Match Reports & Warnock Comments (QPR vs Sheff U)

[QPR Report]

FT 1-1

Sousa's Swansea let Sheff Wed get a point and Holloway's Blackpool lost!

UPDATED TABLE

Newcastle 35 73 40 66 2-2 FT v Middlesbrough
West Brom 36 69 31 71 3-2 FT v Blackpool
Nottm Forest 36 64 21 51 2-3 FT v Preston
Swansea 36 60 8 31 0-0 FT v Sheff Wed
Leicester 35 57 10 43 1-0 FT v Cardiff
Cardiff 35 52 13 57 0-1 FT v Leicester

Blackpool 36 50 9 53 2-3 FT v West Brom
Coventry 36 50 -6 41 1-1 FT v Plymouth
Sheff Utd 36 49 0 49 1-1 FT v QPR
Middlesbrough 36 48 7 47 2-2 FT v Newcastle
Doncaster 36 48 3 47 2-1 v Derby
Preston 36 47 -7 45 3-2 FT v Nottm Forest
Barnsley 35 46 -10 44 0-0 FT v Crystal Palace
Bristol City 36 45 -11 40 0-2 FT v Reading
QPR 35 44 -4 49 1-1 FT v Sheff Utd
Reading 34 44 -4 46 2-0 FT v Bristol City
Ipswich 36 44 -6 40 1-0 FT v Sc*n*horpe
Derby 36 42 -11 43 1-2 v Doncaster
Watford 34 39 -7 44 0-1 FT v Peterborough
Crystal Palace * 35 38 -1 36 0-0 FT v Barnsley
Sheff Wed 36 38 -18 38 0-0 FT v Swansea

Sc*n*horpe 35 38 -21 41 0-1 FT v Ipswich
Plymouth 35 31 -17 34 1-1 FT v Coventry
Peterborough 36 30 -19 38 1-0 FT v Watford

www.sportinglife.com/football/live/tables/cc_champ.html

[QPR Report]

QPR Official Site

Date:
13/03/2010 Venue:
Bramall Lane
Attendance:
23,456 Referee:
A Bates



Adel Taarabt bagged his seventh goal of the season as honours ended even between QPR and Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Dominant for large spells of the match in the Steel City, the R's were an unlikely goal down on the stroke of half time.

Mark Yeates made the goal, crossing for Richard Cresswell who expertly thumped home a header past the helpless Carl Ikeme.

However, Rangers weren't to be beaten - and they equalised just four minutes after the break as Taarabt stayed calm when through on goal to slide the ball home past Mark Bunn in the Blades net.

QPR boss Neil Warnock named the same starting eleven that beat Plymouth Argyle 2-0 at Loftus Road on Tuesday evening for the trip to face his former Club, the Blades.

Ikeme resumed in goal for the Hoops.

Matt Connolly, Damion Stewart, Kaspars Gorkss and Matt Hill made up the R's back four.

In midfield, Taarabt and Hogan Ephraim started out wide, while skipper Mikele Leigertwood and Alejandro Faurlin lined up in the centre.

Tamas Priskin partnered Jay Simpson in attack for Rangers.

The R's started in positive fashion and won a corner after only a minute had passed.

From the resultant kick, Faurlin played a lovely centre into the path of Taarabt, whose header - although going wide - was cleared away to safety.

Rangers were looking dangerous in the early stages of the match.

This time, after Faurlin touched the ball into the direction of Taarabt, the magical Moroccan beat one man before firing a centre across the face of goal that somehow managed to miss everyone in the box.

Moments later, Simpson and Ephraim combined, and when the latter played Taarabt through on goal, Bunn came rushing out of his net to come and claim the ball.

Soon after, it was the Blades who created their first chance to score - and they should have done so.

James Harper found himself in space down the left before he crossed for the unmarked Henri Camara, though with the goal at his mercy from little under 18-yards out, he could only fire over the bar.

However, it was the R's who continued to press and moments later they came as close as you possibly can without scoring.

When a free-kick was played from deep, Gorkss nodded the ball out wide for Ephraim on the left.

