QPR boss explains team selection for Fulham game

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Mark Warburton insisted George Thomas and Dion Sanderson earned their places in the QPR starting line-up against Fulham.

Jimmy Dunne and Ilias Chair, who have been away with the Republic of Ireland and Morocco squads respectively, were substitutes for Saturday’s game.

Thomas did well in support of fit-again striker Lyndon Dykes, who was supposed to play for an hour but stayed on for the full 90 minutes because Stefan Johansen had to go off after picking up an injury.


On-loan defender Sanderson, meanwhile, kept his place despite a poor performance in the 3-1 home defeat against Peterborough prior to the international break.

Both Thomas and Sanderson have impressed in training, while manager Warburton had worked on using Rangers’ midfielders to contain Fulham full-backs Neco Williams and Joe Bryan.

Warburton explained: “We had to have our midfielders, Luke (Amos) especially, to go out to Bryan to close him down, which we’ve worked on for two weeks.

“Fulham are a good team and you have to get your shape right. So what we wanted to do was have our two number eights get out to their full-backs

“George has been outstanding in training and likewise Dion, who has looked really good and sharp.

“You don’t want to punish boys who go away with their country. Jimmy has gone away and not played, Ilias has gone away and not played, and those (other) guys have been sharp.

“So it was about using the squad, trusting the squad. George has worked hard and when someone trains really well they deserve to be recognised and rewarded.

“I was pleased with George, and Lyndon had his first game in seven weeks. The idea was to get an hour out of Lyndon, but then Stef had to come off, so all credit to Lyndon and how hard he worked.”

Andre Gray was not in the squad as he had only just returned from international duty with Jamaica.

Albert Adomah was also absent, having gone down with a stomach bug.

Saturday’s defeat was Rangers’ third in a row and fifth in six matches, resulting in them dropping to ninth in the table – and reports claiming that Warburton faces the sack.

Warburton was furious about the decision to award Fulham a penalty.

Rangers were beaten 2-0 at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, where Aleksandar Mitrovic put the visitors ahead and later doubled their lead from the spot after Lee Wallace was adjudged to have handled Williams’ cross.

Warburton said: “It was 1-0. We looked dangerous and had a lot of energy. Then we get that decision.

“The linesman didn’t give it. He’s not given the penalty. How is that given? We’ve been the recipient of some very bad decisions this season.

“We’ve received a number of apologies for bad decisions and I’m sure we’ll get another one. But that’s no good to us.

“At 2-0 it’s game over and sucks the life out of the game. Game dead. It kills our fans. So I’m more than frustrated by the decision.

“You have to be sure if you’re going to give a penalty in a game of that nature. Make sure you’re 100% sure. Are you 100% sure? His (Wallace’s) arm never left his side. I’m very frustrated by that decision.

“Why didn’t the linesman give it? That’s the question. He’s closer than us and if he puts his flag up you say ‘OK, I didn’t see it’.

“What does he (Wallace) do? He’s five or six yards away. If he puts his hand up to block it then we deserve to have a penalty against us. But I’m sorry, I can’t have that.”