Johansen ‘fine’ despite knock during QPR draw
Mark Warburton insisted there are no injury concerns about Stefan Johansen after QPR’s 1-1 draw with Millwall.
The Norwegian midfielder, who was recently signed on a permanent deal from Fulham after a hugely impressive loan spell, did not play during pre-season.
He was therefore not expected to play the full 90 minutes of Rangers’ Championship opener.
However, he picked up a knock prior to coming off in the second half and appeared to be in some discomfort as he left the pitch.
But manager Warburton said Johansen’s withdrawal was purely because of his recent lack of match action.
“He hadn’t played a game yet,” Warburton said.
“Charlie Austin took a whack on the knee just before half-time, so to get 65 minutes out of Charlie and 70 out of Stefan was very pleasing. They’re two very important players.
“He (Johansen) is fine. Let’s just call it stiffness and soreness after not having a pre-season game.”
Jed Wallace put Millwall ahead before Rob Dickie fired in a brilliant equaliser just after the half-hour mark.
But Lions boss Gary Rowett felt it was Johansen’s growing influence on the match which proved to be the visitors’ undoing.
“Johansen maybe just started to dictate the game a little bit,” Rowett explained.
“We needed to get closer and disrupt that flow that he started to produce for QPR.
“We certainly tried to but I felt we ran out of energy when we most needed it.
“But I’m not displeased. We navigated the game well and defended well. I think we’ll get better as the games go on.”
Warburton believes his team were given a reminder of how demanding the Championship can be.
Following an excellent second half of last season and the signings of the likes of Johansen and Austin, optimism among Rangers fans has been high.
A pre-season win over Manchester United added to the positivity.
But the home side struggled to settle during a frenetic opening to the match.
Warburton admitted: “We started slowly, they were the better team and deserved the lead.
“We knew what was coming – they get the ball forward quickly and are dangerous with their physicality.
“We didn’t deal with it well in the first 15 minutes. But when we started to play towards the end of the first half we hurt them.
“We have to recognise that that’s the Championship out there today.
“There were great games against Man U and Leicester and they’re lovely to have, but that’s the Championship today and you’ve got to deal with all aspects of it.
“I think both teams tired towards the end. It’s the first game and a big occasion with an intense atmosphere. Both teams looked drained in the last 10 minutes.”
Dickie was QPR’s player of the year last season and enhanced his growing reputation with another excellent display.
“Rob was very, very good. I was very impressed with Rob,” Warburton said.
“He controlled the ball very well and took responsibility to go in tight and mark, and aerially I thought he was strong right to the end of the game.”
