BIG SAM GOES WILD ABOUT CHRIS GETTING BIG 6 SHOT
ELIAS KACHUNGA ensured that QPR’s woes continued as they struggle to adapt to life without free-scoring striker Nahki Wells.
The Huddersfield winger scored one and won a penalty to ease Danny Cowley’s side further away from the relegation zone.
But Rangers are getting dragged closer to it.
The omens do not look good for Mark Warburton’s side who have scored just once, and lost all three games, since on-loan Wells was recalled by parent club Burnley and sold to Bristol City last month.
The manager said: “I sound like a broken record at the moment, you’ve got to take your chances.
“We created chances, played some dominant football and looked a good team but you are only a good team if you score.
“It’s too simple to say it’s just because of Nahki. There are 10 other players on the pitch.”
Kachunga added to Warburton’s concerns after 57 minutes when he headed in Harry Toffolo’s killer cross.
Just three minutes later Kachunga was tripped by Lee Wallace and Steve Mounie blasted in the penalty.
Terriers boss Cowley said: “Sometimes there is so much will in the stadium you can almost want something too much and it can create an anxiety, a nervousness.
“Maybe we felt that in the first half but when we scored you could feel the relief. We want to get to 50 points.”
NEW signings Richairo Zivkovic and Panagiotis Retsos are both champing at the bit to make their mark for Sheffield United.
The high-flying Blades have already exceeded expectations in their first season back in the Premier League for 13 years.
Dutch forward Zivkovic and Greek international defender Retsos – two of five new signings made by ambitious boss Chris Wilder last month – have both already bought into the blueprint for success.
“The team spirit is amazing, we are like a family,” said Retsos, 23, who joined on a six-month loan from Bayer Leverkusen.
Zivkovic, 21, also on an initial six-month loan deal from Chinese club Changchun Yatai, said: “I’m just really happy the chance came by. I’m just glad I’m here and not in China.”
Even now he is a leader in our dressing room but he is calm, you know you can trust him.
“He was with us for the month and it was so obvious that he had quality.
“It stood out, that undoubted quality and ability.
“But I felt as if he was doing it for us in second gear. It was as if he was playing within himself and afraid to let loose.
“He was holding back and we wanted him to open up, to stretch out those legs and show us how much more was there.
“I asked him, ‘What are you doing with your career? Where is your career going? What do you need from it and what do you want from it?.’ Basically, ‘What are you doing to make it happen for yourself?.’
SAM ALLARDYCE reckons Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder could run out of luck when the awards are dished out – despite his stellar season.
A double gong winner following the Blades’ Championship exploits in May, Wilder should be on course for more personal glory after an astonishing campaign so far.
But Allardyce reckons Jurgen Klopp’s incredible performance at Liverpool over the last seven months means the German could clean up – just like his side.
“In any other year Chris would have been looking at sweeping the board again at the LMA awards for the way he’s navigated Sheffield
United’s first season back in the Premier League,” said Big Sam (below).
“But Jurgen’s achievements of winning the Champions League in June and potentially smashing the Premier League points record on the way to Liverpool’s first title in 30 years will top everything this season.
“Chris might still land one of the awards but if he doesn’t that should not detract from the unbelievable job he’s doing at Bramall Lane.
“He’s got a fabulous pedigree in his life as a manager and his track record is exceptional. “He deserves to be where he is right now and I think he can achieve even greater things in management, wherever that might be.” Despite believing he deserves a chance with a top-six club, Allardyce isn’t holding his breath that Wilder will get it – even though he’s currently outperforming Jose Mourinho, Mikel Arteta and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“History tells you the big clubs don’t go for managers like Chris, Sean Dyche or Eddie Howe,” said Big Sam.
“When you are doing well like Chris there’s a very small window of opportunity unless you have been a big name player at that club like Lampard or Ole.
“I just hope he doesn’t get labelled the same way I was.”