QPR boss Julien Stephan says keeping calm in a crazy league is key

QPR head coach Julien Stephan felt a “calm” mindset was the key factor behind his side’s 3-1 victory at Hull.

Late goals from Daniel Bennie and Richard Kone earned the visitors three deserved points against the Tigers, who have now lost two Championship games on the bounce but remain in the play-offs.

Stephan, whose side had not won away from home since Blackburn on November 26 last year, said: “It was a great, creative performance.

“I was very proud of the players from the very beginning. They showed a lot of quality from kick-off.

“But the most important thing is that we stuck to the plan and kept calm.

“We were calm at half-time and then in the second half we had big, big chances to kill the game before we scored a third.

“We wanted to push after half-time and press more. We did that well and we also showed a lot of ambition to attack and to create dangers.”

QPR had a clear game plan from the outset – to soak up pressure and hit Hull on the counter-attack – and it was executed to perfection.

They opened the scoring after 21 minutes when Paddy McNair was credited with an own-goal off Harvey Vale’s wicked corner.

Hull equalised after 39 minutes when Joe Gelhardt seized upon Ronnie Edwards’ gaffe, but they did not deserve a thing against streetwise opponents.

Rangers made it 2-1 after 84 minutes when substitute Bennie struck from distance with his first touch of the game, after which Kone kept his cool with a neat finish in stoppage time.

Stephan said: “It is impossible to manage every moment, but I thought we managed the game very well after a difficult start.

“This is the beginning of a very busy week so to win at Hull City and get three points is a great start.

“The table doesn’t mean anything at this stage of the season. Now it’s a question of consistency and keeping calm and to hope we have no bad injuries.

“Let’s see how the table looks with three or four games remaining. This is not the main thing right now. The main thing is how we reacted after a bad performance at home to Blackburn.

“It’s a crazy league –  everybody can beat everybody – but it’s about adapting to circumstances.”

Counterpart Sergej Jakirovic felt Hull gifted QPR three points through individual errors.

He said: “This was a bad game for us, but that’s football.

“We started very well and had control, but their first goal was unacceptable as we prepared all week for corners.

“After 80 minutes I was very angry and it was unbelievable that we conceded a goal from a throw-in.

“After they scored a second goal, we lost everything – balance, discipline, everything. We gave them three goals and they could have scored more.”

Jakirovic added: “It was not easy because of the pitch but we put ourselves under pressure by playing backwards all the time.

“I don’t know why that happened but now we must find a way to change. I must also find a way.

“We must be smarter – after 80 minutes it was 1-1 – but everyone can see that the players coming back from injury cannot find a rhythm.

“Congratulations to them, but it’s very disappointing. I believe we must all take responsibility – me and the players.”