The tricky winger drove into the penalty area before cutting in to drill a cross-come-shot at goal that smashed against the foot of the right-hand post, before the ball was cleared up field.

Play then switched to the other end, where Jordan Stewart drove at the QPR defence before firing a low shot from 30 yards straight at Ikeme in the Rangers net.

Moments later, Harper's free-kick from the left-hand side was cleared only as far as Nick Montgomery around 20 yards from goal, before he thundered high and wide of the goal.

Just before the interval, the R's missed a brilliant chance to take a half-time lead.

Taarabt found the ball midway into the United half before he slid Ephraim through on goal. Under pressure from his marker but with only the keeper to beat, the midfielder could only shoot straight at Bunn.

And it was a chance that the R's were left to rue, as the Blades opened the scoring on their next attack.

Yeates made the goal, crossing delightfully for Cresswell, who nodded home superbly to give the hosts the lead.

The R's had an opportunity to level the scores just before the half-time whistle when Taarabt played Simpson through on a goal, though the frontman could only fire straight at Bunn in the Blades net.

Soon after the break, United came close to finding a second goal.

Harper created the chance, and when his pinpoint cross bounced in the six-yard box in front of a whole host of Blades players, Ikeme did brilliantly to come out and claim the ball for Rangers.

Buoyed by their reprieve, QPR soon levelled matters.

After a ball was played from deep, Taarabt stole possession from Marcel Seip as the ball bounced up in the air.

Through on goal with only keeper Bunn standing in his way of the net, Taarabt was coolness personified to slide the ball home for the R's.

QPR playmaker Taarabt was causing the opposition problems aplenty, and he soon came close to adding his second goal of the match.

After being fouled on the edge of the Blades penalty area, Taarabt dusted himself down before bending an effort at the top left-hand corner that forced a fine save from Blades keeper Bunn.

Rangers were now firmly in control.

Leigertwood produced QPR's next effort, and after Faurlin touched the ball onto him from 25-yards out, the skipper blasted an effort just wide.

Moments later, Faurlin's clever pass up to Simpson ended with the forward touching the ball back to Taarabt, who from the edge of the box fired straight at keeper Bunn.

With time running out on the clock, the R's continued to get forward in numbers as they looked for goal number two.

Though they couldn't find their way past the hosts for a second time, as both sides took a share of the spoils.

Sheffield United: Bunn, Montgomery, Morgan, Nosworthy, Yeates (Little 84), Harper (Henderson 68), Cresswell, Stewart, Seip, Quinn, Camara.

Subs: Bennett, Taylor, Fortune, Lowton.

Goals: Cresswell (44)

Bookings: Morgan

QPR: Ikeme, Stewart, Leigertwood, Gorkss, Connolly, Faurlin, Hill, Simpson, Ephraim (Cook 90), Priskin, Taarabt (Buzsaky 87).

Subs: Ramage, Vine, Balanta, Cerny, Borrowdale.

Goals: Taarabt (49)

Referee: Mr A Bates

Attendance: 23, 456

www.qpr.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10373~49275,00.html

[QPR Report]

Sheffield United Official Site

The Blades stretched the unbeaten home Championship run to ten games without a defeat to end Neil Warnock's winning start as Queens Park Rangers manager.

Richard Cresswell continued his hoodoo over Rangers - scoring his fourth goal in as many games against them in less than three months!

Adel Taarabt grabbed the leveller for Rangers but the final whistle confirmed that the Hoops had failed to beat the Blades in four meetings this season.

Boss Blackwell was forced into four changes, Evans, Ward and Williamson all picked up injuries at Peterborough in midweek and Bartley was unwell. In came Yeates, Camara, Quinn and Seip. Free from his three-match suspension, Henderson was amongst just six substitutes named.

Winning an innocuous corner in the opening minute gave QPR the early momentum and Taarabt was involved in most of their offensive scheming after winning the header from the first set-piece. On six minutes Taarabt's low cross had too much power for Simpson and then the loanee from Tottenham found himself in the clear from Ephraim's pass on nine minutes but Bunn raced off his line to make a smothering save.

