Rodgers 'tough night' at Loftus Rd

Last updated : 24 October 2009 By Angus Muller

"It was a tough night," admitted Rodgers after the 4 - 1 defeat at Q.P.R.

"I can understand the reaction. I've never experienced that but I've always been taught to fight. I'm not worried. Better managers than me have had that.

"It's not nice but can you blame them? We were poor. But it just makes me more determined.

"We've had a horrendous start. But what people maybe don't understand is it's a massive task here. My ambition at the beginning of the season was to be up there, but the reality is it's a very difficult job - all the best players have left.

"I want to give people a chance but I can't watch too much of that."

Rodgers may have thought his luck was about to turn after half an hour when Ben Watson was shown a second yellow card by referee Andy Hall for taking a free-kick too quickly.

"It was a poor sending-off," said Rangers boss Jim Magilton.

"It's the letter of the law but common sense must prevail. We are all grown men."

And former Ipswich boss Magilton sympathised with his opposite number.

"It's horrendous. I've been there, and I was ninth in the table at the time," he said.

"So I have a great deal of sympathy for him because you have to take the brunt of it, and you have to carry the can and he'll be up all night thinking about it."