Missed chances cost QPR, says Warburton

QPR manager Mark Warburton felt his team paid the price for failing to take two early chances against Barnsley.

Rangers were beaten 3-1 by a Tykes side whose sixth consecutive win took them into the play-off places.

After Charlie Austin’s equaliser cancelled out Daryl Dike’s opener, Alex Mowatt restored Barnsley’s lead with a superb free-kick and a routine ball over the top led to Carlton Morris scoring just after coming on as a substitute.

The result might have been very different had Austin or Lyndon Dykes scored when the game was goalless.

Austin fired over after being set up by Stefan Johansen, and Dykes was unable to put away Todd Kane’s cross.

“Barnsley are very good at what they do. They’re direct, commit bodies forward and take risks at the back,” Warburton said.

“We had to time our runs and not play to their strengths. In the first 10 minutes we did that and created a couple of great chances. We’ve got to get our rewards.

“We’ve got to be better in front of goal. If you give away set pieces and don’t take your own rewards, you pay the price.

“If you score the goal it changes the game because the opponent then have to come out and attack and we’d have space and are a team that likes to move the ball.”

The manner of Barnsley’s all-important third goal also frustrated Warburton.

Rangers were pushing for an equaliser when they were caught out by Mowatt’s long ball.

Warburton said: “At 2-1 down we’ve got to be patient, make sure we impose ourselves on the game and don’t play to their strengths.

“To then give away a goal like that – we’re attacking down the left and then don’t get into shape – is criminal.”