WAGNER ADMITS: WE WERE LUCKY!
Terriers hold off late R’s fightback
DAVID Wagner believes Huddersfield were lucky to leave Loftus Road with three points after they held off a QPR fightback to secure a valuable win in the promotion race.
Isaiah Brown put Huddersfield on course for the victory as he scored for the second successive match in the 26th minute with a near-post finish.
Nahki Wells then doubled the lead 11 minutes later, as he finished off a flowing move by finding the bottom corner with an unstoppable drive.
QPR pulled one back on the hour through substitute Luke Freeman’s impressive strike but Town managed to hang on to seal a fourth successive win.
Wagner said: “We weren’t at our best in terms of our fighting and working attitude and how we defended as a group, so we were very lucky to leave with the win.
“QPR were very aggressive and created some good moments on the wings.
“Danny Ward (goalkeeper) was the best player on the pitch and this says everything about the game.
“We got three lucky points but three points are three points. This is a tough place to go and we are so happy that we have the points and we should not forget we scored two wonderful goals.
“QPR should have got something out of the game but it doesn’t change that we have the points.”
The Terriers started with real intent and it was Brown who tested ex-Huddersfield keeper Alex Smithies with only 17 seconds on the clock.
QPR fought back into the contest and were unlucky not to take the lead as Danny Ward pushed Conor Washington’s effort onto the post.
Wagner’s team then produced a devastating suckerpunch with Wells picking out Brown in the area for an easy finish beyond Smithies at the near post.
Huddersfield then doubled the lead in their next attack with Wells collecting Elias Kachunga’s pass before finding the bottom corner.
QPR introduced Freeman and Kazenga LuaLua from the bench and the changes breathed new life into the hosts with Freeman halving the deficit as he fired high into the top corner from 18 yards. Ward then produced the save of the game as he tipped over Smith’s effort in the 70th minute to deny the forward a goal on his home debut.
And boss Ian Holloway feels QPR need to be more clinical in front of goal if they are to get back to winning ways, following a third defeat in four games.
Rangers had a number of chances to take the lead before Brown struck and the manager believes his team aren’t getting what their displays deserve.
“We did more than enough to score because we created three or four good chances before they scored,” said Holloway. “But unfortunately almost out of nothing they’ve scored and before you know it you’re 2-0 down.
“We had a mountain to climb but we changed our shape in the second half and we threw everything at them.
“I can’t fault the team’s effort but we’ve just got to get that belief and get the first goal.
“It’s very unusual to have lost the last two games like we have and played so well.
“This league is all about taking your chances and we’ve created more than enough to score at least three, but we haven’t.”