Warburton defends players after QPR cup defeat

QPR boss Mark Warburton defended his players after they went out of the FA Cup against Championship strugglers Peterborough, going down 2-0 at Weston Homes Stadium.

Rangers dominated much of the game but were caught on the break in both halves, with goals from Joe Ward and Ricky-Jade Jones dumping Rangers out.

“Of course I’m unhappy to be out and I will never disrespect the FA Cup,” Warburton said.

“But I can’t criticise the attitude of the players. We dominated possession and dominated chances and from set-pieces we should have scored three in the first half.

“Had we turned up with a lack of desire and intensity and been sloppy on the ball then I would rant and rave.

“But it wasn’t our day today and we didn’t get our rewards.”

Ilias Chair hit the bar and Albert Adomah forced a fine save from Steven Benda as Rangers pushed hard for an equaliser before Jones beat keeper David Marshall from just inside the box with a low, curling effort.

Warburton admitted: “It was two poor goals to give away. The first was sloppy and the second we lost two duels on the halfway line – you can’t do that.

“It was one of those games where we didn’t get the luck in the final third.

“I thought after half-time Albert’s volley was in – it was a great save to keep it out. That sort of summed up the afternoon.

“But the positives are we got Jeff (Hendrick) minutes, Dion (Sanderson) got 90, Ilias came back in, we could rest Chrissy Willock, Sam Field and Yoann Barbet and we have come through unscathed which is really important given the number of league games we have coming up.

“We now have a big game coming up with Middlesbrough and a trip to Barnsley and we will need all the squad for those.”