Ainsworth remains defiant but bemoans poor QPR defending

Gareth Ainsworth praised his QPR side for the spirit he said they showed at Huddersfield, but admitted they were punished for some woeful early defending.

The 2-1 loss was Rangers’ fourth consecutive defeat and means they remain in the bottom three.

Goals from Kian Harratt and Jack Rudoni in the opening 14 minutes put Huddersfield in control.

Rangers, who were without Lyndon Dykes as well as Steve Cook and are now without a win in seven matches, were unable to find an equaliser after a goal from Jake Clarke-Salter, who later hit the woodwork.

Boss Ainsworth said: “We lost the game in the first 20 minutes. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb.

“We can’t defend like that in the first 20 minutes of games and expect to get something out of them – but we almost did.

“The spirit, the drive and desire to get back in the game was fantastic by the boys. But this is the Championship and you can’t often overturn a 2-0 deficit – but we almost did it.

“We hit the post and had one cleared off the line. We were the aggressors. But we’ve got to start games better and be more solid. They were sloppy goals to concede.”

Ainsworth has repeatedly insisted that Rangers will be a surprise package this season – and did so again after their latest defeat.

He also pointed to a relative improvement on the 4-0 hammering by Blackburn prior to the international break.

Ainsworth declared: “I’m a glass-half-full guy. The Blackburn game was not acceptable and the transformation is something else. We’ve improved from Blackburn.

“Roll on the season because it’s going to be a good one. I’m pretty sure we’re going to finish above that line.”