McClaren hails QPR players despite another defeat

Steve McClaren backed his players after QPR’s injury-time curse struck again against West Brom.

Jake Livermore’s last-gasp goal gave Albion 3-2 victory at Loftus Road, condemning Rangers to a sixth consecutive league defeat.

They were four down against Birmingham before being denied a point by a last-gasp penalty save and lost at Bristol City after a controversial penalty in the final moments.

“Football can be a cruel game and has been for us in the last few games – 94th minutes have not been good for us,” Rangers manager McClaren said.

“We missed a penalty to equalise 4-4, 94 minutes at Bristol where it should never have been a penalty, and tonight 94 minutes. I thought we were going to hold on and deservedly hold on.

“The character and fight of the team is not in question. Yes we’re making mistakes and being punished, and we’re not getting the rub of the green and not getting away with a lot, but the character of the team is there.

“We came back after going 1-0 down after a couple of minutes, were controlling the second half and we make one mistake and it gets punished, yet we have the character to come back to 2-2.

“Then I thought there was only going to be one winner. The players did not deserve that.”

Albion’s winner came when QPR were down to 10 men, with Freeman having gone off injured after McClaren had made all three substitutions.

McClaren said Freeman has a hip flexor problem and that it will be “difficult” for the player to recover in time for Saturday’s game at Middlesbrough but that Rangers are hopeful the injury is not serious.

McClaren also said he expects Grant Hall, who was rested after playing in the previous four matches, to be available this weekend.