Dieng is keeping it Beale
Johansen 19, Roberts 22
MICK BEALE highlighted a brilliant early save from Seny Dieng as the launchpad for an impressive Rangers display.
The manager admitted the game might have taken an entirely different course had his goalkeeper not stretched to palm Zak Vyner’s header onto a post from a 16th minute free-kick.
Beale said: “That moment seemed to fire us up and from then on we played some really good football.
“We respected Bristol as an attacking force and it was important that our front three did better than theirs. That’s what happened.”
Stefan Johansen shot Rangers in front three minutes after Dieng’s save, latching onto the rebound when Chris Willock’s shot came back off a post.
Leeds United loanee Tyler Roberts doubled the lead with his first Rangers league goal, stretching to net with a far post volley.
Nahki Wells gave City hope with a close-range finish on 61 minutes after his former club had made a hash of clearing an Andreas Weimann cross.
But Rangers defended strongly for the remainder of the game and should have extended their lead in the closing stages when Andre Dozzell shot wide.
City boss Nigel Pearson said: “We made too many individual errors, not just at the back, but all over the pitch.
“It was always likely to be a tight game and we gifted them two goals.
“I am not going to offer excuses because too many of our players were below par.” BRISTOL CITY: Bentley 7; Vyner 5, Atkinson 5 (Martin (66) 6), Naismith 5; Sykes 6 (Wilson (73) 6), Williams 6 (King (74) 6), Scott 6, Dasilva 6; Weimann 6 (Massengo (73) 6); Wells 7, Conway 6 (Semenyo (46) 6) QPR: Dieng 7; Laird 7, Balogun 8, ClarkeSalter 7 (Dunne (63) 6), Paal 7 (Kakay (85) 6); Johansen 7 (Dozzell (70) 6), Field 7, Iroegbunam 6 (Amos (70) 6); Chair 8 (Dykes (85) 6), Roberts 7, Willock 7
STAR MAN: Ilias Chair – Pick of a dangerous Rangers front three, who posed a constant threat.
REF: Jeremy Simpson 7