“We had a few chances in the opening 20 or 25 minutes and could have scored the first goal.

“Instead, they scored twice on their first two shots, and I believe it was too simple for them to score today. It is unusual for us.

“We discovered a solution after conceding the first goal to equalise. But to concede the second one so quickly, at the opening of the second half, we fell mentally and took a long time to recover.

“It was overly long. We failed to generate momentum except for the last five or ten minutes after set pieces, when we had one or two excellent scoring opportunities.

“I believe there was a significant difference between the first and second halves, and the second half was a disappointing performance.”

New Rovers manager Michael O’Neill was in the dugout at Loftus Road, but Stephan denied that the ‘new manager bounce’ had a significant impact on the game.

“Even though it is a new manager, the first 20 or 25 minutes we were completely dominant,” he insisted.

“So it’s not a matter of whether you have a new manager or not; it’s about how you use your momentum and how you can score and grab the lead right now.

“You know, when it is not the case, and they score the first one, it is a big deal for them. We equalised but then surrendered the second.

“They didn’t have many moments of doubt, and they scored right at the start of the season half. It most likely boosted their confidence.

“For me, it’s not about a new management or anything like that. It is a question of how we harness our momentum and become more efficient on the pitch.”

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