QPR 1-1 Birmingham: Rowett and Hasselbaink reaction

Birmingham boss Gary Rowett bemoaned the defensive lapse which meant his side had to settle for a 1-1 draw against QPR.

The Blues maintained their unbeaten away record in the Sky Bet Championship this season at Loftus Road, where Lukas Jutkiewicz's 23rd-minute goal put them ahead.

But Rangers levelled six minutes before half-time when Steven Caulker got away from Ryan Shotton to head home Tjaronn Chery's right-wing corner.

Rowett said: "Shots lost his man. He apologised to the other lads at half-time. He just switched off for a second and didn't get tight.

"We knew QPR, given that they're under pressure after recent results, might go a little bit more direct and put balls in to make us defend.

"That's what they did and they made a really aggressive start, but we settled into the game very well.

"I felt we were fairly comfortable, and we scored, but it was very disappointing that we then allowed them to get into an area to get a corner and then score."

Rangers, recently beaten 6-0 at home by Newcastle and now having won just one of their last seven league games, were much improved after the interval.

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Rowett admitted: "In the second half we had to weather it a bit. It was a combination of QPR's desperation to get that win they're looking for and us being poor.

"There was a little bit of pressure we had to deal with but sometimes you have to do that away from home."

QPR manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was encouraged by his team's performance, particularly the contribution of Polish winger Pawel Wszolek.

The recent signing came on in the first half for the injured Jordan Cousins and created three good opportunities the home side were unable to take.

"He did very well. He is getting used to the English game and we think he's going to improve and get better," said Hasselbaink.

"He is very positive and puts in a lot of work for the team.

"His crosses are also very good and we have players up front who like crosses, so it helps to have Pawel in our team."

Hasselbaink has attracted criticism from some fans in the wake of the debacle against Newcastle but the Dutchman believes Rangers are heading in the right direction.

"Our display was very good. We had a setback when they scored but it didn't affect us and that was really pleasing to see," he said.

"In the second half there was only one team in it and we did very well. Unfortunately for us their keeper made good saves.

"But I must say I am happy with that performance and we need to put that kind of performance in regularly.

"If you can make a string of these kind of performances then you will win games and that is what we now need to do."