Mark Warburton’s reign as QPR boss began with a win as the R’s defeated Stoke City on the opening day of the Sky Bet Championship season.
Winning Start For QPR Boss Mark Warburton
Stoke City Beaten At Home By QPR
Goals from Jordan Hugill and Eberechi Eze put QPR ahead before Sam Clucas pulled a goal back for the hosts.
Hugill signed on loan from West Ham last week; however, the QPR debutant made an immediate impact as he reacted quickest to a loose ball after Jack Butland burst off his line.
Eze cut through poor defending from Stoke to double the London side’s lead shortly after half-time.
Stoke City eventually pulled a goal back when Sam Clucas was clinical from close range.
Danny Batth was given a golden chance to level in stoppage time but he was unable to keep his header on target.
Stoke Boss Laments Stoke’s ‘Disappointing Performance’
The result leaves the Potters with just four victories from their 22 matches since Nathan Jones took over in January.
Stoke are now enjoying their second season in the Championship since their relegation from the Premier League in 2018.
The Potters were unable to get a winning start to the Championship campaign though as defensive mistakes proved their downfall.
“We did not look like a home side who wanted to go after them and we lacked the tempo. We have to play with more urgency and cutting edge, and too many players didn’t have the desire.” said Nathan Jones to BBC Sport.
“We were better in the second half and had more hunger, but you cannot chase the game like that, this league is too tough. We take positives from the last 30 minutes, but overall it is a disappointing performance.
“We need more instinct and more cutting edge. We were not on the move for crosses and we were waiting for things to happen.”
Rangers boss Mark Warburton was full of praise for his QPR side after earning a winning start to his tenure.
“It is really pleasing to get the win. This is a tough place to come and it is a squad full of Premier League players,” he said to BBC Sport.
“The dynamic changed after Stoke’s goal, but I thought we dealt with it well and the players, to a man, stood up to it.”
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