West Brom 1 QPR 0
QPR paid the price for missing several first-half chances at The Hawthorns, where Graham Dorrans’ 30-yarder proved decisive.
Dorrans’ 22nd-minute effort was well struck but keeper Paddy Kenny, who got a hand to the ball, arguably should have done better.
Bobby Zamora should certainly have done better with a couple of the openings that came his way in a match Rangers ought to have taken at least a point from.
The striker, who passed a fitness test along with Jamie Mackie, found himself with a clear sight of goal early on, but after holding off Gareth McAuley he was unable to find a way past keeper Ben Foster.
At the other end, Peter Odemwingie dragged a shot wide before Dorrans fired West Brom into the lead.
Rangers responded well and went close to equalising when Samba Diakite shot wide of the near post after being found by Mackie, and when Zamora headed wide from Joey Barton’s right-wing cross.
Then Zamora was again denied by Foster after being put through, this time after Taye Taiwo’s long ball forward.
Rangers made a determined start to the second half but almost went further behind when Billy Jones hit the post from close range after being teed up by Odemwingie’s clever back-heel.
The prompted R’s boss Mark Hughes to make a change, bringing on Shaun Wright-Phillips for Shaun Derry and switching to a 4-4-2 formation with Mackie moving up front alongside Zamora.
But Rangers struggled to create further chances, although Zamora missed a decent opportunity when he miscued following good work by Adel Taarabt on the right.
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This post was last modified on 14/04/2012