Timid QPR pay for a lack of ambition Gareth Ainsworth declared himself satisfied and proud with his team's efforts at Man United - but Rangers spurned a chance to make the night more memorable.
The caretaker boss had called for a passionate performance from his troops at the home of the champions and got that in spades.
But when the dust has settled on Tuesday night's slender Carling Cup defeat, he may just concede his team should have been encouraged to show greater adventure.
Burnley, this week's opponents at Loftus Road, showed just what can be achieved with a little more willingness to attack when they dispatched Chelsea in the same competition 24 hours later.
Respect for United in their own backyard was understandable and so was the desire to pack out the midfield to nullify the expected waves of attack.
But in reality, this was an experienced Rangers side up against a second-string United and they ought to have given them a far rougher ride.
By sitting back so much, Rangers surrendered the initiative and failed to ask any serious questions of players who - although clearly talented - are not yet world-beaters.
There was no Rooney, Ronaldo or Berbatov to worry about and Jonathan Evans, Darron Gibson and Rodrigo Possebon should not be names to strike terror in the heart.
The consequence was that Rangers were starved of possession and mostly camped in their own half. They only ventured forward a couple of times in the first half through set pieces - and wasted them.
The fact that Ainsworth spoke about taking risks at 1-0 down told its own tale, for what risk is there attacking in a cup tie when you are a goal down and heading out of the competition?
It was only after Carlos Tevez had punished Peter Ramage's trip on Danny Welbeck from the spot on 76 minutes that Rangers came out of their shell.
Yet there was enough in those fleeting moments to suggest a bolder approach from the start would have paid dividends. As it was - if you discount the header Samuel Di Carmine had ruled out for offside eight minutes from the end - the only real opportunity the Rs created was an injuryt ime ne a r -mi ss f r om Emmanuel Ledesma following a marvellous counter-attack led by Patrick Agyemang.
Ainsworth was adamant such adventure over 90 minutes would have been out of the question.
"We went a bit cavalier towards the end but I don't think we could have done that earlier," he said. "I think we made the right decision because when we did go three up top at the end, Radek Cerny had to make three one on one saves and I don't think we could have lasted that all the game.
"It took a penalty for them to score and we're very proud of the way we handled the game and went into it.
"We had a tactic of not going to chase the ball too much. Superior players are going to try and pick us off and get us out of our holes and the discipline the boys showed was fantastic. I'm a very proud man."
If there must be some disappointment that Rangers chose not to seek out glory and make a real statement about their potential as a club, there will be pleasure at the rubbing of shoulders with a big club again.
Ainsworth was quick to seize on that consolation.
"There's probably not many who could remember where Old Trafford was, it's been that long since we came to these places," said the Rangers coach.
"But we are ambitious. We want to be back here on a regular basis and that means Premier League status.
"It was the best tie we could have hoped for. It's been fantastic for the club, for the fans and the players have had a great experience.
"We want to come back here in a year or two in a league fixture.
"It was a great taste for us. It showed the players what we could have if we all can graft together and if we can play like we did tonight, we'll not go far wrong in the Championship.
"It was amazing for me, a fairy tale. It's something I've dreamt of. Alex is a fantastic manager and to be anything like he is would be fantastic, but I'm on the first rung and he's at the top of the ladder and it really is bottom against top in the managerial stakes.
"But I think we gave a good account of ourselves and showed that our lads are passionate and committed."
"Another 30 minutes might have been tough, but we would have liked that to sneak in," he said of the late chance for Ledesma.
Ainsworth's immediate task will be to ensure there is no sense of anti-climax in Saturday's altogether more important league meeting with Burley at Loftus Road.
"It's going to be tough physically and mentally to get them up again for Saturday, but they're true professionals," Ainsworth said.
"The Championship is really important to us. We are not a middle-of-the road club any more, we really want to be pushing and have massive ambition."
Three players picked up injuries at United and are doubtful for the weekend. Akos Buzsaky came off with a knee injury after 32 minutes, while Danny Parejo - who had an awful first half - was mercifully withdrawn at the interval. Gavin Mahon also took a knock to the knee. The suspended Mikele Leigertwood will again be missing. Match Summary MAN UNITED (0) 1 QPR (0) 0 Line-up: Cerny; Ramage, Hall, Stewart, Connolly; Buzsaky (Agyemang 32), Mahon, Rowlands, Cook (Di Carmine 78); Parejo (Ledesma h/t) Blackstock. Subs not used: Cole, Delaney, Gorkss, Ephraim. Attendance: 62,539 GOALS: Tevez pen (76)
MoM: Radek Cerny
