Stephan seems braced for bad news after QPR duo suffer injuries

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Julien Stephan seemed braced for bad news about Tariq Lamptey and Jimmy Dunne after both players went off injured during QPR’s goalless draw at Charlton.

Rangers, plagued by injuries in the past couple of seasons, lost Ilias Chair and Richard Kone during Saturday’s defeat against Middlesbrough.

And this time it was Lamptey and Dunne who picked up injuries.

Summer signing Lamptey, whose recent performances since returning from a long-term knee injury have been impressive, was taken off late in the first half, and skipper Dunne three minutes into the second.

The pair will be assessed ahead of Saturday’s game against Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion, but head coach Stephan indicated that the initial signs are not good.

“Now we have to find a way to present a competitive team on Saturday. I will reflect on that tomorrow,” said Stephan.

“It’s difficult for me to give you more information about them because we have to assess them, but it doesn’t present very well.”

Koki Saito, who was unavailable to play at Charlton after also picking up an injury against Boro, is a doubt for this weekend’s trip to the West Midlands.

The injuries are mounting – again – but Stephan took encouragement from the team’s performance at The Valley.

Rangers, fourth in the table, would have gone top had they beaten the Addicks.

They totally dominated possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances – and Paul Smyth was unable to take one when through on goal in the second half.

“We were very, very dominant throughout the game – both halves,” said Stephan.

“We had a lot of control, a lot of possession, but didn’t create enough big chances – even if we had a big one with Smythy.

“So it’s a mix of feelings after this game; very satisfied with the control we had, and we kept our ability to be dominant – this is the positive side – but we know we have to improve a lot in the last third.

“We need to find as well some players able to win one-v-ones and take some good decisions, because it’s difficult to fix everything in the last third only with the patterns.

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“This is an area of the pitch where we (the team) need to take good decisions, (and be) able to win your one-v-ones, able to win your duels.

“We need to find a way as well with set-plays to create more danger. We had a lot of corners.

“But I think we did well. What we do with the ball between our goalkeeper to the last 20 metres I think is amazing. This is a very positive sign.

“Collect the point. It’s probably not enough based on the domination we had on the pitch, but it’s one more – and if we are very, very disappointed to be third or fourth in the table then it’s a good sign, I think.”