QPR boss Mark Warburton has urged his side to show the same character from the midweek draw with Norwich when they travel to Kenilworth Road to face Luton on Saturday. 

Bright Osayi-Samuel’s penalty six minutes from time earned the Rs a point at Carrow Road, after the Canaries had taken the lead from a Teemu Pukki spot-kick nine minutes earlier. 

It was a well-earned point for Rangers against the league leaders, although it sees their run of league matches without a win extend to nine, with their last victory in the Championship all the way back in November. 

Sitting just five points above the relegation places, Warburton is well aware that his side need to start getting points on the board soon, and believes the confidence gained from the point in Norfolk can help them heading into the weekend. 

“Now we face Luton – it’s another tough challenge but we’re looking forward to it. It’s time to work hard once more ahead of the weekend,” the QPR manager said. 

“The boys responded really well – they showed real character, quality and desire. They earned the equaliser and in truth could have won it at the death with the best chance of the game.

“The players deserve a lot of credit and stuck to the game-plan. They worked tirelessly throughout the 90 minutes.

“The shape was good. A lot of work has gone into that and it was nice to see the end result. The boys deserved at least a point.”

 

QPR have picked up just four points from a possible 27 heading into the weekend, which has seen them slide down the table at an alarming rate, and head into the new year looking desperately over their shoulder at the relegation trapdoor. 

With just five goals in those winless nine games, it is obvious where the problem lies at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, with their inability to find the net proving costly over the season. 

Osayi-Samuel’s spot-kick on Tuesday night was just the third time the winger had scored this season, with the 23-year-old the subject of transfer speculation as the January transfer window approaches.

But the joy of rescuing a point for his side was swiftly negated by a torrent of racial abuse aimed towards the former Blackpool man on social media after the match, which the club acted quickly to condemn. 

“This type of abuse on social media is too commonplace and has to stop,” QPR Director of Football Les Ferdinand said.

“In a society that now rightly places greater importance on mental wellbeing than ever before, how can people be able to set up anonymous social media accounts?

“This will continue and continue until we stop it from being possible.

“I believe governing bodies across sport – not just football – need to come together to create a powerful voice which calls for social media platforms to change their stance.”