WANDERERS boss Dougie Freedman says he will not be afraid to use a diamond formation in midfield again despite defeat to QPR on Saturday.

Injuries and suspension to four key midfield men prompted a switch to a narrower formation against Freedman’s first club.

It allowed QPR space for their full-backs to attack and skipper Clint Hill profited to set-up Andy Johnson’s 54th-minute winner.

The positives, though, saw good displays in new positions or Chung-Yong Lee and Tim Ream – the latter outstanding in a man-of-the-match display.

He was forced off as a precaution with a tight hamstring but certainly earned his manager’s praise.

Freedman said: “We had to adjust our shape tactically with one or two people missing.

“We asked one or two to play out if shape and they did that fantastically well.

“I do like that shape and used it a few times last year and will use it again.

“But you need the right personnel to play it.

“Young Jay (Spearing) had to do a shift for the team in what wasn’t his true position.

“I thought Tim was terrific.

“He is a centre-half but we have worked very hard with him on his feet and movement.

“I am happy with his performance.”

There were boos at the final whistle from sections of the Reebok crowd but Freedman is of the view his team did well despite the second successive league loss.

And he is sticking to his beliefs.

He added: “There are always going to be dissenting voices.

“In any sort of profession, there are ups and downs.

“I must stand alone in that technical area and make decisions with a clear head.

“I can’t be making them from the crowd and that’s the way it has to be.

“I think the decisions we made and the shape were very good.

“We are all disappointed with the result but if any true fans of Bolton Wanderers were there, they would have seen exactly what we were trying to do and that we were very unfortunate to come up against a very experienced team.

“I felt the first 45 minutes of the game we played terrific football.

“We were possibly value for a one-goal lead at half time.

“We went out in the second half and again were dictating most of the play an had one or two half chances across the box.

“QPR scored at the right time. From the one and only opportunity they created, they get the goal which is happening to us right now.

“Then you have to give them credit, they defended with a ruthlessness and experience that made it very difficult for us.

“All in all, I felt we didn’t deserve to lose the match with our performance but did we deserve to win it? Maybe not either.

“I thought we showed enough quality in possession to at least merit a point.

“I thought we defended fantastically well against a top team.

“We switched off for one minute and got punished.

“AJ has done that his whole career – in the right place at the right time to score.

“But if Medo’s first-half shot goes in, it may have been different.”