Woeful QPR defending gifts points to struggling Blackburn
QPR 1Saito (35′)
Blackburn 3Jørgensen (21′, 40′)
Morishita (50′)
Woeful QPR defending gifted struggling Blackburn a win at Loftus Road.
Mathias Jørgensen scored twice for Rovers in new boss Michael O’Neill’s first match in charge.
It was the perfect start for the Northern Ireland manager, who will perform both jobs until the end of the season after this week being handed the task of keeping the Lancashire club in the Championship.
O’Neill inherited a side that were third-bottom of the table, having won just one of their previous 10 league matches and only one of their past 16.
Jørgensen put them ahead on 21 minutes and restored the lead after Koki Saito’s equaliser, and Ryoya Morishita’s goal early in the second half sealed their victory.
Morishita brilliantly set up the opening goal, nutmegging Rhys Norrington-Davies on the right flank and delivering a perfect ball between Rangers centre-backs Steve Cook and Jimmy Dunne for Jørgensen to slot past keeper Joe Walsh.
The goal came completely against the run of play. QPR had dominated the opening stages and almost took an early lead when Saito’s ball in from the right was sent looping towards goal by Richard Kone and was cleared by Rovers defender Eiran Cashin.
Rangers responded well to going behind and they levelled on 35 minutes, when Isaac Hayden’s low shot was controlled by Saito, who crashed a right-footed shot into the top corner of the net.
However, five minutes later, Saito lost possession to Sondre Tronstad, who played in Jørgensen to again sneak between Rangers’ centre-backs and score, taking the Norwegian’s tally to three goals in seven appearances since his move from Bodo Glimt a month ago.
And Tronstad set up Rovers’ third, scored by Morishita five minutes into the second half, crossing from the right-hand edge of the penalty area for the Japan international to head home unmarked – again in between Cook and Dunne.
QPR’s experienced defensive partnership had been working well, with both men in great form and Julien Stephan’s side having kept three consecutive away clean sheets. But this was an inexplicable horror show from them, and Cook was taken off in the second half.
Rangers also continue to be plagued by injuries – key midfielder Nicolas Madsen limped off midway through the second half.
QPR: Walsh; Edwards, Dunne, Cook (Mbengue 69), Norrington-Davies (Esquerdinha 79); Hayden (Morgan 79), Madsen (Smyth 69); Bennie (Kolli 69), Vale, Saito; Kone.
Subs not used: Hamer, Smith, Adamson, Clarke-Salter.
