R’s slump continues – with Mark Warburton unhappy at outcome at Wycombe Wanderers
BY NICK KITUNO
Mark Warburton says Queens Park Rangers dropped two “valuable” points as their winless run stretched to seven following a 1-1 draw with Wycombe Wanderers.
The R’s edged in front when Jason McCarthy turned the ball into his own net before teenage substitute Anis Mehmeti snatched an 88th minute equaliser for the Chairboys.
The 19-year-old had only been on the pitch for 12 minutes before he rescued a point for the hosts, who were left incensed when the referee did not award a penalty for an apparent handball in the QPR penalty area.
Rangers have won just one of their previous 11 Championship games and sit just four points above the relegation zone.
Warburton said: “We knew what was coming. I’m very respectful of Gareth [Ainsworth, Wycombe manager] and the way they play. We knew about the balls that were coming into our box.
“We dealt with it well, for long periods of the game, but you’ve got to be there to the final whistle. We didn’t defend the throw, we didn’t get out to the ball, we showed the guy [Mehmeti] inside.
“Just show him outside, shuffle him outside and deal with it. We’d done that for, as I say, the majority of the game but to concede in the 88th minute is deeply disappointing.
“Two valuable league points have gone here.”
QPR took the lead after just half an hour, when Ilias Chair’s cross was turned in by McCarthy, but did not build on their lead as they struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Midway through the second half, Wycombe appealed for a penalty in the QPR box when a player was adjudged to have handled the ball on the line. The decision was not given, which infuriated some of the home players.
Warburton said he could not see the incident but admitted his side lacked a clinical edge at Adams Park.
He added: “We got into good, wide areas, we got the ball forward, we had lots of space and we have got to be better in the final third, in terms of the quality of the final ball. We have got to test the ‘keeper more.
“We cut inside from the right flank, from the left flank, and add a really good ball. I haven’t seen the possession stats or the chances stats, but we’ve got to be better in that final ball to get the rewards.
“It’s all about goals, plain and simple.”
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