Quinn and Yeates were trying to inject a bit of tempo into United's early moves and the
latter's pull-back, on 10 minutes, was ideal for Camara but his shot from 15 yards flew just over Ikeme's crossbar.

The post came to United's rescue on 19 minutes when Ephraim's cross hit the woodwork and the evaded Simpson on its way back into open play, whilst at the other end, there was no decisions for Cresswell when he was bundled over by Stewart and Ikeme in separate incidents.

Long-range efforts from Stewart and Montgomery failed to break the deadlock and Bunn spared the blushes of team-mate Nosworthy when the defender was caught in possession close to the halfway line. Following a quick break down the left channel, the Blades goalkeeper made an impressive block from Ephraim.

The importance of Bunn's save was emphasised moments later when United grabbed the lead on 44 minutes. QPR had half-cleared a corner but the ball was returned to Yeates, who went around the outside of his marker and clipped in a cross that was just behind CRESSWELL but the striker used his experience to head into the top corner, despite Ikeme getting a hand to the ball.

There was still time for Bunn to make another save, this time from Simpson, whilst QPR also won two corners before the half-time whistle arrived.

The Blades began the second half well and came within inches of doubling the lead but neither Camara nor Cresswell could add a vital touch to an inswinging Yeates free-kick and moments later Rangers capitalised on the let off by levelling the scores.

With 49 minutes gone a hopeful clearance was allowed to bounce and after Morgan and Seip were beaten - and Nosworthy was not in a position to cover - TAARABT raced clear to finally beat Bunn.

Morgan was the first to have his name taken by referee Bates, for a foul on Taarabt, who, from the resulting free-kick, forced Bunn into an acrobatic save, the goalkeeper swiftly edging to his right to tip over the crossbar.

Bunn saved again from Taarabt, the visiting side's biggest threat, and manager Blackwell displayed his ambition to win the game at the midway point with his first substitute, adding a striker in place of a midfielder. Henderson's presence won two free-kicks within minutes of being introduced.

There was nervous tension around the ground as the game entered the final ten minutes and Camara went close to winning it when he cut in from the left, but his shot was just wide of Ikeme's left post. Little was brought on and Nosworthy's shot was blocked as the Blades continued the search for the winner.

Unitedites were on their feet in anticipation on 88 minutes when Montgomery robbed Connolly in the middle of the park and set free Cresswell down the left. The scorer's cross looked ideal but, hampered by the presence of Hill, Henderson failed to make a connection at the back post.

Three minutes of added time at the end of the 90 gave United more hope - the home side looked the more likely team to snatch a winner - but neither goalkeeper was severely tested late on.

Blades: Bunn, Montgomery, Morgan, Nosworthy, Yeates (Little 85), Harper (Henderson 68), Cresswell, Stewart, Seip, Quinn, Camara.
Unused: Bennett, Taylor, Fortune, Lowton.

QPR: Ikeme, Stewart, Leigertwood, Gorkss, Connolly, Faurlin, Hill, Simpson, Ephraim (Cook 90), Priskin, Taarabt (Buzsaky 87).
Unused: Ramage, Vine, Balanta, Cerny, Borrowdale.

www.sufc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10418~49275,00.html

[QPR Report]

QPR Official Site - Warnock's Comments

WARNOCK: 'I'M VERY PLEASED'
Posted on: Sat 13 Mar 2010
QPR boss Neil Warnock was full of praise for his revitalised players after they made it seven points from a possible nine with a 1-1 draw against Sheffield United.

Although Richard Cresswell gave the Blades a half-time lead at Bramall Lane, Adel Taarabt scored in the 49th minute to give the R's a share of the spoils.

It was no more than QPR deserved for their workmanlike display in the Steel City, and following the match Warnock told http://www.qpr.co.uk: "You don't often go to Bramall Lane and come away disappointed with a point, but that's how I feel tonight.

"We had some excellent chances, especially in the first half - we hit the post as well.

