Wilder – we made it far too easy for them
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Chris Wilder was both frustrated with his side's first-half performance, while annoyed at the officiating display he felt contributed to it, as his side slipped to their first defeat of the season.
Boro lost 3-2 at Loftus Road after falling 3-0 behind inside 38 minutes.
With his side sloppy and inviting pressure on themselves, the home side were ruthless in racing into a healthy lead that ultimately meant goals from Matt Crooks and Marcus Forss proved fruitless as Boro left the capital empty-handed.
With Wilder feeling many decisions went against his side such as fouls on Isaiah Jones throughout, a perceived foul on goalkeeper Zack Steffen leading to the second goal, and a penalty call for handball that was waved away, the Boro boss was also hugely critical of the referee too.
He said after: “First of all, congratulations to Michael [Beale] getting his first win as QPR manager. But it was charity from our point of view.
“When you give good players a handout, which we did, aided by some ridiculous refereeing decisions, it's always going to be a difficult afternoon for you.
“The first one they'll look at as a good goal, but we've had a couple of opportunities to stop it at the source.
“We gave the ball away cheaply and then missed the opportunity to make the tackle, with a good player then whacking it into the top corner. The second one I think is ridiculous.
“The comment to one of my staff members from the referee is that the goalkeeper has to be stronger.
“The referee doesn't have an opinion in terms of coaching or what the goalkeeper needs to do.
“He's facing towards the corner and someone behind him sticks an arm in his back and pushes him and I don't see how the goalkeeper needs to be stronger because he's not seen someone from behind push him.
“And then the third goal we've just obviously not defended well enough.
“We have a
structure about our play in and out of possession but there are times where oneon-one natural defending has to be present but it wasn't and it made it far too easier for the likes of Willock, Chair, Dykes and Amos.
“They're good players and very easily they're 3-0 up, first game of the season, sun shining in West London, punters are buzzing... it's a difficult afternoon.
Looking more insular at his own side's performances overall, Wilder added: “It's pretty simple.
“We weren't aggressive enough, we weren't competitive enough and we didn't get out of the blocks like they did.
“When you go one-nil down, and then two and then three, you get what you deserve.”
Poor for the second goal as he completely misjudged the flight of the corner. Some other shaky moments too.
Guilty of giving ball away in build-up to all three goals, while offering nothing in attack. A forgettable afternoon for Boro’s star man.
Finishes the game with a goal and assist, but was another player guilty of being sloppy on the ball at times in the first half.
Struggled at times with the pace of the game as Boro gave possession away cheaply. Led by example with the second-half fightback.
Didn’t offer enough in the midfield and gave the ball away cheaply too often. Unfortunate not to score an equaliser.
Another positive display. Delivery for the first goal was superb and was unlucky not to finish with more assists.
Didn’t offer much up top in the first half. Good movement to get in to score his first for the club.
Struggled to have any impact as Boro struggled to work it up to him. Chased down a lost cause to create a chance for Forss.