QPR manager Ian Holloway he was left "scratching his head" being beaten 3-2 by Middlesbrough.

The Hoops put in a spirited display with a number of notable absences, and Holloway was pleased to see such an entertaining display from both sides.

He said: "It was a fantastic game of football. If you’re a neutral that’s what you want to see week-in week-out, both teams trying to win it.

"It was a blinding start for us, probably the worst shot I’ve ever seen or the best cross, I don’t know really. Wheeler, that’s his debut for us and he’s come in and scored after a couple of minutes but after that they moved the ball like we knew they would our goalie made a belting save and I just thought we looked a little bit rocky, and a bit wobbly so I made some changes.

"To be fair, I’m scratching my head as to how we’ve lost it. You’ve got to say, It’s probably down to the changes that Garry made and who he could put, and it’s terribly fine margins.

"It was a great header from Fletcher, but we should have dealt with it. They could have gone four up but, that’s the new QPR. It shows the character that we’ve got, and I thought they gave me absolutely everything.

Despite being pleased with the performance, Holloway did discuss the impact which the crowd had on the referee's decisions.

He said: "I’m just disappointed that my goalie got booked for so-called time-wasting when he’s looking at who’s spare in the shape I’m trying to teach him. I just ask for a bit of consistency because I saw their goalie take ages when they got in front, I just want the referee to be consistent.

"The crowd were good, I thought they stuck with their team today. We tried to silence them, tried to quiet them and when this place gets going it’s tough isn’t it?

"Last time I was here I was unbiased, watching a couple of great games of football when they were promoted, this time I saw my team at least deserve something; maybe a point, maybe I’m a bit biased, maybe that one that crashed against the post at the end, if you look at my lads’ effort, if you look at the fact we lost Nedum Onuoha, Conor Washington and Josh Scowen this week from the game, it was a big ask for my new lads to do that, and whatever I’m asking them to do, they’re doing it for me."