R's goalscoring hero Danny Gabbidon insists Rangers will grow in confidence following last night's victory against MK Dons in the FA Cup third round replay. The Welsh international bagged the only goal of the game to set up a mouth-watering tie against Chelsea in round four and the big defender told www.qpr.co.uk: "We needed that victory. "It was a tough game again. They played really well, like they did in the first tie. "We were maybe a little bit lucky to get the replay first time around, but we stuck at it, like we did again last night, and we're in the next round." Gabbidon added: "I don't score many goals, so it's always nice. "We huffed and puffed a bit, but the goal came at the right time for us and by winning in normal time we saved our legs for the weekend." The win - Rangers' first since November 19th in all competitions - came just seven days into Mark Hughes' tenure and Gabbidon believes Rangers will grow in stature now. "We've had a good week with the gaffer," he said. "Training has been a lot more intense, a lot harder, and we've just been trying to take on board what the new Manager wants us to do. "I thought we played quite well against Newcastle on Sunday and were a bit unlucky not to get something out of that. "We weren't at our best last night, but a win is a win and it will give the lads a bit more confidence going into the Wigan match at the weekend." http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2580874,00.html? Well, that is the understatement of the year! But well put Gabbs
Me neither, but to be fair the lads had a game 48 hours before hand and probably had tired legs. As they said training has intensified and this will put us in good stead in the long run. But at the moment coupling the increased workload with a game 48 hours earlier, last nights game was always going to be a bit tough. But winnings winning......Bring on Wigan!
If Alex signs this week, he'll be watching the wigan game from the bench, so it doesn't matter how confident he feels.
Or, we have an aging team, and that is why we look the way we do. We need more younger players. Too many of our guys are around the age of 30, we need to get more around the age of 20.
I was sitting near the benches, and Karl Robinson kept telling his players to "keep the intensity up! Keep the intensity up! " After deliberately getting their game called off at the eleventh hour on Saturday, they knew we would struggle fitness wise after just having played NewC 48 hours or so earlier. MK were desperate to win last night so they could cash-in in the 4th round bumper tie v Chelsea. Their cunning plan nearly worked.
999, not only did we play on Saturday (away from home - travelling is tiring even for elite athletes) but we know that Hughes has upped the intensity of training. It is just possible that the 'poor' display was due to a combination of these two factors. Eventually the greater intensity training should bring a dividend. Regrettably, time is not on our side.
I agree RTID, Robinson also knew we didn't have a lot of options player wise. Maybe we should of played a few of the fringe players from the outset. Ephraim, Andrade, Smith etc. Could they have done worse? I know it's easy in hindsight, tough call either way.
There was no way on earth they were going to get between us and playing Chelski again....although i have to say they had a good go.... Bring on the Chels...... Terry to belft crying, Drog playing in Hoopa and Frank in the bar eating a pie... 3-0 Hatrick from Alex........!!!
