Last season, QPR came close to being relegated, but manager Gareth Ainsworth is improving the West London team.
Sunderland defeated QPR in February thanks to a goal from Luke O’Nien (shown, left) (PA)
In the wake of QPR’s battle to avoid relegation last season, Tony Mowbray has issued a warning against underestimating the team. Following the international break, the Championship season will begin this afternoon with Sunderland hosting QPR at Loftus Road.
The West London team had a strong start to the previous season, topping the standings ahead of eventual champions Burnley in mid-October. However, after that, they only won two games in the following six months, finishing just two spots and six points above the relegation zone, their worst finish since 2005-06. The team’s season then got off to a shaky start with a 4-0 loss against Watford, but manager Gareth Ainsworth has since made strides, and they have won two of their subsequent four games, including a victory over rivals Liverpool.
Mowbray, the head coach of the Black Cats, said, “I think there’s a risk that people are underestimating them. “Getting your guys to buy into what you’re trying to achieve is extremely important, and they obviously have some very talented individuals who can hurt anyone in this league.
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When you go there and it’s a tight pitch with the stands right there on top of you, it’s kind of like Luton last season in some aspects. It’s a challenging place to visit.
“We have to go there and attempt to impose ourselves on them, but we are also mindful of their threats and their organization. Last season, we went there for a night match and won. We must give it our all because it won’t be simple.
The night game Mowbray was referring to took place in February, and the Black Cats won 3-0 thanks to two goals from Jack Clarke and one from Luke O’Nien. It turned out to be Neil Critchley’s second-to-last game in command; Ainsworth later took over for Wycombe Wanderers.
Having a good relationship with Ainsworth, former Blackburn manager Mowbray remarks, “I know Gareth – he’s a Blackburn lad, isn’t he? We used to occasionally talk. When he was young, he began at Blackburn.
“He managed Wycombe for such a long time, but I’m glad he got the job he did. Football is all about time, so if the circumstances had been different, he might have been hired by Blackburn. When I left, I’m not sure if he was interviewed or if he was mentioned in the news; I can’t recall.
“I have no doubt that he would have liked working at Blackburn. Really, he’s a nice, honest guy. a regular guy who speaks logically and not in riddles.
He’s a little unique; we don’t see many [managers] playing in a rock band, wearing a leather jacket, and having his shirt tucked in to his waist. Really, you have to love and respect that. He can’t say enough good things about Luke O’Nien because he was a player for him [at Wycombe].
“I notice that he has the emotional intelligence to get along with his players. They’ll believe that his only concern is improving them.
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