Holloway sees bright future after young Hoops side beat Barnsley

Posted Sunday, February 04, 2018 by PA

QPR manager Ian Holloway felt his side’s win against Barnsley proved they are heading in the right direction.

Josh Scowen’s long-range strike against his former club gave Rangers a 1-0 victory at Loftus Road, where they played the final 19 minutes with 10 men after Ryan Manning was sent off.

They defended resolutely and Conor Washington and substitute Bright Osayi-Samuel had chances to double the lead.

Osayi-Samuel, 20, is one of several youngsters on the fringes of the QPR side and Holloway is excited about the future despite the club’s current financial problems.

“It was a huge performance and result, especially as we didn’t play that well,” Holloway said.

“We ground it out. You don’t always flow. This is a learning thing for us.

“How we didn’t score a couple more I don’t know, but I felt totally exhilarated with the pace of our breaks late on.

“This is why I’m getting pretty excited. Some of these young lads will have to be played and they will get better.

“That’s what I want the fans to understand. Please be with them and support them. I love the way the young lads are going to come through.”

Holloway also defended Manning, who was red-carded for a challenge on Matt Mills soon after coming on as a substitute.

“I’m gutted that Ryan was sent off, because he was doing well,” Holloway said.

“I want Ryan to tackle and he tried to make a tackle on a skiddy pitch.

“It wasn’t intentional. It wasn’t a nasty one. He went in to try and win it because he’s desperate to play.”

Barnsley head coach Paul Heckingbottom admitted his relegation-threatened team paid the price for failing to score during a first-half spell in which their opponents looked vulnerable at the back.

“When we were on top we couldn’t capitalise and that’s what costs you. That’s been our season,” he said.

“QPR had a spell in the second half where they got some momentum and I thought that was the only spell in the game where they won the duels.

“They managed to score in their spell and we didn’t in ours.

“Sometimes it’s hard against 10 men. You saw that most of our chances came in the first half when we found space.

“In the last 20 minutes, when they had 10 men, they killed the space and it was difficult and credit to QPR as they defended well.

“That’s what this league is. It’s a harsh league and we’re where we are because that game was a reflection of our season – we’ve been on top and created chances and not taken them.

“In most games we’ve given minimal chances away but there are ruthless players who can kill you.”