Mick Beale urges QPR to keep ‘underdog’ mentality after staying top of the Championship

QPR boss Mick Beale was delighted that his side managed to ‘win ugly’ and pick up all three points in their 2-1 win against Wigan Athletic.

QPR stayed top of the Championship table by goal difference after they picked up all three points at Loftus Road against the Latics.

Sam Field gave Beale’s side the lead in the 12th minute when he volleyed Stefan Johansen’s corner past Ben Amos.

Nathan Broadhead fired an equaliser from the edge of the box past Seny Dieng just 10 minutes later.

But it only took two minutes for Leo Balogun to head home another Johansen corner to wrap up all three points for the west Londoners.

“I thought we looked tired today,” admitted Beale.

“It’s been a long week, playing away to Luton in a tough game and losing a couple of players through injury. We bounced into Wednesday [against Cardiff], where we were excellent.

“I looked into the numbers coming into today. We made five changes, so I didn’t feel like we were coming to an end of a three-game week, but that was a real grind today.

“I said to the players at half time: ‘This game is going to be determined on moments, make sure we come out on top in the two boxes.’

“It wasn’t a performance I enjoyed a lot, but after a long week, coming to the stadium today, I said to the staff: ‘Let’s just get the three points.’

“I said to the players today: ‘The most important thing today is to get the three points – I don’t care if we win ugly.’

“I think they took me literally in the second half. We must not play the table – we have to keep that underdog mentality.”