SM
England vs. Ireland: 3 hrs 23 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
SL
Championship | Gameweek 45
May 1, 2021 at 3pm UK
Bet365 Stadium
QL

Stoke
0 - 2
QPR


Brown (86')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Austin (17'), Kakay (70')
Barbet (28'), Bonne (90')

Michael O'Neill: 'Stoke need players who can make a difference'

:Headline: Michael O'Neill: 'Stoke need players who can make a difference':
Charlie Austin fired QPR ahead before Osman Kakay made the game safe.
Sports Mole

Stoke boss Michael O'Neill admits his side needs to improve in the final third next season following a 2-0 Championship defeat at home to QPR.

Charlie Austin fired QPR ahead with a clinical finish from just outside the box after Harry Souttar was caught in possession after 17 minutes and Osman Kakay slotted the ball past Adam Davies to make the game safe 20 minutes from time.

Sam Vokes failed to set up a tense finish after missing a near open goal with four minutes left.

"We didn't have many good crosses and we do not have enough goals," O'Neill said. "We need more goals from wide areas and midfield.

"We have to look to put more goals in the team. A lot of our play is good but we need players that can make a difference in the final third.

"At times we have quality in our possession but we don't do enough with it and don't create enough chances in the opposition third.

"Today was a reflection of where we have been in the second half of the season.

"We hit the first man too often with crosses. We need to improve in the final third or find better players next season who can do that.

"We made the game difficult for us with the nature of the goals we conceded. Harry (Souttar) is still learning and it was a great finish.

"Harry should have played the ball forward but he didn't and he will be better for the experience. He reacted well to the mistake and that is the game.

"The best centre-backs in the world make mistakes and it's important he learns from that now. We give him a lot of responsibility and he has taken that on board.

"There was a lot in the performance that was good but it's not easy to talk about that when you've lost."

QPR assistant manager John Eustace said his side deserved full credit for an excellent away win.

"It was a professional win at a tough place to come," he said. "I know how hard it is to win here and full credit to the lads, they were fantastic.

"We have got some fantastic senior players and good exciting younger players. The players are ready to throw their bodies on the line and we have a really strong group.

"Osman (Kakay) has had a good season and you can see what his goal meant to him and the rest of the players, including those on the sidelines.

"He does a lot of unnoticed work and he is a pleasure to work with. He came through the academy and we are very proud of him. He did a fantastic job today.

"The goal was a great move and an exciting bit of football.

"The way we set up is very positive and we play a lot of good football. We have pace and power to go forward and it suits the way we want to play when we are away.

"We know how to cause teams bother when we play the football that we work on.

"Charlie (Austin) has been fantastic since coming in and hopefully we can keep hold of him. He has been a great influence on and off the pitch. I'm very proud of the boys today."

body check tags ::

amp_article__445686 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-05-01 17:16:43:
html db last update - 2021-05-01 17:16:43 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!

Click here for more stories about Michael O'Neill

Click here for more stories about Queens Park Rangers

Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Saturday's Championship predictions including Norwich City vs. Reading
Musiala update: Bayern star addresses future amid ongoing transfer talk
Is Havertz still Arsenal's best option? Three "standout" striker targets assessed
Top Premier League goalscorers of all time
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1594225111431
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1510321971231
3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
6Watford158162322125
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth154471526-1116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Amorim's challenge: Man United 'hugely concerned' by new signing's struggles

1

AC

Preview: Hungary vs. Germany - prediction, team news, lineups

2

PH

Who replaces Romero? Will Messi start? Predicted Argentina lineup vs. Peru

NEW

3

WR

Escape route? Man City attacker McAtee 'attracting interest' from PL side

NEW

4

ER

Musiala update: Bayern star addresses future amid ongoing transfer talk

5

MU

Preview: Bosnia H'vina vs. Netherlands - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PB

Sunday's Nations League predictions including England vs. Republic of Ireland

7

SN

From Ronaldo records to San Marino miracle: The story of 2024-25 Nations League

8

FR

Preview: Ghana vs. Niger - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PG

Sunday's Transfer Talk Update: Osimhen, Amass, Zabarnyi

10

ST


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .