Bothroyd impresses Redknapp on QPR return

16 January 2013 09:47

Harry Redknapp saluted QPR matchwinner Jay Bothroyd as his side overcame West Brom 1-0 at the Hawthorns in an FA Cup third-round replay.

Bothroyd returned earlier in the month from an unsuccessful loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday. But the striker showed he has not lost his eye for a goal with his second-half header setting up a home fourth-round meeting with MK Dons.

He said: "Jay Bothroyd did well. He was written off. He's been at Sheffield Wednesday and not done very well. They sent him back and I thought I'd give him a go tonight and see what he could do. He did well but then again, he played for England a couple of years ago under Fabio Capello."

Goalkeeper Rob Green also made several fine saves as QPR overcame a Premier League team in the competition for the first time in 18 years. Redknapp said: "It was tough. The first half was a bit dour, not a lot happening but Rob Green made a fantastic save in the first half (from Romelu Lukaku's header).

"Then when he came under pressure in the second half, he made another couple of good saves after we scored."

Albion have now won only two of their last 11 matches in all competitions. Head coach Steve Clarke said: "I was disappointed, I thought we had the better chances and Rob Green made some good saves but we went to sleep at a set play.

"The squad's been stretched in recent weeks, the boys have done their best. Maybe the luck we had a few weeks ago has deserted us.

"But as a group, we know what we are trying to do. There's no better team to try and turn it around than against Aston Villa at the weekend. There was no hangover from the weekend defeat at Reading tonight. We had good control of the game.

"We played some decent stuff without having a spark. It could not have been a great spectacle but we were the team trying to win it."

Source: PA