IT’S LOCKING A LOT BETTER NOW FOR BOW
Is the War finally over? NO crowds meant NO typical Warnock outbursts as the grand old manager admits: Maybe it did affect me
MAYBE the authorities have at last discovered a way to muzzle Neil Warnock – playing behind closed doors. stick but as a result I don’t think I had much of a go at the referee or linesman either,” he said. “Maybe that affected me. Who knows?”
One thing that everyone knows is that even at the age of 71 the Marco Polo of football – his travels have taken him to 16 clubs – has the magical ingredients to sort out most emergencies.
In a matter of days he managed to revitalise a side dismantled 3-0 at home by Swansea to leapfrog Stoke in the relegation scrap.
But he knows there is still plenty of hard work ahead.
“We are miles away from being safe,” Warnock admitted. “You have to stick with your principles.”
That was evident in a quick chat with striker Rudy Gestede who, when he indicated he wouldn’t be signing a new contract, was shown the door.
“I told him he might as well go home now,” said a straightfaced Warnock.
How Stoke could have done with a sharp-shooting striker as they missed a number of gilt-edged chances – three of them falling to winger James McClean, although the first needed a brilliant stop from Boro keeper Dejan Stojanovic.
Stoke manager Michael O’Neill said: “We need to show
MOTM
DEJAN STOJANOVIC (BORO)
CHARLTON
QPR
LEE BOWYER spent most of lockdown fearing Charlton could be relegated without kicking another ball.
Had the season been terminated early with the dreaded points-per-game system, Bowyer’s strugglers would already be down.
The Addicks only fell into the drop zone for the first time in the last match before the break and last month Bowyer branded the prospect “scandalous”.
And with Charlton taking six points from six after the restart, the players have made his case.
Darren Pratley’s 12th-minute header (above) from Josh Cullen’s corner was enough to see off Rangers, who only woke up after half-time.
Bowyer said: “That’s why I was not very happy with the way they were trying to do it with points per game.
“It wouldn’t have been right and it wouldn’t have been fair. I knew, with nine games to go, there was a lot of football left.
“Even with seven to go, we’re not out of it yet. We have to focus and keep fighting for every point because this league can hurt you.
“We’ve had a good start, we’re in a good position, but have to fight until the end. What they were trying to do with this pointsper-game thing was ridiculous. We’re proving that as it stands – but there’s a long way to go.”
Bowyer also approved the playing of crowd noise during the match, adding: “It helps. Even though the fans are not here, they can still play a part.”
QPR boss Mark Warburton said: “Goals change games and we gave away a soft one.”
CHARLTON:
QPR: