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MARK Warburton is looking for a reaction from his players following back-to-back defeats when QPR host Wigan on Saturday.
The R’s have produced some excellent football in all four of their league games this season, a fact best demonstrated by the players being applauded off the pitch following recent losses against Bristol City and Swansea.
The appreciation from the supporters certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed by Warburton – and he wants to see those fans rewarded with all three points this weekend.
As he looks ahead to the visit of the Latics, Warburton told www.qpr.co.uk: “I will never take for granted seeing the fans applaud the players off the pitch.
“It means a lot to the players and is a huge boost for them.
“The fans have to see the team give 100 per cent effort. I hope that doesn’t come across as a blasé or throwaway comment because it is a very genuine one. They have to see the team trying to play a certain way. They have to see the team create and entertain.
“We will never forget it’s a results industry but it is an entertainment industry as well.”
Rangers certainly entertained against Swansea on Wednesday but were left with nothing to show for their efforts.
Reflecting on the 3-1 defeat to one of the Championship’s early pacesetters, Warburton said: “We delivered a good performance in the second half, we were on the front foot and then we gave away a soft goal, an unnecessary goal.
“There is frustration from that and anger, but we have to channel that and recognise what is needed at this level to get the points.
“I have been pleased with the performances. In all four games we have delivered a good level of performance but you have to get your rewards.
“We can’t gift the opposition soft goals. Nobody is gifting us goals so we have to defend with a real passion and attack with purpose.”
Wigan made an impressive start to the season with an opening-day win over Cardiff City.
Since then, however, they have lost four successive games in all competitions. Despite that, Warburton knows his side will face a difficult challenge from Paul Cook’s men who lost 1-0 on their last outing at Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.
“They are a good team,” Warburton said. “They have had some injuries. I watched the Middlesbrough game and they posed some real problems, particularly towards the end of the game.
“There is no doubt they will come here with a real desire to correct their results. We will have to be ready, prepared and deliver a good performance.”
Luke Amos (hamstring) will be assessed in the lead up to kick off while Lee Wallace (hip) continues to build his fitness having recently returned to full training.
Olamide Shodipo (knee) remains out.
