DOWIE: DEFENCE KEY TO QPR SUCCESS
Iain Dowie, the QPR manager, is delighted with the way his team have responded since they were downed 3-0 against Sheffield United five games ago and believes that a watertight rearguard is the key to promotion to the Premier League.
Following that defeat at Bramall Lane he enforced a new defensive system which the players have adopted with great success, conceding twice and dropping only two points since.
The 43-year-old, whose team have moved up to fourth in the Championship and take on 17th-placed Norwich City on Wednesday, said: "I think a decent defence is the key to QPR's success this season and we have spent a lot of time on that.
"We have been working hard since the Sheffield United game - we have changed the system since that disappointing display. I am delighted with how the players have responded and we haven't looked like shipping a lot of goals since then.
"It has really made a difference to us. We look much more solid and we have big pace back there - we are not going to get run away from too many times."
Dowie hinted that his defensive midfielders Alan Mahon and Mikele Leigertwood's recent performances might even marginalise Italian international Damiano Tommasi, who signed as a free agent last Wednesday.
"[Alan] Mahon and [Mikele] Leigertwood deserve a lot of credit for the success of the new defensive system," Dowie added. "Damiano, who plays in the same position, is an established international and won't take long to get up to speed, but I have to be fair to the lads who are here and incumbent.
"However he is a very welcome addition to the squad and with when he is fully fit there will be good competition for places."
Dowie is wary of 17th-placed Norwich as they are a team packed with new faces including Premier League old boys Dejan Stefanovic, Antoine Sibierski, Arturo Lupoli and Elliot Omozusi.
Dowie continued: "There's been a big turnaround at Norwich - a sea change. They have had some sizable investment down there - it's a different team.
"Carrow Road is a difficult place to play - they get 25,000 fans every week. If we're not on our mettle we'll get burnt. We'll go there in good spirits, with great heart and that's very important."
QPR travel to Coventry, Dowie's former club, on Saturday and he knows these two away games are a tough challenge.
"There are two away games coming up but we're in good form, let's go there in good spirits but also be very respectful of two good opposition teams," he added. "It will be a good litmus test and indication of where we are."
Iain Dowie, the QPR manager, is delighted with the way his team have responded since they were downed 3-0 against Sheffield United five games ago and believes that a watertight rearguard is the key to promotion to the Premier League.
Following that defeat at Bramall Lane he enforced a new defensive system which the players have adopted with great success, conceding twice and dropping only two points since.
The 43-year-old, whose team have moved up to fourth in the Championship and take on 17th-placed Norwich City on Wednesday, said: "I think a decent defence is the key to QPR's success this season and we have spent a lot of time on that.
"We have been working hard since the Sheffield United game - we have changed the system since that disappointing display. I am delighted with how the players have responded and we haven't looked like shipping a lot of goals since then.
"It has really made a difference to us. We look much more solid and we have big pace back there - we are not going to get run away from too many times."
Dowie hinted that his defensive midfielders Alan Mahon and Mikele Leigertwood's recent performances might even marginalise Italian international Damiano Tommasi, who signed as a free agent last Wednesday.
"[Alan] Mahon and [Mikele] Leigertwood deserve a lot of credit for the success of the new defensive system," Dowie added. "Damiano, who plays in the same position, is an established international and won't take long to get up to speed, but I have to be fair to the lads who are here and incumbent.
"However he is a very welcome addition to the squad and with when he is fully fit there will be good competition for places."
Dowie is wary of 17th-placed Norwich as they are a team packed with new faces including Premier League old boys Dejan Stefanovic, Antoine Sibierski, Arturo Lupoli and Elliot Omozusi.
Dowie continued: "There's been a big turnaround at Norwich - a sea change. They have had some sizable investment down there - it's a different team.
"Carrow Road is a difficult place to play - they get 25,000 fans every week. If we're not on our mettle we'll get burnt. We'll go there in good spirits, with great heart and that's very important."
QPR travel to Coventry, Dowie's former club, on Saturday and he knows these two away games are a tough challenge.
"There are two away games coming up but we're in good form, let's go there in good spirits but also be very respectful of two good opposition teams," he added. "It will be a good litmus test and indication of where we are."
Labels: Championship, Iain Dowie, Queens Park Rangers
