Early goal condemns QPR to defeat at Aston Villa
Aston Villa 1 QPR 0
QPR suffered their fourth defeat in six away matches as they paid for conceding a fifth-minute goal and failing to make the most of territorial dominance after the break.
Aston Villa, the Championship’s in-form side over the last eight games, were quickly out of the traps with former Harrow Borough winger Albert Adomah striking the foot of the post early on.
Rangers, who had made five changes following Friday’s loss at Derby, did not heed the warning as Leandro Bacuna fed Jonathan Kodjia, who slotted past Alex Smithies for his 18th goal of the campaign.
The visitors tried to hit back immediately but Yeni Ngbakoto’s shot was deflected wide of the far post and later Jamie Mackie fired in an effort that beat the opposite upright.
They were much improved after the break, though Villa had the first couple of chances of the second half as Adomah skewed wide of the near post and Massimo Luongo cleared off the line to deny Nathan Baker.
But after that, QPR were constantly on the front foot – though their desire and tenacity was not matched by their creativity when it mattered most.
Villa’s stubborn defence – who have now conceded only once in eight games – threw bodies in the way of shots and only the introduction of Matt Smith on 65 minutes asked them any questions.
He had only been on the field a couple of minutes when he nodded over from Ngbakoto’s outside-of-the-boot cross, while fellow substitute Conor Washington fired wide and Luongo forced Villa keeper Sam Johnstone into a routine save.
Villa could have wrapped it up late on – former Brentford striker Scott Hogan, on as a sub, narrowly missed Alan Hutton’s cross and Jordan Amavi curled over – while QPR’s pressure came to nought.
QPR: Smithies; Furlong (Petrasso 75), Onuoha, Hall, Bidwell; Freeman, Goss (Washington 72), Luongo, Ngbakoto; Mackie, Sylla (Smith 65).
Subs not used: Ingram, Perch, Manning, Wszolek.
