Unhappy return for Holloway as Rangers coast

13 April 2012

Leicester boss Ian Holloway insisted there is more to come from strikers Steve Howard and Barry Hayles after their Foxes careers began with a 3-1 defeat at QPR.

Former Rangers manager Holloway endured a miserable return to Loftus Road.

Hayles and arty: Leicester's Barry Hayles scythe's through the QPR

Goals from Damion Stewart, Adam Bolder and Dexter Blackstock put QPR in command before Iain Hume pulled one back with a sweetly-struck free-kick.

Howard, a £1million signing from Derby, came on as a 32nd-minute substitute with Leicester already 2-0 down.

But Holloway said: "Both Steve and Barry showed what they are all about.

"Steve, who played 90 minutes for Derby the day before yesterday, hit the post and Barry chased everything.

"I don't want everything to fall to them because we have other forwards, but with them around now I've got more options.

"I'm obviously disappointed but I have spoken to my players about positivity. We have to look to the future."

Stewart's header from Akos Buzsaky's corner gave Rangers the lead after a quarter of an hour.

They went further ahead when Blackstock headed Rowan Vine's cross into the path of Bolder, who nodded in from close range.

Howard tried to galvanise his new team and nearly scored a spectacular goal four minutes into the second half, when his 35-yard drive hit the woodwork with keeper Lee Camp beaten.

Eight minutes later, QPR went 3-0 up.

Again a left-wing cross from Vine did the damage, this time enabling Blackstock to head home his first goal since the opening day of the season.

Hume's goal gave Leicester hope, but they never looked like coming back and Howard missed a great chance when he headed wide late on.

Holloway added: "My lot usually do better from set-pieces but I have to say the delivery from QPR was excellent.

"For their second goal, Blackstock got the header and the midfielder Bolder got in unopposed to score. As a former midfielder myself, I really did not like that. You have to go with the runner."

QPR coach Luigi De Canio said: "We played well but we still can and must play better.

"We need to keep on improving in certain areas and defending is an example of that, but Damion Stewart will be a very good player when he learns to concentrate for the full 90 minutes.

"And when we score, we must not be content with that. We must keep trying to score a second and third goal because the best form of defence is attack."

Rangers will now look to complete the signings of defenders Fitz Hall from Wigan and Matt Connolly from Arsenal, with on-loan Plymouth midfielder Akos Buzsaky's permanent move set to be rubber-stamped.

The club has money to spend following a takeover by Formula One magnates Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore and have targeted a host of other players.

De Canio added: "We will now sit down with the board and see who enters the club's plans.

"Anyone who can be beneficial to QPR will be taken into consideration."

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