QPR 1 Bristol City 0: Idrissa Sylla late strike give Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s side much-needed win
Robins knocked off their perch as Rs inch closer to the play-off spots
QPR made it five games unbeaten as a late Idrissa Sylla strike sealed victory over Bristol City.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's side looked set to be held to a second successive draw before the Guinean striker popped up with the matchwinner 15 minutes from time.
Tammy Abraham had another quiet night for the visitors after battling through Friday night’s defeat to Cardiff with a sickness and diarrhoea bug - and missing training over the weekend - so it was little surprise he was unable to add to his 13 goals this season before the Rs ace struck.
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The teenager caught it nicely but it went the wrong side of the post.
And with a quarter of an hour remaining the hosts sprung into action after QPR keeper Alex Smithies had denied Bristol City's Bobby Reid with what looked like with a point-winning save after a one-on-one. And then Sylla made sure it was all three points for the west Londoners with a smart finish from a Massimo Luongo cross.
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FIVE THINGS WE LEARNT
- RANGERS fans appear to be rapidly falling out of love with the manager, the team or the club as a whole. The crowd was particularly poor, with giant gaps all around the stadium and even die-hard sections – like R block in Ellerslie Road -looked a bit light. The fans there don’t demand winning football – they certainly aren’t used to it – but they want entertainment for their steep ticket prices and it’s not happening. They perked up after the goal but attendance and atmosphere is a concern in W12.
2. QPR are facing an injury crisis at a tricky time for the team. Centre-back Grant Hall is facing a lengthy lay-off after getting injured early in the weekend draw with Reading. And full-back Joel Lynch lasted just 32 minutes before having to retire with a fitness problem of his own. Nicholas Hamalainen, the 19-year-old American-born Finland international – finished the game at left-back.
3. BRISTOL City look like a team going places despite this defeat, especially with promising young manager Lee Johnson. Paying Barnsley for his services in February might have looked like a risk – when money is scarce – but the way he has put this team together, with experienced heads like Gary O’Neil blending with emerging talents like Abraham looks set to make them promotion contenders.
4. LEE Tomlin is still the drinking man’s favourite footballer. The skilful No10 looks like he could pop up in your local Sunday side at any time. But when you see his skill close up his talent is obvious. His service to Abraham must be a dream for the striker to dine on. Sadly, like a number of us, he has an unfortunate body shape that does his speed no favours.
5. MASSIMO Luongo is a talent that Rangers need to get the best out of if they want to get fans back on side and have a decent crack at the league. The Australian is always exhausted after international trips to the other side of the world – which is why he sat out the weekend’s bore draw – but his assist for the winning goal proved once again he could be their wizard from Oz.