QPR boss Warburton: ‘This will turn out to be a well-earned point’

By Nick Kituno

Mark Warburton believes Queens Park Rangers will look back on their draw with Millwall as a “hard-earned point” as they shared the spoils on the opening day of the season.

Jed Wallace fired home a stunning strike after just 11 minutes before Rob Dickie cancelled it out with a sensational strike of his own to wrap up a breathtaking first half.

Despite an enthralling start at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, neither side could break the deadlock as it finished a goal apiece.

Warburton said: “I think we started slowly, they [Millwall] were the better team. They deserved the lead, in all honesty, we knew it was coming.

“They get the ball forward quickly, and they are dangerous, and they have good physicality. We didn’t deal with it well in the first 15 minutes.

“We found ourselves 1-0 down and then we had to take care of the football. When we started the play towards the end of the first half, we hurt them. We got the goal back and finished very strongly in that half, but you have to recognise that’s the Championship today.”

He added: “I think both teams were tired towards the end. It was a warm day today, warmer than expected. It was the first game, it’s a big occasion, a packed stadium, intense atmosphere and both teams, I think, looked very, very drained towards the last five, 10 minutes.

“I think Millwall will be up there at the end of the season and we’ll look back at that [result] and say that’s a good, hard-earned point today.”

Stefan Johansen, who joined QPR on a permanent deal from Fulham following a January loan spell this summer, was handed his first competitive start since his return.

The Norway international went down shortly before being withdrawn for George Thomas but Warburton has insisted the midfielder is fine.

He was similarly confident when asked about Ilias Chair, who was not involved due to an unspecified illness although he did not say it was covid-related. He hopes to have Chair back for the away visit of Hull City next weekend.

Warburton said: “Don’t forget he hasn’t played a game yet, Stef. To get 70 minutes out of him, Charlie [Austin] took a whack on the knee at half-time, or just before half-time, so to get 65 out of Charlie and 70 out of Stefan is very pleasing.”