Dowie Speaks...
DOWIE: WE'LL BE READY
Posted on: Mon 11 Aug 2008
Iain Dowie is demanding a vast improvement from his side when the R's lock horns with Swindon Town in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night.
Dowie admits Rangers were 'below-par' in beating Barnsley on the opening day of the Coca Cola Championship campaign - and he certainly won't allow his players to rest on their laurels against the League One outfit.
"A Cup run is vitally important for this Football Club," Dowie told
www.qpr.co.uk.
"I've had fairly decent success in this competition over the last few years and I want to continue that with QPR.
"We weren't at our best on Saturday and there is a lot of room for improvement.
"Defensively we weren't as good as I know we can be and I'll be looking for an improvement on Tuesday."
Rangers bowed out to Leyton Orient at the first hurdle last season, but Dowie is keen to avoid a similar embarrassment this season.
"A good Cup run is very important to me,
and we'll be heading to Swindon with a very strong squad, make no mistake."They've brought a couple of new faces in, and it certainly won't be easy for us at their place.
"It's important that we really impose ourselves on the match from the opening whistle. I want to see us get the ball down and pass it, and be creative like we were against Barnsley at the weekend.
"The County Ground isn't an easy place to go, but we head there in good spirits after our win on Saturday."
Dowie will no doubt take inspiration from his memorable run in the Carling Cup last season with Coventry City.
Michael Mifsud's brace at Old Trafford helped knock Manchester United out at the third round stage, before the Sky Blues eventually came unstuck against West Ham United in round four.
"Anything is possible in football," he said.
"The early rounds come quite thick and fast in this competition and if things go your way, before you know it you come up against one of the big boys.
"We'll take each game as it comes though and that starts with Swindon Town at The County Ground."
Team News
Hogan Ephraim could return to the squad after missing out on Saturday due to shin splints, while Samuel Di Carmine and Damion Stewart are free to return following the completion of their respective bans.
Long-term injury victims Rowan Vine and Akos Buzsaky remain sidelined, while Martin Rowlands is suspended
