Chris Ramsey delighted with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas but wants consistency from striker
Saturday 3 October 2015 21:16, UK
Chris Ramsey challenged Jay Emmanuel-Thomas prove he is worth a regular place in the QPR side after the forward scored twice in a dramatic 4-3 victory against Bolton.
Rangers came back from 2-0 down at Loftus Road before eventually snatching the points when Emmanuel-Thomas smashed home an injury-time winner.
Injuries to Charlie Austin and Jamie Mackie meant the former Arsenal youngster was handed his first league start since being signed in the summer.
Rangers head coach Ramsey said: "You want him to score and to help us create, and see if we can get an adequate replacement for someone like Charlie Austin.
"He's a different type of player, but ultimately it's about scoring goals no matter how they come.
"What he has to do now, as a young man with talent, is keep his feet on the floor and work like that for the rest of the season.
"You try to give people opportunities and they have to grab them when they come. It's important to me that all players have a pathway to the team."
Ramsey, under fire from Rangers fans following a poor start to the season, saw his team concede twice early on, with Gary Madine and Liam Feene y scoring before Emmanuel-Thomas pulled a goal back.
Leroy Fer equalised and Tjaronn Chery fired Rangers ahead but substitute Welington Silva's 85th-minute goal seemed to have rescued a point for Bolton before Emmanuel-Thomas had the final word.
"I'm not pleased with the way we defended and the three goals we gave away," Ramsey admitted.
"Having said that, I think we showed some character and that's much-needed in this league.
"I wasn't too displeased with the way we attacked. But individual errors always cost you, but obviously we're very pleased to get the three points."
Bolton boss Neil Lennon accused his team of being "mentally fragile" and was also critical of goalkeeper Ben Amos.
"It's not good enough. Defensively we allowed too many headers, didn't stop crosses and were slack with the ball," said Lennon.
"After going a goal down we created very good chances, scored a very good goal and then with 30 seconds left we can't see the game out - that's my frustration.
"Why we can't see the game out I don't know. We're mentally fragile I think. I'm fed up of talking about it.
"The goalkeeper has got to look at his performance as well. He's an excellent young keeper and we've got high hopes for him, but for the second goal he should have done a lot better.
"For the fourth goal, I know it's gone into the corner but I think that was saveable. We're fit enough and physically they're fine, but mentally I think they're fatigued at times. We don't defend well enough. If we continue to concede goals like that we'll be in trouble."
