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After the disappointment of the January 2017 transfer window, Newcastle United needed a rallying cry.

Against Queens Park Rangers, their players failed to provide it. Their commitment was not in question, but the quality was well below the high standards they have set themselves.

After the game, Rafael Benitez walked onto the stage of the press room and played the politician. He answers were terse and calculated, but the messages were largely to be found between the lines.

Instead, the rallying came from his opposite number, Ian Holloway – part Winston Churchill, part David Brent. Even when asked to talk about QPR, he seemed more interested in talking about the opposition. Not just talking about them either, praising Newcastle to the hilt and in particular Benitez.

Where other managers might have pointed the finger at Jonjo Shelvey for an off-the-ball incident which got the Sky commentators excited, Holloway only wanted to laud the midfielder.

(Image: PA)

In stark contrast to Benitez’s clipped tones, at one point he thumped the breast pocket of his blazer, with its QPR logo stitched into it.

“I want to affect people,” he said, lingering on the verb for effect, “to care like I do about this badge and do you know what? I know your man is exactly the same with his badge. I think you’re lucky up here.”

As Holloway showed in his time as a Football League pundit, he is an unashamed fan of Benitez.

“I think your club’s in brilliant shape, in fantastic hands, (the manager is) as good as some of the other people around here – Mr Robson (whose picture is) on the wall over there,” he said. “Hail to your man (Benitez), you all know how good he is and I’m delighted he’s still with you.”

Benitez said of Newcastle’s supporters, “They have to realise they need to support the team, they have to be behind the team.”

Inevitably, Holloway was more lyrical. In fact, he went full-on Brent as he addressed the media, though he seemed to think he was the guest speaker at a Magpies’ supporters’ meeting. “Losing a game is just a dropped stitch in the rich tapestry of football,” said the chilled-out entertainer. “You can’t win every week although you want to.

“No matter what you spend it can’t make you win every week and you’ve got to do your part. What is your part? It says on the ticket when you buy it, dunnit? Supporter. You should support.”

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It seemed a strange criticism to level. There had been a smattering of boos at full-time, but considering such a poor performance on the back of such a disappointing transfer window, there was hardly an air of rebellion on the Gallowgate.

After QPR had exploited Newcastle’s weaknesses brilliantly in the 2-2 draw, Holloway was asked if Championship teams had worked the Magpies out.

“No,” he said. “I think the division is a marathon not a sprint and everyone’s improving all the time. All the coaching’s improving, all the coaches know how to stop you and your team has got to overcome that somehow and fans have got to understand that as well and not come into a ground expectant. I felt that was a little bit (the case), if I’m being honest.

“We’re not that bad, to be honest. Burton weren’t that bad last Saturday and our fans were a little bit like that. That’s how it is.

“We all want to win and if we don’t get it, we’re all a little bit miserable. I’ve got to say if you have a good look at yourselves, the man himself (Benitez) is different class. You’ve attracted him (to stay) here with the love that you showed him (against) Tottenham (in last season’s Premier League) and it’s all going brilliantly.

“A draw’s not the end of the world, you keep building and you keep going and it matters about being there in that top two (after) the last game of the season. If I was a betting man – which I’m not – I wouldn’t look anywhere else than up here to be one of those two. You have to take the knocks, believe that and keep helping your team. If you turn on them, you’re in trouble.”

Then he was asked about Shelvey’s apparent off-the-ball kick shortly before Matt Ritchie put the hosts in front for a second time.

“Jonjo, if he loses that streak, he ain’t quite the maverick he is,” said Holloway, who took the midfielder to Blackpool on loan in 2011. “Is there a better midfield player in the Championship? No. Is there a better one in the Premier League? Pfft, I’d have to doubt that because I worked with him and if he keeps his head on it like that, he might well get back in the England team, in my opinion.

“I’m a bit biased, I love talented boys cos I ‘ad none.”

And with that, Holloway climbed off his soap box, the sermon over, and headed home.