Football Review | Bristol City 1 - 2 QPR

QPR extended their unbeaten run with a hard-fought victory

Goals from Richard Kone and Paul Smyth completed a stirring second-half comeback at Bristol City.

Author | Paul Jones

Stadium | Ashton Gate

Fans and players celebrate 

The hosts went in front before the break when Emil Riis nodded home his fourth goal of the season from Neto Borges’ teasing cross.

QPR drew level after the interval when Kone brought down substitute Harvey Vale’s ball and rifled it into the roof of the net. Smyth, another impact substitute, then glanced in Jimmy Dunne’s cross to stretch the Hoops’ unbeaten run to six matches.

How Queens Park Rangers moved into the top six

Both sides arrived at Ashton Gate following midweek draws. Rangers made six changes to their starting line-up, while City boss Gerhard Struber made just one, recalling Mark Sykes in place of Ross McCrorie on the right flank.

View from the home stands

Although QPR showed flashes of promise, with half-chances for Koki Saito and Kader Dembele, it was City who looked more dangerous. Scott Twine squandered a good opportunity from close range after Riis’ clever cutback, before the Dane broke the deadlock when Borges chased down Sykes’ overhit ball and crossed for Riis to head past Paul Nardi.

READ MORE | Football Review | QPR 0 - 0 Oxford United

City pressed to double their advantage early in the second half, but QPR survived and were grateful for a fine last-ditch challenge from Rob Atkinson to deny Kone after Saito had sent him through.

The game turned with the introduction of Vale and Smyth. Vale immediately picked out Kone, who controlled and finished emphatically for the equaliser, his fourth goal since joining from Wycombe in August.

The hosts pushed for a winner, with Anis Mehmeti and Atkinson both going close, but it was QPR who struck late. Smyth, who scored from halfway in this fixture last season, rose to meet Dunne’s cross and guided his header past Radek Vitek to secure Rangers’ fourth win in six games.