Neil Warnock was again critical of his defence following the 2-0 defeat at Elland Road on Saturday, but got more than he bargained for when he turned on referee Scott Mathieson after full time.
QPR had conceded just nine goals all season just over a week ago but have now shipped five in two games and having warned Kaspars Gorkss and Matt Connolly they could face the chop if they didn’t improve following the 3-1 set back against Watford Neil Warnock was again left to lament the paucity of his backline after the R’s first away defeat of the season at Elland Road.
Warnock said: “It was a good game, too, but if we defend like we did we will get beaten by any team in the division. It is disappointing because that part of our game has definitely been our strength this season. I thought the celebrations in the tunnel were premature because we are not at Christmas yet. You would think they were already there, but I think anybody could go up. Leicester and Portsmouth are two decent sides, for example. We have played nine of the top ten sides in the division away from home so we just have to keep going and stop feeling sorry for ourselves after two defeats in a row. If you had told me we would be top at Christmas after losing only two games I would have snapped your hand off. I quite enjoyed the game because there was a great atmosphere generated by the crowd but we conceded two very poor goals. We probably caught Leeds at the wrong time because they are on a long unbeaten run.
“We have to sort ourselves out. We've got Swansea, Coventry and Norwich to play next. I don't think we're a bad side. If we can be up there after the Burnley fixture in January, then that's not bad at all. We've just got to keep going and not get disappointed with the kicks that we get. Life's up and down and we've just got to take the rough with the smooth."
After the game Warnock, as usual, reserved criticism for match referee Scott Mathieson but perhaps got more than he bargained for when, in front of the BBC cameras, he told him he would show him four poor decisions he’d made in the second half. “Yeh, you know what, I’ll show you four or five really bad passes and all,” retorted Matheison who I didn’t think had a particularly bad game at all and was certainly well within his rights to retort to the unnecessary reaction of the QPR manager. Click here for video footage of the altercation.
Warnock’s opposite number in the Leeds dugout Simon Grayson was understandably delighted with his side’s win that lifted them up to second in the table, three points behind QPR.
Grayson said: "Given the quality of the opposition and what QPR have achieved, this was our most outstanding home performance of the season. We have a high expectancy level at this club and rightly so. Our fans want and expect the best. The club deserves to be back in the Premiership but there is a lot of work still to be done if we are to achieve that. It is where we finish in May that matters, but I was delighted with the performance and the manner of the win. We were outstanding for most of the game and dominated it by working hard and making our tackles count. Max Gradel deserved his two goals. He is still learning the game and he frustrates you at times but you can never fault his desire to succeed."
Rangers’ Boxing Day clash with Swansea will certainly be an interesting one. Shaping up as a battle between the top two a fortnight ago the Swans have also lost form and drifted to fourth in the table after a meek 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United at the weekend.
Defender Garry Monk told the Evening Post: “It was a poor performance from us this weekend and we've all got to step up to the plate because it simply wasn't good enough. Forget about talking about going second, third or the play-offs, you've got to get the performance right first. We've got to get back to the standards we've set. In the past couple of games our performances haven't been where they should be. We have to step up and raise ourselves for a massive match at QPR."
Elsewhere Adel Taarabt has told The Mirror he is desperate to join his friend Marouane Chamakh in the Premiership next season. Taarabt said: “We are together every day. We are the only two Moroccans in the English league so we are very close. He has settled in very well but I was not surprised. For him to go to Arsenal was perfect because he came from a French league, he speaks French, Arsene Wenger speaks French and eight-nine players speak French there. For him, nothing changes. It was different for me at Tottenham - I arrived at the age of 17 and it was difficult. Of course he helps me and gives me advice. He believes in me 100 per cent and is just waiting for me to play in the Premier League. He knows I want to be there and that I can play there so that helps me a lot. I know I have to keep working and hopefully one day I will be able to do this.
“I don’t know if I will play in the Premier League with QPR, but if not I hope with another team. QPR have given me a chance and hopefully I can get them up to the Premier League. This is my job this season and we will see what can happen. At the start of the season if people told us we wouldn’t lose in the first 19 games then we would have taken that. Now we have lost two games and of course people will look at us and the situation. But we know what we can do and we can come back.”
Off the pitch Bernie Ecclestone has bought up Flavio Briatore’s shares in the club to take a controlling interest in Rangers. While I appreciate this is old news the way the LFW Diary works (i.e. no Friday, Saturday or Sunday editions) means this is the first chance we’ve had to mention it in this column. Presumbly Ecclestone’s move brings to an end the interest of Vijay Mallya, the Kingfisher owner, who had been in lengthy negotiations to buy shares in QPR previously this season and was a known associate of Amit Bhatia and Lakshmi Mittal.
Ecclestone told The Mirror’s Oliver Holt, his regular contact in the press: “I now own about 62% of the club and I am here mainly to support what Neil is doing. Neil’s the one who tells them how to kick the ball and now we’ll see if we can get into the Premier League. I’m not thinking about competing with Manchester United or Arsenal. We will just see what happens. I have not bought the club because I want to see my name in the papers. I don’t need that. It is just something that I enjoy doing.”
- Mikele Leigertwood played a full 90 minutes as Reading extended ther unbeaten run to six, five of them draws, with a 2-1 win at high flying Derby on Saturday. Shane Long scored both goals, the winner coming just two minutes from time.
