Hasselbaink suggests fatigue was a factor in QPR loss

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QPR boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink felt tiredness was a factor in his team’s below-par display against Preston.

Rangers, beaten at Barnsley on Wednesday, lost 2-0 at Loftus Road, where Nedum Onuoha scored an own goal.

Preston’s home loss against Derby on Tuesday was their third defeat in as many league games this season, but they were worthy winners against a poor Rangers side.

“We looked second best and couldn’t get going,” said Hasselbaink.

“You have to give Preston credit. They did well, put us on the back foot and we looked flat.

“We looked like we had 24 hours less to recover. It looked a big ask. When you have a big squad it doesn’t matter, but when you don’t then it does.

“As as a group, we expected more and wanted more but couldn’t deliver. We didn’t look like us.

“Individual errors cost us. But we are a team – we lose together and we win together.

“Today though we didn’t have the concentration and the calmness to pass the ball, and I don’t know why.”

Rangers struggled to create openings before Hasselbaink made an attacking change in the second half, replacing Karl Henry with striker Conor Washington.

Asked if he had considered starting with Washington, the Dutchman said: “He provided us with something, but no I didn’t think of starting with him today – hindsight is a beautiful thing.

“Sebastian Polter and Tjaronn Chery have been doing really well and I wanted to continue – especially because of the bad result on Wednesday

“I wanted to give certain individuals an opportunity to put it right.”