Match ends, Middlesbrough 3, Queens Park Rangers 2.
MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough3QPRQueens Park Rangers2
Middlesbrough twice came from behind to beat QPR to move within a point of the Championship play-off places.
David Wheeler gave Rangers the perfect start as he poked in for his first R's goal, before Lewis Baker levelled with his first Boro goal.
Substitute Jamie Mackie put QPR back in front as he charged down Darren Randolph's clearance to tap in.
But Ashley Fletcher restored parity with a header before Britt Assombalonga nodded in what proved to be the winner.
Boro have lost just one of their past eight games in all competitions and ensured an entertaining affair against a QPR side who have now seen 24 goals scored in their eight league matches.
They recovered well after the early goal, with a claim for a penalty for handball while Marvin Johnson went close before setting up Baker to make it 1-1.
Rangers' Alex Smithies made a good save in first-half stoppage time to deny Baker a second, but it was his Boro counterpart Randolph who helped Mackie make it 2-1 with a poor clearance into the Scotland international's chest.
Having restored the lead Fletcher, Assombalonga and Cyrus Christie all had chances for a fourth, but Boro nearly threw away two points late on when Pawel Wszolek hit the post.
Middlesbrough manager Garry Monk:
"We had a good 25-minute period where we got our lead and if anything we should have extended it after that.
"In account of all that, we have had a hard week. There is always a debate in my mind, that freshness, physical side of it... should you change things?
"But they deserved to play in that game. Credit to those that did. It's an important trait to win when you are not at your best. We were clinical in the right areas at the right times."
QPR boss Ian Holloway:
"It was a fantastic game of football. As a neutral, that's what you want to see. After our early goal, they moved the ball and we knew they would.
"To be fair, I am scratching our head how we lost it. You have to say it's down to the changes Garry made - they had that on the bench.
"It's fine margins. We hit the post. Did the ball go out for their winner? That's the new QPR. I thought they gave me absolutely everything."
Line-ups
Middlesbrough
Formation 4-3-3
- 25Randolph
- 22ChristieBooked at 66mins
- 20Fry
- 6Gibson
- 2da Silva
- 7LeadbitterBooked at 39minsSubstituted forHowsonat 56'minutes
- 8ClaytonBooked at 34minsSubstituted forFletcherat 45'minutes
- 30BakerBooked at 66mins
- 19DowningSubstituted forForshawat 78'minutes
- 9Assombalonga
- 21Johnson
Substitutes
- 1Konstantopoulos
- 3Friend
- 5Shotton
- 11Bamford
- 16Howson
- 18Fletcher
- 34Forshaw
QPR
Formation 4-3-3
- 1SmithiesBooked at 52mins
- 2Furlong
- 20Baptiste
- 18Robinson
- 3Bidwell
- 21LuongoBooked at 32mins
- 7Freeman
- 14Manning
- 36WheelerSubstituted forSyllaat 68'minutes
- 17SmithSubstituted forMackieat 45'minutesBooked at 66mins
- 35Lua LuaSubstituted forWszolekat 45'minutesBooked at 47mins
Substitutes
- 12Mackie
- 16Borysiuk
- 22Wszolek
- 23N'Gbakoto
- 26Lumley
- 34Osayi-Samuel
- 40Sylla
- Referee:
- Darren Bond
- Attendance:
- 24,790
Match Stats
Home TeamMiddlesbroughAway TeamQPR
- Possession
- Home64%
- Away36%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Middlesbrough 3, Queens Park Rangers 2.
Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Jack Robinson.
Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Darnell Furlong.
Post update
Dael Fry (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Alex Baptiste (Queens Park Rangers).
Post update
Foul by Ashley Fletcher (Middlesbrough).
Post update
Darnell Furlong (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Alex Baptiste (Queens Park Rangers) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Luke Freeman with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Queens Park Rangers. Conceded by Britt Assombalonga.
Post update
Offside, Queens Park Rangers. Alex Baptiste tries a through ball, but Jamie Mackie is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Ashley Fletcher (Middlesbrough).
Post update
Massimo Luongo (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jake Bidwell (Queens Park Rangers) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high.
Post update
Pawel Wszolek (Queens Park Rangers) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Alex Baptiste.
Post update
Hand ball by Ashley Fletcher (Middlesbrough).
Post update
Attempt saved. Cyrus Christie (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Britt Assombalonga.
Post update
Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Alex Smithies.
Post update
Attempt saved. Marvin Johnson (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Cyrus Christie.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Britt Assombalonga (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Ben Gibson with a headed pass.
