GARETH Ainsworth couldn’t speak highly enough about QPR’s effort despite going down to yet another defeat at Southampton yesterday.
The Hoops fell behind on the half hour when Asmir Begovic failed to keep out Sam Edozie’s shot.
Saints’ advantage proved short lived as the Londoners drew level just two minutes later thanks to a well-struck Jack Colback volley from outside the box which went in off the post.
But despite an impressive display against a side recently relegated from the Premier League, QPR ultimately went home with nothing to show for their endeavour after Adam Armstrong volleyed in a 64th minute winner.
That makes it three defeats from four games but the manager was keen to dispel the notion his side were in freefall, pointing out the main recurring problem is their inability to convert opportunities.
Ainsworth told QPR TV: “Commitment, heart, courage – you can’t train those. I’ve got a group who will give everything.
“They’ve emptied the tank again today, the fans as well – absolutely fantastic.
“It is a very similar interview to last week (v Ipswich) – we’ve got to take our chances.
“We created more than most teams will create here. We’ve outshot Southampton on target, we soaked a lot of pressure up but they didn’t hurt us apart from their moments.
“They took their moments again and that’s the difference today. I’m really pleased.
“Fans – please keep getting behind the boys like you do because they are emptying everything.
“They are giving everything and that is what everyone always wanted.”
Ainsworth added: “We are a good side and I’ve just told the boys that.
“I’ve said if you start taking your chances, which by the way is something we can work on in training.
“Like I say, I can’t put heart in people, I can’t make people empty the tank – that is in them and I’ve got the right players to do that.
“But we can work on taking our chances. We haven’t hit the right areas of the goal for me, we’ve got to start being better at finishing.
“That was the difference today, it really was because we were sensational, we really were.
“People will be looking at this and thinking if you weren’t at the game ‘2-1 – QPR got beat again’.
“Please speak to people who were at the game because at the match they (the fans) were superb giving all the praise to the players who deserved something out of today.”
Next up for QPR is another away trip on Saturday at Middlesbrough.
