‘What character!’ – Stephan hails players after dramatic QPR victory

Julien Stephan hailed the character of his QPR side after a dramatic victory over Birmingham at Loftus Road.

A stunning Kieran Morgan strike in the final seconds of the match took Rangers into the Championship play-off places.

Jimmy Dunne gave them a first-half lead but they appeared to have been denied victory when former Fulham man Patrick Roberts equalised in stoppage time.

But youngster Morgan, on as a substitute, fired into the net from near the edge of the penalty area to make it three consecutive home wins for the R’s.

Asked how he felt after the game, head coach Stephan said: “Of course it’s a lot of emotion.

“But we are not here to speak about my emotion. We are here to speak about how the players played and what a fantastic game they did. It was a great game.

“What character – what character! To find, immediately after a bad moment, the resources to attack and create another moment in the penalty area – all the credit to the players for doing that.”

Sixth in the table and having won of four of their past fives matches – and nine of 17 since a 7-1 hammering at Coventry in August – QPR are approaching the all-imporant Christmas period in a hugely promising position.

Stephan was keen to play down the significance of the rise to the top six, saying: “If you want to speak about the table, please in March or April, not before.”

But the Frenchman added: “If the players continue to play like this then we have more chance to win many games.”