Rotherham 0 QPR 3
Junior Hoilett, Matt Phillips and Sebastian Polter scored as QPR emphatically secured their first win under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
The excellent Hoilett opened the scoring with a fine goal seven minutes into the second half. He rode two challenges and, retaining his balance as he was fouled, managed to direct his shot into the bottom corner.
Phillips struck two minutes later, firing past former Rangers keeper Lee Camp after being found by Massimo Luongo’s excellent through-ball.
And Polter netted in injury-time – his third goal in four matches – when he tapped in Leroy Fer’s cross.
The victory was a timely boost for Rangers following an alarming slump down the Championship table and the cut-price sale of star striker Charlie Austin to Southampton.
They had been second best before taking the lead, and a combination of Nedum Onuoha and the woodwork saved them from going behind in the first half.
Onuoha produced a superb last-ditch challenge on the half-hour mark to deny Matt Derbyshire when the Rotherham striker looked certain to slot in the rebound after Paul Green’s shot had hit the post.
Rangers, in their ninth match since Hasselbaink took over manager, had to defend a succession of corners early on and keeper Alex Smithies, who was passed fit after an elbow injury, produced a save to keep out Joe Newell’s effort.
Smithies, earmarked for a run in the side with Rangers keen to offload Rob Green, was then beaten by Green’s strike and saw a header from Danny Ward flash wide of his near post.
But it was a different story after the interval and with Rangers in total control, Fer almost made it 3-0 when he curled a shot just wide.
Rotherham responded with a decent spell of pressure before Polter got the goal he deserved for a relentless performance up front.
This post was last modified on 18/01/2016