QPR boss Warburton bemoans lack of basics as in-form Barnsley fire up play-off prospects

BY NICK KITUNO

Mark Warburton admitted his QPR players were guilty of not doing the basics “brilliantly well” as they lost at home to high-flying Barnsley.

After Daryl Dike edged the visitors in front, Charlie Austin cancelled out the opener before Alex Mowatt replenished the Tykes’ lead just a few minutes later.

QPR had some chances to peg Barnsley back again but Carlton Morris made sure of all three points with just his first few touches after coming off the bench as a substitute in the second half.

The defeat is the Hoops’ second in as many games following a run of five unbeaten up to last weekend. Barnsley’s victory was their sixth in a row as they climbed to seventh in the Championship.

Warburton said: “Barnsley came exactly as we expected. We prepared well, analysed well, they are very good at what they do, they are very direct, they push a high line, they commit bodies forward, they take risks at the back and we had to time our runs and not play into their strengths.

“In the first 10 minutes we did that and we did very well. We created a couple of great chances and we’ve got to get our rewards [from them]. We give away a soft goal, a set-piece, responded almost immediately with the equaliser and then we’ve just got to take care of the ball.

“We go in 2-1 down and then we’ve just got to be patient and make sure we impose ourselves on the game, and don’t play to their strengths.

“We’re attacking down the left flank, and then to give away a goal like that and not get into our shape is criminal for us. We’ve been very good of late. We’ve got to be better than that in front of goal.”

Dike drew first blood after 23 minutes when he wrestled away from Lee Wallace to nod in Mowatt’s corner at the near post.

QPR responded instantly as Yoann Barbet’s shot on goal was parried away by goalkeeper Bradley Collins before Austin made sure on the rebound just three minutes later.

However, Barnsley would go ahead again when Mowatt guided a free-kick into the top-right corner after Stefan Johansen gave away a foul on the edge of the R’s own box.

Morris was one of Barnsley’s first three changes just before the hour mark, and he made an instant impact when he latched on to a long ball over the top of the defence to sweep home on 57 minutes.

On the first of Barnsley’s three goals, Warburton said QPR have “got to do better” and bemoaned the “soft” free-kick given away for Mowatt’s strike.

He added: “We didn’t take care and we’re guilty of not doing the basics brilliantly well, which you have to do at this level. We give away set-pieces, we don’t take our own rewards and we’ve paid a price.”

PHOTO: KEITH GILLARD