Ainsworth - Tuesday Took Its Toll

QPR caretaker boss Gareth Ainsworth has admitted that his side suffered a slight hangover from the demanding victory against Birmingham City midweek.

Rangers played the majority of the game with ten men, managing to defeat Birmingham City 1-0 in an energy sapping display, and Ainsworth believes that may have contributed to Rangers downfall against Ipswich:

'Playing for 45 minutes with ten men on Tuesday, in atrocious conditions, probably caught up with us a bit in the second half,' Ainsworth told QPR.co.uk

'That's not making excuses - it's an honest appraisal. We looked a bit leggy late on and they took full advantage.'

Despite his side looking physically drained by the end, Ainsworth feels that Rangers should have been out of sight before the break:

'I don't think anyone here would have had any complaints if we'd have been a goal or two to the good at the break,'

'Richard Wright made an unbelievable save from Martin Rowlands and Lee Cook hit the bar. Dani Parejo had a great free-kick saved too, so it wasn't as if we weren't creating chances.

'Unfortunately, the difference today was that we didn't take our chances and they did.'

Rangers three successive clean sheets came to an end courtesy of Jon Stead with both goals being scored from set-pieces, something that Gareth Ainsworth was not pleased with.

'We switched off from two set-pieces and that's disappointing.

'We pride ourselves on our defensive display and we paid the price for it today.'

Following a spate of rumours concerning his position with Roberto Mancini`s odds being slashed, Ainsworth was philosophical believing that he`d take the side into Saturday`s home fixture against Cardiff City having learnt from this defeat:

'I've had the full spectrum of emotions now.

'Of course I hate tasting defeat, as do all the lads, but in the cold light of day I'm sure I'll have learnt a lot from the experience.

'I'm proud to be Caretaker Manager of this Club and we'll go again on Saturday, looking to put today's result to the back of our minds.'

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