Queens Park Rangers 0-2 West Bromwich Albion: Ferguson and Pereira give Baggies win
Unbeaten West Brom came to life in the second half to beat an in-form QPR and move to the top of the Championship.
After shading a forgettable first half, the Baggies led when Nathan Ferguson was given time to stride forward and beat Joe Lumley with a speculative 30-yard shot.
QPR keeper Joe Lumley atoned for the goal by thwarting Charlie Austin, Grady Diangana and Kyle Edwards as the visitors asserted their dominance.
But Slaven Bilic’s side were out of sight as Matheus Pereira’s free-kick went through a powderpuff QPR wall and in after Yoann Barbet had been red-carded for bringing down Hal Robson-Kanu.
- Saturday’s EFL action as it happened
Mark Warburton’s Rangers had been looking to secure five consecutive league wins for the first time since 2004, but failed to even register a shot on target, with Ilias Chair wasteful in the first half after beating two players in the box and Jordan Hugill heading over late on.
In fact, Ferguson’s opener was the game’s first meaningful effort, with the R’s defence backing off the impressive young full-back, whose effort should arguably have been stopped by the diving Lumley.
Substitute Robson-Kanu was in on goal when Barbet tangled with him and was dismissed, with Brazilian midfielder Pereira joining 18-year-old Ferguson in scoring his first goal for the Baggies.
The margin of victory would have been wider had the overworked Lumley not been able to claw away former Wales striker Robson-Kanu’s header late on.
West Brom manager Slaven Bilic:
“This is the best performance that we played so far. Straight from the start we were on the front foot. They didn’t have a sniff.
“We were a bit nervous – we were getting in great situations but were rushing it.
“In those situations you maybe need one moment of individual brilliance and we got that with Nathan (Ferguson). We were pure class afterwards.
“I’m really pleased. Of course we can get better and it’s still early days but I have to say the lads have been excellent.”
QPR boss Mark Warburton:
“I think we showed too much respect. They’re a very good team, a talented team with big expectations and we knew what we faced, but we didn’t get out of second gear in the first half.
“We started the second half well and then conceded a really soft goal. To concede a goal like that, the whole dynamic of the game changes.
“Maybe their budget is multiples of ours and the expectations are there, but we’ve shown in recent weeks that we can go home and away and play good football and hurt teams.”
Line-ups
QPR
Substitutes
West Brom
Substitutes
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Queens Park Rangers 0, West Bromwich Albion 2.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Queens Park Rangers 0, West Bromwich Albion 2.
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Joe Lumley.
Attempt saved. Kyle Edwards (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Darnell Furlong with a cross.
Darnell Furlong (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ryan Manning (Queens Park Rangers).
Booking
Hal Robson-Kanu (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card.
Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Filip Krovinovic tries a through ball, but Hal Robson-Kanu is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Jordan Hugill (Queens Park Rangers) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ryan Manning with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Filip Krovinovic replaces Matheus Pereira.
Attempt saved. Hal Robson-Kanu (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Darnell Furlong with a cross.
Hal Robson-Kanu (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Ryan Manning (Queens Park Rangers).
Substitution
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Matthew Smith replaces Dominic Ball.
Goal!
Goal! Queens Park Rangers 0, West Bromwich Albion 2. Matheus Pereira (West Bromwich Albion) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Dismissal
Yoann Barbet (Queens Park Rangers) is shown the red card.
Hal Robson-Kanu (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Yoann Barbet (Queens Park Rangers).
Foul by Jake Livermore (West Bromwich Albion).
Toni Leistner (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Jake Livermore (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Matheus Pereira.
Attempt saved. Kyle Edwards (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Matheus Pereira.
Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Jake Livermore.
Substitution
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Marc Pugh replaces Nahki Wells.
Foul by Matheus Pereira (West Bromwich Albion).
Ilias Chair (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Hal Robson-Kanu (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Toni Leistner (Queens Park Rangers).
Attempt blocked. Kyle Edwards (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Hal Robson-Kanu.
Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Kyle Edwards replaces Matt Phillips.
Attempt missed. Hal Robson-Kanu (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Grady Diangana following a corner.
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Joe Lumley.
Attempt saved. Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Attempt blocked. Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Matheus Pereira.
Substitution
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Bright Samuel replaces Eberechi Eze.
Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Kyle Bartley tries a through ball, but Hal Robson-Kanu is caught offside.
Hal Robson-Kanu (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Toni Leistner (Queens Park Rangers).
Matheus Pereira (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Toni Leistner (Queens Park Rangers).
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