Post by QPR Report on Oct 29, 2008 0:21:02 GMT
SPORTING LIFE/Andy Sims - AINSWORTH MAKES HIS CASE
Gareth Ainsworth put forward a strong case to be named QPR's permanent manager by guiding his 10-man side to a surprise 1-0 victory over Birmingham.
Ainsworth, in caretaker charge following Iain Dowie's sacking last Friday, looked on as Rangers - who played for the entire second half a man down following Mikele Leigertwood's sending-off - knocked the visitors off the top of the Coca-Cola Championship.
"It's all been very sudden but the boys are as tight as ever and and it showed tonight," said Ainsworth.
I've got a taste for it. It's something I want to pursue in my career but I'm just taking it game by game.
"If I'm still in charge on Saturday I will take the team to Ipswich. I've had no indication, my only focus is on QPR winning games"
Ainsworth could be an ideal candidate for Flavio Briatore, if the chairman and co-owner is wanting to take a hands-on role in picking the team.
Today's team selection was vindicated when Samuel Di Carmine, who barely figured under the former manager but has started the last two games, lashed home a superb winner from 25 yards in the 54th minute.
Fellow Briatore signings Damiano Tommasi and Emmanuel Ledesma were also in the line-up, but Ainsworth insists he has no issue with the perceived interference from above.
"There will be discussions on players from the parties, I'll put my case forward for players and other people put their case forward for players - and then the final input is mine on the pitch," he added.
"People might have opened their eyes at the changes tonight but the main thing is QPR have won this game 1-0 with 10 men.
"The investment in this club is massive and people are interested in their investment and want to know what's going on.
"I'm happy to be in those meetings and discussions about players, but on a Saturday it's me in the dug-out."
Ainsworth felt the straight red card shown to Leigertwood by referee Stuart Attwell - he of the 'goal that never was' at Watford last month - for a crude challenge on Lee Carsley was "harsh".
QPR Official Site- Gareth Ainsworth - BEYOND MY WILDEST DREAMS
-Caretaker Manager Gareth Ainsworth insisted no praise could be too high for his players, as Samuel Di Carmine's stunning strike gave the hosts victory against high-flying Birmingham City.
Rangers played the entire second half with ten men, after Mikele Leigertwood was given his marching orders on the stroke of half-time for an innocuous looking foul on Blues midfielder Lee Carsley.
- Despite disagreeing with the decision, Ainsworth chose to draw on the positives rather than dismissal, telling http://www.qpr.co.uk: "I'm a very proud man tonight.
- "I believed we could win the game at the break and that's why I chose to keep the two front-men on the pitch. It paid dividends and that's because each and every player gave me and the Club absolutely everything.
- "I acknowledge when a player gives 100 per-cent - if we go down, we go down fighting together, but that wasn't the case tonight and we've beat one of the best, if not the best side in this division."
- Ainsworth paid special praise to match-winner Di Carmine, commenting: "He proves time and again in training that he's capable of something like that and I'm just delighted for him.
"It was a fantastic strike - absolutely stunning."
The 35 year-old also spared a thought for Leigertwood, who he believed was harshly done by.
"I thought it was a very harsh decision," he said.
"We didn't get many decisions go our way tonight, but that can't detract from what was a whole-hearted, committed performance and a great, great victory."
Ainsworth concluded: "Without the commitment, we wouldn't have won.
"The boys are incredibly tight as a unit and you could see that with the way they performed.
"To draw against Reading and then beat Birmingham within the space of four days is beyond my wildest dreams."
Gareth Ainsworth put forward a strong case to be named QPR's permanent manager by guiding his 10-man side to a surprise 1-0 victory over Birmingham.
Ainsworth, in caretaker charge following Iain Dowie's sacking last Friday, looked on as Rangers - who played for the entire second half a man down following Mikele Leigertwood's sending-off - knocked the visitors off the top of the Coca-Cola Championship.
"It's all been very sudden but the boys are as tight as ever and and it showed tonight," said Ainsworth.
I've got a taste for it. It's something I want to pursue in my career but I'm just taking it game by game.
"If I'm still in charge on Saturday I will take the team to Ipswich. I've had no indication, my only focus is on QPR winning games"
Ainsworth could be an ideal candidate for Flavio Briatore, if the chairman and co-owner is wanting to take a hands-on role in picking the team.
Today's team selection was vindicated when Samuel Di Carmine, who barely figured under the former manager but has started the last two games, lashed home a superb winner from 25 yards in the 54th minute.
Fellow Briatore signings Damiano Tommasi and Emmanuel Ledesma were also in the line-up, but Ainsworth insists he has no issue with the perceived interference from above.
"There will be discussions on players from the parties, I'll put my case forward for players and other people put their case forward for players - and then the final input is mine on the pitch," he added.
"People might have opened their eyes at the changes tonight but the main thing is QPR have won this game 1-0 with 10 men.
"The investment in this club is massive and people are interested in their investment and want to know what's going on.
"I'm happy to be in those meetings and discussions about players, but on a Saturday it's me in the dug-out."
Ainsworth felt the straight red card shown to Leigertwood by referee Stuart Attwell - he of the 'goal that never was' at Watford last month - for a crude challenge on Lee Carsley was "harsh".
QPR Official Site- Gareth Ainsworth - BEYOND MY WILDEST DREAMS
-Caretaker Manager Gareth Ainsworth insisted no praise could be too high for his players, as Samuel Di Carmine's stunning strike gave the hosts victory against high-flying Birmingham City.
Rangers played the entire second half with ten men, after Mikele Leigertwood was given his marching orders on the stroke of half-time for an innocuous looking foul on Blues midfielder Lee Carsley.
- Despite disagreeing with the decision, Ainsworth chose to draw on the positives rather than dismissal, telling http://www.qpr.co.uk: "I'm a very proud man tonight.
- "I believed we could win the game at the break and that's why I chose to keep the two front-men on the pitch. It paid dividends and that's because each and every player gave me and the Club absolutely everything.
- "I acknowledge when a player gives 100 per-cent - if we go down, we go down fighting together, but that wasn't the case tonight and we've beat one of the best, if not the best side in this division."
- Ainsworth paid special praise to match-winner Di Carmine, commenting: "He proves time and again in training that he's capable of something like that and I'm just delighted for him.
"It was a fantastic strike - absolutely stunning."
The 35 year-old also spared a thought for Leigertwood, who he believed was harshly done by.
"I thought it was a very harsh decision," he said.
"We didn't get many decisions go our way tonight, but that can't detract from what was a whole-hearted, committed performance and a great, great victory."
Ainsworth concluded: "Without the commitment, we wouldn't have won.
"The boys are incredibly tight as a unit and you could see that with the way they performed.
"To draw against Reading and then beat Birmingham within the space of four days is beyond my wildest dreams."
