Scoring Nahk WELLS NETS THE WINNER TO SINK BORO
BORO boss Tony Pulis raged at the officials after his promotionchasers stuttered again at QPR.
Goals at Loftus Road from Pawel Wszolek and match-winner Nahki Wells means the Teessiders have now gone four games without a win.
Rangers fully deserved all three points on a freezing afternoon, but after a poor display from his normally stingy team Pulis lashed out at referee Oliver Langford.
He raged: “I was disappointed. We started really poorly and gave them two great chances in the first five minutes – they took the second one.
“But then there is an incident in their box from a corner where Britt Assombalonga is rugby tackled down, and the ref is five yards away and doesn’t give it.
“I have been to see the referee. Then in the second half the official this side gives offside when their player has touched the ball last. Jonny Howson is 100 per cent not offside. Then the keeper takes the freekick with the ball rolling from 25 yards away.
“We had a second half booking for dragging back a player on the counter, they had a similar offence, not booked.
“We should do better, I don’t think we had a shot on goal in the first half, but the playing field has to be level.
“We know we need goals, the team is trying their damndest to win the game, and chasing goals has maybe affected the solidity of the defence.
“We know we need help in the January window, but we have to get on with it.”
QPR and former Boro manager Steve Mcclaren was delighted with a first win in five, and a rare victory against a club he took to a League Cup success and a UEFA Cup final.
He said: “I’m just delighted with the win. I thought it was a great performance, and we showed real determination. We could have scored more goals.
“We defended resolutely right to the end and we needed this, it was a big win. I didn’t really notice any bad decisions, but it can be swings and roundabouts.
“Nahki could have got a hat-trick. He’s a constant threat, a menace to defenders. I won’t talk about the play-offs though.” After four minutes Luke Freeman fed the overlapping Jake Bidwell on the left, and from his cross Wszolek bundled the ball in. Wells, on loan from Premier League Burnley, almost doubled t he l ead and was tormenting Boro’s usually dependable back four.
However, fortune swung Boro’s way shortly after the break. Rangers defender Joel Lynch limped off leaving his side down to 10 men after 50 minutes.
And after QPR failed to clear from Ryan Shotton’s cross before Josh Scowen could get on, the ball fell to George Saville, who rifled home.
But Wells (above) fully deserved a goal and it duly arrived on the hour, set up by Wszolek, with the striker shifting the ball on to his left foot before curling it home.
Boro huffed and puffed, but there was no spark from the visitors.