Gareth Ainsworth won’t use injuries as excuse after QPR’s winless run extended to 13 matches

Gareth Ainsworth refused to use his QPR squad’s current injury list as an excuse for last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at Rotherham.

The Millers opened the scoring after 15 minutes when former R’s loanee Jordan Hugill got on the end of Chiedozie Ogbene’s cross.

Hugill doubled Rotherham’s advantage from the penalty spot in the 70th minute.

QPR pulled one back through Jamal Lowe with seven minutes remaining but Hakeem Odoffin’s strike from the edge of the box in added time secured all three points for Matt Taylor’s side.

Ainsworth was without Ilias Chair, Ethan Laird, Kenneth Paal, Jake Clarke-Salter and Lyndon Dykes. QPR are winless in their last 13 games in all competitions.

Speaking to the club’s YouTube channel, Ainsworth said: “I’m not going to use this as an excuse, but I have got an actual 11 in that treatment room which I could field in a Championship game.

“Chair, Willock, Balogun, Laird, Paal and Clarke-Salter – the names are endless in that treatment room.

“I just want people to stay patient – the cavalry are coming. The boys are giving everything out on that pitch. Silly mistakes have cost us. There were a couple of goals where I was thinking: ‘We can eradicate them – we can sort them out’.

“We were so close with the chances at the other end – they didn’t quite fall for us. The chances that did fall for us fell to the centre-halves.”
QPR have conceded three goals in each of their last four outings.

“When it’s not going right, things tend to go against you,” said Ainsworth. “I’m a glass-half full person. It’s unbelievable that we have conceded so many in those four games, but the win and the good times are just around the corner.”

QPR host Watford on Saturday.