Gareth Ainsworth backs QPR striker to become ‘Championship superstar’ after first goal

BY CONOR KEENAN

QPR boss Gareth Ainsworth has said he has no problems with the new additional time rules enforced by referees after his side were knocked out of the EFL Cup last night by a 99th-minute goal in a 1-0 defeat to Norwich – but admitted he’d like to see more consistency.

Norwich scored in the dying seconds of additional time at Loftus Road, leading the R’s manager to question the consistency of referees enforcing the new rule.

Ainsworth said: “My only gripe was they didn’t add on the time for the celebration for the Norwich goal. Not saying we would have (scored), but it would have been nice to have a chance to have a go at equalising.

“They’re meant to be adding on time during added time, there was time left and then the clock stops, and they celebrated for a minute. Where’s that time gone? Do we get that?

“Look, I have no problem with the rule, no bitterness at all, I just want to see some consistency and I saw plenty of positives in the game last night”.

Ainsworth is confident his side are improving following a difficult end to last season and a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Watford on the opening day. The Hoops responded with a 2-1 victory away to Cardiff last weekend before the last-gasp defeat to Norwich last night.

“The target is to improve on last season, without a shadow of a doubt. Already we’ve made a definite improvement so far if we take these last two games. Bar the Watford game where we weren’t at the races that day for one reason or another, but the last two games I’ll take all day in terms of performances.”

Striker Sinclair Armstrong, 20, notched his first goal for the club in the away trip to Cardiff last weekend, and Ainsworth believes the Irish U21 international has the potential to be “a superstar in the Championship.”

He added: “He has to play a huge part. When we have a player like that with such talent and reputation, which is growing and growing – we have to make the most of it.

“Sinclair has a really great chance in football to have a great career in football and I’m proud to be the manager for when he managed to get his first goal for the club.”

PICTURE: ROB AVIS