QPR 2 Barnsley 0: Barnsley will bounce back after enforced break, vows Flitcroft

Barnsley are bottom of the table and have lost all six of their away league matches this season.
Burnley's Charlie Austin.Burnley's Charlie Austin.
Burnley's Charlie Austin.

But Tykes manager David Flitcroft insists they are capable of improving results after the international break.

Rangers’ victory was secured by Charlie Austin’s two second-half goals and maintained their unbeaten record in the Championship.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Afterwards, Flitcroft said: “It was probably 20 or 30 seconds of us not doing what we wanted to do which cost us.

“You can’t give Charlie Austin two inches. We said before the game that we’d have to mark him because he’s a unique goalscorer at this level. Then Martin (Cranie) doesn’t have to tackle him there.

“We defended well as a team and limited them to two chances in the first half. We kept them at bay and kept their fans low, but that first goal really gave them energy and verve.

“There were a few tired performances in the last 20 minutes. We just ran out of legs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We’ve got to balance and shape this squad and find out who we’re going forward with. We have two weeks to assess things.

“We’ve got a plan to win football matches and we intend to have a really positive bounce-back after the international break.”

Assistant QPR chief Kevin Bond paid tribute to the players after they broke a club record by keeping an eighth consecutive clean sheet.

Yet another shut-out saw goalkeeper Rob Green make history and also means the Rs have still not conceded a goal with summer signing Richard Dunne in the team.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bond said: “It was important to us, late in the game when we appeared to be in control, to keep the run going. We didn’t want to give a goal away.

“It’s fantastic and it’s not just down to the obvious players like the defence and the goalkeeper. It’s testament to everyone really.”

Barnsley defended resolutely before substitute Junior Hoilett tricked his way towards the left-hand touchline and pulled the ball back for Austin, who netted from seven yards out.

Austin sealed the win with five minutes remaining when he slotted home from the penalty spot after being tripped by Cranie. It was the striker’s fifth goal in as many matches.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bond added: “In the end it was comfortable, but you’re always anxious I suppose until you get the breakthrough. I just felt we needed to increase the tempo of the game in the second half.”

Queens Park Rangers: Green, Simpson, Dunne, Hill, Assou-Ekotto, Barton, Carroll, O’Neil (Henry 81), Faurlin (Hoilett 62), Kranjcar (Chevanton 88), Austin. Unused substitutes: Traore, Jenas, Murphy, Ehmer.

Barnsley: Butland, Wiseman, Cranie, Ramage (Hassell 67), Kennedy, McCourt, Fox, Perkins, Mellis (Cywka 71), Scotland (Pedersen 54), O’Grady. Unused substitutes: O’Brien, Dawson, Etuhu, Noble-Lazarus.

Referee: D Phillips (West Sussex).

Man of the match: Charlie Austin.

Related topics: