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DOWIE DISMISSES RUMOURS AS "TITTLE TATTLE"

Iain Dowie has dismissed rumours linking Terry Venables and Kenny Jackett with his position as Queens Park Rangers manager as "tittle tattle". He has refused to let such unfounded negativity seep into the dressing room, feels he is doing "a decent job" and is positive he has the players' backing.

Stories had been circulating that the west London club's mega rich owners - F1 supremos Flavio Brigatore and Bernie Ecclestone, and steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal - were lining up a replacement for Dowie, and they would act if QPR were not on course for promotion to the Premier League.

The alleged candidates are former England manager Venables, who had a stint in charge of QPR in the early 1980s and last month spurned Newcastle United's advances, and Millwall's Jackett, the ex-Swansea manager.

QPR currently sit 11th in the Championship, and after hosting bottom-of-the-table Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Dowie's team have tricky away trips to high-flying Swansea and Reading.

But the 43-year-old has hit back, claiming that he feels no added pressure. "This season we have played 13 games and won seven of them and we are also in the last 16 of the Carling Cup," he said.

"I can't affect what these rumours will do to the players. All I can do is do my job, get my head down and work hard. Whoever wants to make mischief and start these stories, they can do that.

"But I'm not going to be involved in negativity - I don't believe in it. I will concentrate on doing what I am doing.

"This is whispering tittle-tattle, and until it comes to fruition I'm not going to worry about it. I know I am doing a decent job here and I think I have got the support of the players, which is the most important thing.

Labels: Championship, Iain Dowie, Queens Park Rangers, Terry Venables

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:24 pm | Permalink | Comments

DOWIE: QPR NEED TO GET STUCK IN

Queens Park Rangers manager Iain Dowie admits the next three games are vital in
his side's push for promotion. The Hoops host Nottingham Forest, who are currently rock bottom of the table and yet to gain an away point this season, at Loftus Road on Saturday. And QPR’s following two games are away days at high-flying Swansea and Reading.

Dowie, who this week played down reports linking Terry Venables with his job,
knows there can be no slip up this afternoon but is wary of Forest’s pacy
attack, which includes Welsh international Robert Earnshaw.

"It’s going to be a really tough game," said Dowie, whose team sit 11th in the
table.

"They have spent some money - £2.65m on Earnshaw and £1.4m on Joe Garner - and
they have Nathan Tyson. They have really good pace up front.

"They have also bought in midfielder Lee Martin on loan from Manchester United.
We have Reading and Swansea away afterwards - both will be tough games too.

"But this league is like that. We have to make sure we are right. We are
looking forward to it and the lads should be a bit refreshed and get stuck in."

Labels: Iain Dowie, Nottingham Forest, Queens Park Rangers

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DERBY CORNER QPR IN LOFTUS LATE SHOW

Queens Park Rangers' 100 per cent home record was ended as Paul Jewell's Derby County earned their first away win in the league for 18 months thanks to two goals from corners in the last ten minutes. Defender Martin Albrechtsen struck home the first from eight yards when the ball rebounded kindly for him and eight minutes later substitute Emanuel Villa nodded in to ensure the result.

The travelling side, relegated so unceremoniously from the Premier League last season, have now earned eight points from their last four Championship games and look to be finally getting over their relegation hangover.

Iain Dowie's side had been in great form going into the game, having claimed the unlikely scalp of Aston Villa in the Carling Cup Third Round in midweek - a victory that has earned them a fixture against Premier League champions Manchester United at Old Trafford in mid November. But they were brought back down to earth with a bump after failing to deal with set pieces late a match that only took light in the second half.

The first 20 minutes were played at a high tempo without either team managing to engineer a clear-cut chance. QPR's solitary striker Dexter Blackstock, who had been rested for Wednesday's shock Carling Cup Third Round win at Villa Park, had few chances to test Roy Carroll in the visitors' goal.

But when he first did, after 22 minutes, Carroll's defence came to the rescue. Real Madrid loanee Daniel Parejo sprung the Derby offside trip on the right-hand side of the area, having been cleverly found by Emannuel Ledesma. The borrowed Genoa youngster squared to Blackstock, who slid in for what looked like a certain goal.

