“Careful what you wish for,” was QPR boss Ian Holloway’s message to Mick McCarthy’s detractors after the Blues’ 3-0 defeat of his side at Portman Road on Saturday.
Having lamented his team’s second half collapse after conceding Luke Varney’s goal nine minutes after the break, which could have resulted in a defeat by a significantly bigger margin, Holloway turned his post-match press conference attention to the criticism his friend McCarthy has faced this season.
"I’ve got to go back and try and deal with how bad we were after we let the second goal in,” Holloway said following his second game back in charge at Loftus Road.
"But I’ll still remember what we were like before that and I’ll try and help them and I’ll stand there for them and I’ll be strong for them and at the end of the day they’re still the fundamental things.
"I’ve had about six training sessions since I’ve been here with all of them, I’ve had people away on international duty but we’ve got to be mentally tougher than that as a group because I’m pretty disappointed with the finish of this game and last week I wasn’t very happy with the finish of that game [the 2-1 home win against Norwich].
"But that is the vital thing. Can you all be as consistent as the teams at the top, and if not why not because everybody thinks they should be at the top of the table now, particularly here, don’t you?
"I would just like to remind all of you, where were you when Mick McCarthy first turned up?
"How short memories you have. With the greatest respect, it’s not the best thing to actually sell your best players all the time, is it?
"Seven points you had [when McCarthy took over in November 2012]. Never mind about going up, what about not going down, [never mind] about keeping building, what about selling? It doesn’t make sense for me, sorry. And he’s a good mate of mine.
"I’m only being realistic. Don’t bring your own woes and chuck it at someone, that’s how I feel, and ask why you keep having to sell all your best players all the time.
"You got someone from non-league [Tyrone Mings] , you sold him for about £8 million [to Bournemouth], is that what Mick wants to do, is it? Really? I doubt it. Would he like to keep them and keep working? I don’t know.
"Just have a bit of a thought sometimes, that’s all I’m saying and then you might get what you want for Christmas.
"I hope you don’t mind and I hope you don’t think I’m making a big story of it, all I’m trying to say is just sometimes have a little look where you were and have a little think about who you’re having a go at. That’s all I’m saying. Because some of us are alright. Some of us.”
Reflecting on his recent visits to Portman Road, he added: "I don’t like coming here now, that’s twice you’ve beaten me 3-0.”
When it was pointed out that at least the game hadn’t ended in a 5-0 defeat as Mick McCarthy’s second game in charge of Town and Holloway’s first as Crystal Palace boss had four years ago, he said: "It could have been. Believe it or not you had 58 per cent possession that day and we scored five goals.
"Three penalties we had that day, but they were all fouls,” he added with a wink.