BLUES DUNNE AND DUSTED
Jimmy cracker keeps Brum in basement
2
1
QPR boss Marti Cifuentes said Jimmy Dunne deserved his moment of glory after the defender’s sensational stoppage-time goal secured victory over fellow Championship strugglers Birmingham.
Dunne’s stunning left-footed volley from near the edge of the penalty area took Rangers four points clear of the relegation zone.
The unlikely hero, usually a centre-back, lost his place in the team after some shaky performances and has more recently been deployed at rightback.
Cifuentes said: “He deserves everything. I’m very happy for him. He’s a quality, quality human being.
“He will enjoy this moment, but when things weren’t going his way and there were games he was not starting he was always first in training, supporting his team-mates and happy when the team won. Perhaps people tend to underrate him. In the Championship he has always played, with different managers, and there is a reason why.
“Sometimes players can think we take them out of the team because we don’t trust them. It’s not because of that, it’s just because there is a lot of competition.”
Dunne’s strike consigned Birmingham to defeat in their first match since Gary Rowett’s return to the club as interim boss.
Juninho Bacuna’s 62ndminute goal had put Blues within sight of a first win in seven games, but Steve Cook equalised three minutes later and Dunne’s late cracker (below) gave Rangers the points.
Cifuentes added: “It was massive and it was one of the biggest achievements since I arrived.
“The feeling was that we should have been leading and then instead Birmingham scored a very good goal. It was very important to react immediately. To get the equaliser and be able to keep pushing.
“But we need to be very careful. Today is a day to be very happy, but the reality is that there are seven games left and we will need to pick up a lot more points.”
Rowett took encouragement from Birmingham’s improved display, despite the result.
“It was a cruel way to end what has been a really positive and productive week in terms of the work we’ve done,” he said.
The defeat keeps Blues above third-from-bottom Huddersfield only on goal difference..