Naive QPR can learn from Bolton’s Kevin Davies, says Warnock

Naive QPR can learn from Bolton’s Kevin Davies, says Warnock

by Ian Cooper
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
11:35 AM


Rangers boss says his side must be ‘cuter’ after Trotters defeat

Your viewEmailPrintGot a story?
Neil Warnock believes that QPR must learn the lessons of their painful defeat to Bolton Wanderers, and become more streetwise if they are to survive in the Premier League this season.

The Rs went into their opening-day clash on Saturday with Clint Hill, Shaun Derry and Alejandro Faurlin all tasting top-flight football for the first time.

Bolton, in contrast, began the match with a side rich in Premier League experience, including goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker and wily striker Kevin Davies.

And it was Bolton’s second goal, scored after Davies cleverly won a free-kick on the edge of the QPR area that led to Danny Gabbidon’s own goal, which proved the turning point as the visitors took control.

“We defended poorly and got punished, which you do in the Premier League,” said Warnock.

“The second goal, if you watch Kevin Davies come in, he leaves his foot in to get the free-kick off the referee, and then we defended like amateurs as well.

“It took a deflection in fairness, but once the second goal goes in it’s a poor performance.”

Before that second goal, Rangers had largely controlled the contest, with Jay Bothroyd going close on two occasions and DJ Campbell seeing his early strike ruled out for offside.

However, having failed to score when they were on top, Warnock’s side were then predictably punished, and while the boss was keen to take the positives from the result, he recognised that his side must stamp out carelessness.

“There were a lot of plusses in that area [the first half], I was disappointed at how we capitulated at 2-0 but we’ve got to learn lessons quickly really,” continued Warnock.

“I thought Kevin Davies ran the show, he had seven free kicks given against him in that first half, I don’t know how many you tolerate until you get a yellow card.

“How long has Kevin Davies been in the Premier League?

He’s been a top player and a thorn in everybody’s side for many years, I love him. You do get cuter as you go along.

“Up until [the second goal] I was quite pleased, I thought we created some good chances and we could have scored one or two goals,” continued Warnock.

“Rather than commit suicide, you’ve got to eliminate the errors and mistakes and we continue as we are, so that’s what I’m going to try to do.

“You’ve got to try and learn quickly, we’ve got to be less naive in certain situations but I think everybody who comes up, all the three clubs have got to grow up quickly and look at what you’re playing against. I think you’ve got to be cute.”

Follow Ian Cooper on Twitter @QPRTimes.

 

For "cleverly won" read "cheated the ref".....

 

Kevin Davies is very good at what he does, but he has been doing it for years, he didn't just start playing like that on Saturday...

It's no excuse for letting him run the show, we are going to need to deal with bigger problems than Kevin Davies poses, can't wait to see what Rooney, Aguero, Torres, Drogba, Balloteli, Suarez etrc etc do to one size and gabbi... I feel sick just thinking about it.

Lets hope we get some decent prem experience at the back soon or hope our current defence somehow get much faster and twice as savy.