Critchley optimistic after QPR draw

Neil Critchley insisted he is optimistic about QPR’s future under him after a last-gasp Sheffield United equaliser denied them victory at Loftus Road.

Ilias Chair gave Rangers an early lead after a mistake by former Brentford man John Egan, who atoned by equalising for the Blades with seconds remaining.

It meant Rangers missed out on a first home win under Critchley, but he nevertheless declared he had been given “a great deal of optimism for the future” by the performance.”

He also hit back at suggestions he would have happily accepted a point before the game.

“Why would I take a draw against them? No. That’s a mentality we’ve got to change,” he said.

“We go to win every game, home and away, and it doesn’t matter who we play against.

“They’re second in the league and we were more than a match for them.

“I thought we were excellent for long periods of the game against what is a very good team.

“We were on the front foot, went toe-to-toe with them and gave a great account of ourselves. I’m just disappointed the players have not got the winning feeling I felt the performance merited.”

Rangers had suffered four consecutive home defeats and their performance was certainly an improvement on their recent 3-0 loss to Luton.

Critchley said: “There was no hangover from our defeat the other night and that’s because of our mentality and mindset, and that’s what I want to instill in the players.

“We’ve got to show belief in who we are and what we’re doing. We looked a good team tonight and I’ve taken a lot of positives from that performance.”