Jamie Mackie hit the scoring trail again on Tuesday night, bagging his first international goal for Scotland in a 3-0 win against the Faroe Islands.

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Mackie hadn’t scored in ten domestic and two international appearances prior to tonight since his double helped QPR beat Leicester 2-0 in September but he broke his duck against a poor Faroes team just before half time at Aberdeen’s Pittodrie ground. Playing in a lone striker role in the first half, more familiar than the defensive wide right positions he has been deployed in for Scotland prior to this and QPR at the weekend, Mackie seized on a Steven Caldwell knockdown from a corner to slam in from close range a minute before half time.

The second half was littered with substitutions from both sides reducing it to little more than a farce and Mackie was used in a deeper lying, and wide right role as the game progressed and may have added a second goal to his tally had Shaun Maloney not selfishly tackled him as he ran through on goal in the second half. Mackie played a full 90 minutes and faces a long journey back down south ahead of this weekend’s match against Preston North End at Loftus Road, but having scored his first international goal in his third appearance I’m sure he sees the trip as very worthwhile.

Afterwards Mackie told the BBC: “It’s brilliant, I’m absolutely made up with that, it’s the first of many I hope. There was a lot of chat about ‘is there any point in this friendly?’ but for me it’s been absolutely brilliant. There’s a lot of point in friendlies because it gives me a chance to show people up here what I’m about and get my name on the scoresheet and crack on for the country. On another day I could have had a couple more but I’m happy with the one and happy with how I played so I’m looking forward to the next game. I said when I was called up for my first squad I didn’t want to be a flash in the pan and now I’ve bedded in a little bit my main focus is to be in the next squad.”

Mackie actually played right back for QPR at Nottingham Forest on Saturday as the R’s were held to a 0-0 draw by Billy Davies’ side. After the match manager Neil Warnock praised striker Adel Taarabt, who he said turned in his best performance of the season so far.

Warnock told the club’s official website: “I think that's the best Adel has played in my time here. He gets criticised at times for the way he plays the game, but I thought defensively he was excellent. He was always around McKenna when we lost possession and that stopped them from breaking. I thought his contribution was outstanding. That's his best all round performance since I've been at the club. Not just going forward, but the other side to his game as well. I was very pleased with him."

Warnock also moved to distance himself from rumours linking him with West Ham United, where current boss Avram Grant is under pressure with the Hammers sitting bottom of the table. Warnock told Talksport on Sunday: “They’ve probably got nothing to write about. Over the years I must have been linked with about 150 jobs and I’ve had about 150 managers linked with my job while I’ve been working as well. If you don’t say anything there’s a story about it, if you say something there’s a story about. I’m very very happy. I think it’s one of those things, you’re going to get speculation when things aren’t going well at places. I’m really enjoying it at QPR.”

Warnock will be forced into team changes again this weekend when bottom of the table Preston North End visit Loftus Road. Matthew Connolly returns from his one match ban, but influential central midfielder Shaun Derry picked up a fifth yellow card of the season at Nottingham Forest on Saturday so must sit out. That could mean a first team recall for Mikele Leigertwood who will be back from international duty this weekend after playing for Antigua and Barbuda in their 0-0 draw against Cuba at the weekend. That result means Antigua have qualified for the Digicel Cup Finals which take place between November 26 and December 5 –potentially robbing Rangers of Leigertwood, and Josh Parker, for the games against Cardiff City and Hull.

Rowan Vine’s search for first team football has led him back to his first club Portsmouth where he is currently training. Vine was told he had no future at QPR in the summer by manager Neil Warnock and has since appeared six times on loan for Hull City but is now maintaining his fitness with Portsmouth as he is not part of the QPR first team squad. Pompey boss Steve Cotterill said: “We aren’t signing Rowan but we’re happy to help him out.”

Finally, QPR fans starved of Loftus Road action over Christmas have a chance of an extra home Saturday game during December. When QPR play Cardiff at home on November 27, their fourth Saturday home match in five weeks, it will be the last time they play at Loftus Road on a Saturday at 3pm until February 12 thanks to a mixture of Christmas fixtures and television appointments. But the club has arranged for the FA Youth Cup third round tie between Rangers and Nottingham Forest to be played in W12 on Saturday, December 11, the day after the R’s face Watford in a Friday night match on BBC2.

Loan Watch

MK Dons say they will try to sign striker Angelo Balanta on a permanent basis when his season long loan deal expires at the end of this season. Balanta scored a fine goal from long range as the Dons won 2-0 at Brentford on Saturday and has done enough to impress his temporary employers so far this season.

Manager Karl Robinson told the Fulham Chronicle: “Angelo needs to play football regularly for the next three years. He has only been a pro for a couple of years and will peak at 25 or 26. I would love to keep him."

