Warburton wants an 'angry reaction' from his QPR side at Kenilworth Road

QPR boss Mark Warburton was expecting to see an ‘angry reaction’ from his players when they step out on the Kenilworth Road playing surface this evening.

The R’s go into their game with Luton on the back of a hugely disappointing 3-0 defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, to sit in 16th place, needing just one point to secure Championship football once more next term.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Warburton left his players in no uncertain terms about their duties after a fifth defeat from six since the season resumed once more.

He said: “We gave the ball away cheaply and we didn’t win our duels. I don’t think we had a shot in 90 minutes and this is a team that scores more goals than most.

“I will always defend our team but today, no. It was way below and there were some very clear messages relayed to the players afterwards.

“We have to respond now on Tuesday against Luton.

“I am expecting an angry reaction.

“Have no doubt about the players’ character – that will really hurt them.

“We are way better than that but we have to meet the challenge. We didn’t do that today.

“A manager or coach will always defend his team but I can’t defend that.

“We are a young team and we looked like a team of boys against a team of men today.

“We were way below our desired level. We are a young team and we looked like a team of boys against a team of men today. It was totally unacceptable.

“We have got a lot of talented young boys – and I am not blaming young players – but the Championship is a demanding level.”

Meanwhile, Warburton was quick to warn his players about the threat that Town will possess at Kenilworth Road, as they look to make it back-to-backs wins and climb out of the bottom three.

He added: “This is like a cup final for Luton, absolutely – I don’t want to use old clichés and speak for other managers and other teams – but they are at home and are coming off the back of a brilliant result away at Huddersfield.

“They have some good youth and good experience and they are going to be a formidable threat.

“If we don’t meet that threat then we’ll get hurt. I say that very openly because this team is scrapping and we have to meet that challenge head on.

“We have to get hold of the football and take care of it, negate their threats and do what we do well.

"We have to show the hunger, desire and quality to impact the game positively against what will be a very strong Luton team.”