Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 2, Queens Park Rangers 0.
BlackburnBlackburn Rovers2QPRQueens Park Rangers0
Blackburn Rovers put another dent in QPR's automatic promotion hopes with a second successive Championship win to boost their own play-off hopes.
Rudy Gestede gave the hosts the early advantage with a 20-yard shot into the bottom corner.
Tommy Spurr doubled the lead with a low strike from inside the penalty area soon after the break.
Rangers are now 13 points behind second-placed Burnley while Rovers are now just four points off the top six.
With just five games of the season remaining, Harry Redknapp's team may now have to settle for the play-offs following successive losses and there is a possibility they could meet Gary Bowyer's men there too after Rovers extended their unbeaten run to seven games.
Manchester United loanee Will Keane, whose brother Michael was in the Blackburn line-up, twice went close early on for the visitors but soon afterwards Gestede gave Rovers a lead they did not look like losing.
The former Cardiff forward collected Tom Cairney's pass and took one touch before drilling a 25-yard shot beyond Rob Green for his seventh goal for the club.
Former England goalkeeper Green's mistake three minutes into the second period proved costly for the visitors.
Full-back Spurr edged into the area and fired a hopeful shot towards Green's near post and he allowed the ball to creep between his body and the woodwork.
Keane struck a post late on for QPR, who introduced top scorer Austin as a second-half substitute following a lengthy absence through injury, but even his presence made no difference to the scoreline.
Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer:
"We've had some impressive halves and spells in games but for a complete 90 minutes we were excellent and the players deserve all the credit.
"Everybody from start to finish, they were right at it and they were truly a credit to their football club tonight against a tough team.
"The craziness of the Championship has got five games left so I'm sure it'll spin out loads of different permutations throughout them."
QPR assistant manager Kevin Bond:
"I think we probably thought that [automatic promotion] was going to be nigh on impossible for us before this evening.
"Obviously we just want to go into the latter part of the season in as good form as we can and try to get a bit of momentum.
"Everyone knows how important it is in the most important part of the season, and hopefully that will culminate in a play-off spot."
Line-ups
Blackburn
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Robinson
- 16Keane
- 3Spurr
- 6Lowe
- 5Hanley
- 4Kilgallon
- 45Cairney
- 17WilliamsonSubstituted forEtuhuat 85'minutes
- 11RhodesSubstituted forDunnat 73'minutes
- 39GestedeSubstituted forVarneyat 77'minutes
- 32Conway
Substitutes
- 7King
- 8Dunn
- 13Eastwood
- 15Varney
- 19Taylor
- 20Etuhu
- 22Feeney
QPR
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Green
- 2SimpsonBooked at 27mins
- 39Assou-EkottoSubstituted forYunat 77'minutes
- 20Henry
- 5Dunne
- 21Young
- 35Benayoun
- 10CarrollSubstituted forMaigaat 68'minutes
- 12KeaneSubstituted forAustinat 69'minutes
- 4Morrison
- 23Hoilett
Substitutes
- 9Austin
- 13Yun
- 25Zamora
- 26Murphy
- 36O'Neil
- 38Donaldson
- 40Maiga
- Referee:
- James Adcock
- Attendance:
- 12,915
Match Stats
Home TeamBlackburnAway TeamQPR
- Possession
- Home44%
- Away56%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away1
- Corners
- Home8
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 2, Queens Park Rangers 0.
Post update
Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Jason Lowe tries a through ball, but Luke Varney is caught offside.
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Foul by Yossi Benayoun (Queens Park Rangers).
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Tom Cairney (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Dickson Etuhu (Blackburn Rovers).
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Attempt missed. Luke Young (Queens Park Rangers) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Junior Hoilett with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Thomas Spurr.
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Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Michael Keane.
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Attempt blocked. Modibo Maiga (Queens Park Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Yossi Benayoun.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Dickson Etuhu replaces Lee Williamson.
Post update
Foul by Junior Hoilett (Queens Park Rangers).
Post update
Craig Conway (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Offside, Queens Park Rangers. Modibo Maiga tries a through ball, but Charlie Austin is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Richard Dunne (Queens Park Rangers) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Junior Hoilett with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Thomas Spurr.
Post update
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Yun Suk-Young.
Post update
Attempt missed. Luke Varney (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Tom Cairney with a through ball.
Substitution
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Yun Suk-Young replaces Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
