Horror day for Holloway

IAN HOLLOWAY was left fuming and feeling let down by his players following defeat at the ground where he is the pantomime villain.

The QPR manager, a boyhood fan and former boss of Bristol Rovers, had hoped his side would seal their safety while keeping City pinned near the relegation zone, but they went down to goals from Marlon Pack and Jamie Paterson.

‘ People here are going home having a bit of a laugh at my expense,’ he said. ‘It has taken all my experience to not say the wrong things in the dressing room. At half- time I expected some change in the impetus but we went out like a wet firework.’

Pack, who had not scored for 199 days, was given yards to volley home after defender Aden Flint had won the ball from Mark Little’s cross on 13 minutes. And then Holloway’s static defenders appealed in vain for offside as Paterson ran on to captain Korey Smith’s pass just before the break.

City keeper Frank Fielding made one outstanding save from Yeni Ngbakoto, but the home side were always in control. Idrissa Sylla’s goal deep into stoppage time was just a consolation.

For home boss Lee Johnson it was a chance to repay owner Steve Lansdown’s decision not to press the panic button following a humiliating 5-0 defeat at Preston two weeks ago.

Johnson said: ‘ There’s mutual respect and I’ll do everything to make this club better.’