QPR hold off Luton fightback to clinch third straight win

QPR 3 Luton 2

QPR held off a Luton fightback to clinch a third consecutive league win. 

Nahki Wells scored twice as the R’s raced into a three-goal lead within 28 minutes at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, where Ebere Eze also scored – and was twice denied by the woodwork.

However, Luton were gifted a way back into the game when keeper Joe Lumley inexplicably played the ball straight to Harry Cornick, who helped himself to a goal nine minutes before half-time.

James Collins pulled another back for the Hatters early in the second half but QPR held on.

Eze netted after just three minutes, collecting Ilias Chair’s pass and unleashing a right-footed shot from 25 yards which keeper Simon Sluga should have kept out but could only palm into the net.

Toni Leistner’s 20th-minute long ball set up Rangers’ second for Wells, who controlled on his chest and fired into the far corner.

As the home side continued to dominate, Sluga pushed Eze’s thunderous left-footed strike on to the bar.

And the bar was rattled again soon afterwards – this time by Eze’s header from Ryan Manning’s left-wing cross.

The outstanding Eze then threaded a pass through to Wells, who slotted past Sluga for his fourth goal in seven appearances since returning for another season on loan from Burnley.

At that stage it was one-way traffic, but Lumley got his attempted pass to Manning all wrong and Cornick simply lifted the ball into an unguarded net.

Collins’ goal – his fifth of the season – three minutes after the interval further raised Luton’s hopes of pulling off an incredible comeback.

Andrew Shinne swung the ball in from the left and Cornick at the far post nudged it back to Collins, who applied the finish.

QPR’s anxiety was not helped by Jordan Hugill making a mess of glorious chances to extend their lead.

The on-loan West Ham striker twice scooped the ball over the bar, first after being set up by Eze and later by Manning.

Hugill had been in fine form, scoring four times in his previous three outings, but this was a performance he will want to forget.

As Luton searched for a late equaliser, Izzy Brown sent a shot narrowly wide, Yoann Barbet’s last-ditch challenge denied Collins and Lumley was down quickly to keep out a low shot from substitute George Moncur.