Stephan stands by team selection after QPR draw

Julien Stephan stood by the decision to make five changes to QPR’s starting line-up against Oxford.

Rangers are now unbeaten in five matches but had to settle for a point after a goalless draw at Loftus Road.

It was the second of three matches they will play in the space of a week and head coach Stephan insisted changes were therefore necessary.

“It was important for me to involve different players, with three games in one week,” he said.

“It’s just the beginning of the season and we need to do the season with 17, 18, 19, 20 players – not only 11.

“It was our plan to put fresh players at the beginning. If we always play with the same starting 11 I think in two months we will have these players completely dying, probably.

“So if we want a good season, we need more players playing during the season.”

Steve Cook, Sam Field, Isaac Hayden, Kader Dembele and Michel Frey were brought in, with Liam Morrison, Nicolas Madsen, Jonathan Varane, Koki Saito and Romarn Burrell dropping to the bench.

Frey had a right-footed strike saved by keeper Jamie Cumming in the first half, while Dembele fired wide and Cook narrowly over.

In the second half, Rangers defender Amadou Mbengue sent an effort over the bar and Cook headed over from Madsen’s late corner.

Stephan said: “We didn’t score tonight, but five games unbeaten, second clean sheet of the last three games, 12 points – OK, it’s not perfect but it’s not too bad.

“I am happy that in the last three games we did not concede a lot of chances defensively. And if you are strong defensively it’s important.

“But I would like to create more danger than we did tonight.”

Mbengue picked up a yellow card – his fifth of the season – so will be suspended for Saturday’s away match against Bristol City.