Bruce – Hard Earned Point Against QPR

Manager Steve Bruce has admitted that Hull found it hard going against Queens Park Rangers at the weekend.

Video – QPR Highlights
Audio – QPR Draw Reactions

Speaking to the Official Site following the one all draw, the gaffer had to admit that the game did turn into a struggle for us.

‘I thought we did okay in the first 20 minutes but after that it was a bit of a struggle. Their goal seemed to set us back a bit and we found it hard-going. We couldn`t really play with the intensity that we needed against a decent QPR team. We`ve got no divine right to turn up and beat any team and QPR came here and played well, especially in the second half. They defended deep and made us huff and puff and got us frustrated. The longer it went, the more frustrated we became.’

Bruce went on to say that he admits we looked a bit ‘leggy’ in the game but it’s the Championship and you have to cope with that.

‘We`ve been to Brighton and Cardiff in the past week and haven`t really had the time to do much preparation. It became a bit pedestrian and as I always say, we can play a game of football every day of the week but you can`t play them all with the same intensity, that intensity that wins you football matches.’

One thing he did admit is that he’d look at his own decisions when it came to the potential for changes to freshen things up, but he felt it was right to stick with them following the midweek action as he didn’t see how he could drop anybody, and he hoped momentum would see them through but it didn’t.

‘We had the late chance where Chuba Akpom could have picked somebody out for a tap-in, but we had the let-off with their missed chance too.’

Sam Clucas was interviewed after the game as well and he admitted that he felt it had been a fair point on balance.

‘I thought we started the game slow and they started a lot faster. I thought that we were on top – particularly in the second half – but we just couldn`t make that advantage count other than the goal. They had a packed midfield, which made it hard for us to play, and as soon as you got the ball then you were closed down – they never gave you a second to play. Credit to them, they`ve obviously got a good calibre of players having come down from the Premier League like we have so we knew it was always going to be tough. I think one-all was probably a fair result.’

With Clucas starting on the left wing, but ending up more centrally in the game, he went on to say that his versatility is an asset but he does like being more involved in the middle of the park.

‘I`m very versatile and I`m currently enjoying playing in a central role because you seem to get more of the ball which I enjoy. I can get involved with the play whereas if you play out on the wing, you can go 20 minutes without touching the ball. It`s nice to get in there and hopefully I can chip in with a few more goals and assists.’