Stoke feel the squeeze at Loftus Road

Mark Robins said it was "the worst we've played this season" and held to the high standards they have set over the past couple of months he certainly had a point.

Stoke just could not find the quality on the ball, intensity or incisiveness they have shown this season but despite the sub-par performance they could have still taken a point.

Million Manhoef missed an absolute sitter from close range with a second-half header that cleared the bar which almost loomed over him and Aaron Cresswell had a late shot cleared off the line.

In the end, QPR edged it in terms of overall performance and missed a couple of chances of their own in addition to the goal they scored but frustratingly, they were not that much better than a Stoke team stuck in second gear.

Loftus Road is compact and the pitch is small and a Potters side that likes to stretch the play horizontally as well as vertically never really seemed to get to grips with the narrowness of the field and the lack of space that caused.

Rangers allowed the Stoke centre-backs to keep possession without pressure but any pass into midfield was a trigger to press and they used the whitewash as an extra defender, closing down really effectively and forcing Stoke backwards with too much regularity.

Stoke misplaced too many passes when they did find space, made one or two poor decisions in the final third and generally looked like their sharpness had been dulled.

Robins made the point that they've lost two 12:30 kick-offs this season and was keen to point out that they can't "allow that to become a thing".

The manager was "disappointed" and the squad has good depth so it may be that some of those players who have been patiently waiting for a chance while the team has been winning sense an opportunity when Norwich visit the Bet365 next time out.