Rowlands: I'm at home with big-shot QPR

14 April 2012

Martin Rowlands today claimed there is a major gulf in professionalism between Queens Park Rangers and Brentford.

The midfielder, who spent five years at Griffin-Park, has been outstanding for Rangers this season and believes he is now benefiting from being at a "much bigger club".

Rowlands, who hopes to recover from a groin injury to face his old team at Loftus Road tonight, said the whole approach at QPR is geared towards a higher division - although Rangers are only five points, albeit 12 places, better off than Brentford - and even credits the club's physios for keeping him off the treatment table this season.

The 24-year-old said: "There is a totally different mentality. We are expected to get promotion; I don't know what they are aiming for at Brentford. Obviously it's a much, much bigger club. Things here are a lot more professional.

"On the treatment side, the physios have done a great job. The upkeep of my body here is a lot better than what I had before. I think that's enabled me to play a lot more games. I don't mean any disrespect but it comes down to the facilities you have to work with."

However, Rowlands suffered a strain in Saturday's FA Cup defeat against Grimsby and faces a late fitness test tonight. He is desperate to play, especially given the acrimony which surrounded his summer switch to Loftus Road. He said: "It is a massive game. All the players are looking forward to it, especially myself. Hopefully I will be fit."

Things turned sour for Hammersmith-born Rowlands at Brentford last season when a series of niggling injuries restricted his appearances in the first team.

The highly rated midfielder was in the final year of his contract and, since hard-up Brentford were in no position to meet his salary expectations, rumours started among fans that their former favourite was just seeing out time before a lucrative summer move.

Rowlands' fall from grace was compounded by constant speculation linking him with west London rivals Rangers.

He denies the allegations, and says he remains close to John Griffin, the Brentford scout who gave him his first break. But he admits there will be a hostile reception awaiting him tonight. "I will get a bit of a jeering, but that doesn't bother me," he said. "I have nothing against the fans - they were great the whole time I was there.

"Some people have said silly things, but again that doesn't bother me either. I've moved on to a bigger club with more support and I know that tonight there will be a lot more people cheering me than there will jeering me.

"I enjoyed my time at Brentford. I know the fans say I never played any games but I played 190 games in five seasons. If you work that out, it's 38 games a season. I played more games last season than in the previous year when we got to the play-offs. It would have been more had I not broken my leg." Rowlands suffered the break against Wigan last April and still feels aggrieved at the unsympathetic treatment he received by Brentford afterwards.

He said: "People forget nobody offered me a contract when I had a broken leg and nobody showed any willingness to do anything for me. I'm not saying had they offered me a contract I would have signed it, there was just no contract offer."

But Ian Holloway was forthcoming with a contract, allowing Rowlands to become the first Brentford player since Andy Sinton to cross the Chiswick roundabout and join Rangers.

The former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international now has his sights set on promotion.

He said: "Ian Holloway has been great for me and so have the coaches - I now just want to repay their faith. I am very happy at QPR. It's the happiest time I've had as a footballer and I am playing some of my best football.

"There is a really good buzz here and everyone's just gearing up to promotionand we have got a great chance."

Like Rowlands, midfielder Marc Bircham (hamstring) faces a late fitness test, but full-backs Gino Padula and Richard Edghill are both back from injuries. For Brentford, Ben May is available again after a three-match ban.

QPR v Brentford, Loftus Road, tonight, 7.45pm

Rowlands: I'm at home with big-shot QPR

Read More