QPR showed character, says Ramsey

Chris Ramsey said he was confident QPR would be able to recover from their awful start against Bolton at Loftus Road, where his team won a dramatic match 4-3.

Rangers conceded twice early on and then led before Bolton levelled and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas belted home an injury-time winner – the stand-in forward’s second goal of the game.

Head coach Ramsey, under fire from fans following a poor start to the season, made four changes to his starting line-up and a dreadful start in front of a frustrated home crowd was the last thing he needed.

But he explained: “I was thinking that we had time and this really is where we’ve got to show our mettle, because it was only after a few minutes and we had the rest of the game to try and score.

“I’m not pleased with the way we defended and the three goals we gave away. Having said that, I think we showed some character and that’s much-needed in this league.

“I wasn’t too displeased with the way we attacked. But individual errors always cost you, but obviously we’re very pleased to get the three points.”

And Ramsey challenged Emmanuel-Thomas to prove he can be a first-team regular at Rangers, who will be without Charlie Austin for a number of weeks and Jamie Mackie for up to three months.

“You want him to score and to help us create, and see if we can get an adequate replacement for someone like Charlie Austin,” Ramsey said.

“He’s a different type of player, but ultimately it’s about scoring goals no matter how they come.

“What he has to do now, as a young man with talent, is keep his feet on the floor and work like that for the rest of the season.

“You try to give people opportunities and they have to grab them when they come. It’s important to me that all players have a pathway to the team.”