Mark Warburton: Rangers full value for win over promotion rivals West Bromwich Albion
Mark Warburton felt his QPR side were full value for all three points as they scored a last-minute winner against West Bromwich Albion yesterday.
Charlie Austin’s late strike sealed victory for the R’s as they climbed to fourth in the Championship standings.
Warburton said: “In the first 15 or 20 minutes we showed too much respect, we were a little bit loose on the ball. We felt we could turn them quickly with their high line and you saw their keeper starting really high. We felt we could exploit that.
“We moved them around a couple of times but, in truth, neither keeper was really tested in the first half to any great extent.
“At half time we knew we had more gears. We are a good team when we take care of the football but in the first half we were a little bit loose.
“We came out on the front foot in the second half, dominated the ball and had good chances. Overall we just upped the tempo and I felt it was a deserved win.
“It was an interesting challenge [on Yoann Barbet by Daryl Dike]. The obvious question is, was there a foul there? Was there intent? The fourth official was right there and he deemed it not to be the case. But all credit to Yoann, that was a nasty gash and all credit to the medical team. He had no hesitation in coming back on and winning headers. You saw how good he was in the last few minutes.
“It was a big game today, fourth against fifth, lots at stake with a lot of meaning. I was delighted with the way we stepped up from the first to the last whistle.
“The ugly side of the game has to be done. Crowds love it when you move the ball quickly and have strikes at goal but, at the end of the day, you have to win your duels and you have to win your challenges.
“West Brom are very good at being direct and using their physicality, and they have really good quality up top. So everyone had to stand up.
“Many times Charlie has had to start a game and get battered for 60 or 70 minutes, and someone comes on and takes advantage of the fact the pace has gone out of the game.
“Today Charlie enjoyed that. Lyndon and Andre put the work in, bullied the defenders, and then Charlie came on and got that vital goal. It’s about the whole squad.
“We deserved it. That wasn’t a lucky three points or a lucky breakaway goal, we dominated the second half I felt and looked a very good team.”
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