Warburton praises Dozzell after QPR victory

Mark Warburton praised Andre Dozzell after the young midfielder set up QPR’s winner at Cardiff.

Andre Gray’s goal was enough to give Warburton’s side the points and lift them up to fifth in the Championship table.

Gray slotted past former R’s keeper Alex Smithies after collecting Dozzell’s fine pass.

Dozzell, signed from Ipswich in the summer, has produced encouraging recent performances.

And boss Warburton said: “Sometimes you’ve got to ease them in. It’s really important to ease them in because they’ve got to adjust.

“The jump from League One to the Championship is severe. You’ve got to make sure you give them the best chance of being successful. But he’s taken his chance.

“We’ve spoken about wrapping the passes in. It was a great ball from Andre and then Andre Gray does what he does so well. It was a tremendous finish.”

Dozzell’s emergence, Luke Amos’ comeback and Sam Field’s return from injury means Warburton has plenty of midfield options.

Earlier on Wednesday, Field played for Rangers’ B team in a match at Huddersfield.

Warburton said: “Don’t forget how well Dom Ball did. Luke Amos is back. Sam Field played 75 today. Stefan Johansen of course, George Thomas and the young guy Stephen Duke-McKenna, so we’ve got real competition.

“That competition in midfield now is very fierce. But as a club we’ve got to have that competition.”

Warburton added that Chris Willock, who missed the game, had a “personal issue he had to deal with” and should be available for this weekend’s trip to Blackpool.

Gray was taken off “as a precaution”, according to Warburton, who said Ilias Chair also picked up a slight knock.