QPR beat Watford to make it three wins in a row
QPR 2
Kolli (26′)
Smyth (63′)
Watford 1Louza (85′)
Rayan Kolli and Paul Smyth scored again as QPR made it three consecutive wins.
Kolli and Smyth got their third goals in two matches, with both having netted twice in Rangers’ 6-1 thrashing of Portsmouth prior to the international break.
Kolli put Julien Stephan’s side ahead on 26 minutes and Smyth struck shortly after the hour mark.
Imrân Louza pulled a goal back with a superb 85th-minute free-kick, but Watford were unable to find an equaliser.
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Harvey Vale helped set up both Rangers goals, continuing the impressive form that led to his recent Republic of Ireland call-up.
Seconds after finding space on the right and curling a left-footed shot against the far post, Vale crossed from a similar position towards Smyth, who headed back across goal for Kolli to nod QPR into the lead.
Rangers had been on top – they had a goal disallowed after 45 seconds when Amadou Mbengue challenged Jeremy Petris near the edge of the penalty area and slotted into the net, but was adjudged to have fouled the left-back.
A good chance for hosts was squandered when, during a swift counter-attack, Vale overhit a pass to Smyth, who would have been in on goal, and keeper Egil Selvik was able to gather.
At the other end, keeper Joe Walsh pushed away Luca Kjerrumgaard’s left-footed shot, and Watford seemed to be growing into the game before Kolli opened the scoring.
And Rangers then almost scored a carbon copy of the goal. Again, the excellent Vale delivered a left-footed cross from the right which was directed back across goal by Smyth, but this time Kolli was denied by Selvik.
QPR were unlucky early in the second half, when Richard Kone’s header from Rhys Norrington-Davies’ cross bounced off Smyth and whizzed wide.
But they doubled their lead on 63 minutes after more good by Vale, who delivered a low cross into the box and, after Daniel Bennie’s effort was blocked, Smyth pounced on the loose ball to score from close range.
Watford struggled to create clear-cut chances but their goal was a beauty – a left-footed strike by Louza that flew beyond Walsh and into the far corner of the net.
QPR: Walsh; Mbengue, Dunne, Edwards, Norrington-Davies; Vale (Poku 79), Varane, Morgan, Smyth (Saito 72); Kolli (Bennie 46), Kone.
Subs not used: Hamer, Esquerdinha, Adamson, Cook, Clarke-Salter, Hayden.
