Stephan blames ‘lack of freshness’ after QPR defeat
Julien Stephan felt a lack of freshness among QPR’s players was a major factor in their 3-0 loss at Birmingham.
Rangers have been impressive this season and thumped Derby 4-1 in midweek.
But in their third match in the space of a week, they were below par and suffered their first away defeat of the season.
And with the unavailability of a key players continuing to be a problem, head coach Stephan suggested that his team showed signs of feeling the strain.
He said: “We don’t have to forget what the players have done since the start of the season.
“This is only the second defeat, and the second defeat after 11 games of the season with the (player unavailability) situation we had to manage I think is not too bad.
“But today it’s clear that they were more efficient, and probably they were more fresh – we had a lack of freshness. I think we were less efficient than usual.
“If we are more fresh, we will have more quality, because I know the players are able to connect together and do some good movement collectively.”
There was more injury woe for Rangers, who are without the likes of Ilias Chair and Rumarn Burrell.
They finished the game with 10 men after Richard Kone, on as a substitute, went off because of a knee problem, with Stephan having made all his permitted changes.
Amadou Mbengue has been sidelined by a knee injury – he was stretchered off during the Derby game – and Alfie Lloyd missed the trip to the West Midlands.
Nicolas Madsen, meanwhile, was an unused substitute, also because of fitness concerns.
“I think the (lack of) freshness today had a real, real impact. We didn’t have the opportunity to rotate a lot between the three games,” Stephan explained.
“If Amadou and Alfie were not on the pitch today there is a reason. If Nico Madsen stayed on the bench today there is a reason as well.
“When you face an opponent with this quality, if you are not really fresh it’s more difficult.”
The result meant Rangers dropped from fifth to ninth in the Championship table. They will be at home to leaders Swansea City next Saturday.
Stephan said: “We are disappointed for sure. We don’t like losing like this. But we have another game – a very tough game at home against the leaders – and now we have to focus on that.”
