QPR boss bemoans lack of cutting edge in 1-0 loss to Huddersfield Town

BY NICK KITUNO

Mark Warburton said Queens Park Rangers did not do enough to justify three points in their 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield Town.

Leandro Bacuna’s strike made all the difference as QPR struggled to break the visitors down, with Todd Kane’s missed chance proving crucial by the full-time whistle.

The defeat sees Rangers drop one position, down to 13th, and halts the back-to-back wins they picked up against Bristol City and Wycombe Wanderers in the past week.

Warburton said: “We lacked a cutting edge this afternoon. Our first 10 minutes were a little bit sloppy, then we dominated the last 20, 25 minutes, and we had to get our rewards. We have to score in those periods.

“For all the ball dominance and moving the ball, we didn’t really threaten them and we just lacked a clinical edge today.

“You can say the Huddersfield defence had a good afternoon but we didn’t do enough to really justify the three points. When we have good games you put your hands up and say: ‘We were good today’. Last week we were good, but when we lack a clinical edge [we should] just be honest.

“We have to score in that period before half-time, that was really important. Score and take that chance, and it changes the dynamic of the game, [but] we didn’t do that.

“You can have as much ball possession as you like, but you need that ruthlessness in the box to get the rewards and we didn’t possess it this afternoon.”

Huddersfield started brightly, and went close through O’Brien and Isaac Mbenza, but the game’s best chance fell to Kane during the first half.

Ilias Chair picked out the defender’s run into the box, following a one-two with Willock, but his effort was straight at goalkeeper Ryan Schofield.

The Terriers had the better opportunities and took the lead after 55 minutes. A sweeping move involving O’Brien saw Pipa find Bacuna, who lashed home from inside the box.

Warburton said his players were “frustrated” by the results and urged them to be better in the final third.

He added: “We’ve got to move the ball, be patient, we’ve got to split them, work them, be clever with our runs and we have been very good of late but, as I say, against a resolute defence this afternoon we didn’t do enough.

“There’s no point in me sitting here and saying, ‘We were fantastic’. You’d look as me as if I was an idiot. We didn’t do enough this afternoon to justify three points.”