Chelsea’s Brown scores winner as QPR lose again
Rotherham 1 QPR 0
QPR’s miserable season reached a new low as they were beaten by the Championship’s bottom side.
A first-half goal by on-loan Chelsea youngster Izzy Brown gave struggling Rotherham only their second win of the season.
Brown struck on 25 minutes, slotting past keeper Alex Smithies after exchanging passes with Danny Ward.
Rangers’ third consecutive defeat – in their fourth match since Ian Holloway’s return as manager – leaves them 18th in the table, just three points above the relegation zone.
Joel Lynch almost put them ahead during an action-packed start.
After Conor Washington’s shot was pushed away by keeper Lewis Price, Lynch’s header from the resulting corner by Tjaronn Chery was cleared off the line by Darnell Fisher.
Yeni Ngbakoto, making his first start for QPR since September, then had a shot saved by Price before Rotherham went close when Joe Newell’s free-kick was headed wide of the far post by Ward.
Rangers showed plenty of attacking intent but paid the price when they were undone for the goal, as Brown was given time and space to run through the middle and score with ease.
Jake Bidwell then missed a chance to equalise when he blasted over after Chery’s corner had been headed down by Nedum Onuoha.
Price produced a fine save from Chery at point-blank range and denied the Dutchman again early in the second half when he tipped over his free-kick.
Sebastian Polter, who has been nursing an injury and started on the bench, was brought on just before the hour-mark to partner Washington up front.
But Rangers were unable to find an equaliser and were fortunate not to go further behind in the closing stages.
Ward fired against the bar and Newell failed to hit the target from the rebound.
Newell then had a header cleared off the line by substitute Ben Gladwin.
QPR: Smithies, Onuoha, Hall, Lynch, Bidwell, Ngbakoto (Polter 60), Cousins, Sandro (Gladwin 72), Luongo, Chery (Wszolek 90), Washington.
Subs not used: Ingram, El Khayati, Henry, Shodipo.
