QPR boss Mark Warburton lamented his side’s injury crisis after they missed the chance to go third in the Championship with a 2-0 defeat at home to Stoke.

Rangers’ six-game unbeaten run came to an end as goals from Tyrese Campbell and Mario Vrančić gave the Potters victory at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

Warburton was only able to name six substitutes and is looking to bolster his depleted squad in the January transfer market with the likes of Lyndon Dykes, Lee Wallace, Albert Adomah, Sam McCallum and Moses Odubajo all out.

The Rs manager said: “We’ve got a squad of 22. I couldn’t name all the subs today. That wasn’t a statement, it was just a fact. Simple as that.

“Injuries hurt today. We’ve lost four wing-backs and had six players out. We were light, but that’s the Championship and you have to deal with it.”

QPR striker Charlie Austin saw his second-half penalty saved by Stoke keeper Adam Davies and after the game, he wrote on Twitter: “Can only apologise!! Bad day at the office.

“Win some you lose some and mistakes happen! No one is crying as a team we move forward! Stick with us QPR fans as I know you will!”

Austin’s miss ended a run of 15 successful penalties and summed things up on a day where the Rs could not get things together in front of goal.

Their failure to find the back of the net ended a streak of 31 consecutive games in which they had scored at least one goal, two short of the club’s record of 33.

Warburton bemoaned his side’s inability to apply a clinical touch in the final third but stopped short of laying the blame at Austin’s door.

He added: “Players are human. No-one means to miss a penalty and Charlie had scored his last 15.

“We had a couple of really good chances after that. Those are the moments that define matches and we have to recognise that.

“I think you saw us try to force it in the second half. Don’t force it – we’ve got enough quality to keep moving the ball.

“In the first half we were moving the ball well – and when you move the ball well the opposing team is working constantly.

“When you shift them, so many times they make a mistake and you can capitalise on it. That’s what good teams do, but we stopped doing it.

“I just felt today that in the final third we lacked that little bit of real guile to go and win the game.”