Caulker calls for passion

25 August 2014 12:31

Steven Caulker has called on his QPR team-mates to show more passion after what he hopes will be the lowest day in the club's season.

The 22-year-old England international and his Rangers colleagues were outclassed as they slipped to a 4-0 defeat at Tottenham on Sunday and now sit at the bottom of the Barclays Premier League table.

A Nacer Chadli brace and a second goal in as many games for Eric Dier had Spurs in control of the game before half-time, with Emmanuel Adebayor adding a fourth in the second half.

Former Tottenham defender Caulker, playing in a back three alongside Rio Ferdinand and Richard Dunne, admitted the display was not good enough and believes things can only get better for Harry Redknapp's side.

"It was a bitterly disappointing performance and the result proved that," he said.

"We were second to everything all over the pitch and we paid the price. We got off to a sloppy start and they got the goal and a bit of momentum.

"We know we have got to be better than that this year. We hope that will be the lowest point of the season. It was a poor, poor showing and there are no excuses.

"There is no hiding and we definitely have to go and be better against Sunderland at home. We have personal pride and it was not evident, we were weak all over the pitch.

"If we are going to stay in this league we are going to have to be a little bit stronger and more passionate at times."

Redknapp, returning to White Hart Lane for the first time since he was sacked as Spurs boss in 2012, handed debuts to both Mauricio Isla and Leroy Fer - with the latter conceding his new side did not deserve anything from the game.

"We didn't play to our abilities," the former Norwich midfielder said.

"We have a strong team and what we showed was not the best. The goals in the first half were too easy. We had to fight and we didn't - it was a shock.

"We have to look forward to Wednesday (the Capital One Cup tie against Burton) and stick together. We have a great squad. Today wasn't a good game for me but I want to show more on Wednesday."

For all of QPR's problems, Tottenham looked like they were adapting to the philosophy of new head coach Mauricio Pochettino with ease.

Having laboured to a 1-0 win at West Ham on the opening day, Spurs played some fluid, attacking football in the Argentinian's first competitive home game in charge.

Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen shone alongside goalscorers Adebayor and Chadli, with the Belgium international pleased to entertain the fans.

"That's what everyone wants to see when they watch Tottenham," Chadli said of Sunday's performance.

"We did very well and I'm very happy to score two goals. It is good when we create a lot of chances and it was a good spectacle for the fans.

"We started with high pressure, had a lot of the ball and created lots of chances. At half-time we had a conversation, we wanted to score more goals and we started the second half strong as well."

Source: PA