Queens Park Rangers manager Julien Stephan has outlined the positives and negatives from his side's 2-1 Championship victory over Blackburn Rovers. The win came after Ryoya Morishita had given Rovers the lead at Loftus Road, only for the hosts to equalise within a minute and later secure all three points.
What did Julien Stephan say about the performance?
Speaking after the match, the QPR boss gave a detailed assessment of his team's display. He was pleased with the start. "I think we started well. The first 15-20 minutes, it was under control," Stephan said. He expanded on this, noting that his players executed their game plan effectively in the opening phase. "We played good football, good position, (were) quite dominant on the pitch."
However, Stephan identified a clear dip in the latter stages of the first half. He felt the quality and intensity dropped for the final twenty minutes before the interval. This allowed Blackburn to grow into the contest and set the stage for their second-half opener.
How did QPR respond to going behind?
The beginning of the second period brought a setback for the home side. Morishita found the net with what Stephan described as a "top, top goal" to put Blackburn Rovers ahead. The manager's focus, however, was squarely on his own team's immediate reaction. He stated he enjoyed the players' response after conceding. QPR's equaliser came swiftly, within sixty seconds of falling behind, completely shifting the momentum of the match.
Stephan praised the overall mentality shown by his squad to turn the game around. He believed the performance after the equaliser warranted more goals. The QPR boss said his team scored twice but could have had three or four on another day. This attacking output helped secure a valuable three points.
What does the result mean for Blackburn Rovers?
This defeat forms part of a mixed start to the season for Blackburn Rovers, who sit 10th in the Championship table with four points from three games. Their record shows one win, one draw, and one loss, with a recent form sequence of loss, win, draw. Jon Dahl Tomasson's side has scored five goals and conceded five, leaving them with a neutral goal difference. They currently trail early leaders Charlton Athletic by five points in the title race.
The loss in West London is a setback as Rovers prepare for their next Championship fixture, an away trip to face Lincoln City on September 1st. Lincoln are currently 17th in the table. Blackburn will also be managing some injury concerns, with Lewis Miller, Mathias Jørgensen, and Yuki Ohashi all currently sidelined. Fans can track the team's availability on our injuries page.
What must QPR improve according to their manager?
Despite the victory, Julien Stephan was clear about an area requiring development. He pointed out that his team needs to learn how to kill a game when leading, specifically referencing the 2-1 advantage they held. Stephan explained that mastering this skill is what separates good teams from very good ones. Closing out matches more effectively will be a key focus moving forward.
The win provides QPR with a boost, but for Blackburn Rovers, attention turns quickly to the next challenge. The squad will need to regroup and find consistency as they aim to climb the standings. Their upcoming schedule, which you can view on our fixtures page, offers an immediate chance for a response on the road.
