Wilkins remembered on emotional night at QPR

QPR 4 Sheff Wed 2

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Relatives of Ray Wilkins were at Loftus Road to see QPR win on an emotional night for the club.

Rangers were three up within 15 minutes after goals from Paul Smyth, Jake Bidwell and Idrissa Sylla.

​The recalled Sylla scored his second – a penalty after Tom Lees had fouled Bright Osayi-Samuel – seven minutes into the second half.

Fernando Forestieri, starting a game for the first time since August, pulled a goal back for Wednesday on the hour mark.

Atdhe Nuhiu headed in Liam Palmer’s right-wing cross nine minutes later to test Rangers’ nerves, but their early blitz proved decisive.

Smyth put them ahead in the eighth minute, Bidwell doubled their lead a couple of minutes minutes later and Sylla then headed in the third.

The opener came when keeper Joe Wildsmith could only palm Bidwell’s left-wing cross as far as Smyth, who steered the ball into the corner of the net from 12 yards out.

And, after fumbling Bidwell’s shot, Wildsmith managed to prevent Sylla getting to the loose ball but left-back Bidwell followed up to score.

Wildsmith partly atoned by producing a fine save to keep out Luke Freeman’s low shot after the midfielder had been set up by Osayi-Samuel.

But Wildsmith was powerless to stop striker Sylla nodding in Darnell Furlong’s right-wing cross.

Having barely managed to get out of their own half, the visitors began to threaten ​before the interval ​and Adam Reach had a shot tipped over by QPR keeper Alex Smithies, who also denied Nuhiu at point-blank range.

Any prospect of a Wednesday comeback seemed to be quashed when Sylla tucked away his penalty.

But the Owls battled on and Forestieri fired in off the far post after finding space on the left of the penalty area.

Nuhiu’s finish was also emphatic, but the home side tightened up at the back to ensure they took the points.

There were emotional scenes before kick-off as QPR paid tribute to ​club legend ​Wilkins, who recently died.

His sister Sandra and brothers Dean – a former QPR player – and Stephen joined Wilkins’ ex-R’s team-mates Les Ferdinand and Andy Sinton in laying wreaths in the centre circle before a minute’s applause was held.

Wilkins served Chelsea as a player and coach but made more appearances for QPR, where he also had a spell as manager, than any other team and he was a much-loved figure at both west London clubs.

At half-time, Sinton addressed the crowd, saying: “He was a magnificent player and, as a man, Ray Wilkins was even better. He was the best of the best, with so many wonderful qualities.

“Super Ray we called him – and he was super. On and off the pitch we looked up to him. He was our captain, leader and inspiration. We all loved him. We’re going to miss him.”