Warnock: 'Fans Will Miss Barton More Than Ashley'

Last updated : 10 September 2011 By Footy Mad - Editor

NW

The Hoops managed a surprise 1-0 victory at Everton the following week before losing against Wigan and Rochdale, but Warnock does not believe much can be read into their results so far this season.

Warnock believes he has a team capable of success.

Neil Warnock: "I got lambasted after coming out of the Carling Cup and yet we played five (first team) players in that.

"The other two promoted sides never played a player, yet they never got a mention.

"Wigan got away lightly, I think. Even though we hit the post and bar three times, I thought if we had been steady we would have given them a better game.

"I'm glad the (transfer) window has gone, it has given us a bit of a chance to regroup, given a chance for the new lads to settle in and Newcastle is sod's law it is going to be a time like that.

"But I think it's great, I think it is fantastic me.

"I think Newcastle is a great club and yes you guys will be concentrating on Joey Barton, but the club is bigger than Joey Barton and the game is bigger than any individual.

"That's why both clubs have moved on and I am sure the fans will probably miss him more than the staff or the boardroom.

"But you have to make decisions and you stick by them.

"They run their own club and I don't think they've done a bad job, if I'm honest.

"They've not spent £100million like everybody wants them to but they've got good players in.

"And I think at the start of the season I think if they'd had 15 internationals on their books I don't think they would have got any more points."

 

QPR

QPR'S CURRENT FORM:

Wigan 2 QPR 0
AUGUST 27: Barclays Premier League at the DW Stadium. 
 
QPR 0 Rochdale 2
AUGUST 23: Carling Cup second round at Loftus Road.   
 
Everton 0 QPR 1
AUGUST 20: Barclays Premier League at Goodison Park.   
 
QPR 0 Bolton 4
AUGUST 13: Barclays Premier League at Loftus Road.  

QPR

QPR'S LAST FIXTURE:

WIGAN 2 QPR 0

QPR: Kenny, Perone, Gabbidon, Hall (Harriman 61), Connolly, Taarabt, Faurlin, Derry, Buzsaky (Bothroyd 72), Smith (Andrade 80), Agyemang. Subs Not Used: Murphy, Helguson, Ephraim, Hewitt.

QPR new boy Joey Barton watched from the stands as Franco Di Santo served up a stark warning of the size of the task ahead for the former Magpie with a winning double at the DW Stadium.

Barton was not registered in time to play Rangers' loss as they were often overrun by a home side who shone with flair and ambition from the kick-off.

Di Santo opened the scoring with a superb right-foot finish five minutes before the break and added his second after 66 minutes when he looped a deflected shot over Paddy Kenny.

The visitors had chances themselves in a bright game and Adel Taarabt hit the post twice in the first period, but Roberto Martinez's men ran out worthy winners.

Most of the home side's purpose was inspired by Hugo Rodallega, making his first Barclays Premier League start of the season after returning from Copa America duty with Colombia.

Rodallega's trickery won the fourth-minute free-kick which Jordi Gomez squeezed over the bar, then he skipped round Bruno Perone to fire across the face of goal.

In a bright opening, the visitors had their first chance in the 10th minute when Shaun Derry blasted a long-range effort which was tipped over the bar by Ali Al Habsi.

And Rangers had a glorious chance after 14 minutes when Akos Buzsaky fed Taarabt, whose right-foot shot rebounded off the post to the clear but unprepared Patrick Agyemang, who squirted it wide.

The visitors had another chance in the 25th minute when Alejandro Faurlin found Buzsaky on the right and his cross was met at the far post by Perone, who headed over.

A quick counter-attack by Rodallega almost paid off in the 37th minute when he squeezed the ball out to Victor Moses who cut in from the right and hit a low shot straight at Paddy Kenny.

Wigan broke the deadlock five minutes before the break, when the superb Rodallega squared for Di Santo who wasted no time slamming the ball into the net.

Rangers hit the woodwork for the second time in first-half injury time when Taarabt's long-range free-kick deceived Al Habsi but rebounded for Mohamed Diame to clear.

The second half started with much the same sense of urgency but fewer clear-cut chances as the Wigan midfield did a good job snuffing out Rangers' bid for an equaliser.

The home side had the first clear-cut chance in the 58th minute when Moses found Gomez on the left and the midfielder's shot from a tight angle was deflected out for a corner.

Moments later, Di Santo came close to his second goal from an almost identical position, drilling a rising shot which was well saved by Kenny.

Di Santo finally grabbed his and Wigan's second after 66 minutes when he turned and shot from just outside the box and the ball took a slight deflection as it looped over Kenny.

The visitors refused to give up on the afternoon and came close when Perone connected with a Taarabt corner in the 75th minute to bring a fine save out of Al Habsi.

Taarabt then forced another fingertip save out of Al Habsi from an excellent free-kick after Latics captain Gary Caldwell brought down Agyemang.

Boyce booted clear a dangerous cross by Bruno Andrade then Agyemang ought to have done better in injury time but shot wide when clear in the box.

But while the final whistle brought joy for Wigan it also put Barton's arrival in sharp perspective with Rangers clearly needing his input to boost their survival bid.