QPR 3-4 Birmingham City, Championship: report, ratings and verdict

Posted 9th February 2019 1 min Read Time By
VS.

QPR 4-4-2

3

4

Birmingham City 4-4-2

Half Time: 1 - 4 Loftus Road ( Attendance: 14,234 (1,774) )
1 min

Nahki Wells missed a 92nd minute penalty as QPR lost 4-3 to Birmingham City in a sensational Loftus Road encounter.

A first half hat-trick from Che Adams and Harlee Dean’s header saw City score four in a row before Matt Smith’s brace and Jordan Cousins mounted an inspired comeback.

Adams netted two in six minutes, firing across Joe Lumley before rounding the R’s goalkeeper for his second and then pouncing on Jota’s strike off the post for three with Dean scoring in between.

Smith’s goals came either side of the interval, giving the R’s serious hope of a comeback with the majority of the second half remaining.

Cousins then thumped a shot into the top left corner, reducing the deficit to a single goal with eight minutes to go – despite Rangers missing some golden chances shortly before.

And when Luke Freeman was brought down in the box with three minutes of injury time left, Wells saw his penalty saved to leave QPR with a fourth league defeat in a row.

Key Points

Check out all the key talking points and reaction from London Football Scene below…

Key Moment

Wells’ penalty saved by Blues’ keeper Lee Camp with three minutes of added time remaining – leaving QPR with nothing to show for their inspired comeback.

Moan of the Match

Rangers fell apart after conceding the second goal, losing complete focus and giving the ball away cheaply, enabling their visitors to run riot.

Talking Point

Smith appears to now be an essential part of Rangers’ front line – his mental attitude to maintain belief, score a brace and continue to feed others was incredible.

Man of the Match

Che Adams – his intelligent movement, quick reactions and relationship with Jota gave Birmingham a substantial lead.

Tweet of the Match

Referee Watch

Darren Bond (Lancashire) – Controlled a fast-paced encounter overall and got a big call spot on at 2-4 after Matt Smith hit the floor in the box.

Atmosphere

Loftus Road was silent as QPR were battered and bruised, but as competitiveness grew, the second half had a real excitement to it before an agonising end.

Verdict

Despite an inspired comeback and a thrilling match, it’s the fourth league defeat in a row for Rangers who, without question, will have much work to do before travelling to Bristol City.

Line Ups

QPR 4-4-2

Lumley; Furlong, Hall, Lynch (Wszolek, 61), Bidwell; Freeman, Scowen (Cousins, 46), Luongo, Osayi-Samuel (Leistner, 46); Wells, Smith

Subs not used:

Ingram, Eze, Manning, Hemed

Booked

Lynch

Birmingham City 4-4-2

Camp; Harding, Morrison, Dean, Colin; Maghoma (Gardner, 74), Gardner, Kieftenbeld, Jota; Jutkeiwicz (Mrabti, 68), Adams (Vassell, 82)

Subs not used:

Trueman, Pedersen, Mahoney, Davis

Booked

Maghoma

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