QPR celebrate well earned win over Wigan

QPR got their first win of the season at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium after goals from Nahki Wells, Ebere Eze and Jordan Hugill completed a comeback against Wigan.

Mark Warburton will be delighted with his team’s character after an improved second half display, while Wigan boss Paul Cook will be disappointed his team couldn’t come away with anything despite leading at half-time.

The game exploded into life after just two minutes when Danny Fox’s corner was smashed in by defender Cedric Kipre.

The fierce, low delivery from the set-piece evaded the QPR defence and fell to the Ivorian to tap into an empty net at the back post, giving the visitors a shock lead.

After 16 minutes it could have been two when Fox was once again the creator, playing a delightful ball over the top to Jacobs who had got forward in his wing-back role.

However, the Englishman could only strike the post from a tight angle, meaning the Rs escaped on this occasion.

Rangers almost immediately made the most of their good fortune at the other end, but Eze’s weak-footed effort from the edge of the box went inches wide of the post.

The hosts were impressive with the ball and willingly played out from the back, but they failed to create much of note with the ball often breaking down in the final third.

Ilias Chair, who made a rare start for QPR, was finding space in between the lines, similarly to Eze who would often drift in from the right, but neither were able to create a good goalscoring opportunity.

Just three minutes into the second half though, the Rs found their breakthrough and the equaliser through Wells.

Ryan Manning flashed a low cross into the box and it looked like it was going to be dealt with by David Marshall, but his reluctance meant the ball fell to Dominic Ball, who saw his effort blocked.

The block fell to Wells, who was able to place the ball in the bottom corner with the goalkeeper out of position.

QPR looked like they might have a penalty on the 60 minute mark when Chair was fouled by a high foot from Kipre, but the referee decided the contact came outside the box.

There were no complaints however when Eze converted the resulting free-kick with a low bouncing shot that caught the keeper unaware and crept in at the far-post.

With Wigan now looking more exposed at the back and their legs looking tired, Wells played a one-two with Chair on in the 67^th minute and it opened up for him to strike an effort from 18 yards, but his low shot went just wide.

With 20 minutes to play it would have been 3-1 to QPR had it not been for a horror miss from Jordan Hugill, who had come on just seconds before hand.

A perfectly weighted cross found him just two yards out with the goal gaping, but the striker somehow could only put it over when it looked almost certain he would put the game out of sight for the hosts.

He did however make amends for the miss, scoring QPR’s third to confirm a deserved victory for the home side.

His well-timed run was found by Eze, and with Marshall back peddling he curled the ball round the keeper and in off the post.

They looked to pile the misery on Wigan with Chair bearing down on goal, but Marshall stopped him in his tracks as he attempted to round the keeper

QPR (4-1-4-1): Lumley; Rangel, Hall, Barbet, Manning; Ball (71); Eze, Chair, Scowen, Pugh (68); Wells
Substitutes: Kelly, Kane, Smith (71), Hugill (68), Osayi-Samuel, Owens, Leistner
Bookings: Chair (45+2), Hall (78)
Red cards:

Wigan (3-5-2): Marshall; Fox, Dunkley, Kipre; Robinson, Morsy, Jacobs, Evans, Byrne; Garner, Lowe
Substitutes: Jones, MacLeod, Massey, Mulgrew, Roberts, Lang, Naismith
Bookings: Dunkley (58), Kipre (65) Robinson (76) Garner (78)
Red cards:

Attendance: 11,921