Bad Friday again for QPR
The Hoops suffer curse after home defeat to Fulham
LONDON: The Friday curse struck Queens Park Rangers again as Jack Robinson’s own goal put Fulham on the way to a 2-1 victory in a cracking West London derby in the English Championship on Friday.
It was tough on the home side as Ryan Fredericks’ 41st-minute shot was deflected in off Robinson’s heel as QPR lost their unbeaten home league record and were defeated yet again on a Friday – the 11th time in a row since December 2014.
Fulham could even afford to miss an 82nd-minute penalty as Rui Fonte blazed over the bar after Joel Lynch had brought down substitute Neeskens Kabano.
But Fonte made up for the blunder by setting up Stefan Johansen’s killer second goal two minutes later.
Fredericks said: “We were scrapping towards the end. We knew what to expect from big Matt Smith.
“The goal went down as an own goal but I thought it was on target. Although I don’t really care now.”
QPR fought to the end, with Conor Washington’s 92nd-minute strike setting up a nervous finish after nine minutes had been added on because of an injury to Fulham’s Sheyi Ojo. The Liverpool loan winger has a broken collarbone.
The visitors had settled quicker, Luke Freeman and Pawel Wszolek both had chances to put them ahead.
The keen West London rivalry spilled over when QPR midfielder Massimo Luongo was booked by referee Peter Bankes for steaming into Tomas Kalas.
Within minutes, Jamie Mackie was in the book for felling the same man.
Then Fulham got the edge. Fredericks, raiding yet again from rightback, unleashed a shot that deflected off a hapless Robinson to leave goalkeeper Alex Smithies helpless.
QPR were up for the fight after the break and four minutes in Fulham goalkeeper David Button was forced to tip away a cracking shot from Luongo.
Both sides made changes early in the second half, with Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic sending on Kebano for Ojo, who was
taken to hospital.
Towering striker Smith, a former Cottagers favourite, went on for QPR in place of wingback Wszolek.
Fullham were determined to keep up the tempo and Freeman’s free-kick flew barely a yard wide of the post.
Johansen’s strike put the match beyond the Hoops – even though Smith had a late header cleared off the line.
And Johansen said: “It’s such bad news for Sheyi – but we have other players who will have to step up. We have a good depth in the squad.” — The Sun, London