QPR boss McClaren hails Freeman after equaliser

Posted Wednesday, November 28, 2018 by PA

QPR manager Steve McClaren hailed Luke Freeman for leading his side to a 2-2 draw at Rotherham.

Freeman was the visitors’ dangerman throughout the second half as they left it late to salvage a point at the New York Stadium.

Rotherham came out of a frantic opening 15 minutes 2-1 ahead thanks to Will Vaulks’s low strike and Clark Robertson’s first goal for the club.

The Millers’ goals came either side of Nahki Wells’ opportunistic strike from close-range following slack defending.

Freeman, who signed a new deal with the Londoners recently, nipped in with an injury-time diving header to draw the scores level again.

He was praised for his display by McClaren.

He said: “He can score goals, he can assist but his enthusiasm is infectious. He is one of our most important players.

“He has signed again and was not taking a backseat. He has come forward and got us a point.

“It was disappointing to concede those goals because normally we are not like that.

“I think we deserved more than a point but credit to Rotherham. They’ve got a great record here and I thought it was a great, end-to-end game.

“We knew it was going to be difficult and it was but I am proud of the players and their performance. Even if they had lost I would have been proud of that performance.

“It would have been a travesty not to have come away from here without a point.

“The bench made a difference and that is what we need. It is not about the XI but the squad and we need to continue that.”

Paul Warne’s Rotherham are now seven unbeaten but the manager knows they could be further up the table than 19th.

“We have played against a very good team and I think if we had have got a third goal it would have been enough,” he said.

“Our keeper kept us in it. It’s just hard to take because we conceded so late on.

“It was a great header but we should defend better than that.

“The lads have got to be pleased with themselves because they are taking on the in-form teams.

“I think we used a lot of emotional energy up on Saturday and we did not look as sharp in our play.

“If you would have asked me at 60 minutes if I would have taken a point then I possibly would have.

“We are hard to beat but it would be nice if we were hard to beat and find wins easy. An extra two points would have set us up lovely.

“I definitely think QPR deserved a draw because Marek (Rodak) pulled off some quality saves. It’s a pity we didn’t get the win but to take QPR to the 90th odd minute.

“The lads never give up and they gave me everything they had but they just were not as good on the ball as I would have liked.

“Everyone’s a bit low because three points are difficult to come across but a 2-2 when we have not played very well could be a good point at the end of the season.”