Ex Rangers and Sunderland boss Michael Beale gives controversial take on huge QPR win

Former Rangers and Sunderland manager Michael Beale ruffled some feathers on Friday afternoon as he provided commentary on QPR's meeting with Birmingham City for Sky Sports.

The 43-year-old, whose first post as a head coach was at QPR in 2022, was sacked by the Black Cats last month after taking charge of just 12 matches. Beale left QPR in November 2022 to take the reins of Scottish Premiership side Rangers, but lasted just under a year at Ibrox.

Commentating on the Championship six-pointer on Friday, Beale appeared to land a little dig at the Loftus Road faithful as the crowd celebrated an injury-time Jimmy Dunne winner to pick up three points. Beale said: "Just those scenes at Loftus Road, it's been missing for a long time there. Well done to Marti Cifuentes, he made bold changes in the game to turn that around from 1-0 and deserves a pat on the back as well."

The comment was picked up by QPR fans online with one social media user on X replying 'cry more'. Another said: "87% attendance, pretty much sold out. Awkward take."

Meanwhile, one supporter added: "Michael Beale saying the scenes haven't been there at Loftus Road for a long time, the support has been first-class."

While on Sky Sports, Beale also explained the series of events that led to him leaving his post at Loftus Road in 2022 to take up the job at Rangers. The boss had previously spoken of 'integrity and loyalty' to QPR fans before heading up to Scotland.

He told Sky Sports: "I was loving my time at QPR, it's a fantastic club. Working with Chris Ramsey, Les Ferdinand was fantastic for me. There was no reason [to leave]. I'm a young manager, it was my first job and we were doing very well. I was loving my time there with the players and the staff.

"It was 14 games into being manager. The Rangers one completely came out of the blue and that was the decision made with my heart really. My family live in Glasgow and the relationship I had with the club. It was a decision made with the heart really.

"There was nothing wrong with my time at QPR, no reason to look elsewhere. I didn't think the Rangers job would come then and it wasn't a job I was ultimately willing to turn down."