I expected a lot more from Oliver blasts Pulis
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Tony Pulis raged at the officials after his promotion-chasers stuttered again at QPR.
Defeat at Loftus Road means the Teessiders have gone four games without a win – and lost to goals from Pawel Wszolek and matchwinner Nahki Wells.
Rangers fully deserved all three points but after a poor display from his normally stingy team Pulis lashed out at referee Oliver Langford.
The Riverside boss said: “I was disappointed, we started really poorly and gave them two great chances in the first five minutes – they took the second one.
“Then there is an incident in their box from a corner where Britt Assombalonga is rugby tackled down and the ref is five yards away and doesn’t give it.
“I have been to see the referee. Then in the second half the official this side gives offside when their player has touched the ball last. Jonny Howson is 100 per cent not offside.
“Then the keeper takes the free-kick with the ball rolling from 25 yards away. We had a booking second half for dragging back a player on the counter, they had a similar offence, not booked.
“We should do better but the playing field has to be level.”
QPR and former Boro boss Steve McClaren enjoyed a first win in five and said: “I’m just delighted.
“I thought it was a great performance and we showed real determination. We could have scored more goals.
“We defended resolutely right to the end and we needed this, it was a big win.
“Nahki could have got a hat-trick.”
After four minutes Luke Freeman fed the overlapping Jake Bidwell on the left and from his cross Wszolek bundled the ball in.
However, fortune swung Boro’s way in the 50th minute. Rangers defender Joel Lynch was limping off and the ball fell to George Saville who rifled home.
But Wells fully deserved a goal and it arrived on the hour, set up by Wszolek, with the striker shifting the ball onto his left foot before curling it home.