Holloway praises players after QPR defeat

Ian Holloway insisted QPR are improving and that he was proud of his players after the 1-0 defeat at home to Derby.

Tom Ince’s late goal condemned Rangers to a fourth consecutive loss.

Five matches into Holloway’s second reign as manager at Loftus Road and his side are 18th in the Championship table, just three points above the relegation zone.

But they had plenty of possession against a Derby team whose win was their seventh in a row.

“That’s what you get in life sometimes. Football can be very harsh,” Holloway said.

“I feel very proud – proud of the people who came here tonight and saw their team trying to pass it despite being on a bad run.

“I was delighted. Not everyone played as well as they could, but they all contributed.

“It was a bitter pill for the lads to swallow but I am thoroughly delighted with the performance.

“We’ve improved in every game. When we got three points against Norwich we were nowhere near as good.

“We’re on a bad run of results at the moment but they were brave and passed the ball.

“We did really well apart from in the final third. How we didn’t get a point at least out of that game I’ll never know.

“From where we are to what we’ve done today, we’re improving. We are getting better. Unfortunately, results are stinking.”

Rangers are next in action on Sunday, when they are at home to Aston Villa.