Queens Park Rangers vs Bristol City. Sky Bet Championship.
Loftus Road StadiumAttendance12,552.
Tuesday 18 October 2016 23:05, UK
Idrissa Sylla's 75th-minute goal gave QPR a 1-0 victory over Bristol City - their first home league win since the opening day of the season.
Tjaronn Chery found Massimo Luongo on the right and the Australian's marvellous cross was met with an emphatic first-time finish by striker Sylla.
Rangers' win, only their third in 10 league matches, was thoroughly deserved given their second-half dominance, and came despite them losing Joel Lynch and Jordan Cousins to injury.
Both teams created openings in an even first half at Loftus Road. Sylla headed over from Chery's corner and Luongo was denied by a last-ditch challenge from Adam Matthews after bursting into the City box.
The best chance of the first half fell to City's on-loan Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham. The 19-year-old has been prolific for the Robins, scoring 11 goals this season, but he fired wide of the target from 10 yards out a minute before the interval.
QPR nevertheless made a lively start to the second period and shortly after Chery's strike was saved by keeper Frank Fielding, Washington's deflected effort from near the edge of the penalty area hit the bar.
Washington also went close when he shot narrowly wide of the near post after holding off Aden Flint, before Fielding saved Caulker's header from Chery's corner.
Having had to absorb a sustained spell of pressure, the visitors would have scored after a 72-minute counter-attack but for a fine save from Smithies.
City broke from a Rangers corner and Tomlin threaded the ball through for Bobby Reid, who turned away from Borysiuk only to see his shot blocked by the keeper.
It proved to be a crucial save, because three minutes later Sylla broke the deadlock with his third goal since his August move from Anderlecht.
QPR manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink:
"In the first half we were the better team and should have scored. t's always difficult when you've played that well and are not in front at half-time, but we were persistent and did the same in the second half.
"We went for it. It was always going to be a battle in midfield and about winning the physical battle. Woever won that could then create, and we did that particularly well."
Bristol City boss Lee Johnson:
"I've seen it (on video). I wouldn't be as strong as that had I not seen it. onight we've scored a good goal. It was onside. Poor officiating. It was a goal.
"We ride out the early storm, do some things we've worked on in training, and then that happens."
