QPR ‘looking over their shoulder’ – McClaren
QPR manager Steve McClaren told his players they are now involved in a relegation battle after losing 2-1 at home to Rotherham.
Semi Ajayi’s header deep into injury time gave third-from-bottom United their first away league win of the season.
It also dragged Rangers into trouble – McClaren’s side are now just seven points above the relegation zone.
Ajayi opened the scoring with 20 minutes remaining and struck again in the final seconds after Bright Osayi-Samuel’s 85th-minute equaliser appeared to have rescued a point for the hosts.
A recent win against Leeds aside, Rangers have struggled badly since the turn of the year and this was their ninth defeat in 11 Championship matches.
“We’ve said to the players that we’re looking over our shoulder and need to pick up points,” said McClaren.
“We can see the 50-point mark and we need to get three wins very quick.
“The target has always been 50 points as quick as possible. After Leeds we said ‘let’s kick on and get them’ and we haven’t. We’ve collected one point.
“Since the Leeds game, which was only a couple of weeks ago, we’ve been poor.
“We should have kicked on. Instead, we’ve not. We now need to find the solution.
“We have no excuses. We thought we rescued a point but we were poor tonight.
“Overall we had players not playing at the level and that’s our responsibility.
“We’ve had some highs this season and some good results – only two weeks ago – and incredible lows, and tonight is another one of them.
“It’s about how you react. We have to show character and we’re not making excuses.”
McClaren admitted the return of Geoff Cameron and Angel Rangel cannot come soon enough.
Cameron, out since December with an ankle injury, was among the substitutes, while Rangel is on course to return after the international break following a thigh problem.
“We have missed them and need them back, but we should still have enough out there,” McClaren said.
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14/03/2019 @ 3:45 pm
The failings of this club is its managerial components. The FFP has screwed this club. I’ll never forgive TF for the big part he played in putting the club where it currently is. As for McClaren, the man is a liability, and the evidence lies with every club he has ever managed. The Wally with the Brolly sums him and the club up admirably. Get rid and let’s hope QPR somehow feminine’s the championship.
14/03/2019 @ 3:04 pm
The Manager and coaches can only do so much the players need to step up to earn their wages and the respect of the supporters. Supported QPR for more than 60years performance against Rotherham one of the worst ever seen.
14/03/2019 @ 1:20 pm
I have to say this through gritted teeth ” looks like the Newcastle fans were right about McC” – time he started looking over his shoulder – is Ollie still unemployed?.
14/03/2019 @ 11:21 am
Its high time the manager started managing. I wonder if senior management still consider getting rid of Ollie was such a good idea?
14/03/2019 @ 10:32 am
Don’t think it is the players that are the problem. The manager just isn’t up to the job and the sooner he is gone the better.
14/03/2019 @ 10:03 am
Can’t blame McLaren when he’s got to put a team together with players no one else wants. Most of the time the football he wants to play is good. The players just aren’t good enough.
14/03/2019 @ 7:21 am
I think McC has run out of ideas!