Southend United seem less impressed with Balanta’s former youth team mate Antonio German. After scoring on his debut against Macclesfield last week German was dropped to the bench for last Tuesday’s game against Charlton because he got stuck in traffic and arrived late for the game. German was back in the line up against Accrington on Saturday, but didn’t score in the 1-1 draw.

Manager Paul Sturrock told the Southend Echo: “The young lad has come here to play football games but on Tuesday night he got caught up in the circus of the A127 and paid the price of not starting the game. He was going to start but it enabled me to look at another partnership and he might pay the price again this Saturday because it gave others a chance to play. He will also have a wee fine in his wages too."

Former R’s

Lee Camp says the demise of his QPR career was nothing to do with his ability, and he is not sorry to have left Loftus Road. Camp was in flying form for Nottingham Forest on Saturday as the R’s were held to a goalless draw at the City Ground and after the game the keeper told the Nottingham Evening Post: “My first full year at QPR was great – and then something just changed. I knew I had to get out. But it is what it is. These things are sent to try you and it didn't kill me, it made me much stronger. Their loss was Forest's gain, because it has made me stronger within and much more determined to prove people wrong. Forest have benefited from that. But, in terms of myself, I have always been confident in my own ability.

"It was never about ability at QPR. That is not why I was left out of the team down there. That has been proven now. No disrespect to Radek Cerny, but since I left they have brought in three or four different keepers. I never thought it was about my ability, that I was not in the side. I knew I had to get out of there. But it has been the best thing for me. It could not have worked out better for me. At least not unless I had signed for Real Madrid or Manchester United.”

Camp is awaiting clearance to start a senior international career with Northern Ireland.

Rumours

Still in this section rather than news, as we await confirmation from anywhere official, Norwegian winger Petter Vaagan Moen has been talking about his supposed impending move to Loftus Road. The 26-year-old has scored 14 goals in the domestic season in Norway for Brann earning him a call up to the national team and interest from Premiership side Newcastle. But Moen says he believes a move to QPR will provide more first team chances than he may get at St James’ Park.

He said (translated): “With good games for QPR, I can take a step further. I travel to London and QPR beginning of December. I would have some time off to arrange the practical things. It will be good to train with them for a month before I can play, to get into the environment and become familiar with their teammates. QPR is a traditional club in England and this season they seem to be fighting for promotion to the Premier League when the calendar says May. The team is undefeated so far and is second on the table . I see it as a much better thing to hopefully playing in the Championship than to struggle week after week on the bench at a bigger club. . With good games for QPR, I can take the step forward from there.”

Rangers are also again being linked with a loan move for Arsenal youngster Jay Emmanuel Thomas who has previously spent time on loan at Doncaster and is also being tracked by Ipswich Town. Leeds’ midfielder Neil Kilkenny has also been linked with Rangers, along with just about every other club in the league, with his contract due to expire at the end of the season. And the Jason Roberts stories are resurfacing again as the January transfer window approaches – QPR and Wigan are said to be eyeing a loan move for the veteran Blackburn man who has scored two goals in two Premiership appearances this month but endures s frosty relationship with manager Sam Allardyce.

Championship Shorts

- Norwich striker Grant Holt will not serve a suspension for his red card at Reading on Saturday after the decision was rescinded on appeal. However, even though the FA has admitted referee Michael Oliver was wrong to send the player off, City boss Paul Lambert has still been charged with misconduct for criticising the decision after the match. Strange world we live in.

- Preston manager Darren Ferguson has had the dreaded vote of confidence from his board despite the Lilywhites slipping to the foot of the Championship with a weekend defeat at home to Hull. Chairman Maurice Lindsay said: “He's had a lot of injuries. About six players have not performed all year because they have niggling problems. We're in trouble. Darren knows it and I know it, but you have to work your way out of these things. We know what hard work has to be done and we'll be doing it."

- Swansea’s hopes of keeping hold of Middlesbrough striker Marvin Emnes appear to be fading, with new Boro boss Tony Mowbray keen to get the player back on Teeside. Emnes scored twice in his first month in South Wales, including a memorable winner against bitter rivals Cardiff, but Mowbray said: “I'm looking forward to working with him. Hopefully he will see he has a manager here who has empathy and that our football suits our style of play. I've talked to him and he seems like a nice kid. He's looking forward to the challenge of getting in the team."

- Several loan deals have been extended today. Scunthorpe will keep hold of Burnley midfielder Kevin McDonald despite his first month at Glanford Park being hampered by a back injury. The Clarets have also extended Wes Fletcher’s deal with Stockport for another month and defender Kevin Long will stay with Accrington until December 11. Leeds are allowing Mike Grella to stay with Carlisle until January.

Photo: Action Images

isawqpratwcity added 04:54 - Nov 17 No thoughts on Ray Wilkins leaving Chelsea?
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