Mark Warburton: Win at Watford can help R’s power away from Championship danger zone

BY NICK KITUNO

Mark Warburton believes Queens Park Rangers’ comeback win at Watford could give them the boost they need to move away from the Championship’s relegation zone.

The R’s entered the break at Vicarage Road level with the hosts but went a goal down when Troy Deeney converted a penalty just seven minutes into the restart.

Despite the setback, Charlie Austin, who is on loan from West Bromwich Albion, scored the equaliser before Albert Adomah slotted a late winner in the 90th minute.

Warburton said the victory was “well-deserved” as it moves them seven points clear of the drop zone and up two places into 17th.

He told Sky Sports: “It was a well-deserved victory. For the first 25, 30 minutes, we controlled it and wanted to switch the play quickly and keep it simple, which we did. Then we were the [architects] of our own downfall, trying to complicate it and take too many touches.

“They had a spell for eight, 10, 12 minutes when they were on top, certainly, but we weathered that storm and then we came back second half and looked to control the football, created chances and looked dangerous.

“Go down to the penalty, again our own fault, giving the ball away sloppily, but great response from the players. They deserve enormous credit.

“Do the basics brilliantly well, they say, and you can win games. Chrissy [Willock] came on and [showed] great wing play and great feet. He’s got good trickery, great delivery and again we get our rewards. We followed it up with that second goal.

“Again, looked dangerous, looked to play forward. As I say, they [the players] deserve a lot of credit. You could sit back and take the 1-1, but they wanted to win the game and they got their just rewards.”

Asked whether the win could help QPR move up the table, Warburton added: “It does, but it’s about us. This division is about consistency of performance. If you can put the run together, four, five wins, you go from 18th to eighth very quickly.

“That’s what we have to do. Look after ourselves, go to places – and at home – and deliver the performances.

“Now we’re going to focus on Blackburn, another very tough challenge.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD