JONES FUMES AS CLUCAS SEES RED
NATHAN Jones praised his Stoke side for securing a point at QPR with 10 men, but accused Sam Clucas of ruining their game plan by being sent off.
Clucas ludicrously got himself dismissed after just eight minutes of the match for stamping on Josh Scowen in full view of referee Gavin Ward.
Scowen followed through with an innocuous sliding challenge just as Ward, who was standing just a few yards away, blew for a free-kick after Clucas had handled the ball near the edge of the Rangers penalty area.
Clucas inexplicably reacted and was immediately shown the red card.
But Rangers were unable to take advantage – and themselves ended the match with 10 men after Grant Hall was sent off after picking up a second yellow card late on.
Jones made no excuses for Clucas, whose actions meant the visitors spent almost the entire game on the back foot.
“It did scupper plans that we felt were well laid,” said Jones.
“I’m bitterly disappointed. It’s a lack of discipline that cost us really, because we’d have liked to come here and get three points.”
But he was encouraged by the battling qualities shown by players whose attitude was questioned prior to the Welshman taking over in January.
“You have to adapt and we showed that we are adaptable,” he said.
“It was a performance full of character, work-rate and discipline.”
Stoke have not won in 21 league visits to London – a remarkable run stretching back to November 2014. But they will regard this as a well-earned point and the Potters are now unbeaten in five matches.
QPR, who had lost eight of their previous nine Championship games, have won just once in the league since Boxing Day.
“Obviously we’re frustrated. That’s the overall feeling in the dressing room, the dugout and also among the fans,” said Rang- ers boss Steve McClaren. “But I can’t fault the players.
“We tried as much as possible to win the game and the attitude was there to win it.
“We finished the game with two wingers, two strikers, Luke Freeman in midfield – so we went for it. We just didn’t have that quality.”
Rangers had plenty of possession and their Australian midfielder Massimo Luongo sent a shot wide before Stoke keeper Jack Butland gathered two Freeman efforts from distance.
However, the home side failed to create a clear-cut chance in the first half and were almost punished when Charlie Adam blasted wide after Nahki Wells had given the ball away deep inside the Rangers half.
Stoke continued to look comfortable after the interval, although Butland was called upon to produce a fine save when Rangers finally created a chance of note. The England international dived to his right to push away Wells’s low shot after the striker had been set up by Scowen.