those decisions on the side of the goalkeeper but it was not to be this afternoon. Julian is a top goalkeeper and once again he was tremendous today. Edgar Davids got a knock in the first half so that may have affected the pass which put them in for their first. You would think with his experience passing back from there wouldn't have happened, but he did. Credit to our lads even after that setback we kept going and did get ourselves back in the game.”

Palace’s Keiran Djilali was less the fulsome in his praise of the league leaders, telling the Evening Standard: “A lot of dirty challenges were going in that the ref didn't notice.”

Striker Jamie Mackie has been talking about his call up to the Scotland squad for their forthcoming matches against the Czech Republic and World Champions Spain, and winning the PFA Fans Player of the Month award for August and September – which is not, as far as I’m aware, the same as the official divisional Player of the Month award that Adel Taarabt won in August.

Mackie told the PFA website: “It was something I always knew was possible. I knew I qualified to play for Scotland but I didn’t know if anyone else knew. I have been given a bit more of a high profile at QPR and I think people are now starting to take notice of me. I am not a player who has burst onto the scene and as a teenager – I have had to work very hard to get where I am. To be honest, the thought of playing against Spain, the world champions, is ridiculous – I am just delighted to be involved.

“I’m absolutely delighted. This award has been voted for by the fans, so that’s something really special for me. I’m really pleased with how things have gone over the last few weeks, both for me personally and for the team. I’ve got great confidence in my own ability, but the most important thing is the club and as long as we keep producing the goods, I’ll be absolutely delighted.”

Finally Rowan Vine’s extended period of misery shows no signs of slowing yet, despite completing a loan move to Hull City for some much needed first team football on Friday. Vine marked his debut for the Tigers by picking up a yellow card for clattering a Coventry player in the opening moments of their 0-0 draw on Saturday – before he’d even touched the ball. Then after firing blanks with former R Jay Simpson against the Sky Blues stories in the Ealing Gazette claimed that sections of the QPR support were calling for Vine to be sacked for comments made on his, since closed, Twitter page.

Neil Warnock said: “Some people have complained to me about him on this Twitter thing. He's welcome to go to another club - his agent knows that. There's nobody on the fringes going to upset anyone here in the first-team squad by taking a place."

Speaking to the Hull Daily Mail about his move to Humberside Vine said: “I am buzzing to be here. I have a point to prove, though not to individuals or anything like that. More to myself. It came as a bit of a surprise. I had been at training on the Thursday and the manager called me in to say Hull were interested and did I want to go. I've wanted something I could get my teeth into. The manager here has not mentioned beyond the month. He just said that Hull needed something different and he thought I could be it."

Rumours

For what they’re worth (not a great deal in my opinion) there are two stories floating around concerning potential transfer moves at Loftus Road today. The first is from the terminally awful Caught Offside website – never knowingly troubled by facts or the need to attribute a story to a source – that says Adel Taarabt is a £4m target for Newcastle following Hatem Ben Arfa’s leg break at Man City on Sunday. The second is from the Mail on Sunday via the BBC gossip feed which says Rangers and Ipswich are tracking Irish midfielder Paddy Madden. The 20 year old currently plays for Bohemians in his homeland and is also attracting interest from Celtic.

Former R’s

Scott Sinclair’s new lease of life continues at Swansea. The former Chelsea winger, who endured an unhappy loan spell at QPR three seasons ago, has scored eight times already this season for the Swans and his absence for the weekend’s drab 0-0 draw with Derby certainly made South Wales hearts grow fonder for him. Defender Gary Monk said: “'Everyone's going to point to us missing Scott because of the pace he brings, the goals he's scored and the status he's got at the moment. But it's a team game. At the end of the day we've got a good squad here, good players and if one of our chances had gone in no-one would be saying that now. I don't think there was a lack of creativity because we created enough chances to win the game. People who watch us a lot realise it isn't about just one person. He's a big player for our team, but other players are capable. It's not all about Scotty, but he's scoring goals for fun at the moment so with the form he's in you are going to miss that. But give respect to the other guys. It just wasn't our day in front of goal.”

Championship Shorts

- Leeds have extended the loan of Blackburn goalkeeper Jason Brown by a further month, and Sunderland full back George McCartney by two days to allow him to play in their game against Cardiff on October 25. Leeds have won just one of their last five games and conceded 13 goals in the process.

- Fresh from his latest managerial sacking, and the appointment of Sven Goran Ericsson, Leicester chairman Milan Mandaric has ruled himself out of a predicted return to former club Portsmouth The 72 year old said: “Portsmouth should take care of their own problems now. I don't think I can meet the expectations of the great supporters over there that I love so much and my own expectations if I go back. So for that reason I'm ruling myself almost out of that."

- Ericsson meanwhile returned to management in this country by signing a two year deal at the Walkers’ Stadium on Sunday. The Swede was in the crowd as Leicester beat Scunthorpe 3-1 on Saturday and has appointed his former scout at Man City Derek Fazackerley as his assistant after Huddersfield granted him permission to move. Ericsson said: “I am very happy to be here. The club wants to be in the Premier League and I do as well. That is the clear target.”

- Darcy Blake and Kevin McNaughton from Cardiff have been added to their respective national squads at late notice. Blake, sent off at Barnsley at the weekend, joins Wales for qualifiers against Switzerland and Bulgaria after West Ham’s Danny Gabbidon announced his retirement. And McNaughton is back in the Scotland squad for their games against the Czech Republic and Spain after Craig Levein suffered a number of late withdrawals.

Photo: Action Images

JB007007 added 20:06 - Oct 5 Julian went up to catch the ball but it’s one of those decisions that can go either way. The referees usually give those decisions on the side of the goalkeeper but it was not to be this afternoon. Burley must be a knob! He needs to see that goal from Heidar for what is was, just superbly timed and taken. It worries me a little about his injury though as this could catch up with him soon. He is playing such an important part of our team at the moment and I cant see anyone else doing it as well.

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Myke added 22:53 - Oct 5 It's important that we get Hulse fit and playing ASAP to take the pressure off Helguson. Likewise with Rowlands in the centre of the park. Also at centre-half we have no replacement if either Connolly or Gorkks get hurt with Hall injured and Ramage out for the season. In that regard Shittu may be a useful addition. We still have quite a threadbare squad in a lot of key areas and this break comes just in time

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brendan added 13:48 - Oct 6 Saw Paddy Madden for Bohs V Shamrock Rovers last night. Lively enough but looks a bit lightweight.Then again he is only 20
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