"The goalkeeper pulled off some good saves. It was a little bit harsh to go in one nil down at half time, but that's football really.

"I learned more about my lads today then I have done in our previous two home matches.

"This is a tough place to come but I felt we tried to play at the right time.

"We were patient at times and had all the best chances.

"I'm very pleased that the players have come from a goal down, it hasn't happened very often. It's not a bad point at Bramall Lane."

Warnock also reserved praise for Moroccan playmaker Taarabt, who caught the eye with another exceptional performance, in which his phenomenal ball skills were coupled with a fantastic work rate.

"Adel is working as hard as he's ever worked for me and he's got so much skill. It takes a certain type of manager to manage him," Warnock added.

"I think you'd call him an enigma. He was the best player on the pitch and he has been since I came.

"I don't think I've ever had ability like I've got in this group of players. We've defended well as a team and looked to break and create chances whenever we could.

"Overall it's still a very good point."
www.qpr.co.uk/page/TheGaffer/0,,10373~1993193,00.html

[QPR Report]

Sporting Life

WARNOCK ENJOYING LIFE AT QPR

By Mark Walker, Press Association Sport

Neil Warnock compared his new lease of life as manager at QPR to "like winning the pools" after maintaining his unbeaten run with a 1-1 draw at former club Sheffield United.

The 61-year-old steered Rangers to successive home wins in his first two games in charge after becoming the Londoners' fifth manager of the season - their 12th in four years - 11 days ago.

Warnock saw the Blades go in at the break a goal up on his return to Bramall Lane after Richard Cresswell's fine header flew into the top corner.

But impressive Moroccan midfielder Adel Taarabt pounced on some dithering defending by Marcel Seip to slide home a 49th-minute equaliser for the Londoners.

Warnock, who departed previous club Crystal Palace after they had slipped into administration, said: "I'd like a couple more leaders, we've not too many if I'm honest, but we've got six loanees so I can't see us getting anybody this season really.

"But it will be interesting for next season. I'm looking forward to it, obviously once we've got enough points, or we miss out (on the play-offs).

"It's almost like winning the pools for me and I don't mean my salary. I'm on about circumstances and everything that's gone around in the last 12 months.

"I feel like I've just had a weight lifted off my shoulders and I can concentrate on what I'm good at now and that's managing a football team rather than everything else that I've had to put up with.

"I'm delighted to be here and looking forward to having a right good go. The colours are a bit strange for me though."

Warnock hailed his current Rangers squad as the most talented he had worked with, especially Taarabt, and was delighted to see the addition of "a bit of northern spirit" having an immediate effect.

He added: "Taarabt is working ever so hard and he's got so much skill. It takes a certain type of manager, I think you would call Taarabt an enigma.

"You could, as a manager look at his minuses, but I look at his positives. He's been the best player on the pitch since the first training session.

"People said he was a liability, but I've not agreed with that. I've never had ability like this group of players really.

"We probably lack a bit of Sheffield steel, but I thought we showed that today."

In contrast, problems continue to mount for his former club.

Jamie Ward, Ched Evans and Lee Williamson all missed out after picking up injuries in the midweek defeat at Peterborough, Kyle Bartley was struck down by food poisoning on Friday night and now skipper Chris Morgan will miss out through suspension after reaching five bookings.

Blades assistant manager Sam Ellis said: "It's two points dropped from our point of view and with Morgan getting booked, he's out for two games now.

"And with the injuries we've got, we're in a bit of a nightmare to be honest and that's not moaning, that's a fact.

"We're so short of players it looks like we're going to have to see if we're able to get a loan in for Tuesday (against Blackpool), there's no doubt about that."

Ellis was left to rue a glaring late miss by substitute Darius Henderson when the Blades striker appeared to freeze at the far post.

