Championship
CardiffCardiff City0QPRQueens Park Rangers1

Cardiff City 0-1 Queens Park Rangers: Gray goal puts Rs into play-off places

By Michael PearlmanBBC Sport Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium

Last updated on .From the section Championshipcomments41

Cardiff v QPR
Queens Park Rangers won consecutive away league matches against Cardiff City for the first time since October 1932

Queens Park Rangers moved back into the Championship play-off spots with a comfortable 1-0 win over a lacklustre Cardiff City in the Welsh capital.

Andre Gray's third goal of the season in the first half proved enough for the visitors who deserved their victory.

Gray smashed home after Andre Dozzell's pass split the Bluebirds' defence.

The win for QPR lifts them to fifth in the Championship, while managerless Cardiff, who are 21st, are just a point and a place above the relegation zone.

This will certainly feel like two steps backwards for Cardiff, who had hoped their stunning comeback at Stoke City at the weekend - where they scored three goals in five minutes - would be a catalyst for improvement.

Caretaker boss Steve Morison opted to make one change to the side who came back from 3-0 down to draw at Stoke - ending a run of eight successive defeats - with Marlon Pack replacing Leandro Bacuna in midfield.

Mark Warburton made three changes to the QPR side held by Nottingham Forest, with striker Gray returning to partner Lyndon Dykes in attack.

QPR have struggled on the road recently having lost their previous four away games and it was the hosts who came close to an early goal in the fourth minute, when Perry Ng's 20-yard curled effort was just wide after Ryan Giles' cross.

Sadly for Cardiff, they never came closer to a goal.

The Bluebirds did test QPR goalkeeper Seny Dieng, but the Senegalese international easily held Rubin Colwill's shot from distance, while Dykes glanced a header wide at the other end.

The first half was low on chances and quality, so it did come as something of a surprise when the visitors opened the scoring on 36 minutes with a goal that certainly was not short on quality.

Cardiff will wonder how they were breached so easily, as midfielder Dozzell split their defence with a superb pass and Gray lashed the ball into the bottom corner of the net, across Alex Smithies, from 20 yards.

The visitors might have doubled their advantage when Sean Morrison and Curtis Nelson got into a mix-up and Dykes was able to turn and shoot, but his effort was straight at Smithies.

Smithies also saved a long-range effort from Ilias Chair as the Rs pushed for a second, while the goalkeeper avoided a red face after slicing a clearance to Dykes who could only fire over as he looked to take advantage.

Substitute Charlie Austin almost set-up Dykes on 71 minutes, but Morrison produced a goal-saving block to give Cardiff hope of a late rally.

The closest the hosts came was with two minutes remaining, but Yoann Barbet's wayward attempt at a clearance flew over the crossbar and Giles' speculative effort was held by Dieng.

The Welsh club's lack of confidence was clear for all to see, with Cardiff finding the net in only two of their past 10 Championship games.

Cardiff City interim boss Steve Morison told BBC Sport Wales:

"We lost, everything else doesn't really matter.

"We felt we were in control of the game, with and without the ball, in the first half and then that one moment we get wrong and they punish us, that's where we are at the moment.

"The goal was the decisive moment, great pass, great finish and we didn't really have that, I can't dress it up any other way really.

"We needed a moment of quality, they had it and we didn't."

Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Warburton said:

"It's a very pleasing win that. It is a proper Championship win because we had to grind out a result.

"We got to half-time 1-0 up and not playing very well, but we showed a lot of character in the second half.

"Cardiff are very good at what they do and they went direct, but we defended very well.

"We spoke about rapid passing before the game and it was a great ball in from Andre Dozzell for the goal and a tremendous finish from Andre Gray."

