Liam Manning warned his Bristol City players they have got to start making their dominance count after QPR hit back to earn a 1-1 draw.
The home side looked set for a deserved win substitute Scott Twine scored with his first touch, a superb curling free-kick from 25 yards just seconds after being introduced on the hour mark.
But, having soaked up heavy pressure, Rangers sprang out of defence five minutes later and City goalkeeper Max O’Leary’s misjudged race from his area allowed Paul Smyth to round him and shoot into an empty net from fully 40 yards near the right touchline.
The visitors had chances to win it in stoppage time, but City were on top for long periods and paid for lacking a clinical final pass or finish to match their attractive approach play.
Head coach Manning said: “It’s not the first time we have had to reflect on not making the most of being on top in games and, if we are to get to where we want to be, we have to improve in that respect.
“I can’t fault the lads for their effort and commitment, but it sometimes comes down to how you handle pressure when there are opportunities to score.
“That’s something I can’t control. The players have to step up and take responsibility. In the last week alone, we should have had four more points.
“Max O’Leary has held up his hand over the Rangers goal. He should have stayed in his box because we had players making covering runs.
“But he has saved us in other games. I am more concerned with failure to make the most of at least three clear chances.
“We are making progress in other areas, but we cannot go on dominating possession without having enough to show for it. That has to change and quickly.
“I was going to send on Scott Twine in any case, but speeded it up when I saw we had a free-kick in a dangerous position. He has real quality in that situation and it was a brilliant strike.”
Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes was full of praise for his side’s backs-to-the-wall display.
He said: “I learned a new English expression this week, which was to ‘grind it out’ and that’s what my team did today.
“The first-half display was not good enough against one of the best sides in the league when it comes to energy and counter-attack.
“I would be blind if I didn’t react to that and know we have to improve. But I am also very proud of my players for the way they held out against Bristol’s pressure.
“Paul Smyth works so hard for the team on and off the ball so it was great to see him get his goal.
“I thought he might have gone down under the goalkeeper’s challenge, which would have brought a red card, but he was honest in keeping his feet and it was not an easy finish.
“Alfie Lloyd did a good job getting us further up the field after going on as a substitute for the second half and the last 20 minutes were more like what I want from my team.
“So I have mixed feelings over the game. We have to be better than we were in the first half and there is work to do to make than happen.”
