Middlesbrough 0 Queens Park Rangers 1 - Neil Warnock left rue missed chances - again

In contrast, Hugill’s first-half winner took QPR nine points clear of the relegation zone with five games remaining and ensured there will be no nervy end to the season at Loftus Road.

This was another bad result for Boro, who lost at relegation rivals Hull City on Thursday, when Warnock was also critical of his side’s inability to convert their chances at the Riverside.

Having former Leeds United defender replaced Jonathan Woodgate at the end of last month, Warnock remains confident his new side can clamber to safety – despite this defeat dropping them into the bottom three.

However, he accepts they will have to discover a goal threat in their final five games.

Warnock said: “We didn’t put it in the net, it’s as simple as that. I can’t fault their effort. It’s disappointing to concede a goal in the manner we did, but that’s life, and we can’t take our chances.

“I think we had twice as many shots as they had, but we just need something to drop for us. I don’t think we’ve had anything to drop for us in the last few games. I think that’s what we need at the moment.

“I look at the lads and I can’t fault the effort they’ve put in. They haven’t got to get too down. It’s hard, but as I’ve said to them they’re very fortunate to be footballers at a club like this and they have to fight tooth and nail.

“I did think they did that in the second half, I just thought they made wrong decisions here and there, and a couple of things could have gone for us in the box which didn’t.”

Mark Warburton was delighted to see his QPR side all but guarantee their safety.

The London side had wobbled in their first three matches of the resumption, suffering three successive defeats, but Hugill’s long-range strike stopped the rot.

Warburton said: “We all know what the Championship is like. I’ve always said, you win three or four in a row and you can be knocking on the door (for promotion), but then you lose three or four in a row and suddenly you’re getting shouts about relegation.

“That’s the nature of the Championship, and we really wanted that win. We thought we played really well and deserved to get something out of Tuesday’s game against Fulham, but we didn’t through missing chances and whatever else. But we’ve come here to a tough venue and got a well-deserved and important three points.”

Hugill injured his hamstring in the act of scoring his winner and, having been born and bred on Teesside, Warburton accepts the striker will have had mixed emotions at the final whistle.

He said: “I’m sure it’s difficult for him. It’s his hometown club and he’s a big Boro fan. It’s difficult when he scores the goal, but without being rude to Middlesbrough, he plays for QPR now. We pay his wages and it’s important he performs for QPR.

“He’s done that all season, and he’s done it again today. I’m sure it was mixed emotions for him after the whistle, but when you’re an athlete, you get on with the game.”

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