Warnock thrilled with opening win

Had every managerial change at Loftus Road had this effect, Rangers would be at the other end of the table.

As it is, Warnock, the club's fifth new boss this season, was satisfied they now have a little more breathing space above the relegation zone.

And his message to his new players, who have been crying out for some stability at the club, was simple.

"I told them to smile," he said. "I said to enjoy it. They get paid a fortune to play football at a great club, I told them to do what they've done all week and enjoy it."

Warnock may still be in the getting-to-know-you stage with his players but they flew out of the blocks against shell-shocked Albion.

Jay Simpson pounced on a mistake from goalkeeper Scott Carson to fire them ahead after 13 minutes and Matt Connolly finished a flowing move for the second five minutes later.

Chris Brunt pulled one back before the break - Rangers have now not kept a clean sheet in 24 matches - but Carson was at fault again when Akos Buzsaky's 35-yard free-kick bounced over him and in off the post to secure only Rangers' second win in 12 matches.

"We've only had a few days together and it's a matter of them finding out what I'm like and what I want from them," added Warnock.

"In fairness, they have all taken it on board. I think my first day was a bit unusual for them but that's how I get to know my lads.

"It's nice to start off with a win but I told them beforehand this game was not going to define the next few years.

"And I still don't know who scored our first and third goals!"

Defeat was damaging for Albion, who slipped below Nottingham Forest into third place and are now nine points behind leaders Newcastle.

Boss Roberto Di Matteo admitted Carson's blunders were costly but was unhappy with the display as a whole.

"It's a team performance. We made individual mistakes but it is 11 people on the pitch," he said.

"We started badly and, against any team, when you give away two goals in the first 20 minutes, it becomes very difficult to win.

"We said we needed to keep solid in the first 20 minutes - but we did exactly the opposite. They were terrible goals to give away."

Source: Team Talk