Rangers need Vine to flourish

QPR 0 - 0 Crystal Palace

Rowan Vine Rowan Vine

ROWAN VINE insists he will fill the void left in QPR’s attack following the board’s controversial decision to allow top scorer Dexter Blackstock to leave on loan.

Blackstock had netted 12 goals for Rangers this season but has been shipped out to Nottingham Forest – much to the bemusement of boss Paulo Sousa.

It leaves the Hoops with just one fit striker – 19-year-old Samuel Di Carmine, who has hit the target just three times this season.

Vine, 26, is now willing to shoulder those goal-scoring duties after making his first appearance of the season in the bore draw with Palace, exactly a year after breaking his leg.

Vine, just like his manager, was surprised to see Blackstock’s departure – but now hopes to capitalise on his absence.

He said: “I was surprised to see him leave. He’s our top goalscorer, whether he is fancied or not. There didn’t seem a lot of need to let him go. It doesn’t really make sense.

“He’s a striker who’s fit and has done well this season, and he can nick you the odd goal. But I’m happy to be involved, even at someone’s expense.”

Both these sides have been goal-shy of late. Adel Taarabt and Liam Miller had the best chances in the first half for Rangers. Palace looked brighter in the second, and Victor Moses and Jose Fonte went close, while they were lucky to finish the match with 11 men.

Defender Claude Davis twice clattered Di Carmine to send Sousa into a rage and he was restrained from running on to the pitch by the fourth official.

Sousa’s outburst saw him sent to the stands by referee Scott Mathieson, while Davis received a booking for his part. Palace manager Neil Warnock vowed to lend his support to Sousa if he is hauled in front of the Football Association.

He also hinted that he would not be happy should his club decide to loan out a player without his consent.

Warnock added: “Every club has their own way of dealing with things. I would imagine it is a permanent deal for Blackstock. Most people know what I would have done in that situation, but you don’t know what the terms were when he came to the club.

“I have sympathy for Paulo with him being sent off. The technical areas at QPR are very small. The ref was being fussy.”

QPR (4-3-3): Cerny; Gorkss, Delaney, Ramage, Connolly; Leigertwood, Routledge, Miller (Cook 46); Ephraim, Taarabt (Vine 73), Di Carmine (Balanta 85).

CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3): Speroni; Lawrence, Davis, Clyne, Hill (Jose Fonte 40); Danns, Derry, Carle; Moses, Kuqi (Scowcroft 83), Stokes (Ifill 79). Booked: Hill, Davis, Lawrence, Moses.

Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire).

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?