Head coach Michael Beale praised the galvanising effect Chris Willock had on QPR’s attack after his goalscoring return in Saturday’s 3-2 win against Middlesbrough.

Willock took just 12 minutes of his first start after five months out with a hamstring tear to break the deadlock for the Hoops with a stunning long-range strike that seemed to visibly boost the confidence of his team-mates. 

They were certainly far more potent than in their opening-day defeat at Blackburn Rovers and found themselves 3-0 up after 38 minutes against opponents who are expected to challenge for promotion this season. 

Although Middlesbrough pulled two goals back to set nerves jangling inside the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, QPR held on to give Beale his first victory in charge. 

Beale said: “Obviously it was a really pleasing 30 minutes. We scored some really good goals – obviously Chris’ was fantastic and that’s what he brings. 

“I don’t think people realise when you lose someone like him, and Tyler Roberts and attacking players, the impact it has on the rest of the team to go on and score goals. 

“Having him back today – he probably played about 15 minutes more than what he was allowed to, but we needed him and I thought he was excellent. 

“He brings the best out of other players in the team as well and it was a wonderful goal, wasn’t it?"  

Scoring twice from set-pieces, from Jimmy Dunne and Lyndon Dykes, was something else that pleased Beale, who brought Harry Watling into his coaching staff to help with that side of the game. 

The 41-year-old believes it will take time for all of his staff’s ideas to be taken on board by his players and was at pains to point out the Hoops have also conceded from set-pieces in both of their games this season. 

Beale said: “He [Watling] is a fantastic coach in general, not just a set-play coach – that’s something new he’s adding to his repertoire. 

“I trust him 100 per cent, I think he’s very talented [but] he’s 2-2. I reminded him at the end that we’ve conceded from one today and last week. 

“It’s still an area we need to improve on, but it was vital in today’s game and Harry knows what I think of him, and the same goes for Damian [Matthew] and Neil [Banfield]. 

“The backroom staff have been brilliant since I’ve been here. There’s been a lot of change at this club in a short period of time, a lot of new ideas and that takes time to sink in. 

“But if we can play that well against a Middlesbrough team who I expect to be up there, then we can beat everyone.”