Jones slams defenders

As Cardiff crash:

Cardiff boss Dave Jones blamed his defenders after his side wasted a chance to put pressure on Championship leaders QPR in a 1-0 defeat at struggling Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Jones’ team knew a win at the Riverside Stadium would have moved them to within one point of QPR after the west London team suffered their first league defeat of the season in a 3-1 home loss against Watford on Friday.

But the Welsh outfit, who have won just one of their last seven games, were well below their best and retain second place only on goal difference from local rivals Swansea, who drew 1-1 with Millwall on Friday.

Middlesbrough’s first win in five attempts came courtesy of Julio Arca’s 40th-minute penalty after Gabor Gyepes had brought down Marvin Emnes and Jones was furious with the lacklustre nature of his defenders’ display.

“I don’t know how often we are going to leave the door open at the back. A bit of fear has crept in there somehow. At the moment that unit isn’t working,” Jones said.

“We are the second biggest scorers so there is nothing wrong going forward but if you don’t score you have to keep a clean sheet and that isn’t happening.

“I wouldn’t mind if we were beaten by good movement but it was a punt down the middle and a sloppily conceded penalty and that shouldn’t happen.

“We have to make sure we don’t get carried away and let a blame culture creep in but right now they need a bit of criticism. It is harsh but they have to accept it.”

Fourth placed Leeds are just two points behind Cardiff after Jonny Howson struck a superb late goal to clinch a dramatic 3-2 win at Burnley, who led 2-0 at half-time.

“It’s hard not to look at the table but there are far too many games to be involved in yet,” Leeds boss Simon Grayson said.

“We have got players that are adapting to the division and a fan base that demand the best from the team. Over the next months we will see where that takes us.”

Reading saw their winless run extended to six games after being frustrated by fifth placed Coventry in a 0-0 draw at the Madejski Stadium.

Dave Kitson and Greg Halford earned Portsmouth a 2-0 win at sixth placed Norwich.

Hugo Colace’s solitary goal settled a South Yorkshire derby that saw Barnsley overcome local rivals Sheffield United 1-0 at Oakwell.

Elsewhere, Bristol City boosted their survival hopes with a 2-0 win over play-off hopefuls Derby at Ashton Gate, while Crystal Palace drew 0-0 with Hull.

Sven Goran Eriksson enjoyed his biggest win as Leicester boss as the Foxes routed Doncaster 5-1 at the Walkers Stadium.

“In the second half we were brilliant, absolutely fantastic, creating chances on many occasions and playing good football. They were all nice goals,” Eriksson said.

Ipswich manager Roy Keane vowed to fight on following a 1-0 defeat at bottom of the table Preston.

Former Manchester United star Keane has now seen his side suffer six successive defeats, with calls for his dismissal growing by the week.

Keane said: “You wouldn’t believe how much this is hurting. You can only guess. I am a proud man and I don’t like getting beaten.

“I am still absolutely determined to turn it round. I would like to see it out, but my future is out of my hands.

AFP