QPR boss talks about letting Matt Smith go to Millwall and makes claim why his players are thriving

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Mark Warburton reckons his QPR players are performing better because they are enjoying their jobs.

The west London side are fourth in the Championship table after a fourth straight victory – 2-1 at Millwall today.

Warburton, appointed Rangers manager in the summer, was asked about how he had got Rangers firing after a couple of campaigns where they lacked a spark.

He said: “I think you look at your players and say ‘what have we got?’.

“Someone said you let Matt Smith go [to Millwall]. It wasn’t like that. You saw today how dangerous and effective he can be in that particular style.

“That’s now how we are going to play. I’m not saying it is wrong or it is right – it’s not our style of play.

“You want players who are good on the ball, good dynamism, energy and tempo – who are good with the football. I look all over the park – Yoann [Barbet], Geoff [Cameron], Ryan [Manning], Ilias [Chair], Eze [Ebere] and Dom Ball. They can all handle a football.

“I want those type. If anyone enjoys going to work they are going to have a better end product.

“Right now I think they are enjoying going to work.

“The average age of our midfield today was 22 – against Millwall, here at The Den. They will learn from these games.

“It’s a big three points for us, there is no hiding from that.

“We brought 15 players in and they have gone a great job for us. Securing the young players like Eze and Ilias on contracts was important for us.”