'Just be honest' - Mark Warburton on rumours about his job after QPR lose to Sheffield United

Sheffield United turned up the heat on under-fire QPR boss Mark Warburton with a 1-0 victory at Bramall Lane. The Blades returned to the play-off picture courtesy of an early goal from Oli Norwood.

And, in doing so, also heaped more misery on Warburton. His side have now won just two games in their last 12 Championship outings.

Having been a regular feature in the top six for much of the season, Rangers are now up against it in their bid to secure a top six finish. They have dropped to ninth in the table, six points behind sixth-placed Middlesbrough, who have two games in hand.

Saturday's defeat at home to leaders Fulham led to reports the hierarchy are considering a change in a bid to keep alive their fading promotion hopes. Tonight's result will have done little to ease that pressure.

He said: "I can't control the rumours. The players want honesty. In any business, just be honest with people.

"The fact is, I can't control rumours. That's football, rumours, counter rumours and 95% are nonsensical. My contract is up in a few weeks and that is why people are latching on to it.

"We have players out of contract and we have to stick together. We cannot control things out of our control. All we can control is how we prepare, how we train and how we deliver our performances.

"It hasn't distracted the players but it's about being together. They are a quality group and they did turn up tonight. That's why we are frustrated because we know there is more from us in terms of quality.

"All we are focusing on is working with the players. We have players out of contract and you tell them 'we are all in this together'. It's as simple as that, we are in it together. Have the belief, we know we are good enough."

For United, tonight's