Match ends, Queens Park Rangers 3, Leicester City 2.
Queens Park Rangers 3-2 Leicester City
- From the section Football
- 51 shots in the match; 32 for QPR, 19 for Leicester
- QPR move up to 18th, Leicester drop to the bottom
- Leicester end 504-minute goal drought
- Foxes remain winless since September
Charlie Austin was the match winner for QPR who moved off the bottom of the table by beating struggling Leicester.
The visitors ended their five-game goal drought early on as Esteban Cambiasso swept in from the edge of the area.
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QPR forced an equaliser as Wes Morgan put through his own net, before midfielder Leroy Fer put them in front, smashing home from close range.
Leicester's Jamie Vardy hit the bar, and Jeffrey Schlupp stroked in, but Austin's header won it for QPR.
Both sides won promotion from the Championship in 2013-14 but have struggled this season and Harry Redknapp's team have now conceded the first goal in 10 of their 13 league games so far.
But, despite going behind, they showed persistence and fight to claim the points, staying in the bottom three on goal difference.
| Leicester's slump |
|---|
| The Foxes won eight points from their opening five league games but have managed just two points from the subsequent eight |
Leicester, who drop to 20th, have now gone eight games without victory since their superb 5-3 win over Manchester United in September.
This was a thrilling, end-to-end game that featured 51 attempts on goal - 32 for QPR and 19 from Leicester - and Nigel Pearson's men may well feel they had enough good opportunities to win the match.
It started well for the Foxes as they took the lead after four minutes - their first goal in 504 minutes of football - as Argentine Cambiasso, netted from Schlupp's cutback.
Niko Kranjcar had a free-kick deflected just over for QPR and Riyad Mahrez shot wide from close range for the visitors.
| Home sweet home |
|---|
| All 11 of QPR's points this season have come at Loftus Road (Won 3, Draw 2) |
The home side made their pressure pay as centre-back Morgan bundled into his own net from Steven Caulker's ball into the box.
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Minutes later, striker Vardy, who caused problems to the QPR defence all game, shot straight at Robert Green from inside the area.
And the home side deservedly took the lead on the verge of half-time. Fer reacted quickest to a loose ball to finish after Austin's point-blank header was kept out by Kasper Schmeichel.
Vardy's flicked header hit the crossbar from Mahrez's cross in the second half and Leicester levelled via Schlupp's accurate finish into the bottom corner.
Austin's fifth goal in the last five games put Rangers ahead again, and Matthew James's rasping drive went narrowly over late on as the home side held on for the win.
BBC Match of the Day's Danny Murphy: "There was no parking the bus today. It was two committed teams both giving their all, terrible defending, some very good attacking but I've never seen Gary Lineker lose his temper so often.
"They were all avoidable goals. All QPR's goals were quite simple, it was people switching off and losing concentration, a lot to work on for Nigel Pearson. Charlie Austin has scored seven in 12 for QPR and if that continues I think they'll be OK."
QPR manager Harry Redknapp: "It was a great game. They scored the early goal and we came back at them strong. They were a threat with Jamie Vardy but we played as well as we have all season.
"We showed a lot of character today and played really well in the first half. It was all hands to the pump late on in the second half but a great win for us.
"We are scoring goals which is good but we defended well today when we had to. That win has put us right back into the pack but we have Swansea and Burnley coming up, every game is vital."
Leicester manager Nigel Pearson: "There were lots of positive things and we created enough chances to win. That remains very frustrating for us. We conceded two poor goals before half-time and we looked dangerous throughout the game.
"It was about making sure we kept threatening and we were unlucky not to get anything from the game. Today it didn't happen for us.
"The players have done so many good things but it hasn't turned out the way we would have liked."
Line-ups
QPR
- 1GreenBooked at 90mins
- 14Isla
- 15Onuoha
- 4Caulker
- 13YunBooked at 44minsSubstituted forTraoreat 51'minutes
- 19KranjcarSubstituted forHoilettat 90+1'minutes
- 8Barton
- 20Henry
- 10Fer
- 24VargasSubstituted forMutchat 76'minutes
- 9AustinBooked at 77mins
Substitutes
- 3Traore
- 5Ferdinand
- 7Phillips
- 11Wright-Phillips
- 12McCarthy
- 17Mutch
- 23Hoilett
Leicester
- 1Schmeichel
- 2de Laet
- 27Wasilewski
- 5Morgan
- 3Konchesky
- 26MahrezSubstituted forAlbrightonat 60'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 8James
- 19CambiassoSubstituted forKingat 89'minutes
- 15Schlupp
- 9Vardy
- 23UlloaSubstituted forNugentat 60'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 4Drinkwater
- 10King
- 11Albrighton
- 12Hamer
- 18Moore
- 24Knockaert
- 35Nugent
- Referee:
- Roger East
- Attendance:
- 18,054
Match Stats
Home TeamQPRAway TeamLeicester
- Possession
- Home59%
- Away41%
- Shots
- Home33
- Away19
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away5
- Corners
- Home11
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away17
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Queens Park Rangers 3, Leicester City 2.
Attempt missed. Matthew James (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Jamie Vardy.
Booking
Marc Albrighton (Leicester City) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Robert Green (Queens Park Rangers) is shown the yellow card.
Karl Henry (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Marc Albrighton (Leicester City).
Booking
David Nugent (Leicester City) is shown the yellow card.
Armand Traore (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by David Nugent (Leicester City).
Attempt missed. Jordon Mutch (Queens Park Rangers) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Mauricio Isla with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Junior Hoilett replaces Niko Kranjcar.
Foul by Joey Barton (Queens Park Rangers).
David Nugent (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Leicester City. Andy King replaces Esteban Cambiasso.
Attempt missed. Marcin Wasilewski (Leicester City) header from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Kasper Schmeichel.
Attempt blocked. Esteban Cambiasso (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Armand Traore.
Foul by Nedum Onuoha (Queens Park Rangers).
Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Armand Traore (Queens Park Rangers) because of an injury.
Offside, Queens Park Rangers. Niko Kranjcar tries a through ball, but Jordon Mutch is caught offside.
Offside, Queens Park Rangers. Leroy Fer tries a through ball, but Jordon Mutch is caught offside.
Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Marcin Wasilewski (Leicester City).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Steven Caulker (Queens Park Rangers) because of an injury.
Booking
Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers).
Wes Morgan (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Jordon Mutch replaces Eduardo Vargas.
Attempt blocked. David Nugent (Leicester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Steven Caulker (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Karl Henry.
Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Marcin Wasilewski.
Attempt blocked. Niko Kranjcar (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Charlie Austin.
Goal!
Goal! Queens Park Rangers 3, Leicester City 2. Charlie Austin (Queens Park Rangers) header from very close range to the top right corner following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Nedum Onuoha (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Steven Caulker (Queens Park Rangers) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joey Barton with a cross.
Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Esteban Cambiasso.