Struggling QPR suffer seventh consecutive defeat

Middlesbrough 2 QPR 0

QPR’s woeful run continued as they slumped to a seventh consecutive Championship defeat.

They conceded after just a couple of minutes at the Riverside Stadium, where Jonny Howson’s early opener was followed by Ashley Fletcher doubling Middlesbrough’s lead.
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The shoddy defending Rangers have been guilty off during their slump down the table was evident again as Mo Besic sent in a diagonal ball and Howson, who had drifted into the penalty area totally unchallenged, slotted past Joe Lumley.

QPR had a decent amount of possession after that and Toni Leistner’s ball forward was headed down by Ryan Manning to Ebere Eze, whose effort saved by keeper Darren Randolph.

But Fletcher made it 2-0 just after the half-hour mark.

Again Besic was involved, driving forward and laying the ball Fletcher, whose shot from 15 yards out beat Lumley at the keeper’s near post and went in off the bar.

Lumley made amends when he prevented a third goal by denying Britt Assombalonga, who was presented with a chance by Leistner giving the ball away.

Rangers, without the injured Luke Freeman and with Tomer Hemed and Grant Hall recalled along with Manning and Eze, threatened at times in the second half but never really looked like mounting a comeback.

Hemed headed tamely at Randolph and was later unable to add the finishing touch at the far post after Darnell Furlong had played the ball across goal.

And Randolph produced a late save to deny Nahki Wells after the striker had been set up by a knockdown from fellow substitute Matt Smith.