Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Queens Park Rangers 2.
BlackburnBlackburn Rovers1QPRQueens Park Rangers2
Two goals in three minutes gave relegation-fighting QPR a vital three points at Blackburn Rovers and heaped more pressure on Rovers boss Jon Dahl Tomasson.
An Aynsley Pears own goal was quickly followed by a calm finish from substitute Joseph Hodge, making his debut since signing on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers on deadline day.
The home side hit back through Sam Gallagher to set up a tense finish at Ewood Park.
But the Hoops held on to secure a crucial win although they remain in the relegation zone, three points from safety, with fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town beating Sheffield Wednesday.
Blackburn's winless run has now extended to eight games leaving them in 18th place in the Championship.
Since the start of December, Blackburn have picked up fewer points than any other Championship side and have conceded the most goals in the division in that time, and Tomasson was absent from pre-match media duties on Friday due to a "club decision".
And today's defeat will do nothing to alleviate the pressure on him, with the Hoops finally taking a deserved lead after missing a host of chances in the first half.
A triple substitution of Paul Smyth and new signings Isaac Hayden and Hodge made an instant impact as the away side were 2-0 up within five minutes.
There was a hint of fortune about the opener, as the lively Ilias Chair's right-foot shot cannoned off the post into the back of goalkeeper Pears and into the net.
Three minutes later they doubled their lead through 21-year-old Hodge, who calmly slotted past Pears for a debut goal.
Gallagher hit back for the home side after QPR failed to clear Sammie Szmodics' cross from danger, before the Championship's 16-goal top scorer Szmodics was forced off injured.
Gallagher forced a fingertip save from Asmir Begovic in the QPR goal deep into stoppage time as the home side failed to find the equaliser.
Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire:
"Of course we are disappointed to lose the game. I think we started really well.
"We conceded two unnecessary goals when we could have done better."
On missing Friday's press conference: "It's not good when you're not able to speak to the fans.
"The fans are the soul and the passion of the game and the heart of this football club, so we should always think about this but it was a club decision and I have no comment to that decision."
QPR boss Martí Cifuentes speaking to BBC Radio London:
"I'm very pleased with the result, we know how difficult it has been historically for QPR to get a victory here.
"We played a very good game, especially the first 75 minutes, I think we perhaps could have taken a bigger lead.
"They're a very good team, they can create chances. When they scored one goal perhaps there was nothing to lose for them."
On QPR's new signings: "All credit to them, [they have] different situations but all of them are showing big commitment to play for us.
"I'm pleased to have these guys in the squad because definitely they will help us a lot."
Line-ups
Blackburn
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Pears
- 11Rankin-Costello
- 5Hyam
- 16S Wharton
- 45Chrisene
- 10DolanSubstituted forAyariat 67'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 6TronstadBooked at 39mins
- 24Moran
- 7SigurdssonSubstituted forMarkandayat 67'minutes
- 8SzmodicsSubstituted forTelalovicat 85'minutes
- 9Gallagher
Substitutes
- 4O'Riordan
- 12Wahlstedt
- 14Koumetio
- 18Markanday
- 23Fleck
- 30Garrett
- 33Telalovic
- 44Ayari
- 55McFadzean
QPR
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1BegovicBooked at 90mins
- 20Cannon
- 5S Cook
- 6Clarke-Salter
- 22PaalSubstituted forLarkecheat 79'minutes
- 4Colback
- 19Dixon-BonnerBooked at 54minsSubstituted forHaydenat 57'minutes
- 7WillockSubstituted forSmythat 57'minutes
- 9DykesSubstituted forHodgeat 57'minutes
- 10Chair
- 30ArmstrongBooked at 41minsSubstituted forFreyat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Dunne
- 11Smyth
- 12Frey
- 13Archer
- 14Hayden
- 15Fox
- 16Hodge
- 21Larkeche
- 29Drewe
- Referee:
- Geoff Eltringham
- Attendance:
- 12,888
Match Stats
Home TeamBlackburnAway TeamQPR
- Possession
- Home62%
- Away38%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away4
- Corners
- Home4
- Away10
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away5
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Queens Park Rangers 2.
Booking
Yasin Ayari (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Yasin Ayari (Blackburn Rovers).
Post update
Ilias Chair (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Semir Telalovic (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ben Chrisene with a cross.
Post update
Attempt saved. Sam Gallagher (Blackburn Rovers) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Scott Wharton.
Booking
Asmir Begovic (Queens Park Rangers) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Yasin Ayari (Blackburn Rovers).
Post update
Jack Colback (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Semir Telalovic (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sam Gallagher.
Post update
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Michael Frey.
Post update
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Asmir Begovic.
Post update
Attempt saved. Joe Rankin-Costello (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Sondre Tronstad.
Post update
Attempt saved. Yasin Ayari (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Sam Gallagher.
Post update
Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Dilan Markanday.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Semir Telalovic replaces Sammie Szmodics because of an injury.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Sammie Szmodics (Blackburn Rovers).
Comments
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Records are there to be broken and am glad that burden of loss at Ewood park has been broken come on you R'rrrs keep plugging away you will get out of the relegation zone with these new signings.👏💪
A bit of a gamble to chuck all the new guys in, Luckily it paid off.
Obviously a manager with nerve.
Well done.
The club seems to be falling apart. The bad run of winless games continues. We sell one of our best assets in the transfer window because it seems we have dwindling resources and owners never communicate with the fans. Oh well we’re good at passing the ball around, but we always lose. A desperate situation.