"We're not happy with a point," he added. "We dominated to a certain extent and created the best chance you could have wished for in the 89th minute and we couldn't stick it away

www.sportinglife.com/football/live/quotes/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/10/03/13/SOCCER_Sheff_Utd_2nd_Nightlead.html

[QPR Report]

Observer

Neil Warnock makes point for QPR in muted return to Sheffield United

Jonny Weeks at Bramall Lane guardian.co.uk, Saturday 13 March 2010

Richard Cresswell scored for the fourth successive match against Queens Park Rangers this season but calamitous defending allowed Adel Taarabt to claim a point for Neil Warnock's visitors on his return to Sheffield United, the club he managed for seven and a half years. It was the third 1-1 draw between these sides this season and was a fitting result in a game in which neither fully deserved three points.

Warnock's seat in the QPR dugout at Bramall Lane for this match might have been occupied by Kevin Blackwell had Rangers got their desired target last summer. However, given the managerial bloodletting that has taken place at Loftus Road since, Blackwell may consider it fortunate that such a move never materialised and that Warnock, his coach and mentor of 17 years, now occupies the division's most precarious post.

Warnock had won both his games in charge of Rangers before this match to reignite long-forgotten play-off aspirations, while Blackwell's team have slipped away from top-six contention after six defeats in nine matches.

Yet neither side asserted themselves for much of the first half and chances were sporadic. The first fell to the Rangers striker Taarabt who shot straight at the United goalkeeper Mark Bunn when clean through in the eighth minute.

United's Henri Camara blazed over soon afterwards on a swift attack by the home side, though it would have been a controversial goal as Camara had aimed a kick at the Rangers centre-back Damion Stewart in the build-up.

Hogan Ephraim saw two good chances go begging for the visitors – first he hit the post with a cross-cum-shot, then Bunn smothered a later effort – before United grabbed the lead on the cusp of half-time with a goal the quality of which belied all that had preceded it. Cresswell was the scorer, directing a fizzing header into the top corner of the net from Mark Yeates's cross.

United's Dutch defender Marcel Seip was solely culpable for Rangers' equaliser four minutes into the second half. He dawdled on the ball near the centre-circle and was robbed, then outpaced by the spritely Taarabt, who this time had the beating of Bunn.

Three minutes later, Taarabt's clever footwork drew a foul on the edge of the area from where he almost made it 2-1, his whipped free-kick being well tipped over.

United could have won it at the end though, but their substitute Darius Henderson wasted a simple chance to score when he somehow failed to connect with a piercing cross at the far post as the goal gaped before him.

www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/mar/13/sheffield-united-qpr-championship

[QPR Report]

NEWS OF THE WORLD

WARNOCK GIVES RANGERS BOTTLE

CRYSTAL PALACE'S administrator claimed Neil Warnock didn't have the bottle for a relegation battle - well, he has certainly put fight into QPR.

Two wins and a draw so far for a team which, prior to this visit to Warnock's former club, had lost four away games on the bounce without scoring once.

Yet this was still a glass half-empty game. Both camps claimed it was a case of two points spilled.

Undeniably, Kevin Blackwell's Blades had the best chance to grab a decider.

Richard Cresswell's cross eliminated Rangers keeper Carl Ikeme and left sub Darius Henderson closing in on goal.

But, somehow, the ball bisected Henderson's legs to leave United playing catch-up in the play-off stakes.

Blades assistant Sam Ellis said: "We dominated the game to an extent and created the best chance. It's two points dropped as we see it."

Warnock countered: "I don't agree with Sam but then I don't agree with him on many things.

"It's not often you come to Bramall Lane and are disappointed with a point but that's the way I feel."

Rangers had to come from behind, though. They found themselves trailing to Cresswell's header just before the break.

But the Londoners levelled through Adel Taarabt within five minutes of the restart.

Tricky Taarabt tormented United throughout the game but it still took a mistake by Marcel Seip to let him in.

The French centre-back should have cleared and was then left for dead as the on-loan striker from Spurs surged clear to finish emphatically.

Warnock added: "You could look at Adel's minuses but I prefer to look at his positives.