Line-ups

Cardiff

Formation 3-4-2-1

  • 25Smithies
  • 2McGuinness
  • 4Morrison
  • 16Nelson
  • 38Ng
  • 6VaulksSubstituted forRallsat 80'minutes
  • 21Pack
  • 26Giles
  • 27Colwill
  • 36EvansSubstituted forM Harrisat 63'minutes
  • 10Moore

Substitutes

  • 1Phillips
  • 5Flint
  • 7Bacuna
  • 8Ralls
  • 29M Harris
  • 30Brown
  • 35Zimba

QPR

Formation 3-4-1-2

  • 1Dieng
  • 4DickieBooked at 47mins
  • 20Dunne
  • 6Barbet
  • 37AdomahBooked at 85mins
  • 17DozzellSubstituted forAmosat 83'minutes
  • 7Johansen
  • 22Odubajo
  • 10ChairSubstituted forBallat 78'minutes
  • 9Dykes
  • 19GraySubstituted forAustinat 54'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Kakay
  • 8Amos
  • 11Austin
  • 12Ball
  • 13Archer
  • 14Thomas
  • 34Duke-McKenna
Referee:
Andy Woolmer
Attendance:
16,882

Match Stats

Home TeamCardiffAway TeamQPR
Possession
Home52%
Away48%
Shots
Home9
Away8
Shots on Target
Home3
Away4
Corners
Home6
Away2
Fouls
Home14
Away8

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Cardiff City 0, Queens Park Rangers 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Cardiff City 0, Queens Park Rangers 1.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Mark McGuinness (Cardiff City).

  4. Post update

    Moses Odubajo (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  5. Post update

    Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Dominic Ball.

  6. Post update

    Attempt saved. Ryan Giles (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Rubin Colwill.

  7. Post update

    Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Yoann Barbet.

  8. Post update

    Attempt missed. Joe Ralls (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

  9. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Joe Ralls (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

  10. Post update

    Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Dominic Ball.

  11. Post update

    Attempt missed. Sean Morrison (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Joe Ralls with a cross following a corner.

  12. Post update

    Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Yoann Barbet.

  13. Post update

    Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Robert Dickie.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Ryan Giles (Cardiff City).

  15. Post update

    Dominic Ball (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Booking

    Albert Adomah (Queens Park Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  17. Post update

    Ryan Giles (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Albert Adomah (Queens Park Rangers).

  19. Post update

    Ryan Giles (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  20. Post update

    Foul by Robert Dickie (Queens Park Rangers).

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41 comments

  • Comment posted by Keepcalm, at 22:01 3 Nov 2021

    Nice to see Rangers grind out three points and keep a clean sheet, Cardiff showed plenty of fight and spirit but I think Cardiff fans are in for long season.

  • Comment posted by Lotfus10, at 22:26 3 Nov 2021

    Well done Rangers. Finally after a run of games where the luck went against us we ground out an away win. Common your Rrrrrrrrrrr’s.

  • Comment posted by Crumpy247, at 22:12 3 Nov 2021

    Cardiff do have the makings of a good side.. The report is surprisingly biased towards the Rs (not normally the case from the beeb). Great result mind and we're back in the playoffs! Such a tight league... Keep pushing boys! Uuu rrrrssss

  • Comment posted by Bigphil1959, at 21:53 3 Nov 2021

    Cardiff would struggle in league one with this side, half empty stadium again.

    • Reply posted by An independent England, at 22:41 3 Nov 2021

      An independent England replied:
      They would even find it hard in their own country's league.

  • Comment posted by Rock on, at 22:04 3 Nov 2021

    Great win but now Rangers must push on and consolidate a play off position...

  • Comment posted by 3EyedCraven, at 22:01 3 Nov 2021

    Warburton doing an excellent job at QPR. It's the first time we've looked like a proper team in a long time

    • Reply posted by Crumpy247, at 22:13 3 Nov 2021

      Crumpy247 replied:
      In a long time? We've been brilliant all season

  • Comment posted by JayDee, at 21:51 3 Nov 2021

    You Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrs!

  • Comment posted by Sun1ny, at 22:31 3 Nov 2021

    Hard fought win. Nice to not leak late goals. Dozzell vision was the game breaker. Nervy last few minutes. Cardiff rallied well late on we’re unlucky not to equalise. Tight game.

