QPR 3 MK Dons 0
QPR’s persistence paid off at Loftus Road and their victory eased the pressure on the much maligned Chris Ramsey.
All the goals came in the second half, with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas breaking the deadlock before Matt Phillips and Junior Hoilett netted late on.
Under-fire head coach Ramsey was again barracked by the home fans before Emmanuel-Thomas’ all-important opening goal on 70 minutes.
Nedum Onuoha played the ball into the box and Emmanuel-Thomas eluded two challenges with a lovely piece of control and then a nutmeg before shooting past keeper David Martin from close range.
Phillips doubled the lead with 13 minutes remaining, gathering Daniel Tozser’s chip and then cutting inside Josh Murphy before firing into the far corner of the net.
And Hoilett added the third in the 88th minute, hooking the ball over his shoulder from a couple of yards out after Tozser’s corner had been headed on by Clint Hill.
Rangers’ win – only their second in eight matches – was thoroughly deserved despite some anxious moments.
Paul Konchesky had their best chance in a first half they dominated.
Konchesky burst into the box and collected Tjaronn Chery’s well-timed pass but his weak shot beyond Martin was cleared off the line by Kyle McFadzean.
Martin had earlier kept out efforts from Chery and Emmanuel-Thomas before Karl Henry – restored to the Rangers side in the absence of the injured Sandro – was just unable to connect with Phillips’ low cross.
QPR continued to press after the interval and went close when Grant Hall headed over from Phillips’ left-wing corner.
Ramsey, whose continued selection of just one striker has angered many fans, made a change on 57 minutes, replacing Massimo Luongo with another midfielder in Leroy Fer – a substitution which was greeted with a barrage of boos.
Henry, whose form this season has been poor, was also the target of jeers before being substituted.
The mood would have darkened further had keeper Rob Green not produced a fine save to deny Simon Church at point-blank range after the forward had spun away from Hill.
It proved to be a crucial moment in the match, because shortly afterwards QPR broke the deadlock when Emmanuel-Thomas scored his third league goal of the season since he was brought in to replace injured top scorer Charlie Austin.
The visitors would have equalised had a stretching Church been able to apply the finishing touch at the far post to Murphy’s low cross.
Their hopes of a comeback were then crushed by Phillips’ emphatic finish and Hoilett’s first goal since April last year.
Martin prevented a fourth Rangers goal by saving with his legs to deny Fer in injury time.
This post was last modified on 24/10/2015