QPR boss unfazed at close-range nature of all the goals scored by Lyndon Dykes since R’s switch
BY NICK KITUNO
Mark Warburton is unfazed that all four of Lyndon Dykes’ first Queens Park Rangers goals have arrived from the penalty spot.
The Scotland striker converted from 12 yards out as the R’s saw off a determined Rotherham United side to win 3-2 at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.
Dykes, who joined from Livingston in the summer, is QPR’s joint-top scorer this season with Ilias Chair, and has quickly established himself a key player in Warburton’s side.
The R’s boss believes the time will soon come where he finds the net from open play.
He said: “It’s not a worry because he’s working so hard. He allows the likes of Ilias, and Brighty [Osayi-Samuel], and Chrissy Willock, and Albert Adomah to play. Macca [Macauley Bonne] came on as well.
“We fell into the trap of going too long [against Rotherham], with no quality, but they offer you certainly a different route. He’s got great movement, a really willing worker, and he’ll get better and better.
“He’s still got loads of development to come but he offers us something different as well, as is Macca. The young guys, the skilful young players shall I say, rely a lot on that sort of man to take the ball and link-up play for them.”
Asked about Dykes’ penalty scoring, Warburton joked: “I don’t want to jinx anything, I don’t want to have two penalties missed in the next game so I’m saying nothing at all!
“It’s nice to have the penalties put in the back of the net – a manager would never rest easy until the ball does hit the back of the net, let me tell you that – but he’s done very well on that side of it. Long may it continue.”
After the goal against Rotherham, Opta statistician Jack Supple said Dykes is the first QPR player to score each of his first four goals from the penalty spot since Terry Venables in 1970. Venables converted his first nine from 12 yards out.
The statistic was put to Warburton, who said: “His first nine were penalties? Well, I hope very much there’s a few from open play, which he will do, undoubtedly.
“He’s a very talented player who will get better and better, but as long as the ball hits the back of the net, I don’t care how it comes.
“Long may it continue.”
PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD
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