Fulham survive late QPR fightback to win derby

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QPR 1 Fulham 2

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Fulham survived a late QPR rally to secure another derby victory at Loftus Road.

Ryan Fredericks’ heavily deflected shot put the visitors ahead, Fulham striker Rui Fonte missed a penalty and Stefan Johansen doubled the lead before Conor Washington’s injury-time goal set up a frantic finish.

Fulham held on for a second successive away win, condemning unlucky Rangers to a first home league defeat of the season.

The opening goal came five minutes before half-time, when Fredericks’ shot struck QPR defender Jack Robinson, completely wrong-footing keeper Alex Smithies.

A minute after blasting a penalty over the bar, Fonte made amends by finding space on the right and pulling the ball back for Johansen to fire home.

Rangers battled on and were rewarded when Jake Bidwell’s free-kick was won in the air by Matt Smith and Washington netted with the help of a deflection off Fredericks.

The home side had dominated much of a second half in which Fulham’s on-loan Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo was stretchered off after falling awkwardly on his shoulder following a challenge from Joel Lynch.

Fulham keeper David Button pushed away a shot from Massimo Luongo shortly after the interval and Luke Freeman went close to equalising with a free-kick.

Matt Smith, on as a substitute against his former club, then headed Freeman’s left-wing corner over the bar.

Having absorbed plenty of pressure, Fulham were handed a chance to make it 2-0 when Neeskens Kebano went down under a challenge from Lynch after dispossessing the QPR defender.

Fonte’s dismal spot-kick was Fulham’s fourth penalty miss in their last three matches against the R’s.

Johansen’s emphatic finish with five minutes remaining gave the Whites some breathing space but Rangers responded – and very nearly levelled in the closing stages.

Button denied Washington after the striker had been set up by Freeman, and Tomas Kalas cleared off the line from Smith.