QPR head coach Michael Beale accepts his team will need to show more in attack this season after beginning the new campaign with a 1-0 loss at Blackburn Rovers. 

A tight game at Ewood Park was settled by a stunning long-range goal by Blackburn captain Lewis Travis during the first half. 

The fine margins of the game were summed up by what was arguably an even better strike by Hoops defender Osman Kakay hitting the top of the bar while the score remained blank. 

While some other chances were created by Beale’s side in the 41-year-old’s first competitive match in charge, they were unable to test Blackburn goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski often enough. 

Beale said: “They [Blackburn] had very few chances, and I think their front four are as good as most teams in the league. 

“I think they’re a good front four, but we were comfortable. I thought we got the ball back well, we had passages of play that were really good. 

“We looked a little bit toothless in the final third. It’s nothing none of us don’t know.” 

QPR lacking ideas up front was not helped by Chris Willock having to withdraw from the squad in the build-up to the game, after only recently returned to full training from the serious hamstring injury that curtailed his 2021/22 campaign. 

“Unfortunately, it looked like Chris was going to be available this weekend and then he had a sickness bug on Thursday, which led into Friday,” Beale said. 

“So, no risk because we didn’t want it to spread and also he’ll be fitter for the training and we know that Luke [Amos] and Taylor [Richards], when he’s up to full fitness, and obviously Tyler [Roberts] will give us more options in the final third. 

“Then that competition will force people to hopefully produce, but in terms of the general shape and the ideas we’ve been working on in pre-season, I thought it was a strong enough performance. 

“I thought at the end we had the chance and if we had taken it, we would have gone home with a point and if their ‘keeper hadn’t made a fantastic save we’d have been in front.” 

That chance at the end Beale referred to fell for 19-year-old Irish striker Sinclair Armstrong, who made his senior debut off the bench, but he was unable to get his shot away after Kakay’s cross had fallen to him on the far post. 

Beale defended the youngster, saying: “Sinclair will probably have a sleepness night over it, but he shouldn’t because he’s a young boy coming on. 

“He’s the one we’d expect the least from because he’s a young boy making his debut, but we do feel he’s got a bright future ahead so no finger pointing towards him. 

“I think he’s a got a bright future and I thought he came on and had a good impact, for a young boy.”