Queens Park Rangers are in freefall and it is going to take a huge effort to stop. Manager Gareth Ainsworth was full of apologies to the fans, and harsh words for his players after the latest defeat this past Saturday.
It was perhaps hoped that the visit of Blackburn Rovers, a team that had been suffering its own indifferent form, would be a chance to gain their first home win of the season. Instead it was a performance by the R’s that left Ainsworth fuming, as his side slumped to a 4-0 loss and lands them in the relegation places with just eight points from the opening 11 games.
Three straight defeats and no win since the 2nd September, a 2-0 victory at Middlesbrough, has left everyone around the club scratching their heads in frustration.
The official club website caught up with the boss after the game. “It’s not good enough. We must find a way to start winning games because that just wasn’t good enough. I expected more from the team today.
“I am a fighter, and I am going to scrap and fight for everything, but today wasn’t good enough. We huffed and puffed but didn’t look like getting anything out of today’s game. I apologise to the fans. We have two weeks now to put things right.”
https://twitter.com/QPR/status/1710705408287936872?s=20
The international break has come at a good time, although sometimes it gives clubs time to assess and in some cases jobs are lost. Ainsworth joined the Loftus Road club in February this year and penned a three and a half year contract. So, the signs would be that he is safe. For now.
“It’s not good enough, I know it. That’s not an acceptable performance. We need to be mentally tougher; we need to be winners.
“I think for too long now this club has been second best, one win in a year at home is just not good enough, there is an inherent problem that we have to sort, we have to find a way to win games.
“The supporters continue to turn up in their droves, but Loftus Road has become such an easy place for teams to come and pick up points. We need to address that and be much better here. There is no quick fix, but we will work hard in training to put things right.”
Writer’s View
Gareth Ainsworth has a decent reputation in both his playing and managerial career. He does have a good football philosophy and knows how to work with a limited budget as his time at Wycombe Wanderers proved, with an almost 40% win record in his decade in charge. But just five wins since taking over at QPR will have fans wondering if he is the right man for the job.
Ainsworth will keep fighting and try to find a solution to the struggles. How much time he is given is an entirely different question.
