QPR 1 Hull City 2
An injury-time defensive mix-up condemned QPR to another defeat, leaving them 15th in the Championship table.
Rangers, still without injured top scorer Charlie Austin and still without a win under manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, seemed to have rescued a point when Sebastian Polter headed in an 86th-minute equaliser to cancel out Abel Hernandez’s opener.
But when defender Grant Hall and keeper Rob Green collided as they attempted to clear Sam Lucas’ left-wing cross, the ball struck Hull substitute Adama Diomande and rebounded into the net.
In a game low on quality, Hernandez put the visitors ahead with a sublime finish on 61 minutes.
Mohamed Diame found space on the left and picked out the Uruguayan striker, who steered a calm first-time shot beyond Green.
German striker Polter struggled to make an impact up front before netting his second goal in as many matches.
Matt Phillips delivered a perfect cross from the left and keeper Allan McGregor got a hand to Polter’s header but could not keep it out of the net.
But there was a further twist and beaten Rangers find themselves 10 points adrift of the play-off places six matches into Hasselbaink’s reign.
Polter had a decent chance and Alejandro Faurlin went close for them during a turgid first half.
After Hull’s Jake Livermore had given the ball away, Polter hesitated and his shot was blocked by Harry Maguire.
Polter was given a starting place by Hasselbaink along with Tjaronn Chery, who sent an early effort over the bar.
Faurlin had a firm strike tipped over by McGregor, and at the other end Diame and Ahmed Elmohamady steered shots wide of the target.
QPR struggled to create chances but did go close to taking the lead three minutes before half-time, when Chery’s corner was nudged over the bar by Faurlin from close range.
Rangers, whose reliance on Austin was underlined once again, were just as uninspiring after the interval.
After going behind to Hernandez’s 10th league goal of the season, the best they could muster was Paul Konchesky’s left-footed shot into the side netting before the 78th-minute introduction of Jamie Mackie at least raised the home fans’ spirits.
Mackie, back in action after more than three months out with a hamstring injury, gave the R’s some much-needed impetus up front.
But it was Polter who made the breakthrough for Rangers – only for Hull to regain the lead in bizarre fashion.
This post was last modified on 02/01/2016
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..and, for crying out loud, get the boy from Wycombe back - predictive text prevents me from using his name - and play Furlong as one of a three at the back. I've had enough I'm going to bed.
This was a huge risk of an appointment based on JFH total lack of experience. He is not capable clearly of motivating this rabble. But it is the board wanting to keep faith with failed players in some pipe - dream of the premier league that is the real problem. We are going nowhere. We have to offload these players and start again. Take players from the lower leagues, avoid relegation and build again. So simple. The problem, as ever, is Fernandes, a great man who has gambled all but now has to either go away or accept genuinely this is a long, long term process. Sacking Ramsey was disastrous but maybe JFH could still do it if you gave him a different agenda.
Poor game, not impressed with either team.