Holloway feels QPR paid fitting tribute to Ray Wilkins with victory
Posted Wednesday, April 11, 2018 by PA
QPR manager Ian Holloway felt his side’s display in their 4-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday was a fitting tribute to Ray Wilkins.
There were emotional scenes before kick-off as the west London club paid tribute to Wilkins following his death last week.
His sister Sandra and brothers Dean and Stephen joined Wilkins’ ex-R’s team-mates Les Ferdinand and Andy Sinton in laying wreaths in the centre circle before a minute’s applause was held.
Holloway also played alongside Wilkins at Loftus Road, where the former England captain later had a spell as manager and is regarded as a club legend.
Holloway said: “It’s a very fitting evening for our football club to show how we feel about him and his family how we feel about him, and to show the world of football how we feel about him – because we feel he was ours.
“What he did for us in the dressing room I will never forget. There are some major people in your life who are immense and they don’t even realise it. He was one of them.
“I’m really proud of his family being brave enough to go out there tonight and I’m bursting with pride about how my lads went about their work.
“I’m so proud of our club tonight. I know he’ll be smiling up there. I was absolutely honoured to have known him, let alone have played with him and for him.”
Rangers were three up within 15 minutes courtesy of goals from Paul Smyth, Jake Bidwell and Idrissa Sylla.
The recalled Sylla scored again early in the second half, from the penalty spot, before Fernando Forestieri and Atdhe Nuhiu netted for Wednesday.
“I’m pleased with my young players but Sylla showed what he’s got and what he’s about,” Holloway added.
“We were clinical and I’m really pleased with how we went about things tonight. The lads were great.”
Wednesday manager Jos Luhukay admitted his team paid the price for a terrible start.
“In the first 15 minutes we were not in the game,” Luhukay said.
“It was not good defending and we were only reacting to what QPR were doing. That first 15 minutes cost us the game.
“On the ball I thought were were good. But when you see the 90 minutes back we lost it in the first 15 minutes.
“I have no explanation for that. It is disappointing and we have never started as badly as that.
“We let crosses in. You must block the crosses and also defend in the 18 yard box.
“We must be better. We started too late. After 20 minutes we came back into the game but when you’re starting after 20 minutes you cannot win.
“The team did not give up and we had chances. They kept fighting, got two goals and we had a chance for a third goal but luck was not on our side.”
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