Last-gasp goal condemns QPR to sixth straight league defeat

QPR 2 West Brom 3

Jake Livermore’s last-gasp goal condemned struggling QPR to a sixth consecutive league defeat.

Tomer Hemed’s 75th-minute penalty seemed to have earned a point for Rangers.

However, with seconds remaining, Livermore nudged home Mason Holgate’s low cross.

Luke Freeman’s equaliser cancelled out Jefferson Montero’s early goal before Jacob Murphy restored Albion’s lead just after the hour mark after capitalising on a terrible mistake by Joel Lynch.

Hemed, recently back from injury and on as a substitute, fired home from the spot after Craig Dawson was adjudged to have fouled the on-loan Brighton striker.

But Livermore had the final word for Albion, who had gone ahead after just five minutes courtesy of Montero’s first goal for the club.

Montero, making his first start for the Baggies since arriving on loan from Swansea, pounced on the loose ball to score after Murphy’s goal-bound effort was blocked on the line by Darnell Furlong.

Freeman hauled Rangers level 10 minutes before half-time – the playmaker’s seventh goal of the season.

After Massimo Luongo dispossessed Stefan Johansen, Nahki Wells laid the ball to his left to Freeman, who fired past keeper Sam Johnstone at the near post.

Rangers, without a league win since Boxing Day, were on top when defender Lynch should have let a long ball drift through to Lumley, but instead inexplicably headed straight to Murphy, who skipped past Luongo and fired into the far corner.

Steve McClaren’s side found another equaliser – and both sides had chances before Livermore’s late winner, which was scored with Rangers down to 10 men after Freeman had gone off injured.

Kieran Gibbs’ low cross from the left ran to Murphy, who shot straight at Lumley, before Johnstone saved from Bright Osayi-Samuel after the winger had been set up by fellow substitute Ebere Eze.