West Bromwich Albion 7-1 Queens Park Rangers: Steve McClaren shocked by 'unacceptable' loss
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Former England manager Steve McClaren suffered his worst defeat as a manager for more than 12 years
Queens Park Rangers manager Steve McClaren says his side's 7-1 loss at West Bromwich Albion was "unacceptable".
Rangers suffered their biggest defeat for more than 31 years and their defeat at The Hawthorns signalled their worst-ever start to a season.
Having gone in level at 1-1 at half-time, Rangers capitulated after the break, conceding six goals in under 40 minutes.
"I'm shocked, I couldn't believe the collapse," McClaren told BBC Radio 5 live after the defeat.
"It's unacceptable, we can't have that. It's unacceptable for the fans, it's unacceptable for the club and now we have to react on Tuesday."
He added: "After conceding the third goal it was too much of a collapse, too much of a shock for myself and it must have been for everyone else.
"Goals change games but we can't react like that, I've never seen that, it's unacceptable and we mustn't let that happen again."
The Baggies dominated throughout and took the lead when Matt Phillips slammed home from 10 yards, although Rangers came back almost straight away as Joel Lynch converted.
But West Brom took control after the break as Kieran Gibbs got his first Baggies goal and Jay Rodriguez scored two penalties, either side of Dwight Gayle's first goal for the club.
Phillips slotted home Hal Robson-Kanu's knockdown for 6-1, before the Welsh forward went from provider to scorer as he latched on to a James Morrison pass.
'Fragility of squad exposed'
The result was the biggest win by a Championship side so far this season and West Brom's biggest victory in more than three and a half years.
Rangers, who have dropped to the bottom of the table, have not conceded seven goals in a game since a 7-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in the top tier in May 1987.
Jay Rodriguez has scored four goals in his last two games for West Brom - three of them penalties
Albion, relegated from the Premier League last season, last scored seven when they beat non-league Gateshead 7-0 in the third round of the FA Cup in January 2015.
Former England boss McClaren, who took over at Loftus Road in the summer, has seen his side score just twice and concede 10 times in their first three Championship games.
QPR face a transfer embargo in January having agreed a settlement worth almost £42m with the EFL in July after breaking Financial Fair Play rules.
Rangers' goal came against the run of play and the game was put beyond them in a 14-minute spell which saw Gibbs and Gayle both open their Albion accounts - the former almost a year after joining from Arsenal for £7m.
McClaren has not suffered such a heavy defeat as a manager since Arsenal beat his Middlesbrough side 7-0 in a Premier League game, external on 14 January 2006 - during the season in which he led Boro to the Uefa Cup final.
"For me I suppose it's better to happen now than later on in the season where we can do something about it," McClaren added.
"I still think the squad needs strengthening. We're working tirelessly behind the scenes now the loan market is open.
"You've seen today the fragility of the squad was exposed and we need to toughen the players up and get them help as well."
'Ruthlessness' pleases Baggies boss Moore
West Bromwich Albion head coach Darren Moore: "At half-time I was happy with the performance and I thought they (Rangers) were hanging on. I told the boys to persevere and they did that.
"At the top end of the pitch we have got players who have the skill and attributes to put the ball in the back of the net. I thought there was a ruthlessness about them.
"We are trying to move in the right direction and that can only be good for us as a football club, but there is still a lot of hard work ahead."