Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink admits there was a touchline bust-up with his opposite number in the final seconds of QPR's 3-2 defeat to Middlesbrough.

He and Aitor Karanka would have gone to head to head had they not been prevented by coaching staff from both sides, although Rs assistant Dirk Heesen also had to be held back as tempers frayed.

Rs accused Boro player Daniel Ayala of feigning injury to run down the clock with the away side hanging on. Both bosses shook hands in the media room afterwards, but Hasselbaink still expressed his ire at perceived Boro gamesmanship.

JFH said: "We are all football people. The player (Ayala) went down. I don't know if anyone touched him. I've got the utmost respect for Aitor - that's where we want to get to, and there's no hard feelings. But I was accused of unfair play. Why? I don't know.

Middle man: Tjarron Chery is surrounded by Boro players

"I had a decision to make (by reacting) and I made the right one. Knowing me, I'll make the same one again."

On reflection, Boro had just enough to win, but JFH was reasonably pleased at bits of his side's performance against a strong promotion contender.

He added: "They are a very good side but we controlled the first half. They scored from a mistake, and their first 10 minutes of the second half was better than ours.

"The most disappointing thing was conceding from two set pieces. We need to defend those better, but the reaction was important. It was good to see the spirit we showed."

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