Rs boss far from happy after defeat to Robins

Queens Park Rangers manager Ian Holloway questioned his team’s desire following their 2-1 loss away to Bristol City in the Championship.

Rs lost to first-half goals from Robins duo Marlon Pack and Jamie Paterson, and though Idrissa Sylla pulled one back in second-half stoppage time, it was only a consolation strike.

It was an infuriating return to his hometown for Bristolian Holloway, and the QPR boss was gutted with the fight shown by his players.

“Not a lot of my lads played well enough and one or two of the things in the second half are inexplicable,” he said.

“If you get a free-kick and you’re 2-0 down, you know the next goal is vital, so if you get a free-kick, you should run to the ball, get it and put it down as quick as you can.

“We let a Bristol City pick it up twice and walk backwards with it. I’m sorry, but all the people in the ground know if I had a blue and white shirt on, I would not have allowed that.

“It’s my free-kick and I’m just going to take it. I’d show some fight and fire, so I absolutely ripped the players’ faces off about that because that can’t be right.

Holloway made five changes for the trip to Ashton Gate, including the enforced alteration of Grant Hall.

The defender missed the trip to City with injury, and while the Rs boss acknowledges it made life a little tougher, it was not why his team failed to return up the M4 with the points.

“Losing ‘Hally’ was a big blow to be fair. He limped out of training on Friday and because he’s been the cement between the middle two centre-backs, we had to change shape, but that’s got nothing to do with the loss,” he added.

“Not a lot of my lads played well enough and one or two of the things in the second half are inexplicable.”