QPR thrash Reading to boost promotion hopes
QPR thrashed Reading to boost their promotion hopes in fine style.
Lyndon Dykes scored twice and there were also goals for Luke Amos and Jimmy Dunne as fourth-placed Rangers made it five wins and a draw from their past six matches.
The victory left them just two points behind second-placed Blackburn with a game in hand.
They went ahead in the 13th minute, somewhat against the run of play.
Chris Willock shrugged off Josh Laurent and delivered a perfect cross from the right for an unchallenged Dykes to head home from the edge of the six-yard box.
The goal came shortly after former QPR youngster Laurent appealed in vain for a penalty after going down under a challenge from Dunne.
Reading had started well, with George Puscas shooting wide early on and R’s keeper David Marshall producing a fine save to push away Lucas Joao’s header from John Swift’s right-wing free-kick.
But Rangers took total control of the game after Dykes’ opener and Amos hit the post with a 25-yard strike before two goals in as many minutes sent the hosts in at half-time three up.
They doubled their lead when Dykes’ header from Albert Adomah’s 35th-minute cross ricocheted into the net off the head of luckless Reading defender Tom Holmes.
Worse followed for the beleaguered visitors when Amos started and finished a QPR counter-attack, galloping almost the length of the pitch, to make it three.
Following a Reading corner, Amos collected the ball deep in his own half, found Willock, and sprinted forward.
Willock showed great footwork to evade a challenge and send through the former Tottenham midfielder, who fired past keeper Luke Southwood from the left-hand side of the penalty area.
Dunne added the fourth six minutes into the second half when he headed in Stefan Johansen’s left-wing corner.
Marshall denied Reading a consolation goal by brilliantly keeping out Joao’s header.
And Southwood denied Dykes a hat-trick by tipping over the Scotland striker’s volley.
QPR: Marshall; Dickie, Dunne, Barbet; Adomah, Field, Johansen, Amos (Thomas 65), Wallace (Sanderson 65); Willock (71); Dykes.
Subs not used: Walsh, Ball, Odubajo, Dozzell.
29/01/2022 @ 6:40 pm
But it was only Reading (I say that purely due to their league position) poor marking allowed Dykes and co the space to score. Against decent opponents, they wouldnt have got a sniff, so please, can we have some sort of realistic reporting. We would get slaughtered in the Premiership with this squad.
Having said that, a win is a win, well done.