Neil Critchley insisted he is still the right man for the QPR job after Sunderland's 3-0 win at Loftus Road heaped yet more pressure on the under-fire head coach. Two late goals from Jack Clarke, added to a first-half strike from Luke O'Nien, gave the Black Cats all three points and lifted them up to fifth place in the table, while QPR - who had seen a penalty saved by Anthony Patterson when the score was still 1-0 - were booed off by their own fans.
Critchley has won just one of his 11 games since taking charge in December and, more broadly, they have won only one of their last 17 games in all competitions. They sat at the top of the Championship in October, but have now slipped to 17th place - albeit they are ten points clear of the relegation zone.
Asked whether he was the right man for the job, Critchley said: "I believe I am, yes. I believe in my own ability to get the best out of this group of players.
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"I didn't see a team that wasn't together or fighting [against Sunderland]. I saw the players having a go. But it's mistakes that are killing us. Sloppy goals are killing us. I didn't see a team that had given up or lacked heart or desire."
QPR's decline began under previous boss Michael Beale before he left to take over at Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers, but Critchley has so far been unable to turn things around. He said: "I'd be lying if I said I was enjoying the situation and the run we're on.
"But you know what you sign up for when you take the job as a manager. It's a tough moment but you have to roll your sleeves up and fight.
"If you ask any coach what they need, it's always time. I know what I want to do and how I want to do it. I have to find a way to get the best out of these players."
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