McCarthy sings Doyle's praises
QPR 1 WOLVES 2
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Captaincy shouldn't overshadow team
Sir Bobby Charlton today called on John Terry to ensure England's European Championship campaign was not derailed by him losing the captaincy for a second time. Charlton, who helped inspire England to World Cup glory in 1966 and remains his country's record goalscorer, urged Terry to act now to try to resolve any issues that have arisen since the allegations against him first emerged.
HAD there not been a change of management at Loftus Road, Kevin Doyle might now be playing for QPR as the Irish international was a target for Neil Warnock before he was sacked.
Mark Hughes opted instead for Djibril Cisse and, while the Frenchman's debut goal last week suggested he may prove a good purchase, Doyle's input was far more successful at Loftus Road on Saturday.
QPR were on course for three points courtesy of Bobby Zamora's debut goal before Cisse over-reacted to a bad tackle from Roger Johnson and was dismissed after 36 minutes.
Doyle then came off the bench to make Wolves' numerical advantage count. Having set up Matt Jarvis' equaliser, he secured victory with his first goal in 14 matches and only his third this season.
Wolves spent £200,000 in the transfer window, while QPR invested £12m, but if Doyle regains his form, Mick McCarthy will effectively have a new £7m striker.
"Kevin was excellent," said McCarthy. "It's not always easy to overrun 10 men and Doyle was a big part of us doing that. He was powerful, strong, skilful and a goal threat. He was all of those things again.
"His class is always there, but he has had a tough time of it."
McCarthy, who was piqued last week when Wolves owner Steve Morgan came into the dressing room to dress down the players following the 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool, chose to highlight another aspect of Morgan's stewardship.
"I have won three games in 22 and I am still manager of Wolves. That is some level of support. Let's not forget that when everybody is trying to write negative stuff about me and him. I owe him a debt of gratitude for that."
- The British Attorney General is examining tweets from Joey Barton relating to the John Terry case. The QPR captain tweeted: "I will gladly go to jail for a month in the name of free speech. Make me a martyr." (© Independent News Service)
- Glenn Moore
Irish Independent
