Stephan: QPR showing their ‘limit’ – but are heading in right direction
Julien Stephan admitted after QPR’s 1-1 draw at home to Burnley that their failure to make the most of their chances is preventing them from being higher in the Championship.
Rangers have looked like possible play-off contenders this season, not least when recently hammering high-flying Swansea 5-0 at Loftus Road.
But they have been wasteful in other games, and went behind against the run of play against the Clarets.
Jonathan Varane’s second-half equaliser rescued a point, but it was a frustrating night for the R’s.
“Frustrated with the result but I enjoyed the performance,” said Stephan.
“The first 20 minutes was very good and the only difference between this and Swansea was the efficiency – against Swansea we attacked three times, shot three times and scored three times.
“Tonight we should have scored a minimum of once during the first 20 or 25 minutes. That was the big difference.
“They scored with their first shot and that impacted us a bit mentally and we misplaced some passes.
“But in the second half we had enough chances not only to equalise but to win – enough big chances and we were very dominant.”
The result meant Rangers dropped to 11th in the Championship table.
They are just a point below the play-off places, though, and head coach Stephan believes they are heading in the right direction.
But he admitted that a failure to take their chances is proving costly – substitute Justin Obikwu had a late opportunity but shot wide.
“It’s not the first time since the start of the season and it’s probably now the main difference between the teams at the top of the table and us,” said Stephan.
“We are a good team in the league but not able to kill when we have the opportunity is probably a part of our limit now. But we have to work on that and I think the way we play is the right way to create chances and be dominant.
“Now we continue to work on the last shot, that last decision, to take advantage of the chances we have.
“It’s important to keep the confidence and I want to be positive – and with the way they play, I think the players deserve for us to be positive.
“If we continue to play like this, we know that in the mid to long term we have more chances to win.
“We had a lot of good ideas and that’s why I’m confident with this group, that if they continue to play like this they will win games.”
