Queens Park Rangers (QPR) clinched a vital victory against Blackburn Rovers with a 2-1 win at Loftus Road Stadium on Tuesday, 4th February 2025. The match, attended by 13,571 fans, saw an early lead for QPR, an equalizer from Blackburn, and a dramatic late winner. The win marked a significant turnaround for QPR, ending a two-game losing streak and boosting their position in the Championship standings.
Michael Frey opened the scoring for QPR with a goal in the fifth minute, setting the tone for an intense match. Blackburn Rovers fought back and leveled the score in the second half when Tyrhys Dolan successfully converted a penalty. However, it was Jack Colback who sealed the victory for QPR with an impressive strike from 18 yards out in the 86th minute. Despite the efforts of Blackburn's goalkeeper, Pears, who managed to get both hands on the ball, Colback's shot proved unstoppable.
Blackburn Rovers had hoped to salvage at least a point from the encounter following Dolan’s penalty equalizer but were ultimately undone by Colback's late heroics. This loss represented Blackburn's second consecutive defeat, impacting their play-off aspirations as they remain fifth in the Championship table. Conversely, QPR's win brought them within three points of the top six, revitalizing their campaign.
The match was crucial for both teams; QPR needed to regain their form after two losses, while Blackburn sought to remain competitive in the play-off race. The game also featured some controversy when QPR's Jimmy Dunne was brought down by Danny Batth in the second half, yet no penalty was awarded by the referee.
Blackburn Rovers' manager, John Eustace, expressed his disappointment regarding the outcome and particularly lamented the nature of the second goal.
"I'm very disappointed we lost the game. It was a tough game, we got ourselves back into it, so to lose with another soft goal is really disappointing." – John Eustace
Meanwhile, QPR's manager, Marti Cifuentes, praised his team’s resilience and highlighted the significance of the victory.
"I'm very pleased, not only about the win but because it was important to come back after two defeats in a row. It was important for us emotionally to come back and get a good win at home against a good team. I'm very pleased for Jack and the minutes he played, and the level he played, as well as the goal." – Marti Cifuentes
The match underscored both teams' determination and strategic play. Blackburn Rovers showed resolve in equalizing through Dolan's penalty but were eventually outdone by QPR's persistence and Colback’s striking prowess.
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