QPR boss Warburton gives verdict on 1-0 win at Swansea City

BY KAI BENNETT

Mark Warburton was delighted with QPR’s 1-0 win at Swansea, describing it as a “tremendous performance”.

The R’s made it back-to-back victories thanks to Lyndon Dykes’ 90th-minute winner.

Speaking to QPR’s club website, Warburton said: “It was a tremendous performance from the lads.

“They worked really hard. We started the game a little bit slow, tentative and didn’t get on the front foot. When we did get on the front foot, we created a lot of chances and a few great chances.

“In the second half, we knew they would take risks. Watford beat Norwich earlier and they [Swansea] knew they had to come out. We had to get hold of the ball and dominate and we did for the entire second half.

“We looked very, very good on the ball. We moved it well with a constant threat and the players deserve enormous credit.

“We created chances. Every time Swansea cleared it, we got first contact, we picked up second balls and looked a good team. I’m delighted for the players to get the three points. We’ve had some games in the past, where we’ve come away with a point and it should have been more. That was a well-deserved three points at a tough venue.”

Warburton hailed Dominic Ball and Joe Lumley for their individual performances and gave an injury update on the squad.

“Dominic Ball did very well tonight. He’s asked to play different roles and he adapts to it effortlessly. If you asked him to play left centre-back, or left-back, he would do it for you. He deserves enormous praise.

“We lost Lee Wallace tonight, he had a slight niggle in training. To lose Geoff [Cameron], Lee [Wallace] and Jordy [De Wijs] means physicality and experience is taken out of the team, but the boys responded well.

“I’m delighted for Joe Lumley [because of the clean sheet he kept]. When he came on in that second half against Middlesbrough and to perform at the level he did was outstanding. You saw a keeper that was dominant, he came and gathered the ball, he communicated throughout the match and gave a real reassurance to the team.

“We’re blessed with really talented goalkeepers. We’ve got a lot of really good keepers on board, but tonight Joe was outstanding.

“In the second half of the season we have been far more ruthless [than the first half of the season], more clinical and looked a really good team. I’m delighted for them because it’s about self belief. Coming here we said, have the belief and the winning mentality to come and dominate the football and the game and they did that.”

QPR have earned six points out of a possible nine in their last three away games and host promoted Norwich next on Saturday

Warburton said: ”Very pleased. We let ourselves down at Rotherham. We were 1-0 up and we should’ve taken at least a point from the game. But to go to Middlesbrough and deserve the win and to come here and deserve that win, now it’s all about Norwich. They’ve been promoted, but we have to recognise that’s another really tough game.

“The boys have had three really tough away trips. We’ve got back in the early hours of the morning. It’s part of our learning, it’s a young squad. I want to mention the senior players as well, because of the role they are having on and off the pitch. It’s very important. These senior players have a massive impact and they must be recgonised as well.”