Boss Redknapp explains Barton omission

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Manager Harry Redknapp said he left Joey Barton out of the starting line-up for QPR’s 1-0 win against Yeovil simply to give him a rest.

Barton, who has been a key player this season, came on as a late substitute at Huish Park, where Charlie Austin’s 74th-minute penalty gave Rangers the points.

“Joey has played the last three games and this was our third game in a week,” said Redknapp.

“The one area I’m overloaded in is midfield. I’ve got people like Jermaine Jenas and I’ve got Ale Faurlin not getting a game.

“I just thought I’d change it around today. I left Tom Carroll out in midweek. I just wanted to get fresh legs in.

“The one area I’ve got cover in is midfield. I don’t have any cover at centre-back or right-back and I’ve only got one striker.”

Rangers, whose win took them three points clear at the top of the Championship, had to absorb significant pressure before emerging with their fifth 1-0 win of the season.

And their clean sheet was their sixth consecutive shut-out.

Redknapp admitted: “It was a struggle. We hung on in there in the end.

“There are going to be tight games all through this season, especially when you come to places like here where there’s a full house and they’re the underdogs.

“It’s a great position for them to be in, being the underdogs with nothing to lose. They came out and gave it everything. They were very unlucky to lose.”

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