Bolton Wanderers took all three points away from Loftus Road in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from Will Buckley and Callum Connolly were the difference in this clash, cancelling out QPR striker Nahki Wells’ effort in a 2-1 victory for Phil Parkinson’s men.
When speaking to bwfc.co.uk after the final whistle, the gaffer covered these topics…
On his assessment of the victory…
Obviously very pleased with the win.
We restored some pride today after the defeat a couple of weeks ago and it has been a long two weeks waiting for this game to come round.
But come three o’clock this afternoon, the mentality of the players and concentration levels were exactly were they needed to be.
It is an excellent victory and an important one because we spoke to the lads on Thursday about all that is going on off the pitch, we need to concentrate on playing well in this fixture.
We needed to lift the morale of everyone at the training ground and club in general and we did that today.
On a perfect response following the defeat to Wigan last time out…
It needed to be a better performance and we were tighter as a team today.
We put Gaz O’Neil in to bolster the midfield up and he was excellent.
All round, there was a better balance in the side today and we looked a real threat.
At 1-0, we had two incredible chances to extend the lead as we’ve hit the bar and a ball flash across the six yard area.
We were waiting for that second goal and Callum has popped up with a cool finish.
Obviously QPR got one back but when you are bringing on players like Matt Smith and Nahki Wells, you are always going to be capable of getting a goal back.
It was a huge lift for us today.
On everyone putting in a superb performance…
We said to the lads before the game and during the week about that consistency level during games.
It is very hard to win a game of football if we go away from the game and three or four players have been below par.
You need everyone at that seven out of ten mark at least, with a few hopefully going above and beyond that.
I felt the consistency of all the performances out there was very good.
On Remi Matthews response today…
I thought he made some good saves today Remi.
In all honesty, before the Wigan game, he has been excellent for us and make some great saves.
It was a tough call whether to start Remi or Ben today, but we felt Ben needs a little more training and thus, Remi got the nod.
He responded well.
On the terrific away support throughout the clash…
I thought the supporters were simply fantastic today, right from the first minute.
I was so pleased for them because I was pleasantly surprised with how many people made the trip.
I am very pleased for every single one of them.
On the mood in the camp after that fixture…
The lads are pleased but not ecstatic.
It is a job done and we put in a professional performance of togetherness and I feel we’ve done that.
Now, as a group, this week in training we have to set out and do this again and take it into Saturday’s game.
On today’s result and what it does for the rest of the season…
It reduces the gap but when we had a chat with the lads, I said I want to almost block that out for now.
I want them to go out there and put it creditable performances and that is what we have done today.
It is a building block and with seven games to go, we will keep going as professionally as we can.
Hopefully next week, we will give ourselves a chance of getting another three points.