Matthew Connolly today insisted captain Adel Taarabt is not a disruptive influence in the dressing room and is vital for the club's hopes of staying in the Premier League next season.
Taarabt stormed straight down the tunnel after being subbed during QPR's disappointing 0-0 draw at home to
Derby last night and is understood to have punched a door on the way.The Championship leaders were desperate to win in front of their fans to virtually assure themselves of automatic promotion to the top flight, but now have to win at second-placed Cardiff on Saturday instead.
Taarabt, who is already a target for several Premier League clubs, became increasingly petulant as Derby veteranRobbie Savage marked him out the match and showed his frustration after boss Neil Warnock took him off.
But Connolly told Standard Sport: "That's Adel for you. He is a fantastic player, his ability is out of this world. Sometimes things don't go for him, sometimes they do. He is a temperamental lad. I know him personally and he's really lovely to be around. He's funny, a nice guy.
"Sometimes you have to accept these things. A lot of people can be aggressive on the pitch and be nice people off it. He's the guy you want in the Premier League and we want him here as long as possible.
"He's scored and made many goals for us this season. He usually does something to win us games.
"He is a fantastic talent and we'd love to keep him."
Savage claimed during and after the match that he once again had Taarabt in his pocket. The veteran midfielder had boasted after last season's meeting between the sides that he had kept Rangers' star man quiet.
And after repeating the trick at Loftus Road last night, he wrote on his Twitter feed: "It was hard playing with 12 stone in my pocket!!"
It was not long before Savage had reintroduced himself to the Championship player of the year, lunging into a reckless challenge before kicking the ball against his grounded opponent to earn a booking after 12 only minutes.
But Savage, approaching 37 and retirement, continued to follow the 21-year-oldMoroccan's every move, chipping at his heels and chirping in his ear until he was finally substituted with 20 minutes to go.
Taarabt hurled a water bottle in frustration as he stomped off while Savage mimed taking him back out of his pocket to the delight of the travelling fans afterwards. "He's a talent, but sometimes when it is not going his way he can have a little strop," Savage said.
"But he deserves to be the player of the year because he has got great skill and great ability and he's very good on his day. I would have preferred him to stay on because he was not doing anything."
Rams boss Nigel Clough said: "I think it's a psychological thing. Robbie's done it to him a few times in the past. It's down to experience.
"The kid has got ability but he knows Robbie will stick to his task.
"The kid has got ability but he knows Robbie will stick to his task.
"He's probably the only player in the League you would do it for."
Wayne Routledge came closest to winning the game for Rangers in the first-half after seeing a sublime 25-yard shot tipped over by Derby goalkeeper Brad Jones before Taarabt escaped Savage's attentions briefly before firing a shot from six yards just wide.
QPR are still nine points clear of third-placed Norwich, who play Ipswich on Thursday night, with just four games to go and Connolly is confident his side will be able to celebrate going up at the weekend.
He added: "It will definitely be nice to do it at Cardiff. All the pressure will be on them."
Connolly believes their position is all down to the ability of 62-year-old Warnock and the enthusiasm that he shows the players for the game.
"This manager is great," he said. "When we lose he tells us, 'It's not the end of the world and we will come back and win'. He has that ability to talk to players and get you going."
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