McLeish disappointed with ´pedestrian performance´

Alex McLeish was left disappointed after a “pedestrian performance” from his Aston Villa side, despite fighting back to draw 2-2 with QPR.

First-half goals from Djibril Cisse and an own goal from Stephen Warnock saw McLeish’s side face an uphill challenge at Villa Park on Wednesday, but a Darren Bent goal on the stroke of half time was the start of a spirited comeback from the home side.

A solid performance in the second 45 minutes saw Charles N’Zogbia score to rescue a point, but McLeish was annoyed by the inconsistency his side displayed throughout the 90 minutes.

“First-half I couldn’t believe the performance. The goals were a joke but it was a pedestrian performance. Although we probably had more of the ball we never penetrated there was no running off the ball, no imagination, creation,” McLeish said.

“The goal before half-time gave us a wee injection. We spoke at half-time and we demanded that you play in the Villa jersey much quicker tempo especially in front of your home fans than we saw in the first-half and they responded so credit to them.

“I’d love to see us play the first-half like we play the second. We’ve got to be at it all the time, we can’t turn it on and off.”

“We’ve got 10 internationals out there and I felt they have to be showing their international experience.”

“We were unlucky not to get a penalty. Shaun Derry definitely has stopped the ball heading into the top corner.”

QPR manager Mark Hughes remained upbeat despite seeing his side throw away a two-goal lead, and praised new signing Cisse, who arrived from Lazio on transfer deadline day.

“I thought he (Cisse) was excellent, I think everybody understands why I wanted to bring him to the club,” Hughes said.

“I thought he was bright, he was intelligent in his running and showed the power and pace we all know that he has and a good finish as well.”

“He’s going to be vital for us because that’s something that we’ve not had at the football club before in terms of his quality and his power and his technical ability so it’s going to benefit us from now until the end of the season.”

QPR sit three points above the relegation zone following the draw and despite squandering a two-goal lead, Hughes claims the point was acceptable.

“I thought we played very well, but I think it was important for Villa that they got the goal just before half-time,” Hughes told Sky Sports.

“If before the game you’d have said we’d get a point, we would have been happy with that. It’s a good point for us.”