Critchley praises players after first QPR win

QPR boss Neil Critchley praised his side’s character after they ended a run of four successive defeats to secure a well-deserved 1-0 win at Preston.

Jimmy Dunne’s goal clinched a win for Critchley in his first game in chance since taking over from Mick Beale.

Rangers dominated large parts of the game, with Tim Iroegbubnam hitting the post from distance and Andre Dozzell, Sam Field, Lyndon Dykes and Chris Willock all missing decent opportunities to increase Rangers’ advantage.

Preston pushed hard for an equaliser with a late flurry of corners, but Critchley said his team were worthy winners.

“I couldn’t have asked more from the players, they have given me everything all week,” Critchley said.

“They are a really good honest team of players to work with.

“Preston are a team in form, we are out of form, but I said to the players ‘We are not going there to take a point, we are going there to win’.

“I didn’t want us to have everyone behind the ball and trying to hit them on the break, and I thought we did that.

“In the first half we were very good, but I was worried we didn’t take our chances.

“Thankfully we did in the second half from a corner routine we worked on yesterday, with Kenneth (Paal) putting in a lovely delivery.

“But we have had to show a real different side to us. I said this week we need to be better at keeping clean sheets and better at scoring goals.

“To come here and to keep a clean sheet is very pleasing, with Seny Dieng not having much to do apart from a big save in the second half they had very few chances

“I would have liked to see us play a bit more football to close the game out, but overall I am very pleased with how we played today.”