QPR boss Warburton on failing to battle in Rotherham loss, broken nose for centre-back + praise for full debutant Kelman

BY KAI BENNETT

Mark Warburton felt QPR didn’t “roll up their sleeves” in their 3-1 loss at Rotherham last night.

Lyndon Dykes had given put the Rs ahead just after half time, before a Freddie Ladapo brace and a Matt Smith goal in injury time sealed the victory for Rotherham.

“We got the goal we wanted,” Warburton told QPR’s official website. “I thought that would be the big turning point, they would have too come forward and take risks. We knew exactly what they were going to do. No lack of respect from us. They’re very good physically, they throw it into your box time after time.

“Crooks came off, Smith came on. We had to roll our sleeves up and deal with it, simple as that. Sometimes it can’t all be pretty football, sometimes you have to be first and have to stand up.

“Jordy [De Wijs] had a broken nose at half time and we missed him in the second half in terms of his physicality. To a man, we have to stand up and it is those moments in the game that aren’t always pretty. We didn’t do that. After scoring I can’t remember us testing their keeper. So we didn’t do deserve to win the game after that point.

“[Today] was more than frustrating. In the first half, in the first 15-20 minutes, it was almost too easy, we controlled [the game]. We got George [Thomas] on the half turn. We got into dangerous areas. Stefan [Johansen] was excellent again, he controlled the game and we looked a really good team. You have to test the keeper and get your rewards. it’s very nice playing good football but you have to take your chances and we didn’t do that.

“We had a chance to go ninth. It wasn’t long ago we sat in the dressing room and we were 19th. We deserved to be higher but the table doesn’t lie. The only people that can get you out of it is us. They’ve done really well and they deserve enormous credit.

“We’ve got five games left and 15 points to play for and we have to go for it. You have to hunt down every single point. That’s the mentality needed, winning mentality and desire to keep getting better. We’ve shown clearly what [capabilities] the squads got. This league is so demanding, if you want to go where we truly want to go, we have to learn from night’s like tonight and be better.”

Warburton had plenty of praise for debutant Charlie Kelman.

“Young Charlie, who made his full debut, did well. His touch was good and he had a lovely strike in the first half. He’s a very clean striker of the ball. He’s still young, he has a lot too learn and a lot too develop. I’m delighted for him, he’s coming on really well.

“George [Thomas] showed us that half turn and drove forward with pace and purpose. He makes really good forward runs. You saw that in the B game against Watford. In the first half, the run he made when Yoann [Barbet] found him, he was in a really dangerous position. I was delighted with those forward runs.

“As a team to go 1-0 up and to be in that position, we have to control the game and get our rewards. That’s the part we’re learning.”

Osman Kakay found Lyndon Dykes before he finished to put the Hoops ahead.

“We’ve always spoke about Lyndon, all strikers have a barren patch,” said Warburton. “You’re seeing his quality, he works hard every day and now he’s getting his rewards. That’s now five in four. He’s scoring goals and a variety of goals, which include no penalties. He’s scoring headers, he’s scoring from the floor, he scored at the near post at Reading. I’m delighted for him and he now needs to continue working hard, which I know he will do.”