MIX DOUBLES A KNOCK-OUT GLOW AT QPR
STEVE MCCLAREN has revealed an early “rollocking” from Steve Gibson forged him into a cup specialist – and now he wants the same ambition at Loftus Road.
Knock-out flops QPR have not reached the FA Cup quarter-finals since 1995 – and have employed 26 different managers since.
But the former England boss (below) won the League Cup, reached the UEFA Cup final and two FA Cup semis during his five years at Middlesbrough.
And before hosting Watford tonight, the Hoops manager insisted his latest club had to follow the same lead. “I have always had English clubs that should be looking at cups for success,” he said.
“Middlesbrough was an ideal example where I remember I played a weakened team in the Carling Cup at Ipswich [November 2002] and owner Steve Gibson gave me a right rollocking.
He said, ‘We want to win cups here. We build our squad to win cups. We won’t win the league, but we have a chance in cups. We’ve been in semi-finals and finals we haven’t won, but we want to’.
“The following seasons after that I made sure I played a strong team in the cups. And it worked. In the third season, we won the Carling Cup.
“It can be great momentum for
Championship teams. Fans love the FA Cup.
“If I am not scrapping against relegation or for a title, cups are a priority. It surprises me others don’t do the same.” ANDRE GRAY dreams of playing in front of 90,000 fans at a Wembley showpiece – just like his Little Mix partner Leigh-anne Pinnock.
And his double act with Troy Deeney could be the key to making the £18million record signing’s wish come true with Watford in the FA Cup. Social-media trolls reckon Gray has been a flop at Vicarage Road since his surprise switch from Burnley 18 months ago.
But his goalsper-start strike rate (10 in 26 games) is far better than the cheap shots would suggest. And the Hornets’ record when Deeney and Gray’s partnership is unleashed – they have won six and drawn two of the last 11 Premier League games where they have started or finished on the pitch together – could give QPR food for thought at Loftus Road tonight.
Gray said: “Troy and I understand each other and, when we have played together as a two, up top, we have given a few teams a hard time.
“We sussed out in preseason that we might be able to unsettle defenders by going more direct, which is what happened when we played together last season.
“My strike rate when I start games is not as bad as some people make out.
“You see how well Callum Wilson has done at Bournemouth, but he has played a lot of minutes and he’s earned his success. I didn’t set the transfer fee when I joined Watford, but I don’t accept my goals-to-minutes ratio is that bad.
“It might not always be pretty – and it might sometimes be a battle – but one thing Troy and I can hopefully guarantee is that it won’t be easy for defenders.”
Watford, who have reached three FA Cup semi-finals since 2003, will be within striking distance of another one if they come through tonight.
Apart from being in the Luton side, who knocked out Norwich in the fourth round six years ago, the FA Cup has brought Gray little joy.
But he did score at Wembley for Luton in a Conference play-off final defeat by York in 2012.
Gray’s other half has performed in front of a full house at the national stadium when Little Mix played at the Summertime Ball in 2017 and they provided pre-match entertainment at an NFL exhibition game.
For a football-and-showbiz couple, Gray and Pinnock enjoy a modest public profile.
He admitted: “Our jobs are not just nine-to-five and we have worked hard to get to where we are.
“But, yes, I would love to play in a major gig at Wembley like her!”
QPR:
WATFORD: