De Canio praise for Ainsworth
QPR boss Luigi De Canio insisted Gareth Ainsworth still has major role as a player after inspiring an amazing comeback in the 2-2 draw at home to Preston.
Goals from Neil Mellor and Tamas Priskin looked like giving the visitors a resounding victory.
But veteran winger Ainsworth, who has effectively been working as De Canio's assistant, pulled a goal back and set up a last-gasp equaliser for Dexter Blackstock.
"Gareth is an extraordinary individual," said De Canio.
"His spirit and character make him part of the spirit of this club.
"He is still a player, it's just that I know the character he is and how much he is respected by the other players, so I use that.
"He is not officially on the coaching staff, although that is possible in the future. His role at the moment is as a player and an assistant to me."
Preston went ahead when Paul McKenna's corner was headed on by Youl Mawene and Mellor volleyed into the net.
Mellor was replaced at the break by Priskin, who appealed in vain for a penalty when he was challenged in the area by Fitz Hall early in the second half.
There was no escape for Rangers when keeper Lee Camp failed to gather Chris Sedgwick's low cross and Priskin bundled in Preston's second goal.
But Ainsworth, on as a substitute, scored with a spectacular looping shot from 20 yards in the 89th minute and then crossed from the right for Blackstock to head home.
De Canio added: "Having had other teams come back against us so often, it was nice to see us do it this time.
"It looked like a cursed day where nothing was going our way, but I must stress the character of the team and they showed it in coming back."
Preston manager Alan Irvine felt his side deserved to win after dominating most of the game.
Irvine said: "Everyone can see that we should have won the match. Undoubtedly, we were the better team.
"We had four very good chances before we scored and in the second half we looked very comfortable. We got the second goal and probably should have had a penalty as well.
"I don't think it was a case of us losing our nerve. It was just that QPR threw men forward because at that stage they had nothing to lose.
"We're very disappointed, but we move on. If we approach the final games in the same way we should have good results between now and the end of the season."
Irvine confirmed that Mellor was taken off because of a hamstring problem.
He said: "Neil's hamstring felt very tight. We're hoping he hasn't pulled it.
"We got him in at half-time and it was clear that it would have been a big risk to send him back out there. Hamstring injuries and quick players are not a good mix."
