QPR 0-1 Ipswich Town: Kieran McKenna insists players remain grounded

Conor Chaplin's 75th minute goal saw the Blues win at Loftus Road for the first time since 2010 and become the first newly-promoted side to win their opening three Championship games since Southampton in 2011/12.

Asked how he would deal with an increasing amount of noise surrounding his in-form outfit, McKenna said: "We've ignored it from the start. We ignored it last season when we would draw a game and it was maybe perceived to be a negative result. We just focused on performaces and trying to get better. It's the same now.

"There's no deluded heads in that dressing room. We know how hard we're having to work for every game. We know we are doing some things well, but we know we have to improve. At the moment the margins are going our way. 

"If we keeping improving and doing enough things right then we know you give yourself a better chance of being on the end of those margins.

"We know how tough the division is. It looks like anyone can beat anyone. There is certainly no chance of anyone down there getting ahead of themselves. We've got Leeds (at home) next weekend!

"Every game is one that pricks your attention and pricks your full focus. Every team has big threats. We know we're going to have to work unbelievably hard just to compete. The players are happy down there, but they're tired and know they're going to have to work just as hard - if not harder - next week."

Kieran McKenna offers instructions from the sideline at QPR (Image: Ross Halls)

When it was put to McKenna that this was a far from routine victory, and that his team had to work really hard for the three points at Loftus Road, the Blues boss replied: "I think that is routine, having to work really hard for it. We've said it several times - we're not in a position where we're going to go and dominate games every week like lasts eason and win comfortably. We're going to have to fight really, really hard for every point that we get. 

"It's QPR's first home league game, there was atmosphere in the crowd, so it was never going to be anything other than hard fought. We knew both teams would have chances and that we would have to fight really hard to impose our football. 

"I think 'hard fought' is the new routine. We've got to enjoy that challenge and that step up and keep working as we are to come out on top in tight margins every week because that's how it's going to be."

Wes Burns put a close-range header wide for Town in the 10th minute of this game, while QPR striker Sinclair Armstrong saw a shot hit both posts after a vital touch from Vaclav Hladky.

"First half was pretty tight," said McKenna. "We had more of the ball, more shots and, I think, more of the game, but they were waiting for moments and mistakes - and we made some. That was where their opportunities came from. Every time they got a throw-in, a corner or a shot the atmosphere in the ground made it feel like pressure.

"I thought we were controlling the game fairly well without finding our absolute top level of intensity. It wasn't easy because it was a hot day, it was a dry pitch. I thought we were playing pretty well but were just a step off it on and off the ball in terms of intensity.

"We spoke about that at half-time. We agreed that we're going to have to be at our absolute maximum intensity every week to get points. We stepped up in the second half, we played well and controlled it and dominated it, really, apart for some isolated moments that gave them chances. But in terms of the flow of the game we were much better.

"I thought we created some good chances before the goal and were good value for it when it came."

Asked if he felt his side should have had a penalty just before the winner, when George Hirst went down under pressure from Steve Cook in the box, McKenna said: "I thought that at the time, but I haven't seen it back. I'm sure they'll say it wasn't, but I thought it was. The margins haven't gone our way in terms of decisions this season, so hopefully that will readdress itself in time."

On Chaplin's winner, a low right-footed shot inside the box that came after his initial left-ffoted effort was blocked, McKenna said: "It was a typical Conor goal. In tight spaces with defenders around there aren't many better players that find ways of getting shots off in minimum spoace with both feet. He hits it low and he hits it hard which is hard to stop for goalkeepers.

"It was always going to come. He hit the underside of the bar at Sunderland, he had eight shots last weekend against Stoke, today he got on the end of three or four arriving on the second line. If he keeps doing that we know he's a threat and that sooner or later one will go in the net."