- Ghanaian forward Kwame Poku, finally trurned to action on Wednesday night as he featured in Queens Park Rangers‘ 1-0 defeat to Birmingham City.
- Patrick Roberts’ sixth-minute strike proved to be the difference at St. Andrew’s – amid a first half where the R’s struggled to get going.
- Rangers’ best spell of the match arrived in the closing stages – but Julien Stéphan’s charges were unable to muster a reply, ultimately.
The R’s headed into this fixture with an unsurprising keenness to respond to three straight Sky Bet Championship defeats – at the hands of Southampton, Sheffield United and most recently Middlesbrough on Sunday.
That was also the aim for hosts Birmingham who, sitting just two points above the R’s in the league table ahead of kick-off, in 12th, had also been beaten in their previous three games.
Chris Davies’ Blues slipped to a 1-0 loss at Charlton on Saturday.
QPR boss Stéphan made three changes to his starting XI for the trip to St. Andrew’s, following that weekend reverse to Middlesbrough.
Steve Cook, Jake Clarke-Salter and Paul Smyth all returned for Rangers, with Rhys Norrington-Davies, Isaac Hayden and Kieran Morgan named on the bench.
There was also a welcome return among the substitutes for summer signing Kwame Poku following his recent absence through injury.
In a 4-2-3-1 formation, the R’s lined up as: Joe Walsh; Amadou Mbengue, Jimmy Dunne, Cook, Clarke-Salter; Ronnie Edwards, Jonathan Varane; Smyth, Harvey Vale, Koki Saito; Richard Kone.
The first half proved to be a mightily difficult one for the R’s, in which Rangers made the worst possible start.
In just the sixth minute, Ibrahim Osman skipped away down the left before feeding Roberts, who swept the ball beyond Walsh from 12 yards.
The opening goal only served to buoy Birmingham, who dictated proceedings before half-time.
In the 21st minute, Osman saw his effort tipped wide by Walsh while, a minute later, Kone cleared off the line from Marvin Ducksch’s header before Roberts eventually drove straight at Walsh.
The home side were in complete control and, on 29 minutes, Ducksch touched wide from Jay Stansfield’s cross.
Four minutes later, Tomoki Iwata’s fierce low drive was held well by a busy Walsh.
The R’s ‘keeper’s goal was under heavy fire – exemplified when former QPR loanee Ethan Laird soon headed against the post from a home corner.
Fortunately, though, Rangers were able to go in for the break only a goal behind.
A minute before half-time, Stansfield’s snap-shot was repelled by Walsh before Osman’s follow-up was crowded out by the R’s backline.
Unsurprisingly, Stéphan made a double half-time change in a bid to invigorate his team.
Morgan and Rayan Kolli replaced Varane and Saito.
Rangers needed to provide a response – but it was hosts Birmingham who were first to threaten after the interval, on 51 minutes, as Osman cut in from the left before curling past the far post.
Five minutes later, goalscorer Roberts teed up Ducksch to blast marginally wide from the edge of the box.
Rangers were forced into a third change soon after that chance, as Cook limped off with a knock. Norrington-Davies took his place.
As the clock ticked past the hour, QPR were still within a goal of their hosts and, on 70 minutes, made a fourth change. Poku was introduced for Smyth.
Poku displayed some nice touches almost immediately after his arrival. In the 72nd minute, he fed Vale to shoot only just wide of the left-hand post from 20 yards.
Suddenly, Rangers began to enjoy a bit more time on the ball and Poku drove into the box before firing low at James Beadle on 75 minutes.
Six minutes later, Kolli directed Vale’s stinging low centre off-target.
However, in the end, the R’s were unable to force a levelling goal and earn themselves a point.
A minute from time, Poku’s darting 25-yard shot only just passed the post.
Rangers return to action at Leicester City on Saturday.
Source: qpr.co.uk
