LIVER-ROAR! Jake strikes at the death to keep Baggies’ promotion dream firmly alive
JAKE LIVERMORE scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner to fire West Brom to within a point of the automatic promotion places.
The 29-year-old midfielder decided a thrilling Championship clash to earn a 10th away league win of the season for the Baggies.
The form on the road of Darren Moore’s side has put them right on the shoulders of Norwich, Sheffield United and Leeds.
It completed the double over QPR, who lost the reverse fixture 7-1 and had been desperate for revenge.
There were also goals for deadlineday loan signings Jefferson Montero and Jacob Murphy, though the home side levelled twice through Luke Freeman and a penalty from sub Tomer Hemed.
But Livermore’s 94th-minute strike from close range in front of the travelling fans set the cat among the pigeons in the promotion race as West Brom look to bounce straight back.
And it meant a desperate sixth straight defeat for a QPR side in free fall.
Albion enjoyed a dream start last night with only five minutes on the clock as Jay Rodriguez teed up
Murphy for a shot, that was half-cleared off the line by Darnell Furlong.
But Ecuador winger Montero was on hand to swoop – and he smashed the rebound into the net for his first goal for Albion on a first start. It was the stuff of nightmares for shell-shocked QPR, already lacking confidence after the recent losing streak – and it took them a while to regroup. Steve Mcclaren’s men were level after 35 minutes, however. Nahki Wells unselfishly slipped the ball to his left to Freeman, and his fierce drive went straight through keeper Sam Johnstone.
And Rangers were howling for a penalty after Craig Dawson’s clumsy challenge on Massimo Luongo.
A poor defensive header from Joel Lynch cost the Londoners dear after 61 minutes as Murphy drove forward and arrowed his shot just inside the post.
But after 75 minutes another clumsy challenge from Dawson on Hemed was penalised.
And the Israeli striker duly fired home from the spot five minutes after coming on as a replacement.
The goalkeepers then took centre stage, Joe Lumley saving from Murphy and Johnstone from another sub, Bright Osayi-samuel.
But Livermore had the last word.