SI SLAMS HIS CRITICS

“People do tend to get a jittery when you lose the first three games. The critics have been answered.

“If you lose a couple of games midway through the season no one cares, but lose at the start of the season and people think the world’s going to end.

“I said before that I didn’t think we were a million miles away. We were off the pace in the last three games but that was more like us.

“The players have been disappointed with the results, performances and the criticism, and they felt they had a point to prove.”

Rangers rallied in the second half but Preston were worthy winners and always looked a threat on the break.

“From start to finish we were good in all departments. It was a decent performance,” said Grayson, whose team were beaten at home by Derby on Tuesday.

“To limit a team like QPR to just a couple of chances – and we could have scored more goals – showed how good we were.” QPR boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink felt tiredness was a factor in his side ’s below-par display.

It was a second Possession 56% 44% Shots On Target 3 2 Shots Off Target 3 7 Blocked Shots 4 1 Corners 10 5 Fouls Conceded 8 11 Offsides 3 11 Yellow Cards 1 2 Red Cards 0 0 successive defeat for the west London team, who lost at Barnsley on Wednesday.

“We looked second best and couldn’t get going,” said Hasselbaink.

“You have to give Preston credit. They did well, put us on the back foot and we looked flat.

“We looked like we had 24 hours less to recover. It looked a big ask. When you have a big squad it doesn’t matter, but when you don’t then it does.”

He added: “As a group, we expected more and wanted more – but couldn’t deliver.”