Michael O’Neill credits Damien Johnson for vital Blackburn win at QPR

Michael O’Neill refused to take credit for Blackburn’s superb start to his reign as manager after a 3-1 victory at QPR lifted them out of the Championship relegation zone.

O’Neill instead insisted credit should go to Damien Johnson, who has been in caretaker charge at the Lancashire club.

Mathias Jorgensen scored twice, either side of Koki Saito’s equaliser, before Ryoyo Morishita wrapped up the three points.

O’Neill said: “It was a great result. I only arrived in the building yesterday at 11am, so the work was done by Damien Johnson all week. He prepared the team and did a fantastic job.”

Jorgensen’s attacking partnership with Andri Gudjohnsen was a key factor in Rovers’ victory.

But O’Neill, who urged his new team on from the technical area, having initially considered watching from the stands, said the decision to deploy the duo together up front was Johnson’s.

“The front two have a lot in them. They played really well with each other,” O’Neill said.

“That was Damien. He felt the two up top would benefit us. Having them give us what they gave us, in and out of possession, was a real bonus.

“Damien said he felt it would really benefit the team if I was in the dugout, so I took guidance from him.

“It’s nice to be here and to take some credit, but the credit really lies with him because he prepared the team and picked the team.

“We talked through one or two other things in training yesterday and at the hotel last night. We got a great response from the players.

“I said to the players before the game that only they can change the picture. I’m delighted for them.

“But we have to deliver again. We can’t let our standards drop.”

QPR boss Julien Stephan admitted his side were punished for some woeful defending.

All three of the visitors’ goals came through exploiting gaps between Rangers centre-backs Steve Cook and Jimmy Dunne.

“We conceded easy goals and normally we are stronger defensively. It was too easy for them to score these three goals,” Stephan said.

“I thought we were good in the first half. We started the game with a lot of hunger and we wanted to win.

“But then you don’t use the possibilities you have to score the first and perhaps the second one – and they had two shots in the first half and scored two times.

“They then shot one time at the beginning of the second half and scored. So it was a question of efficiency.

“Then in the second half we dropped mentally. We didn’t use the midfield enough. We forgot our plan in the second half and I think we dropped mentally after their third goal.

“The main thing now for us is to continue to improve with this young team and show more consistency, because if we want to compete to finish in the top six then we need to have consistency.”