"It takes a certain type of manager to appreciate him and I don't think I've ever had a group of players with this amount of ability."

www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/match_reports/championship/753818/SHEFFIELD-UNITED-v-QPR.html

[desorchid]

Mar 13, 2010 23:01:17 GMT QPR Report said:

NEWS OF THE WORLD


Blades assistant Sam Ellis said: "We dominated the game to an extent and created the best chance. It's two points dropped as we see it."

www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/match_reports/championship/753818/SHEFFIELD-UNITED-v-QPR.html

Total Boswollox. Purely said to assuage the Sheffield press. Could have gone either way, but any neutral watching this, would have said a point each was fair. I thought we could have won it, but there were times when i thought we might lose it. Not a great game, but solid result. They've got nothing to moan about.

[QPR Report]

BBC
Sheff Utd 1 - 1 QPR
Neil Warnock's QPR earned their manager a point on his return to his former club as Adel Taarabt sprinted through to score a second-half equaliser.

Hogan Ephraim thumped the post for the visitors before Richard Cresswell nodded in Mark Yeates' cross.
After the break defender Marcel Seip gifted possession to Taarabt and the midfielder strode on to beat Mark Bunn.
United's Darius Henderson squandered a chance on 68 minutes as he hesitated over Cresswell's cross.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QPR manager Neil Warnock:
"I've never had ability like this group of players really.
"It will be interesting for next season. I'm looking forward to it, obviously once we've got enough points, or we miss out (on the play-offs).
"It's almost like winning the pools for me and I don't mean my salary. I'm on about circumstances and everything that's gone around in the last 12 months.
"I feel like I've just had a weight lifted off my shoulders and I can concentrate on what I'm good at now and that's managing a football team rather than everything else that I've had to put up with."

Sheffield United assistant manager Sam Ellis:
"It's two points dropped and with Chris Morgan getting booked, he's out for two games now.
"With the injuries we've got, we're in a bit of a nightmare to be honest.
"We're so short of players it looks like we're going to have to see if we're able to get a loan in for Tuesday (against Blackpool)."

newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8558696.stm

[QPR Report]

Sunday People
Sheff Utd 1-1 QPR Andrew Collomosse

Rangers gave new boss Neil Warnock plenty to smile about on an emotional return to his old Bramall Lane stamping ground.

For not only did the West London club end a run of four away defeats, they stretched their unbeaten start under Warnock to three games. And on this performance the Loftus Road fans can forget all about relegation.

With Moroccan ace Adel Taarabt a constant threat, Warnock's men were the better side for long stretches as they extended United's barren sequence to just two wins in ten matches.

Kevin Blackwell's play-off hopefuls went in front through Richard Cresswell just before the interval but Taarabt equalised four minutes into the second half.

In the end United were indebted to keeper Mark Bunn for maintaining their top-six hopes.

United made an uncertain start and only a fine save from Bunn denied Taarabt in the ninth minute.


Henri Camara wasted a shooting chance from 18 yards at the other end but Rangers, with Taarabt given a free role up front, looked the more likely to score and they went close again in the 20th minute when Hogan Ephraim's angled shot rebounded off a post.


With the home fans becoming restless, Rangers threatened again three minutes before the interval. Alejandro Faurlin and Taarabt freed Ephraim but once more Bunn rescued the Blades.

United went in front with one of their few serious raids of the half on 44 minutes - when Mark Yeates crossed for the unmarked Cresswell to head past Carl Ikeme.


There was a hint of relief in the celebrations. And there was more relief when Bunn rescued the home side yet again in added time before the interval, diving to keep out an effort from Jay Simpson.


But there was nothing the Blades keeper could do about Taarabt's equaliser.

The on-loan Spurs ace outwitted Chris Morgan and left Marcel Seip in his wake before slotting his shot past Bunn. Two minutes later Tarrabt forced him to make another save from a 25-yard free-kick.


And United's number one was relieved to see Michele Liegertwood's long-range effort fly just wide five minutes later.


Blackwell sent on Darius Henderson to pep up his misfiring attack on 68 minutes but the sub missed a glorious chance from a Cresswell cross with just two minutes left.


Sheffield Utd: *BUNN 8 - Nosworthy 5, Morgan 6, Seip 5, J Stewart 6 - Yeates 6 (Little, 84mins), Montgomery 6, Harper 5 (Henderson, 68mins, 6), Quinn 6 - Camara 5, Cresswell 7.


