QPR handed injury blow ahead of Leeds United trip amid referee frustration
QPR handed injury blow ahead of Leeds United trip amid referee frustration
Queen Park Rangers take a trip up the M1 this week for a Wednesday night clash against Leeds United this week and are set to be without one of their defensive mainstays
Queen Park Rangers boss Gareth Ainsworth says the potential loss of Morgan Fox to injury ahead of his side’s trip to Leeds United on Wednesday evening is ‘difficult’. Fox has been an ever-present in QPR’s defence this season, but limped off five minutes into his side’s 3-1 defeat by Coventry City at the weekend.
That made it four games without a win for Ainsworth’s side, with the injury to the former Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City left-back top of a laundry list of complaints that the Hoops’ boss had following the Loftus Road defeat. QPR will begin the midweek fixtures sitting 22nd on the Championship table and it looks like they will have to make do without the 30-year-old at Elland Road.
“It was difficult to lose Morgan,” Ainsworth said following Saturday’s match. “He’s been an outstanding performer in defence. But it’s opportunities for other people now.
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“He landed funny on his knee and we’re going to look at that, but I don’t envisage he’ll be back for this week. We’ll have to be careful with that one.”
Fox is currently the only injury worry facing Ainsworth, with former Chelsea prospect Jake Clarke-Salter having replaced him at the weekend, while fit-again Jimmy Dunne and summer signing Reggie Cannon also options to come in when QPR face a Leeds United side licking their wounds after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Southampton. Ainsworth, however, had more to say about his side’s latest defeat, bemoaning refereeing decisions and his side’s poor form at home.
Ainsworth took umbrage at two key decisions against the Sky Blues. “The officiating today, in my opinion, wasn’t good enough for the Championship,” he added. ”
There was an offside goal and an absolute stonewall penalty. I’ve been in to see the officials and they know (the decisions were wrong).
“They’ve almost apologised and that’s great, but that doesn’t change the result. I’m gutted at my lads seeming to collapse.
“Maybe the offside goal really dented them, but we were then wide open on two counter-attacks for the other two goals. But at 2-0, Sinclair’s penalty is a stonewaller and if that gets us back in the game then I think we go on and get something.”
QPR’s home form is also concerning the Hoops boss, with the club having picked up just one point at Loftus Road from their four matches there so far this term.
“I’m not stupid – a 3-1 defeat at home is not good enough. I’m sure the haters will be out there loving this one, but there’s a bit more of a story to it,” Ainsworth continued. “But we’ve got to be better at home. We’ve got to put away the chances that we had in the first half.
“We were the better team in the first half and for all the world I didn’t see that coming in the second half. But we have to test their keeper more.
“We haven’t looked threatening enough. After all the territory and all the possession we must be better than that going forward.
“We didn’t take our chances and that was the story of the game, although the officials played a big part too.”
The Rs do have a better record on the road this season as they prepare to head up the M1 for the Wednesday night clash, claiming seven points from five away fixtures so far.
