Queens Park Rangers boss Mark Warburton admits there wasn’t much time to enjoy Wednesday’s dramatic win over Derby with a weekend trip to Blackburn Rovers quickly looming large.
Macaulay Bonne’s late strike at Pride Park secured the Hoops’ second victory in succession – and third of the 2020/21 campaign – following a 3-2 win over Cardiff that came courtesy of an injury-time Dominic Ball winner.
The games are coming thick and fast with the season now in full swing, and Warburton’s charges head up north on Saturday seeking a first win at Ewood Park since 1999.
Sitting two points below Rangers in the Championship table, Blackburn enjoyed a fast start with 5-0 and 4-0 wins in their first three games, but they have only won one of their last four league clashes.
With dangerous attacking options such as Adam Armstrong, Sam Gallagher and Lewis Holtby within their ranks, Warburton insists his team will need to be fully at the races to earn the all-important three points ahead of the international break.
“It was very pleasing to get back-to-back wins during the week. It was an important three points, but our attention has quickly turned to Blackburn Rovers,” the 58-year-old said.
“We know we face a really talented squad, and it’s going to be another tough game. They create chances, they move the ball well, they’ll want to dominate possession and they’re very good at home.
“They started the season on fire and they’ve got some real attacking talent, so we have to work hard and prepare well for the game to deliver a level of performance we know we’re capable of.”
💪 Chair's 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 challenge
— QPR FC (@QPR) November 5, 2020
💫 Dickie's 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭 cross
☄️ Bonne's 𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘵 header
𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲-𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 🔥#DERQPR pic.twitter.com/bZldEzyNv0
While the last-gasp manner of QPR’s recent wins has done nothing for Warburton’s nerves, the former Brentford manager believes it serves as an example of his team’s impressive fitness levels and never-say-die attitude.
As a third game in a week edges ever nearer he explains squad rotation could come into play against Blackburn, but he has full confidence that any player called upon will deliver the desired level of performance.
Warburton added: “The fitness is really good, we’re finishing games strongly and individual distances covered and high-speed runs are very high. We’re in a good place right now.
“You need that, though, the league is so demanding and relentless, and that won’t change going forward.
“We’ve got energy, we’ve got some options and we’ll wait and see who we go with. Whoever we start with we have full confidence and belief in. It’s a tight squad, a good squad and everyone’s eager to play.”
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