Qpr: Ikeme 6 - Connolly 6, D Stewart 7, Gorkss 7, Hill 6 - Priskin 6, Liegertwood 7, Faurlin 7, Ephraim 7 (Cook, 90mins) - *TAARABT 8 (Buzsaky, 87mins) - Simpson 6.


Referee: A Bates 6.

www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_headline=sheff-utd-1-1-qpr%26method=full%26objectid=22110389%26siteid=93463-name_page.html

[QPR Report]

"...But when Warnock -... calls Taarabt a 'loveable rogue' you can tell where the common ground really lies.
'Adel needs a manager like me,' he said. 'I spoke to Harry Redknapp about him and we both agreed he can have you tearing your hair out.
'I'll give him the freedom to enjoy himself. But he's also working as hard as he's ever worked in his life . . . and I think he understands my English very well. 'I'm instilling some of my strengths into a team with more ability than any I've managed.'
Relegation fears have receded to give Rangers a sudden glimpse of the play-offs. "I just wish I'd been there a few weeks earlier,' added Warnock.'We'll try to win every game and you never know what might happen.'


Mail

Sheffield United 1 QPR 1: Neil Warnock lauds 'loveable' Adel Tarabat as Rangers boss maintains unbeaten start
By Alan Biggs Last updated at 3:34 PM on 14th March 2010

Adel Taarabt is hardly your typical Neil Warnock type player. The sight of a player fannying around in gloves at, of all places, Warnock's spiritual home of Bramall Lane might once have prompted an unprintable response.

On the one hand, a free spirit who unfurls outrageous talent one minute and fritters possession the next. On the other a manager whose reputation is based on steel rather than style.

But it is a sign of Warnock's mellowing nature that he rates the contrast as a 'great combination' - and also a symbol of his turnaround of a skilful yet soft-centred Queens Park Rangers.

Catch me if you can: QPR'S Mikele Leigertwood goes past Sheffield United's Nick Montgomery
Warnock, who handled Victor Moses with care at Crystal Palace, is even prepared to temper his scorn for Taarabt wearing gloves.

'It's a bit strange for me but I'll just have to change in my old age,' said Rangers' new boss after the 20-year-old Morocco striker, on loan from Spurs, delivered a first point on the road after four defeats without scoring.

Unbeaten: Neil Warnock has made a strong start as QPR manager
But when Warnock - boasting seven points from three games - calls Taarabt a 'loveable rogue' you can tell where the common ground really lies.

'Adel needs a manager like me,' he said. 'I spoke to Harry Redknapp about him and we both agreed he can have you tearing your hair out.

'I'll give him the freedom to enjoy himself. But he's also working as hard as he's ever worked in his life . . . and I think he understands my English very well. 'I'm instilling some of my strengths into a team with more ability than any I've managed.'

Relegation fears have receded to give Rangers a sudden glimpse of the play-offs. "I just wish I'd been there a few weeks earlier,' added Warnock.'We'll try to win every game and you never know what might happen.'

His former club Sheffield United seem to be heading in the opposite direction amid a pile-up of harrowing statistics for boss Kevin Blackwell, who has used 34 players this season and given 20 debuts.

Cutbacks and injuries have forced Blackwell into 15 temporary signings since last season. Now he needs yet another after skipper Morgan's latest booking accumulated to a two-match ban.

Bramall Lane fans have been unforgiving, as they were again after Richard Cresswell's fine headed goal was negated by Taarabt pouncing on a mistake by Marcel Seip, but Blackwell's assistant Sam Ellis said: 'We have no complaints about the crowd. All they want is to see us winning games.

'Without the problems we've had, we would have been in the play-offs. It's that simple and I'm sure the supporters are smart enough to see that.'


Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1257835/Sheffield-United-1-QPR-1-Neil-Warnock-lauds-loveable-Adel-Tarabat-Rangers-boss-maintains-unbeaten-start.html#ixzz0iAO55nPl