Dykes double keeps QPR in rich vein of Championship form

BY JOSHUA BUCK

QPR boss Mick Beale believes that him and his team got this week “just right” after a 2-1 win over Reading on Friday evening.

It turned out to be a good night for the R’s as they came out on top thanks to two Lyndon Dykes goals.

Reading took the lead from the penalty spot in the 28th minute after Lucas Joao went down in the box. Andy Carroll slotted into the bottom corner past R’s keeper Seny Dieng. It was the former Premier League frontman’s first goal for the Royals since returning to the club after he left in January.

It was harsh on QPR as they had looked the better team in the first half an hour, creating more and better chances than their opposition.

It did not take long for QPR to level the game as early substitute Osman Kakay whipped a ball into the box which Lyndon Dykes got his head to first and put it past Joe Lumley.

Aston Villa loanee Tim Iroegbunam was bought down in the box for the second penalty of the game in the 83rd minute. Dykes was the calmest man in the Loftus Road stadium as he sent his kick it down the middle with Lumley diving the wrong way.

Beale said: “The energy the subs bought tonight, coming on, was a big part of it. And there were three players tonight that stick out. I’m delighted for Osman coming on and getting the assist, Tim playing his first 90 minutes at Championship level and he obviously gets us the penalty – but tonight’s about Lyndon.

“The second half for 15 minutes it looked very tired. We missed the leadership of Leon Balogun, it was a big decision to just rest Leon tonight and not put him in the squad.

“But you’ve got to think, I don’t want us to go back to the situation we were in a month ago, were we’ve got seven on the sidelines. What we’re starting to see at the moment is that if QPR have got the majority of their best players available then they can compete against any team in this league, the next step is for us to do it consistently.”

PICTURES: ROB AVIS