QPR rediscover their mojo to claim double over troubled Foxes

Picture by William Powell

Championship

Leicester City (1) 1 James 14

QPR (1) 3 Vale 43, Nelson og 50, Edwards 58

Rangers returned to winning ways in style against Championship struggles Leicester City at The King Power Stadium.

The Foxes, who won the Premier League in 2016, ended the day in 23rd spot and remain locked in a relegation struggle with West Bromwich Albion, Oxford United, Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth.

QPR trailed to a Jordan James strike from outside the penalty area in the 14th minute which beat the unsighted Joe Walsh but then came back strongly with a goal before half time through Harvey Vale from a long ball by Ronnie Edwards, an own goal by Ben Nelson from a cross into the six yard box by Vale, and a solid Edwards back post header.

It gave the R's a first win in four games and a first away win since Hull City away in January.

Leicester City had lost four of their last eight home league games against angers (won three, drawn one), including the Hoops’ most recent visit and QPR were looking for a league double over Leicester City for the first time since the 2010-11 campaign when they won the Championship title under Neil Warnock.

The omens were good for the Hoops, with the Foxes having lost their last five home league games against London teams by an aggregate score of 12-0 - and so it proved.

QPR came into the game off the back of four defeats against Birmingham City (away) 0-1, Middlesbrough (home) 0-4, Sheffield United (home) 0-2, Southampton (away) 0-5 and one win against Hull City (away) 3-1 five games ago.

Julien Stephan QPR made four changes from the latest loss at Birmingham, with Isaac Hayden, Kieran Morgan, Rhys Norrington-Davies and Rayan Kolli coming in for Koki Saito, Jonathan Varane, Jake Clarke-Salter and Steve Cook.

City started the better of the two sides and opened the scoring in the 14th minute through James' right-footed shot from 22 yards out. QPR lacked conviction in the midfield and up front with Richard Kone and Kolli struggling to make an impact. Abdul Fatawu and Stephy Mavididi caused the QPR wing backs problems with attacks down both flanks.

QPR equalised through a delightful finish by Vale in the 43rd minute and went up 2-1 in the 50th minute on a fast counterattack which saw Kone find Vale, who crossed into the six-yard box where Nelson put through his own goal.

Jimmy Dunne headed over a Edwards cross in the 57th minute as the R’s looked to increase their lead. Then in the 58th minute Smyth saw a right-footed shot tipped away by Stolarczyk for a corner. QPR increased their lead from the corner taken by Vale as Edwards rose at the back post to head in a third goal in the 58th minute.

Foxes: (4-2-3-1) Stolarczyk – Choudhury Okoli Nelson Thomas – Skipp (61, Winks) James – Fatawu Mukasa (61, De Cordova -Reid) Mavididi – Ayew (60, Daka)

R's: (4-4-2) Walsh – Mbengue Dunne Edwards Norrington-Davies – Smyth (84, Saito) Hayden Morgan (72, Varane) Vale (90+4, Bennie) – Kone Kolli (72, Poku)

Attendance: 27,494