QPR boss Holloway defends Henry
Ian Holloway has explained his decision to take Sandro off during his side’s defeat against Wolves – and criticised QPR fans for their response to Karl Henry’s introduction.
Sandro was given a first league start of the season but continues to lack fitness and was replaced by Henry in the second half at Loftus Road, where Rangers were reduced to 10 men when James Perch on 34 minutes and lost 2-1.
Former Wolves player Henry was booed by the visiting fans, but Rangers manager Holloway said hostility from the home supporters was unacceptable.
“I don’t want to hear what happened to Karl Henry. That upsets me more than anything,” Holloway said.
“I made a substitution. Sandro was never going to last. I had to protect him on 60 minutes – with 10 men it’s going to kill him.
“I chose to put an experienced one on and he got booed. Please don’t do that to my players.
“You haven’t seen him play for me yet. You haven’t seen what I’m going to teach him and get him to do, so please don’t do that. I don’t like that. I don’t think that’s right.
“Yes you pay your money and you can say what you like, but I’m here to encourage people. So please don’t do that to my players.
“They’re yours too aren’t they? They might not be your favourite but please don’t do that to my players. I think I’ve got every right to say that.
“Should one of my players be booed before he’s even done anything for me? Please don’t come here with preconceived ideas. Give us a chance. It’s all I’m asking.
“You pay your money, you can do what you like, but I don’t want to hear that. That ain’t right.”
Sandro was shunned by Holloway’s predecessors and many R’s fans have wanted him to be selected.
Holloway has duly included him, but the Brazilian midfielder’s inability to last much more than half a match meant his substitution was inevitable.
Holloway said: “He can’t do more than 60 minutes and we’re down to 10 men, so why boo me putting on the most senior bloke I’ve got there instead of him?
“You haven’t seen what I’ve asked Karl to do. I just don’t understand.
“It might not have been all our fans. It might have been some Wolves. But show some respect.
“Or, I’ll leave Sandro on for the rest of the game and he probably won’t be able to walk tomorrow. What do you want me to do?”
Holloway also said Rangers left-back Jack Robinson had been involved in an exchange with a supporter during the game and that the atmosphere around the ground was poor until Joel Lynch pulled a goal back for the hosts.
“He (Robinson) was arguing with someone in the bottom corner,” Holloway explained.
“I told him not to do that because in a minute you’ll get a cross or shot in and they’ll be cheering you, so just concentrate. But it doesn’t help though, does it?
“We started the second half well but then unfortunately we let a goal in, which knocks the stuffing out of everybody here far too much. I think that’s what’s been happening here over the last few months.
“The second goal goes in and then all of a sudden we get one and wow – different atmosphere everywhere. I don’t understand. We need that atmosphere the whole time.
“I’ve got to get them (the players) to totally concentrate and be bomb-proof and fireproof and then we might actually enjoy ourselves as a team.
“They’re going to have to commit at home in front of a crowd that are a little bit ‘oh oh oh’. I don’t want that. I want us buzzing. Let’s try to help the players.
“It’s going to take a lot of work and lot of patience and a lot of trust and love and togetherness and a lot of singing. Where was it? Are we going to wait until we score?”
