Sunday 18 December 2016 16:39, UK
Queens Park Rangers boss Ian Holloway couldn’t fault his players despite slipping to a fifth straight defeat against Aston Villa.
Jonathan Kodjia missed a penalty but went on to score the winner in a 1-0 victory for Aston Villa as QPR failed to score for the third game running.
Villa's top scorer was denied from 12 yards by Alex Smithies on 31 minutes but redeemed himself with 17 minutes to go, powering home after a driving run.
Since replacing Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Holloway has taken just three points from six games and the club has slipped to within just three points of the relegation zone.
"If we were getting worse and worse, and the players didn't want it - I'd sat here saying this isn't right but I can't fault them for what they're trying to do," Holloway said
"Were we that much worse than Aston Villa? Have they had to buy someone that they need to polish up?
"Give me my lads all day long.
"I'm going to work with them and I'm going to pick them up. If I could buy them a win I would for Christmas I would. Unfortunately, we've got to earn it. Whatever we do at the minute, one thing wrong costs us. I felt today was going to be the day it changed."
Holloway also was left frustrated the referee's performance in the defeat.
"How easy and soft was that penalty?" Holloway said.
"What about the other one? We got a corner from it. I think Pav [Wszolek] was fouled. My mates at Sky said they should have had two penalties and we should've had one. Why didn't he balance it up then? And why did he give such a soft one after that? That's the difference."
