R’s boss defends strikers Dykes and Bonne after victory over AFC Bournemouth

BY NICK KITUNO

Mark Warburton has backed his strikers Lyndon Dykes and Macauley Bonne, insisting they do “so much more” than score goals for Queens Park Rangers.

The pair have struggled to find the net of late, but both featured in the R’s 2-1 win against Bournemouth at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

Dykes was replaced after 72 minutes, as QPR struggled to find a way through the Cherries, while Bonne was involved in some late chances to seal the win following Todd Kane’s late winner.

Substitute Chris Willock whipped in a teasing cross from the right flank but Bonne sliced his effort wide of the target. He later found himself one-on-one with Asmir Begovic from a tight angle, only for it to squeeze past the goalkeeper before it was cleared out for a corner.

Warburton has thrown his support behind him and Dykes despite the late opportunities, believing they can also learn a lot from fans’ favourite Charlie Austin, who is on loan from West Bromwich Albion until the end of the season.

He said: “I’d have turned around and been more concerned if Macca [Bonne] hadn’t been there to miss them. I’m not saying this lightly, I don’t mind him missing those if he then scores on Wednesday night [at Preston] and we get a scruffy 1-0 win.

“I don’t mind that, he’s in the right place to miss it.

“You [journalists] judge them, quite rightly, that they haven’t scored for X games, but they do so much more for our side. There’s closing down, there’s shape, there’s pressing, jobs at set pieces for and against, they do so much more [than just score goals].

“They obviously judge themselves, and so do you, by the number of goals that they score but I’ve got no worries about those guys.

“They will learn a lot from Charlie Austin and, going forward, I’ve got no hesitation to use them at anytime.”

PHOTOS: KEITH GILLARD