Aston Villa condemn QPR to fifth straight defeat

QPR 0 Aston Villa 1

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QPR suffered their fifth straight defeat as resolute goalkeeper Alex Smithies was finally beaten late on by Jonathan Kodjia’s fierce strike.

Smithies had kept Rangers level by saving Kodjia’s first-half penalty and then making two smart stops after the break.

But when Kodjia turned Joel Lynch with 15 minutes remaining, Smithies could not keep out the striker’s firmly struck shot from a tight angle at his near post.

Despite introducing Jamie Mackie for his first appearance since April, QPR failed to get a shot on target during the match.

A flat first half-hour was enlivened only by the award of the penalty, as Kodjia went down under the close attentions of Pawel Wszolek.

Any grievance Rangers had, though, was alleviated when Smithies dived to his left to push away Kodjia’s spot-kick – his fifth penalty save of his spell at Loftus Road – and Ross McCormack put the follow-up wide.

After the break, Kodjia displayed good strength and tenacity to fashion a shooting chance, while Leandro Bacuna was allowed time and space to stride forward and crack an effort on goal, but Smithies was equal to both, making good saves down low to his right.

But Kodjia eventually broke through and although James Perch went close with a shot that whistled past the far post, Rangers slipped to their third 1-0 defeat in a row.

QPR: Smithies; Perch, Onuoha, Lynch, Bidwell; Wszolek (Shodipo 62), Hall, Luongo, Ngbakoto; Chery (Mackie 78); Washington (Sylla 46).
Subs not used: Ingram, Borysiuk, Sandro, Polter.