Chery’s sublime strike not enough for QPR

QPR 1 Blackburn Rovers 1

Sam Gallagher’s goal denied QPR victory at Loftus Road. 

The equaliser cancelled out a superb strike from Tjaronn Chery, who found the top corner with a sublime left-footed free-kick from 30 yards on 65 minutes.

Gallagher scored nine minutes later when he headed Corry Evans’ cross beyond keeper Alex Smithies.

QPR’s new signing Idriss Sylla came on as a late substitute and missed a golden chance to restore the lead in the 89th minute.

The striker, signed from Anderlecht ahead of the recent transfer deadline, wriggled his way free of a defender only to then shoot straight at keeper Jason Steele.

Chery’s goal came just after a spell of Blackburn pressure in which Smithies kept out Evans’ volley and Gordon Greer missed a great chance for the visitors when he blasted over after Craig Conway’s corner had dropped to the defender.

Rovers, bottom of the table and still without a league win this season, were forced to make a change when Charlie Mulgrew’s debut was cut short shortly after the half-hour mark.

Mulgrew, recently signed from Celtic, was replaced by Evans after going off injured.

But the visitors still managed to cause Rangers problems in the first half, with an unmarked Tommie Hoban heading wide from close range before Hope Akpan and Conway both sent shots wide of the target.

In the final seconds of the half, they went close again when Gallagher’s goal-bound header from Conway’s corner was blocked by Jake Bidwell.

At the other end, James Perch fired over from 30 yards and Sebastian Polter’s header from Chery’s corner was comfortably saved by Steele.

Conor Washington came on for Polter at the interval but Chery remained QPR’s best outlet.

Chery’s ball over the top created an opportunity for fellow Dutchman Nasser El Khayati, who shot straight at Steele.

Steele was unable to rescue Blackburn when Chery opened the scoring in fine style, but they battled on and got their reward when Gallagher netted his second goal of the season.

Rangers boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink responded to the equaliser by bringing on Sylla, but when a chance came his way he was unable to take it.