Half-time bust-up sparked Rangers revival
Johnson Hall Manning Eze
Ref: Dean Whitestone Att: 12,378
SKIPPER Grant Hall credits a half-time ding-dong for 10-man QPR’s stunning comeback.
Hall scored the first of the visitors’ three goals after the break.
And he said: “We were all angry about our first-half performance, and there were heated words in the dressing room.
“It needed to be said and everyone chipped in. It wasn’t left to the manager. And look what happened – we were a different team after that.”
What made Rangers’ recovery even more remarkable was they had Geoff Cameron sent off on 67 minutes with the score 1-1.
Hall added: “It was a massive result for us, especially with only 10 men. But instead of worrying about losing it, we went for it.
“Preston opened up the game to try to win it but our double substitution at half-time and tactical change worked.
“Our subs Luke Amos and Ilias Chair gave us that extra energy and helped change the game. After that, we were top class.”
QPR were woeful in the opening 45 minutes and deserved to be a goal down to Daniel Johnson’s penalty after Marc Pugh upended Darnell Fisher.
Ebere Eze, one of Rangers’ crop of youngsters making their mark, had a hand in Hall’s equaliser and sealed the victory with his 12th goal of the season.
Cameron was dismissed after picking up a second yellow, but barely 10 minutes later Ryan Manning put Rangers ahead.
It was only his third goal of the season and his first since October, but boss Mark Warburton said: “His attitude is great. He has a good left foot, and he contributes effectively.”
He also praised academy product Eze, whose impressive stats read: 37 appearances, 12 goals, eight assists, and eight manof-the-match awards. Eze, 21, said:
“I’m always happy to contribute. We were dreadful in the first half but then showed what we are capable of.
“We’re resilient and have now gone six games unbeaten. I know there are reports of top clubs watching several of us, but I’m happy here.
“Of course, I want to go all the way, but the coaches are very helpful in bringing me on and the manager is a great motivator.”
Preston boss Alex Neil admitted the defeat, a third on the trot, was “a sore one to take” adding: “We’re going through a difficult time.
“Being up there in play-off contention has brought an expectancy in the stadium.
“It’s something we’re not used to, but we have to cope with it.” PRESTON:
QPR:
MOTM
RYAN MANNING (QPR)
WIMBLEDON
BOLTON
KEITH HILL believes doomed Bolton will not allow their season to fizzle out after this Wimbledon stalemate.
Rock-bottom Wanderers have scored just once in five games.
But boss Hill said: “If we can create more chances, we can start turning draws into wins.
“The players haven’t given up the fight and I don’t think they ever will do.”
IPSWICH
COVENTRY 0 0
MARK ROBINS warned his Coventry side must improve if they are to hold on to top spot.
Matt Godden (right) scored to take City five points clear.
Sky Blues boss Robins said: “We’ve got 10 games left and we need to be better than that against the teams that we’ve got coming up.
“We still need to keep going, keep our focus and learn.”
MK DONS
DONCASTER
DARREN MOORE says Doncaster’s Jacob Ramsey took a major step forward with his match-winning display.
The on-loan Aston Villa midfielder, 18, grabbed the winning goal on 67 minutes.
And Rovers boss Moore said: “For his development it was an excellent afternoon. He got the goal and with the ball at his feet he managed to play well.”
SHREWSBURY
OXFORD
0
2 3 1
KARL ROBINSON warned Oxford can’t repeat this slow start in the run-in.
His side came back from two down, but the U’s boss said: “If we start like that in bigger games against teams up and around us, we’ll be three or four down.”
Shrews’ Daniel Udoh and Callum Lang netted, but Josh Vela was sent off. Marcus Browne, Daniel Agyei and Josh Ruffels replied for U’s.
SUNDERLAND
GILLINGHAM
2 2
KYLE LAFFERTY ran over to kitman John Cooke to celebrate his first Sunderland goal.
The striker said: “Yesterday we were told that Cookie’s dad died.
“Cookie is one of the boys, everyone loves him, so I said if I scored I would dedicate the goal to him and his dad.”
Lafferty got a second, with Mikael Mandron levelling twice to earn Gillingham a point.