Adel Taarabt talks up QPR's style as march to top goes on

Excellent form: Adel Taarabt holds off the challenge of Danny Butterfield at Loftus Road
Ian Winrow11 April 2012
QPR 1-1 Crystal Palace

Adel Taarabt admits he and his team-mates are becoming marked men after emerging as Championship promotion contenders.

The wide-man won the penalty that allowed Akos Buzsaky to fire Queens Park Rangers ahead as Jim Magilton's side moved into the top six following their 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace last night.

Taarabt - currently on loan from Spurs - has played a prominent role in the run that has lifted Rangers up the table, and was once again a key part of his side's attacking force alongside Buzsaky and strikers Jay Simpson and Wayne Routledge.

But the Moroccan admits their rivals are getting wise to the slick passing game that at times carved Palace open with ease.

He said: "I think in the last few games opponents have seen how we play so they have organised the team to try to stop us.

"You could see Leicester on Friday were very organised and they did everything to stop me, Wayne, Akos and Jay touching the ball - they made it difficult.

"But we know this is how it will be every week now and it will be tough. We have to go maybe another way but we know we have to play our football because we can't play differently. We can't start playing long balls because we don't have players like this."

Taarabt also admitted that he knows he will have to learn to cope with the extra attention that his growing reputation brings.

"I think there is pressure on me," he added. "You could see there was always a defender on me. I think they see how I play on video.

"It's a compliment of course. If I wasn't playing well, they wouldn't be doing it."

Taarabt tricked Danny Butterfield into conceding a spot-kick in the 18th minute but Darren Ambrose levelled the scores on the hour when Palace substitute Freddie Sears was brought down in the penalty box by Fitz Hall.

Both teams had chances to win but Palace ultimately had keeper Julian Speroni to thank for a string of outstanding saves, including an acrobatic leap at the death to deny Rangers substitute Rowan Vine.

"He's the best keeper in this League by a mile," said Palace manager Neil Warnock.

"Thank goodness nobody rates him or we'd have to sell him. I don't think there is anybody better than him in the Premier League."

The draw extended Palace's current run that has brought just one defeat in the last nine matches, although Warnock believes his side aren't getting enough credit for their efforts.

"I've just been doing a television interview and was told we haven't got a win in five," he added.

"I said 'are you from Sheffield, is your glass always half empty?'. I'd like to be told 'one defeat in nine, fantastic run, isn't it?'.

"We've had some difficult games, Cardiff, Preston, QPR away and Forest at home. And we've come to our rich neighbours and taken a point."

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