Che blows away R’s but Camp is spot on
CHE ADAMS grabbed a first-half hat-trick – but it was Lee Camp who was the hero as Birmingham held off QPR.
City had led 4-0 in the first half until QPR staged a stunning comeback, which included two goals from Matt Smith and would have claimed a draw but for Camp saving a penalty from Nahki Wells in the 93rd minute.
“Both teams have got real character,” said Birmingham boss Garry Monk. “We had to put bodies on the line and it was a fantastic save from Campy for the penalty.
“It was a typical game of two halves where both threw everything at it.”
Adams scored his first, in the 21st minute, muscling Joel Lynch off the ball before turning the same defender and firing into the far corner.
That triggered a dramatic collapse from the hosts.
Five minutes later, Jota ran unchallenged through the midfield before picking out Adams to round goalkeeper Joe Lumley to score.
The third goal came in the 36th minute, when Harlee Dean rose unchallenged to head home Jota’s corner.
And it was four when Adams completed his hat-trick in the 42nd minute, tapping in from close range after Jota’s curling shot hit a post and rebounded to Adams via Lumley’s back.
The fightback started in first-half stoppage time, as Smith stooped to head in Luke Freeman’s corner. And after QPR manager Steve McClaren changed the formation at half-time, Smith pulled another back three minutes after the break, turning in Wells’ cross.
From then on it was a non-stop bombardment by the home side. After Camp made saves from Smith and Wells, Jordan Cousins grabbed a third for QPR, firing in from the edge of the area with 10 minutes remaining.
When Craig Gardner felled Freeman in the area, Wells stepped up for the penalty only to be denied by Camp.
McClaren said: “I can’t find the words to describe the first half but the second was pure joy and magnificence, and I am trying to create a team that the fans are proud of.”