Blunt QPR are beaten at Derby

Derby 1 QPR 0

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Matěj Vydra’s 70th-minute goal gave Derby a deserved win in their first home match under Gary Rowett.

QPR defended well but Vydra broke the deadlock when he pounced on the loose ball to score after Alex Smithies had pushed out Tom Ince’s shot.

Substitute Idrissa Sylla almost snatched a late equaliser when he headed Luke Freeman’s corner against the post.

Rowett’s side dominated most of the game, with Johnny Russell having a number of decent chances.

Russell, who caused Darnell Furlong problems on the flank, dragged an early shot wide of the target from the left-hand side of the penalty area after being set up by Ince.

That opportunity came largely because Furlong had been dragged out of position, but the youngster then atoned by thwarting Martin Olsson as the Swede chased Vydra’s ball into the box.

Rangers were also relieved when Russell was unable to make contact at the far post following a rare mistake by keeper Smithies, who failed to deal with Chris Baird’s right-wing cross.

Smithies redeemed himself by saving from Russell at point-blank range and then keeping out a strike from David Nugent.

Russell threatened again eight minutes before the interval, this time heading wide from another Baird cross.

Russell was in the thick of the action again early in the second half.

Furlong’s hesitation gave the Rams winger a sight of goal but Furlong recovered to eventually block Russell’s shot.

Russell was also involved in the build up to the goal, teeing up Ince, whose fierce strike led to Vydra’s third goal in four matches – and QPR’s first defeat in five.

Rangers offered very little going forward and a first-half effort by Grant Hall, comfortably gathered by keeper Scott Carson, was the best they could muster before Matt Smith and Sylla went close in the 88th minute.

Carson dived to his left to push away Smith’s low shot and Sylla’s header from the resulting corner struck the woodwork.