  • Comment posted by oxfordspire, at 22:18 3 Nov 2021

    Interesting to see Dickie playing on the right of a back 3 for QPR while Nelson played on the left of a back 3 for Cardiff. While at Oxford playing as a centre back pair Nelson was right and Dickie left………….ok. It’s not that interesting!!!

  • Comment posted by the tv, at 21:52 3 Nov 2021

    7 point behind 19th place. It's already looking like a relegation fight to the end.

    • Reply posted by TheTruthHurts, at 23:26 3 Nov 2021

      TheTruthHurts replied:
      For sure. 4th from bottom would do though

  • Comment posted by Earl Johnson, at 01:16 4 Nov 2021

    I am really glad QPR won, but they have to maintain that winning instinct because they have the ability to win matches but for some strange reason that do something that ends up with them defeated. 7 wins compared to 5 loses shows they need to step up because a couple of those loses should have been wins. Let's hope they will build on this win.

    • Reply posted by mightyQPR, at 08:48 4 Nov 2021

      mightyQPR replied:
      totally agree with you .. we have great players and a great manager to put a game out of sight but we need to believe that promotion is a reality . come on u RRRRRRRS

  • Comment posted by Lord_Frizzle_Bertie_Flap_Jnr, at 00:50 4 Nov 2021

    Well, you can't blame McCarthy on this useless, lackluster, lazy, can't be bothered, couldn't care less playing style. This is squarely on the players. They've given up. However, we need to understand what is up with the players! Why have they lost the plot, and decided we don't give a toss? Comments below observing "this was better from Cardiff" are delusional and are happy with mediocrity.

  • Comment posted by bluebirds, at 23:01 3 Nov 2021

    Do City give season ticket refunds.?

    • Reply posted by Lord_Frizzle_Bertie_Flap_Jnr, at 00:51 4 Nov 2021

      Lord_Frizzle_Bertie_Flap_Jnr replied:
      They better had!! I also want 250 quid compensation for mental damages.

  • Comment posted by felixstowe_jak, at 22:19 3 Nov 2021

    Cardiff's dead cat bounce lasted one game. At least they only conceded one goal.

  • Comment posted by steve, at 08:47 4 Nov 2021

    We have played five centre halves for weeks, everyone moans, change of direction last night, we did actually get the ball in to feet, regardless of relegation or not, a complete change of style on the pitch is needed, its going to take time, just have to see what happens I guess.

  • Comment posted by Dennisbondwasgod, at 17:12 4 Nov 2021

    That’s a headline you don’t see often. Gray scoring :)

  • Comment posted by Simoon, at 06:03 4 Nov 2021

    Marlon Pack(horse) picked. Cardiff "lacklustre". Why am I not surprised.

  • Comment posted by Jack Army, at 18:30 4 Nov 2021

    Relegation beckons Cardiff… can’t see how they can swim away from this.

  • Comment posted by smudger1, at 10:44 4 Nov 2021

    Giles as a wing back was a big mistake as he is one of a very few who creates. The first ten minutes was very good but we lack quality in midfield and both Vaulks and Pack are either not good enough or too slow. Well done to the young players last night but they will lose confidence in a losing side and we need quality in midfield Jan to survive. If we don't get Wilder we will continue to drift.

  • Comment posted by centrestandclock, at 08:16 4 Nov 2021

    It will be nice to see a different South Wales derby next season Cardiff v Newport

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Bournemouth16114127101737
2Fulham16112343142935
3West Brom1694326141231
4Coventry168352219327
5QPR167452723425
6Stoke167452119225
7Huddersfield167452018225
8Luton166642621524
9Millwall166641616024
10Blackpool167361819-124
11Swansea166552018223
12Blackburn166552525023
13Birmingham166461717022
14Middlesbrough166371818021
15Preston165651819-121
16Sheff Utd165472123-219
17Nottm Forest165472022-219
18Reading166192027-719
19Bristol City165471724-719
20Peterborough164391731-1415
21Cardiff1633101530-1512
22Barnsley162591223-1111
23Hull162311922-139
24Derby163851215-35
View full Championship table

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