QPR goalkeeper Robert Green believes the club need to take heart from their display against Manchester United as they prepare for more crucial games in their fight to avoid relegation.
Green has been in impressive form for the Rs this season and, although United left Loftus Road with a 2-0 win, he again proved hard to beat.
Radamel Falcao could not find a way past the former England goalkeeper, who turned 35 on Sunday, but second-half strikes from substitutes Marouane Fellaini and James Wilson were enough for Louis van Gaal's side to travel back to Manchester with a 2-0 win and just a third away league victory of the campaign.
The defeat leaves QPR languishing in 19th place in the Barclays Premier League table, with all 19 of their points accrued at home.
Harry Redknapp is reportedly coming under pressure but his side matched United for much of Saturday's contest and Green believes similar displays in forthcoming home fixtures against Southampton, Tottenham and Arsenal could yield vital points.
"Despite United's late goal, we were in a close encounter," he said.
"Eight games ago when we lost to Liverpool, it was by the odd goal. And we've played Man City at Loftus Road, and drawn. So we may have some big sides coming here, but we have already shown that the way we play at home gives us a chance in those games."
Redknapp's side are now without a win in six games in all competitions but Green was pleased to see that the crowd did not turn on the players or coaching staff at the end of another disappointing afternoon.
"We put everything on the line and got applauded off by our fans, which is a pleasing guideline for how we played," he added.
"We showed plenty of spirit and endeavour in our performance, but unfortunately we just came up short. With five minutes to go they would have been very pleased to win the game 1-0, so they would have been delighted to nick a second and win 2-0. That's something that happens in football when you're pushing forward. When you put it into the overall team perspective, the feeling I had at the end was one of disappointment."
Fellaini was introduced at half-time and opened the scoring just before the hour-mark after good build-up play from captain Wayne Rooney and Antonio Valencia.
Wilson made absolutely certain of the three points as he finished at the second attempt having been played in by Angel di Maria in injury time, with QPR over-committed in search of an equaliser.
It was the 19-year-old's first goal of the season in what was his 12th appearance in all competitions under Van Gaal and, although most of those have come as a substitute, the England Under-20 international is pleased to finally be off the mark.
"It gives me great confidence as I've been struggling for my first goal this season off the back end of last season," he told MUTV.
"Hopefully I can take it into the next game and the rest of the season. Walking into the dressing room, everyone was congratulating me and making me feel really good and welcome, so it's great."
With Wilson able to find the back of the net at Loftus Road, where Falcao endured another frustrating afternoon in front of goal, the man who scored a brace on his United debut under interim boss Ryan Giggs last season is likely to be given a chance from the start in Friday's FA Cup fourth-round clash with Cambridge United - having taken van Gaal's words of wisdom on board.
"Basically, he just told me to stay onside," Wilson explained.
"Because there were a few instances (in previous games) where I've been offside. He told me to stay onside, be patient, hold your run and beat them for pace. That's pretty much what I did for my goal."
Source: PA
