QPR manager Warburton: We dropped our standards and paid the price
By NICK KUTINO
Manager Mark Warburton felt Queens Park Rangers performed below their standards as they were punished by a ruthless Nottingham Forest in a 3-1 defeat.
Alex Mighten edged the hosts in front close to half-time before goals in the second half from Lewis Grabban and James Garner sent Forest on their way to a comfortable win.
Lyndon Dykes added a consolation goal deep into stoppage time but it was not enough to prevent QPR from leaving The City Ground with a defeat.
Warburton told QPR’s in-house media: “I thought we looked ponderous, slow, we looked laboured in the first half. To be honest, both teams looked tired in the first half.
“We give away a really poor goal just before half-time. After us probably having our best spell of the game, 10, 12 minutes where [there was] a big chance for Stef [Stefan Johansen], we got forward so well, [if he] puts that away it changes it.
“I thought we just looked slow. We moved the ball slowly, very unlike us. We give away the soft goal, going 1-0 down, we had to come back and show much better ball movement [in the] second half and, in truth, we didn’t do it.
“We didn’t deserve anything out of the game today.”
The Hoops boss said he was forced into a personnel switch after Geoff Cameron picked up a knock. The former United States international featured in QPR’s Good Friday win against Coventry City but did not travel to Nottingham.
Instead, Sam Field, who has joined on loan from West Bromwich Albion until the end of the season, deputised at centre back during the 3-1 defeat.
Asked about Field’s performance, Warburton added: “He did a job for us. I just felt that the whole team moved the ball in a ponderous manner in the first half… we’re much better than that.
“The wind doesn’t help. It was very windy out there for the players – it did slow it down and make it difficult. The pitch was a bit dry, but in general we’ve got to be better.
“We know what we have to do to win games of football and if we drop our standards slightly, as I say, at this level you get hurt.
“Today, we dropped our standards and paid the price.”
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