Magilton told the club’s
official website: “Both sides tried to play, we had opportunities. We fell asleep for their first goal, I was very disappointed with both goals - they were really, really poor. We were probably the architects of our own downfall today, we didn't defend properly.It's difficult because we've set our standards so high. At half time I thought if we went for it we'd have a chance to win the game. We had a great opportunity at the start of the second half, but didn't take it. Jay's miss probably summed up our afternoon, we weren't really at it. We looked lethargic and like we'd had two weeks off. It's a reality check for us all.”
"These lads are playing for me, so I can't be too hard on them. It's a lesson learnt," added Magilton. We've got a big week ahead of us, and we'll be ready.”
Needless to say Doncaster boss Sean O’Driscoll was delighted with his team. He said: “I thought we were excellent. We've had great performances and not had the right results and sometimes we have played, in our eyes, poorly and got points. But we ticked all the boxes today; we got the right performance and the right result.
“You could see the confidence after the first goal. It's nice to see. The chests came out, everyone wanted the ball. When they get like that we are difficult to beat. We have been ahead in a lot of big games and not quite been able to get a result but we have learnt from the experience, got better and looked good. We had a sequence of about 35 passes at one point and I think we deserved the result. The result is important but if you put the emphasis on winning, the outcome is more important than the processes and we work on processes. If you play right then the results will come.”
Midfielder Ben Watson told the club’s official site that the R’s would bounce back from this set back against Coventry at the weekend: “It was just one of those days. Of course it was not acceptable but we will work on what went wrong and make sure we’re ready for Coventry on Saturday. I thought it was a fairly even first half but for one reason or another we just weren’t good enough in the second period. We gifted them two goals when you do that against a good footballing side like Doncaster you give yourselves an uphill task.”
Although young goalkeeper Shane McWeeney was on the bench at the Keepmoat Stadium, a summer signing from Tranmere’s junior ranks, QPR did move on Friday to secure the loan signing of Chelsea youngster Rhys Taylor following Tom Heaton’s return to Man Utd.
Jim Magilton told the club’s
official website: “Rhys comes highly recommended and we're delighted to have him on board. We've spoken to all the staff at Chelsea and they rate the boy very highly. It gives us the opportunity to work with a very good young goalkeeper and it gives Rhys the chance to work with a top-class goalkeeper and professional in Radek. I've no doubt he'll push Radek all the way and that competition is running throughout the squad, so I couldn't be happier.”
Heaton himself earned high praise from his latest temporary manager, Rochdale’s Keith Hill, following a weekend win at Dagenham and Redbridge. Hill told the BBC: “'He's a match-winner and the match-winners aren't always the centre forwards. In the Dagenham win it could've been the goalkeeper. He made some outstanding saves. He's a good acquisition for the football club. I think there was one outstanding save - the one where he tipped it over the bar. I think that's going in the top corner. But that's what he's here to do.”
QPR are hoping to sign Heaton permanently in January but face competition from numerous other clubs.
Up at Watford Heidar Helguson is fit again and back among the goals. The Icelandix striker scored his fourth and fifth Hornets goals of the season against Scunthorpe on Saturday as Malky Mackay’s side won 3-0 and Watford are hoping of extending his loan deal from QPR. After Saturday’s win Mackay told the Watford Observer:: “In all our loans, discussions are ongoing with their clubs at the moment and I have nothing else to say at the moment. It is something we would have to talk to his club about. Heidar has come back in and he has hit the ground running in terms of the way he adapts to our team and adapts to a different environment, but he is an international footballer so I wouldn't expect anything less from him. That is why we wanted to get him in the first place.”
The rumour mill has today linked Steven Reid, who has only just joined QPR on loan from Blackburn Rovers with a January transfer window move to Bolton Wanderers. Struggling Trotters boss Gary Megson is apparently waiting for the Republic of Ireland midfielder to prove his fitness while at Loftus Road before making his move. Reid is out of contract at Ewood Park next summer.
Elsewhere in the Championship today Newcastle extended their lead at the top with a 1-0 win at Preston, Kevin Nolan with the goal. Ipswich have lost on loan goalkeeper Asmir Begovic who has been recalled by Portsmouth following an injury to David James at the weekend. Begovic has impressed on loan at Portman Road and Roy Keane’s falling out with their permanent goalkeeper Richard Wrght leaves the struggling Tractor Boys short of a keeper.
