Queens Park Rangers boss Mark Warburton has urged his players to stay patient in breaking down a resilient Birmingham City side when the two teams do battle on Saturday. 

The Rs go into the match at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on the back of a 2-0 defeat at home to Preston North End on Wednesday night, with the visitors profiting from a penalty either side of half time. 

Defeat to Alex Neil’s side means Rangers still haven’t tasted victory in the league since the opening day of the season, when a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest was enough to secure three points.  

Aitor Karanka’s visitors are on a similar run of form, with two defeats and three draws since a day one victory over Brentford, but with only four goals conceded in six games this season, Warburton knows his side will have to work hard to earn the win. 

“Patience is going to be key, we need to make sure we understand the gameplan, keep moving the ball, keep working them,” the QPR manager said.  

“A very good Norwich team found it very difficult to break down Birmingham City, it is going to be a very tough afternoon, we have to be very patient, we have to make sure we do our jobs and we have to do it with a real intensity and urgency. 

“Aitor sets his teams up to be very well organised. You look at their defenders, [George] Friend and Harlee Dean – who I know very well – and [Marc] Roberts physicality-wise. 

“You look at Scott Hogan’s potent finishing, [Maxime] Colin and [Kristian] Pedersen very good wing backs and they are very good at what they do. 

“They will be very well organised, hard to break down and will always pose a threat on the counter, so we have to be very resilient in our own box and make sure we pose an attacking threat.” 

Wednesday’s reverse means it is now two games without a goal for Rangers, who look to be missing the influence of summer departure Eberechi Eze and ex-loanee Jordan Hugill up front.  

The hosts failed to register a shot on target in midweek and struggled to get into the game, with the absence of Lyndon Dykes and Luke Amos through injury apparent throughout. 

Dykes could be intention for a return this weekend, after a knock picked up on International duty with Scotland, with Warburton scathing of his side’s attacking threat against the Lilywhites. 

“We didn’t look ruthless enough in front of goal on Wednesday night, Mac [Macauley Bonne] was a little bit isolated, we didn’t get bodies around him we have to make sure on Saturday we are far more potent in front of their goal. 

“There were positive aspects but we’ve got to be more ruthless, more clinical, move the ball quicker to pose a real goal threat. 

"It’s a manic period now, once every three days you have a game, you can’t feel sorry for yourself, you have to move on very quickly and recognise what we did wrong and how we can improve.”