Blackburn Rovers show their ruthless side against QPR
Blackburn Rovers ended their losing run in emphatic style as a brace from Arnor Sigurdsson helped them on their way to a 4-0 win at Queens Park Rangers.
Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side had lost their last four Championship games but took full advantage of a poor QPR side to record their biggest win of the league season.
Tyrhys Dolan started the scoring with his first goal of the season, turning in Joe Rankin-Costello’s cross after a great driving run from the Rovers number 11. The second goal was a carbon copy but with Sigurdsson getting in front of his marker to meet Sam Szmodics’ cut-back.
Those early goals put Rovers in complete control against a QPR side that had won one of their last 19 games at Loftus Road in the Championship. Things got from bad to worse as they gave Sigurdsson too much space and he bent the ball into the bottom corner for a third.
Boos rang out from the restless home fans as Rovers continue to run riot. Szmodics, determined not to be denied, pounced on a loose pass from Ziyad Larkeche to make it four and slot under Begovic.
After a run where Rovers’ head coach felt they should’ve got far more for their effort, they let the shackles off in West London to give the sold-out away end something to cheer about before the international break.
Tomasson freshened up his side again after the defeat to Coventry City in midweek, with Sondre Tronstad called in for his first Championship start since West Brom on the opening day. The midfielder replaced the injured Adam Wharton at the base of midfield.
Sigurddson’s return saw Dolan move into a more central role, with Szmodics playing in his preferred number eight role. Rovers looked more succinct and balanced, albeit still missing the threat of a natural focal point.
It mattered little though, as they settled well at Loftus Road. Szmodics was busy in the middle with the front three causing issues for the QPR backline. They were getting joy, in particular, down the Rovers right.
It was little surprise then that the goals came from that channel. Rankin-Costello, who produced a memorable assist at the same end in March, rolled his marker and pulled back for Dolan to finish his first goal of the season. It was a simple finish but a confidence booster for the forward, who’s had a stop-start season to date.
Unlike their last three games, Rovers netted first and you saw the confidence levels go up a level. Before long, it was two, with Szmodics getting down that same corner of QPR’s defence and pulling back for Sigurdsson to convert. The Icelandic forward already has three for the season in blue and white and showed fantastic movement to get ahead of his marker to finish.
Rovers’ second was met by a chorus of boos from the home fans, growing restless with the Rs poor form. More chances came and went to wrap the match up before half-time with Szmodics dragging his left-footed shot with only Begovic to beat.
Whilst Tomasson’s side were good value for their lead, QPR were poor. Sinclair Armstrong was their only real threat or a lucky bounce from a set-piece. Leopold Wahlstedt had to be alert to keep out Andre Dozzell as his half-volley came through a crowd of players in the box.
QPR came out of the traps in the second half but lacked the quality to be decisive in the final third. Rovers held firm and wrapped the game up on the hour mark as Sigurdsson was given too much room on the edge of the box so he cut inside and bent it into the corner.
