QPR's Blackpool Draw - Further Managerial Comments and Match Reports

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Daily Mail - Blackstock spares Dowie's blushes as Rangers squeeze a point out of the Tangerines QPR 1 Blackpool 1 By Ian Gibb
Iain Dowie played right into Blackpool's hands and came away with only a point - and that is five they have now dropped in two home games.
Dowie defended his curious decision to play only one striker - Dexter Blackstock, who equalised with 11 minutes to go.
Yet at half-time QPR boss Dowie obviously realised his system was not working against a well-organised Blackpool side as he took off the highly-rated loan stars Emanuel Ledesma and Daniel Parejo - and in the second half Rangers looked much more effective with Patrick Agyemang as a second striker.
Dowie was rattled by talk of a tactical blunder and snapped: 'There's an obsession in this country about playing 4-4-2.
'We've scored four times against Southampton and Carlisle with the system we started with tonight. The reason I changed it was that initially Blackpool were allowed to sit back and go on to our two wide men. So, by changing it, I gave them another problem up front.'
But even Blackpool manager Simon Grayson was surprised that Dowie started the match with just one striker. He said: 'After they were beaten by Derby I thought they would go 4-4-2 but we weren't surprised at all by their formation.'
Impressive Blackpool led after 18 minutes when wide man Gary Taylor-Fletcher caught out Rangers goalkeeper Radek Cerny with a blistering shot from 25 yards into the top corner of the net.
And although the lively Blackstock and Martin Rowlands had several good chances in the second period, QPR were getting nowhere until they shook things up and brought on Hungarian play-maker Akos Buzsaky after 72 minutes.
It was his free-kick seven minutes later that crashed off the bar, enabling Blackstock to head in the equaliser from close range. Mail


Blackpool Official Site - Managerial Comments
Simon Grayson was full of praise for his team after the Seasiders earned a creditable point against QPR on Tuesday night.
Grayson said: "We were under pressure from set-pieces in the second half but the players dug in and defended for their lives at times.
"We'd have taken a point at the start of the game but when you get to where we were and concede a goal, it's always tough and the players are disappointed.
"That shows how far those players have come. Everyone wrote us off at the start of the season but all we can do is keep working hard, and we've got some quality too.
"We've surprised quite a few people and hopefully that will continue. There's a determination to prove people wrong, because no-one likes to have the tag of relegation favourites before a ball's even been kicked.
"I can't fault the players because they've played well again. We have to be delighted with this point." Blackpool


Blackpool Gazette/Steve Canavan - Larry won't get carried away
SIMON Grayson is refusing to get carried away about his side's chances of a high finish in the Championship – but he admits he's delighted by the start.
The boss is very careful when it comes to predicting where his side will finish. He doesn't want his words to come back to haunt him.
But after watching his side snatch another unexpected point at moneybags QPR, even Grayson had to admit that things are going well.
In what was tipped to be that difficult second season in the Championship, a good start was imperative.
And Grayson can't argue with results in the opening nine games – and he can't praise his players enough for their performances so far.
"The lads have been terrific so far and they deserve all the praise in the world," he said.
"We've only played badly in one game, at Burnley, but the way we have bounced back has been great to see and speaks volumes about the players.
"I'm not going to say we're good enough to finish mid-table. You know me, I'll always be boring and careful – I've made a career out of it!
"Ultimately we've only played nine games and there is still a long way to go. But it is encouraging how well we are playing.
The harshest of critics might suggest that Blackpool were guilty of throwing away a one-goal lead for the second time in four days, the Seasiders going in front against both Coventry and QPR but conceding equalisers.
"There is a little frustration that we weren't able to hang onto the lead," Grayson added.
"The players were disappointed afterwards that they only got a point, which is a good attitude to have." Blackpool Gazette


MIRROR/Steve Rogers - DOWIE'S DELIGHT AT JOY OFDEX
Hotshot Dexter Blackstock's sixth goal of the season rescued a point for below-par Rangers.
Blackpool went ahead after 17 minutes when Gary Taylor-Fletcher seized on defender Damion Stewart's weak clearing header and fired into the top corner from 25 yards.
Substitute Akos Buzsaky helped to haul Rangers level.
The Hungarian, brought on with 18 minutes to go, curled a 30-yard free-kick against the bar and Blackstock headed home the rebound.
"I thought it was a very good display," said QPR boss Iain Dowie. "We caused them a massive amount of problems from set-pieces, especially in the second half.
"It was an unsatisfactory result but I can't be unhappy with the way we played.
Should we have gone on and scored a winner? Probably.
But I can't fault the desire."
Blackpool manager Simon Grayson said: "We were under pressure from set-pieces in the second half but the players dug in and defended for their lives at times. We would have taken a point at the start of the game but when you get to where we were and concede a goal, it's always tough and the players are disappointed.
"That shows how far those players have come. Everyone wrote us off at the start of the season but all we can do is keep working hard, and we've some quality too.
"We've surprised quite a few people and hopefully that will continue. There's a determination to prove people wrong, because no one likes to have the tag of relegation favourites before a ball's even been kicked.
"I can't fault the players.
They've played well again and we have to be delighted with this point." Mirror


Telegraph/Sandy Macaskill - Dexter Blackstock rescues point for QPR
After a successful weekend in Singapore, Flavio Briatore will have been hoping to add to his Renault triumph with a win from his other sporting outfit, Queens Park Rangers. Although they did not lose, it was not the return to winning ways they had hoping for.
Rangers have been described as a club with real promotion potential but, besides a win against Aston Villa in the Carling Cup, recent performances have left much to be desired.
Things were not much better against Blackpool, and the visitors deserved to take the lead when Gary Taylor-Fletcher found the top corner from 20 yards out.
Rangers did improve in the second half, however, and equalised through Dexter Blackstock’s header 10 minutes from time.
Despite being behind for much of the game, Iain Dowie, the QPR manager, was frustrated with a point. “We showed great tenacity in the second half,” he said. “We caused them massive problems [but] it was an unsatisfactory result.”
Blackpool manager Simon Grayson was also glum.
“The players are tinged with disappointment,” he said. Telegraph


See Also - Earlier Reports and Iain Dowie Comments