MX23RW : Wednesday, January 27 04:36:11| >> :120:25138:25138:
Dec 26, 2020 at 3pm UK at Loftus Road Stadium
QPRQueens Park Rangers
0-2
SwanseaSwansea City

Ball (79')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Ayew (44'), Lowe (54')
Dhanda (34')

Mark Warburton admits QPR are close to relegation battle

Mark Warburton admits QPR are close to relegation battle
© Reuters
The Hoops slipped to a 2-0 defeat at home to Swansea.

Under-pressure QPR manager Mark Warburton admits his side face a relegation battle if they continue to miss chances.

Rangers, beaten 2-0 at home by Swansea, are without a win in eight matches and have won just one of their last 11.

They sit 19th in the Sky Bet Championship – just four points above the drop zone – and Warburton's position is under scrutiny.

QPR director of football Les Ferdinand and chief executive Lee Hoos had a lengthy discussion in the directors' box after the game.

And Warburton's frustration was obvious after a third defeat in four home matches.

Asked if his team were now in a relegation battle, he said: "The table doesn't lie. I can't sit here and sound like an idiot saying 'no we're fine' – the table tells you where we are.

"We're responsible for where we are and we're responsible for getting out of that. Plain and simple. It would be foolish to say otherwise."

Rangers had opportunities during an even first half but went behind in bizarre fashion a minute before the interval.

Jake Bidwell's header appeared to be going wide but R's defender Yoann Barbet headed the ball against the woodwork, leaving goalkeeper Seny Dieng stranded – and Andre Ayew with an open goal.

There was no way back for Warburton's side after Jamal Lowe raced through to score nine minutes into the second half.

Warburton said: "Possession, chances – all these stats are irrelevant. There's only one really important stat and that's goals.

"In the first half we completely controlled it, looked strong and confident, got balls in the box, and we have to take our chances. It's as simple as that.

"We were in control in that first half and never felt threatened at all. We moved the ball well and threatened them.

"You can dominate long periods of play but it's irrelevant if you don't put the ball in the back of the opposing net.

"We create chances but chances are irrelevant if you don't convert them.

"Everything we do – every pattern of play, combination and every movement – has to result in something positive. And today again we've missed chance after chance.

"At the moment we're flattering to deceive. We have to be better and we have to be more ruthless."

Swansea boss Steve Cooper is delighted with the progress of Lowe, who scored his fourth goal in as many matches.

"I think it's important for Jamal to score in successive games," said Cooper.

"It was a brilliant goal. Jamal ran in behind and showed great composure and technique to score and he made it look a lot easier than it was.

"When you play in that position you are always going to be judged by goals and assists.

"At the moment the strikers are playing well. They know they have the responsibility of scoring when chances come and they've got to keep going.

"I'm really pleased with the win. It was a tight game in the first half and the second half was all about managing the game.

"We defended well and we also attacked as we felt there would be space to score a second goal – and that paid off.

"It was a really good performance again. We were good for the win and very professional in the way we went about it."

ID:428047:cQx

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How you voted: QPR vs Swansea

Queens Park Rangers
19.0%
Draw
19.0%
Swansea City
62.0%
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Todd Cantwell celebrates scoring for Norwich City against Cardiff City in the Championship on December 19, 2020
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich25165435211453
2Watford26138530181247
3Swansea CitySwansea24137429131646
4Brentford23128337211644
5Reading2513573728944
6Bournemouth25119538211742
7Middlesbrough2511683021939
8Bristol City25123102727039
9Stoke CityStoke2691073128337
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn25106940281236
11Preston North EndPreston26113123133-236
12Barnsley25104112732-534
13Luton TownLuton2596102127-633
14Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2694132937-831
15Millwall2561272124-330
16Cardiff CityCardiff2485113028229
17Queens Park RangersQPR2569102331-827
18Coventry CityCoventry2468102234-1226
19Birmingham CityBirmingham2568111830-1226
20Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2567122029-925
21Derby CountyDerby2567121625-925
22Rotherham UnitedRotherham2255122332-920
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2367101523-819
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe2336141635-1915

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