CHAIR LIFTS R’S UP TABLE
QUEENS PARK RANGERS finally found some gas to put the power back into their promotion drive thanks to two-goal Ilias Chair.
The little Moroccan playmaker (above, celebrating) lit up the night at a rain-lashed Kiyan Prince Stadium, as Rangers finally put an end to a disappointing run of three straight league defeats.
That run had followed an unbeaten start to the season of six games for Mark Warburton’s team, dropping them to 10th in the table.
And it was a slump which seriously threatened to throw their promotion campaign off course.
But Ilias’ class and finishing in the end was the difference between the two teams.
The nerves showed early on for Warburton (above) and his men against a Birmingham side who had won only one of their last five games, with passes going astray.
Lee Bowyer’s side wasted a great chance to edge in front when former Watford favourite Troy Deeney headed down, but Tahith Chong nodded straight at R’s keeper Seny Dieng from six yards.
Striker Charlie Austin shot straight at Blues No.1 Matija Sarkic, but Rangers were beginning to find their feet.
They finally broke through in the 34th minute when Moses Odubajo skipped past his man and his cross found its way to the far post.
Chair was all alone and he curled his shot into the far corner with aplomb for his third goal of the season.
Suddenly the R’s were beginning to play, but when the tricky Chair cut in again, this time Sarkic was equal to his low drive.
Bowyer’s team tried to hit back, as the lively Jeremie Bela curled a shot just wide from the edge of the box, and then from his cross Maxime Colin should have done much better than head over.
Deeney went off after 56 unproductive minutes to ironic cheers from the home faithful, and his replacement Lukas Jutkiewicz turned to shoot an inch over, and then fired wide when in space. But Chair swiftly took a hand again.
First the skilful 23-year-old ace nipped away on the right and his low shot missed the far post by an inch.
Jimmy Dunne then glanced a header just wide, but Chair struck again when Luke Amos played him through the middle, and he coolly beat the advancing Sarkic.
Austin drove over as Rangers piled on the pressure and Amos hit the side netting – but they had done enough.
It was never comfortable for Warburton’s men, but the result was all-important last night, with another home game against Preston to come on Saturday.
This though is a result that will leave Bowyer with plenty of problems, as he attempts to stop Birmingham’s slide against Nottingham Forest at St Andrew’s at the weekend.