Paul Hurst unhappy with Ipswich’s performance against QPR

Posted Sunday, October 21, 2018 by PA

Ipswich boss Paul Hurst bemoaned his side’s mistakes in the 2-0 home defeat by QPR.

A first-half own goal from goalkeeper Dean Gerken and a Tomer Hemed penalty – both resulting from QPR corners – sent Town to the foot of the Championship table.

The Tractor Boys, who remain winless at Portman Road, were booed off by the home support after the final whistle.

Hurst, who replaced Mick McCarthy as Town manager in the summer, said: “We weren’t good enough, that’s the bottom line.

“Not a good enough reaction overall to going behind made for a very disappointing afternoon.

“At the end of the day I’m the manager and we all know whoever’s the manager of the team gets criticised and I understand that, and can accept that.

“But those things, the mistakes, I’ve just said downstairs I’ve never been involved in a season – and we’re not even a third of the way through yet – when there’s been so many mistakes in that period of time.”

Speaking of the crowd’s reaction, Hurst said: “That was just mentioned in the dressing room downstairs that ultimately the lads who have been around a little bit know that the crowd is far from the worst they are going to play in front of.

“If you can’t play here then I think you’ll struggle pretty much anywhere because they [the fans] are willing the players to do well.

“You can look at the table and look at results but I don’t think we’ve been that bad that often.

“[It was] certainly the worst [performance] at home, and I think probably overall. All we had was a spell where we were better and could have quite easily got back into the game but I understand why there was frustration today, 100 per cent.”

QPR boss Steve McClaren believes there is more to come from his team following the win which moved them to 16th in the table.

“[It was] very professional,” he said. “That’s what we said at the beginning, this was an opportunity if we are professional and do our job, then we’ve got a chance of winning and that’s what we did right from the first whistle.

“[We] controlled the game, got the goals and saw the game through, clean sheet, two goals and should have been more.

“I think we’re slowly going forward with this team and I always thought we would do.

“The first four games were difficult but we made three very good loan signings, made a big difference to us and the rest of the team responded, they’ve come together, got a great spirit in the dressing room and that’s going out onto the field.

“We’re gaining in confidence, a little bit more belief but still a long way to go and still a lot more to come from this team.

“We’re not looking up, we’re not looking down, we’re looking at the next game and that’s Sheffield Wednesday – a tough one.”

McClaren said both his side’s goals highlighted the importance of set-pieces.

“How many games do you see at the weekend where the first goal or the most important goal is a set-play,” he said.

“You saw that in the World Cup with England and in this Championship, it’s very important.”