Steve McClaren praises players in bringing fun back to QPR following derby win

Photo: QPR FC

Queens Park Rangers boss Steve McClaren praised his Championship side following a comeback win against London rivals Brentford FC.

The former Derby managed who was recently named Championship Manager of the Month has overseen an incredible turn in fortune at the club after the R’s suffered four defeats in a row at the start of the season but now lie just one point off the Playoff spots in the league.

We’re fortunate to win the game

Speaking to the media following QPR’s 3-2 win, McClaren said:

“They (QPR) were excellent. They’re great teams with very difference styles, and we’re fortunate to win the game but showed great character at half-time from 1-0 down to 3-1 up.

“We blew them away for 20 minutes, they came back and we had to hold on, but we did that, and it’s a good win.”

When asked if McClaren had brought the fun back into the club, the Englishman made sure to praise his players who delivered this afternoon. He said:

“I think the players have done that (brought fun back to the club). I’ve been trying to create an environment where you enjoy coming to work, and if I didn’t I wouldn’t do it.

“The spirit in the dressing room, the responsibility they’re taking has really been first-class. The reaction after the first four games, we kept together, we stuck together.”

A fight to the end

QPR had to come from behind to secure a vital 3-2 win at home against a Brentford team that have been falling down the table since the departure of their former manager Dean Smith.

However it was the visitors that took the lead into the first half when Championship top scorer Neal Maupay poked in from close range 22 minutes in. Sadly the striker was immediately stretchered off for concussion after a collision with the R’s keeper.

The hosts replied in an emphatic fashion in the second half after outperforming their London rivals for most of both halves. Three goals in the span of 10 minutes from Massimo Luongo, Joel Lynch and Nakhi Wells turned the game around in favour of QPR to make it 3-1.

Henrik Dalsgaard managed to pull one back for Brentford with nine minutes to go, but it was too late for the Bees, and QPR claimed the vital three points at Loftus Road.