Karanka blue after drawing another blank
AITOR KARANKA refuses to release the handbrake despite Birmingham still not scoring from open play.
The Blues left QPR with a point and the manager says he is more than happy with his side’s approach – despite annoyance from the club’s fans growing.
Starting with a lone striker hardly helped his cause, with the club’s absent supporters growing ever more frustrated at their team’s obvious lack of attacking spark.
But Karanka said: “I would rather draw a game nil-nil than five-five.
“Drawing nil-nil shows my team is full of commitment.
“I know we will score goals, I am sure we will – but I am not concerned as we are playing well.
“But it is two points dropped for us because we had the best chances of the game. We should have won.”
Counterpart Mark Warburton suggested the schedule is behind this limp showing.
“We were really poor in the first half, lacklustre,” said the Rangers boss after a fourth draw from five.
“Second half we were better and created chances.
“You can’t do anything with the players because there are games every three days.
“There are less goals in the Championship now – you are surprised if you get more than two goals a game. Us managers are all saying it, all we can really do is rest between matches.”
QPR: Dieng 7; Kakay 7, Dickie 8, Barbet 7, Wallace 6 (Hamalainen (29th) 7) Cameron 7; Adomah 5 (Willock (69th)
5) Chair 6, Osayi-Samuel 7; Bonne 6, Dykes 6 (Ball (69th) 6)
BIRMINGHAM: Etheridge 7; Roberts 6, Dean 8, Friend
7; Colin 6, San Jose 6, Sunjic 7, Pedersen 8; Leko 6 (Jutkiewicz (62nd) 6) Gardner 6; Hogan 6 (Sanchez 77th)
STAR MAN: Harlee Dean
REF: S Hooper