QPR 0-2 Preston: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Simon Grayson reaction

Preston manager Simon Grayson declared that his side had silenced their doubters by beating QPR 2-0 at Loftus Road.

The Lilywhites had lost their opening three Sky Bet Championship matches this season, scoring just one goal in the process.

But Jermaine Beckford put them ahead midway through the first half and Nedum Onuoha's own goal seven minutes after the interval sealed their first win of the season.

Grayson said: "We've answered one or two critics from during the last few weeks. That will keep a few people quiet for a while. People do tend to get a bit jittery when you lose the first three games. The critics have been answered.

"If you lose a couple of games midway through the season no-one cares, but lose at the start of the season and people think the world's going to end.

"I said before that I didn't think we were a million miles away. We were off the pace in the last three games but that was more like us.

"The players have been disappointed with the results, performances and the criticism, and they felt they had a point to prove."

Rangers rallied in the second half but Preston were worthy winners and always looked a threat on the break.

"From start to finish we were good in all departments. It was a good performance," said Grayson, whose team were beaten at home by Derby on Tuesday.

"To limit a team like QPR to just a couple of chances - and we could have scored more goals - showed how good we were."

QPR boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink felt tiredness was a factor in his side 's below-par display. It was a second successive defeat for the west London team, who lost at Barnsley on Wednesday.

"We looked second best and couldn't get going," said Hasselbaink. "You have to give Preston credit. They did well, put us on the back foot and we looked flat.

"We looked like we had 24 hours less to recover. It looked a big ask. When you have a big squad it doesn't matter, but when you don't then it does.

"As as a group, we expected more and wanted more but couldn't deliver. We didn't look like us. Individual errors cost us. But we are a team - we lose together and we win together. Today we didn't have the concentration and the calmness to pass the ball, and I don't know why."

Rangers struggled to create openings before Hasselbaink made an attacking change in the second half, replacing Karl Henry with striker Conor Washington.

Asked if he had considered starting with Washington, the Dutchman said: "He provided us with something, but no I didn't think of starting with him today - hindsight is a beautiful thing.

"Sebastian Polter and Tjaronn Chery have been doing really well and I wanted to continue - especially because of the bad result on Wednesday .

"I wanted to give certain individuals an opportunity to put it right."