- No action for Joe Oastler or Ramone Rose at Torquay at the weekend, their home match with Rotherham fell victim to the snow.
- It’s looking increasingly likely that Rowan Vine will return from his month loan with Brentford without playing a game – their weekend match with Huddersfield was also lost to the weather.
With the January transfer window approaching and QPR’s form on the wane it is inevitable that the R’s will be linked with a host of players in the press, articularly if Neil Warock is ablee to clear the substantial pay packets of Martin Rowlands and Mikele Leigertwood from the wage bill in the New Year. So far this week the Daily Mail has linked us with Chesterfield’s 14-goal target man Craig Davies, once of Wolves, Verona, Oldham and several others.
Zesh Rehman’s time in English football is over for now, after he agreed a deal with Thailand Premier League Champions Muangthong United. Rehman was the captain of League Two side Bradford City until he fell out with manager Peter Taylor over being dropped from the side in favour of loan players. He was immediately dropped and transfer listed and will now play his football in the Far East – possibly the only part of the world where it’s not well known that he’s absolutely awful at football.
Taylor told Bradford’s official website: “I know that we had a disagreement a couple of weeks ago, but I have always stated that Zesh has been a true professional during his time with the club. He has always done the club proud when called upon. This move is a good opportunity for him and because I couldn't guarantee him a starting place, I have decided to allow him to join on a free transfer. We wish him all the best at Muangthong and he is welcome back at the club anytime."
Rehman said: "It is sad to be leaving Bradford City as I have very fond memories of the club and city. I would like to thank the chairmen, directors, players, management staff and fans. I wish the club the very best for the remainder of the season. The fans have been great and I would not rule out a return to England in the future.”
Better news in Hull for Jay Simpson who finally got off the mark for Hull City at the fifteenth time of asking at the weekend with a brace of goals in a 2-0 victory against Bristol City. Simpson told the Hull Daily Mail: “It's a big weight lifted off my shoulders. It's been a long time coming. When you're going through a drought it's a tough time for any striker. You always hope that the next game is going to bring that goal. When I came here I wanted to get off the mark as soon as possible to help me settle in. To then go through a drought for a new club has been very difficult but hopefully this can change things. I don't want to get too carried away but I'm looking forward to my next game and the chance to score the next goal now." "The fans have been great with me, they've been very patient. They're probably just as relieved as I am that the drought is finally over. When you're scoring goals you always feel confident. As a striker that's all I want to do."
Jordi Lopez looks set to leave Swansea this January after managing just five appearances so far this season, since the departure of Paulo Sousa. Lopez told the Evening Post: “I am only 29 and I can't be just going along every week in training and not making the squad. I have around three years at my best to play and I'm losing time here. When you're not playing it is difficult to be happy. I think it's going to be very difficult for me to get an opportunity now because the season has moved on a lot. I would like to move in January because I want to play — and I can't see that happening here. I'm speaking to my agent already. I've also spoken to the chairman about my situation and I expect to move on.
"I don't really understand my situation. I don't think I can do much more to get into the team. I have done everything asked of me in training, but I don't get an opportunity. When I have played, it has only been a game here or there. But in that situation it is difficult to do your best and find form. The last time I played was against Derby and I did very well. After that, I was out again for no reason. Nothing was said to me. Myself and the manager haven't spoken about it. I am experienced in football and I know when someone doesn't rate you. I'm not sure if other clubs have shown an interest yet, but that is something my agent will deal with. It doesn't matter to me whether I play here or in Spain. Playing football every week is my priority."
In other news one time QPR youth teamer Chris Arthur has signed a short term contract with League Two side Rotherham after a successful trial, and Yate Town have tabled an offer to veteran winger Michael Meaker following his release from Mangotsfield United.
- Referee Stuart Attwell was at the centre of controversy yet again at the weekend as he allowed the Ipswich v Leicester game to take place on a pitch where the snow was so thick the lines of the penalty area were invisible. Having allowed the game to start Attwell faced an impossible situation in the second half when he appeared ready to call the game off with Ipswich leading 3-0, prompting an angry confrontation on the pitch with Town’s under fire manager Roy Keane. Following that exchange the pitch was swept and play resumed although the game would never have taken place had it not been televised.
- In the other games that took place that haven’t already been mentioned in this column Norwich climbed above Coventry into fifth with a 2-1 win at the Ricoh Arena thanks to two goals from Grant Holt, Middlesbrough were plunged further into the relegation mire with a 2-1 defeat at Doncaster for whom Brian Stock scored the winner deep into injury time, and Forest comfortably beat Palace 3-0 with Marcus Tudgay scoring his first goal for the club since moving from Sheff Wed.
- Leicester defender Bruno Berner says he will leave in January after losing his place to Man City loanee Greg Cunningham. He said: “I am still desperate to play. It looks like in January I am looking for a move. I am ambitious and too proud to sit on the bench, sit on a contract, take the money and be happy. I cannot do that." Meanwhil Foxes boss Sven Goran Eriksson says he is still trying to persuade David Beckham to move to the Walkers Stadium.
- Sheff Utd will delay announcing a successor to Gary Speed until after the Christmas and New Year fixtures following caretaker boss John Carver’s impressive win against Swansea at the weekend.
- Derby boss Nigel Clough says the club will be active in the January transfer window as he looks to arrest a run of four straight defeats. Clough said: “As soon as the window opens we would hope to get some players in. We are down the road with Luke Moore and keeping him and we want one or two others to bolster the squad."