MARK Warburton says his QPR squad know exactly what they want to achieve between now and the end of the 2019/20 campaign.
The R’s head to Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night where they will be hoping to make it back-to-back Sky Bet Championship victories, having recently beaten Leeds United.
If they are going to do so, they’ll need to win at Ewood Park for the first time since 1999 and Warburton says his squad will go there in determined mood
“It’s a vitally important league game against a very tough opponent, who have a very good home record,” Warburton told www.qpr.co.uk. “Every league game is significant – there are three points on offer – so we have to go there and deliver a performance.
“Blackburn have got real talent. They have been going with Armstrong and Gallagher up front, with Danny Graham on the bench. Bradley Dack has been a big loss for them, so all credit to Tony Mowbray and their squad for adapting after losing a player of that quality.
“They are a good outfit – they have only lost twice at home all season – but we are a very good team ourselves. What we have to do is apply ourselves. There are 18 games to go and we know what we want to achieve - the ball is in our court. I have no doubt about the quality in our dressing room.”
Rangers will be without leading scorer Nahki Wells on Tuesday after he was recalled by his parent club Burnley.
Warburton said: “It’s been a big contribution from Nahki. I spoke very candidly to him yesterday [Sunday] and it [having him at QPR] has been good for everyone.
“The team has created chances that strikers the quality of Nahki and Jordan Hugill thrive on. It’s been a really good fit and I’ve been delighted with him and, at the same time, the environment has suited him accordingly.
“He’s Burnley’s player, has 18 months to run on his contract and there will rightly be interest in Nahki because he is scoring goals.
“We’re not going to be in a position to match some of the other bids put forward by other clubs. FFP (Financial Fair Play) means we have to be sensible. Do we want Nahki? Absolutely; he’s a great guy to work with, he’s popular around the squad and I’d love that to continue.”
QPR exited the Emirates FA Cup to Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night, going down to a narrow 2-1 defeat in W12.
Winger Bright Osayi-Samuel came off the bench in that match and made a big impact. Warburton is delighted with the ongoing progress that the wide-man is making.
He said: “Bright is working hard. People say ‘start him in every game’ but he is a young athlete and you have to look after him. All that would happen if he started every game is that we would lose him to injury.
“All teams have lost players to injury during that gruelling Christmas period and Bright has been outstanding for us.
“He’s done tremendously well but there will be times where I have to take him off. You may hear howls of ‘why are you taking him off?’ but it’s because we have to look after the players, especially younger players.
“We have to use our talents wisely. Bright is in great form, his confidence is high but he has got to keep working and learning.”
The R’s head to Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night where they will be hoping to make it back-to-back Sky Bet Championship victories, having recently beaten Leeds United.
If they are going to do so, they’ll need to win at Ewood Park for the first time since 1999 and Warburton says his squad will go there in determined mood
“It’s a vitally important league game against a very tough opponent, who have a very good home record,” Warburton told www.qpr.co.uk. “Every league game is significant – there are three points on offer – so we have to go there and deliver a performance.
“Blackburn have got real talent. They have been going with Armstrong and Gallagher up front, with Danny Graham on the bench. Bradley Dack has been a big loss for them, so all credit to Tony Mowbray and their squad for adapting after losing a player of that quality.
“They are a good outfit – they have only lost twice at home all season – but we are a very good team ourselves. What we have to do is apply ourselves. There are 18 games to go and we know what we want to achieve - the ball is in our court. I have no doubt about the quality in our dressing room.”
Rangers will be without leading scorer Nahki Wells on Tuesday after he was recalled by his parent club Burnley.
Warburton said: “It’s been a big contribution from Nahki. I spoke very candidly to him yesterday [Sunday] and it [having him at QPR] has been good for everyone.
“The team has created chances that strikers the quality of Nahki and Jordan Hugill thrive on. It’s been a really good fit and I’ve been delighted with him and, at the same time, the environment has suited him accordingly.
“He’s Burnley’s player, has 18 months to run on his contract and there will rightly be interest in Nahki because he is scoring goals.
“We’re not going to be in a position to match some of the other bids put forward by other clubs. FFP (Financial Fair Play) means we have to be sensible. Do we want Nahki? Absolutely; he’s a great guy to work with, he’s popular around the squad and I’d love that to continue.”
QPR exited the Emirates FA Cup to Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night, going down to a narrow 2-1 defeat in W12.
Winger Bright Osayi-Samuel came off the bench in that match and made a big impact. Warburton is delighted with the ongoing progress that the wide-man is making.
He said: “Bright is working hard. People say ‘start him in every game’ but he is a young athlete and you have to look after him. All that would happen if he started every game is that we would lose him to injury.
“All teams have lost players to injury during that gruelling Christmas period and Bright has been outstanding for us.
“He’s done tremendously well but there will be times where I have to take him off. You may hear howls of ‘why are you taking him off?’ but it’s because we have to look after the players, especially younger players.
“We have to use our talents wisely. Bright is in great form, his confidence is high but he has got to keep working and learning.”
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