MX23RW : Wednesday, November 27 23:18:58| >> :600:136436:136436:
[monks data]
QPR logo
Championship | Gameweek 26
Jan 23, 2021 at 3pm UK
Loftus Road Stadium
Derby logo

QPR
0 - 1
Derby


Cameron (31'), Kane (51')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Wayne Rooney credits half-time change for Derby victory

Wayne Rooney credits half-time change for Derby victory
© Reuters
Wayne Rooney felt bringing on another midfielder at the break set up the win.

Wayne Rooney felt a half-time tactical change made all the difference in Derby’s 1-0 win at QPR.

Colin Kazim-Richards’ second-half goal on the counter-attack gave the visitors a second successive Championship victory.

It came after Rooney, in his third match since being appointed as Derby’s permanent manager, made a substitution at the break, replacing defender George Evans with midfielder Max Bird.

Rooney said: “We started very well and then let the game slip and lost a bit of control.

“We made a tactical change and it was about determination not to concede as we knew we’d have chances on the break. Fortunately we scored with one of those chances.

“George Evans coming off was not because of his performance but to get another midfielder in there to get control of the game.

“I’ve always been someone who can read the game. And it’s not just me – it’s the coaches and we’re talking constantly about whether we need to make a change or not.

“There will be games when I have to hold my hands up and admit I got it wrong.

“I can’t think I’m some genius and come up with crazy tactics. We’ll keep giving the players the messages we need to and keep it simple for them.”

Rooney hopes to bring new players in before the transfer window closes.

But his primary concern is for his current players, who have not been paid in full amid ongoing uncertainty off the pitch at the club.

Rooney said: “First of all the players need to get paid and then I can start looking at getting players in to help this team.

“We have to build on this now. Six points from two games is a great platform for us. We have to keep moving forward.

“I’m delighted for the players. I know I’m quite demanding of them. The minimum I ask is that they work hard and that’s what they’re doing.”

QPR manager Mark Warburton was frustrated that his side were denied what seemed a clear penalty.

Having opened the scoring, Kazim-Richards had a lucky escape when he got away with handling Ilias Chair’s corner.

The Rangers players were incensed by the decision not to award a spot-kick.

Warburton said: “I don’t think we did enough to win the game, but I don’t think we deserved to lose it.

“That was the most blatant handball you’re going to see. The players’ reaction tells you that’s an obvious handball. I’m not sure how that’s been missed.

“When you’re having a bad day and not at your best – and we were below our best for much of the game – you need those calls to go right.

“But we didn’t do enough in the first half especially. We gave the ball away cheaply and were not on the front foot.

“When you’re having a bad day, you need to do the basics well. We didn’t do that.

“We lost silly duels and gave the ball away loosely. We gave away a sloppy goal and gave them something to hang onto.

“Then, for all our possession and all the balls into the box, we lacked that bit of quality to get something out of what was a poor game of football.”

Bright Osayi-Samuel is set to join Fenerbahce this month rather than in the summer after QPR announced they had reached an agreement with the Turkish club.

The winger has already signed a pre-contract agreement to join the Super Lig side, but the move will happen immediately as long as Osayi-Samuel completes a medical and agrees personal terms.

ID:431846: cacheID:431846:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5234:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds17105231121935
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1711422491535
3Burnley179622161533
4Sunderland1796226121433
5Watford179262624229
6Middlesbrough178362920927
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom176921811727
8Blackburn RoversBlackburn167452017325
9Millwall166641914524
10Norwich CityNorwich175753125622
11Swansea CitySwansea176471615122
12Bristol City175752021-122
13Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds176472026-622
14Stoke CityStoke175661920-121
15Derby CountyDerby175572122-120
16Luton TownLuton175391829-1118
17Coventry CityCoventry174582225-317
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd174581927-817
19Preston North EndPreston173861624-817
20Plymouth ArgylePlymouth174581834-1617
21Cardiff CityCardiff174491526-1116
22Hull City173681623-715
23Queens Park RangersQPR172871526-1114
24Portsmouth152671628-1212


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!