But Derby right-back Paul Connelly had other ideas and, having tracked back, managed to put his body between Blackstock and the goal-line. His goalkeeper thanked him with a ruffle of his hair.

Derby had their best chance of the half five minutes later, when full-back Jordan Stewart fed Stephen Pearson on the left wing and he hit a low cross towards attacker Rob Hulse, who could not quite step round the onrushing home goalkeeper Radek Cerny. Hulse's toe-poke was first blocked by the former Tottenham stopper and then booted out for a corner.

After the interval the game opened up more and both sides had good chances to score. Two minutes into the half, tricky Italian Ledesma weaved his way into the box on the right. His deflected shot had Carroll scrambling back across his goal, but it found the post and bounced behind. From the resulting corner the 20-year-old flashed a shot over the bar, and two minutes later he tried to chip Carroll but dragged it wide right.

Blackstock then hit a post when he cleverly turned his marker from six-yards out, but the away team soon hit back in this ding-dong battle. On 62 minutes Hulse should have scored when put clean though but he was brilliantly tackled by Damion Stewart.

Defender Miles Addison shaved Cerny's cross bar with a 35 yard screamer and winger Nacer Barazite, on loan from Arsenal, then blazed over from Jewell's side. But it was his corner from the left, with 10 minutes remaining that found its way to Albrechtsen, who cooly finished. Substitute Steven Davies then swung a corner in from the same position and Villa's header was too good for Cerny.

Labels: Aston Villa, Championship, Derby County, Iain Dowie, Queens Park Rangers

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DOWIE TAKES ON MENTOR O'NEILL AND "CREAM OF BRITISH TALENT"

QPR managerIain Dowie will put friendship to one side on Wednesday when he attempts to defeat his mentor, Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa in the Carling Cup. The former Northern Ireland internationals became good pals two years ago, while at the World Cup in Germany.

And elder statesman O'Neill, who made 64 appearances for his country, has offered advice and hot drinks to 59-cap Dowie in his fledgling management career. The 43-year-old Dowie said: "Martin and I spent a lot of time together at the World Cup in Germany and we got to know each other very well and are good friends.

"I always keep track of him and of course there is the Northern Ireland connection too. I've been for a cup of tea in his office a few times. He is a very busy man but he has been very helpful."

Dowie, who scored in the 1994/95 FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park to force Manchester United to a replay against Crystal Palace, is envious of the firepower his opposite man can call upon, but tips his hat for O'Neill, 56, for building a young, British side. "Martin has put Gabriel Agbonlahor in, and bought in other English youngsters Nigel Reo-Coker, Ashley Young, Luke Young, Curtis Davies and Nicky Shorey," continued the former Coventry manager.

"They are all good young players and in Martin Laursen, Gareth Barry, John Carew, Brad Friedel and Stiliyan Petrov he has some experienced players too. Martin's side have a very good balance and it is refreshing what he is doing in regards to selecting young Englishmen, when these days teams are packed with foreigners.

"In Ashley Young, one of the best natural wingers in the game, and Agbonlahor you have the cream of British talent. I went to watch them on Sunday against West Bromwich and they were a real potent attacking threat. I don't think I need to get my players up for it. If you are not up for playing against the best young British players in the country then you should not be in the game."

On the prospect of QPR, who sit fourth in the Championship, progressing to the fourth round of the Carling Cup, Dowie added: "We have a very pacy defence but it is difficult when Agbonlahor drops off and even if you hold a high line he can get behind you. And John Carew is a big part of his game and a good foil for him, so we will have to be on our game.

"Martin has a history of wanting to do well in this tournament and we will be very strong. Will not shut up shop at Villa Park either, so it should be an interesting game."

Labels: Aston Villa, Carling Cup, Iain Dowie, Martin O'Neilll, Queens Park Rangers

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:28 pm | Permalink | Comments

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."

Labels: Championship, Iain Dowie, Queens Park Rangers

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 11:46 am | Permalink | Comments