Bartosz Bialkowski insisted Ipswich Town need to learn from their late loss at QPR this afternoon and ensure they remain switched on in the closing stages of games.
The clash at Loftus Road looked destined for a 0-0 draw, despite the hosts dominating much of the play, but Matt Phillips scored a header in the 88th minute to ensure all three points for Rangers.
Bialkowski was arguably the Blues’ stand-out player as he pulled off a string of saves to keep his side level, but was frustrated to see an away point slip through their grasp late on.
“It was really tough, losing that game in the final stages is really painful and really hard to take,” he said.
“So we’re all disappointed, but it’s a lesson to learn.
“When you look at the QPR squad they’ve got a really good team, we knew it wouldn’t be easy but it’s one of those days.
“Their lad took a shot which was going miles wide and, luckily for them, they scored a header from that which is hard to take.
“When you look at the game and how it went (a draw would have been a fair result) and we would have been happy with one point.
“Going away from home is never easy, QPR have a decent squad but we need to be better at defending in the final stages of the game.”
The game was played in a swirling wind which made it hard for both sides to move the ball around, although Bialkowski insisted this had no impact on the outcome.
He said: “It was really difficult, really bad, but there was no excuse whatsoever because they have to play in that same conditions as we did.”
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