QPR frustration at Preston stalemate shows growing belief in R’s playing ranks
BY NICK KITUNO
Mark Warburton said his QPR players are frustrated to have only come away with a point against Preston North End – but believes this means “belief” is growing in the camp.
Their five-match unbeaten run has seen them rise to 13th in the Championship table but they had to settle for a 0-0 draw at rain-soaked Deepdale.
In a game lacking quality, Lyndon Dykes had one of their best chances when he forced a save out of goalkeeper Daniel Iversen before a lobbed effort went wide of the target.
Warburton believed Preston would come at QPR following a dismal 4-0 defeat to Cardiff City last weekend, meaning the R’s had to be up to the challenge.
He said: “It’s a hard-earned point. They [Preston] were smarting after the weekend, had a tough trip to Cardiff, a tough run of games of late. We knew they were going to be very, very strong from the start. We had to meet that challenge.
“Our wing backs were always going to be the outlet for us, especially on the right-hand side, and we did that. We just couldn’t apply the final touch to get all three points.
“I love to see the fact that our players are disappointed only getting a point from a tough trip to Preston.”
The Hoops boss also said the game was close to being called off due to the inclement weather conditions before praising his defence for rising to the challenge.
Warburton added: “It was driving rain. The pitch is very, very heavy. I’m told by the people down there that it was close to being called off, so it was a very heavy pitch. The water was just below the surface, you never knew if the ball was going to stick like a pudding or shoot off the surface, and the boys dealt with that. It was very, very difficult circumstances indeed.
“They dealt well with that and it was an energy-sapping pitch as well, so they stood up. The three defenders [Rob Dickie, Geoff Cameron and Yoann Barbet] stood up to a man, Seny [Dieng] behind them was superb and showed real character.
“These are tough places to come on a Wednesday night, awful weather, and they are games that are easily lost by a scrappy goal, but they stood up. Another clean sheet and, as I say, the boys are very, very frustrated to only come away with a point.
“That tells you some of the belief is hopefully growing.”
QPR travel to Birmingham City on Saturday.
PICTURES: SEAN GOSLING
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