BY AYODELE ODUMADE AT LOFTUS ROAD

The cruel side of football reared its ugly head at Loftus Road as Queens Park Rangers were knocked out of the FA Cup by Watford despite being the better team. The only goal was scored by Etienne Capoue just before half time in what turned out to be the only chance Watford had in the game. QPR were certainly not overwhelmed by the fact that they were up against a Premier League side.  

Their manager Steve McLaren said: “I am so proud of the players and their performance. That was their third game in six days. To play at that intensity and level against a top premier league team, I am really proud of them.  We could not have done anything more apart from score. I said to Joe Lumley how many shots have you had to save? And he could not remember a shot, probably at the end when we had to take risks. We lost the game by a set play. I think Watford showed a great resilience to get through because we threw everything at them because as I said Toni Leistner’s chance at the end kind of summed us up in the past few games. We were very close.

When the QPR boss was asked about the manner of the goal, which came from a set piece he said: “I was very disappointed by the goal. I do not like conceding on set plays because we work very hard on them.  We knew Watford were inventive and we had to be alert. I though our three centre back coped with Troy Deeney and Andre Gray. It was just in the final third. If you don’t win you don’t’ score. The fans were magnificent tonight. The fan responded to them today. We started on the front foot. I knew the first goal was always going to be important. I said to our players that we are that close to turning things around. We were very unlucky this week but the harder you work the lucky you get.”

The Watford coach Javi Gracia said: “It was a very close game. QPR had chances in the game. We scored one goal in the first half and it was enough to win the game. We knew before the game that it would be a very demanding game. We needed to defend well the long ball, second ball and set pieces. We have done in other moments the same play.”

The Watford boss was asked about the goal scorer and he said: “Capoue always gives us a good balance and he was important for us.”

Brazilian keeper Heurelho Gomez was 38 today and the coach said:  I said many times he is important for us when he plays and when he does not play. His experience and attitude always is important for the team. The victory is a good gift for him.”

It was pointed out to Gracia that so many big clubs were out  as well as Chelsea facing Manchester United on Monday.  He was asked if it could be their year. He said: “Speaking about   what we can do in the future maybe is a lack of respect to the teams we are going to play against. We said playing against QPR we have suffered a lot. The game we play in future will be tough whether it is a premier league team or a championship team. “