QPR plunged ever closer to relegation when they threw away an early lead to
lose 3-1 at home to promotion chasing Blackburn Rovers.
The club was placed in administration this week with massive debts and any
potential buyers will undoubtedly be looking at a Second Division outfit next
season as this afternoon's reverse made it eight games without a win.
However, it had all looked so different for the hosts in the opening 15
minutes as they took control of the game by snatching an early lead.
Ian Baraclough's chipped free-kick was fumbled by Rovers keeper Brad Friedel
to gift Rangers a corner and from Paul Bruce's swinging flag-kick, Chris Plummer
rose to head firmly into the top corner.
Andy Thomson, Peter Crouch and Stuart Wardley had all gone close before the
goal, but when Rangers finally grabbed the lead it merely served to spark
Blackburn into life and they quickly grabbed the initiative.
Marcus Bent nodded Alan Mahon's corner just wide before David Dunn forced a
fine save from Lee Harper with a vicious 25-yard free-kick, but on 24 minutes
the visitors finally grabbed the equaliser.
It was as much down to Rangers poor marking as Rovers good play, as Matt
Jansen fed Bent in the box and when he was allowed to square the ball, Dunn had
the easiest of tasks to beat Harper from six yards.
Rovers stepped it up a gear and on 38 minutes Dunn beat Harper from 20 yards,
but saw his shot hit the top of the crossbar.
A minute before the break, Crouch nodded Bruce's deep cross wide - but it was
the visitors who would go into half-time with the lead.
Dunn turned provider this time as he lobbed a ball over the top and Jansen
was able to out-pace both Karl Ready and Baraclough before calmly slotting into
the corner.
Blackburn were in complete control after the break and the only surprise was
that they rarely looked like adding to their tally.
Only the excellent Jansen was causing QPR real problems and he went close on
56 minutes when he beat his marker on the right before cutting inside and
curling a left-foot shot just wide of the far post.
QPR boss Ian Holloway threw on-loan striker Leon Knight and debut boy Oliver
Burgess to try and turn things round.
With some 11 minutes to go, the home side managed to create their only real
chance of the second half when Bruce's free-kick fell to Wardley, whose powerful
shot flew wide.
The icing on the cake for Rovers came on 85 minutes as they caught QPR on the
break to make it three.
Bent's cross was pulled back by Jansen to Dunn and when he teed up substitute
Eyal Berkovic, the Israeli beat Harper from close range.
Teams:
QPR: Harper, Rose, Plummer (Koejoe 83), Ready,
Baraclough (Burgess 60), Wardley, Bignot, Peacock, Bruce,
Thomson, Crouch (Knight 61).
Subs Not Used: Miklosko, Kulcsar.
Booked: Ready.
Goals: Plummer 15.
Blackburn: Friedel, Curtis, Berg, Short,
Gillespie (Hignett 69), Mahon (Berkovic 75), Flitcroft, Dunn,
Duff, Jansen (Hughes 86), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Filan, Bjornebye.
Goals: Dunn 25, Jansen 45, Berkovic 86.
Att: 12,449
Ref: J P Robinson (Hull).
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