QPR could be without Chair at Bristol City

QPR: Ilias Chair


Mark Warburton admits Ilias Chair could miss out on facing Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Thursday after injuring his calf in the defeat by Bournemouth.

Chair, who is due join up with the Morocco squad for the Africa Cup on Nations on January 3 along with Senegal’s Seny Dieng and Sierra Leone’s Osman Kakay, was withdrawn at half-time as Ranger slipped to a 1-0 loss to the Cherries.


“We don’t know yet. He is being assessed we will just have to wait and see the games come so thick and fast at this period we will just have to wait until tomorrow morning (Tuesday),” Rangers boss Warburton said.

“He got a kick to the calf. We will just have to see how it calms down. It’s heavy bruising and we will see how it responds, but we won’t know until nearer kick-off.

“Ilias is robust, he has a good match record. but it wasn’t a pull thankfully and so we just have see how the inflammation is.”

Warburton reiterated his frustration at the performance of referee Keith Stroud, who once again incurred the ire of the Rangers camp and supporters with a number of decision both in this match and the earlier meeting between the sides at the Vitality Stadium.

Stroud also took charge of the Carabao Cup match against Sunderland in October, when a Charlie Austin goal was controversially ruled out before Rangers lost on penalties.

And Warburton admitted he was surprised to see him back in the middle at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium so soon.

“After the Sunderland it did surprise me and we did make our feelings felt to the appropriate channels and I have to be careful with what I say,” he said.

“But I along with many people last night were mystified by some of the decisions and at this level you can’t afford to have too many go wrong – and last night that was the case.”

Tempers frayed late in the game with a 20-man fracas ensuing after Yoann Barbet pulled Dominic Solanke up from the ground, with Andre Dozzell eventually sent off for his role in the ensuing incident.

“I think you saw player reactions last night and I understand the professional side of the game and that a team when they are 1-0 up they are going to try and utilise every minute,” Warburton said.

“From our point of view were were frustrated as Yoann is a good guy and was just trying to restart the game and a fracas ensued.”

Meanwhile, Moses Odubajo will remain sidelined for QPR’s matches against Bristol City and Birmingham.