Ainsworth pleased after QPR comeback

Gareth Ainsworth praised the fighting qualities of his QPR players after they came back from two down to draw 2-2 at West Brom – after a clear-the-air meeting in the wake of recent defeats. 

Goals from Lyndon Dykes and Chris Martin helped Rangers end a run of four successive losess and moved them two points clear of the drop zone.

Ainsworth and his squad held a discussion on Saturday following their meek showing in defeat against Preston 24 hours earlier.

And the Rangers boss felt the much-improved performance – aside from a disastrous opening 12 minutes in which they conceded two goals – was a result of some harsh words from the squad.

“The reset meeting was on Saturday, the boys were in all day,” Ainsworth explained.

“We were in all day for real open talks about how we need to approach this.

“We had a little bit of a change in how we played. We were a lot more threatening but it was the nature of the point, not just the point.

“We were the better team in the second half by quite some distance.

“They were dangerous from set-pieces, which is still quite an issue. We need to nail this down because we gave ourselves a mountain to climb.”

It was the third time this season Rangers have come from 2-0 down away from home, having done so at Sunderland and Reading, and Ainsworth admitted he feared the worst after 12 minutes as West Brom raced in front.

“I was really worried. At 1-0 down against Preston we looked beaten,” he said.

“At 2-0 we looked stunned, but showed the belief that we can get back into this game.

“That header from Lyndon and the cross from Ilias Chair was the spark we needed. We could have come in at half-time at 2-2.

“But that performance was enough for me, both players and fans.

“I wouldn’t have been surprised if 10 fans turned up to watch us after Friday, but 1200 come up and got behind us like you wouldn’t believe.”