Reggie Cannon and Charlie Kelman’s Queens Park Rangers win once again, three games on the bounce, and are now just two points behind Huddersfield Town, aiming to escape the relegation zone. Elsewhere, Haji Wright should’ve scored in Coventry’s 2-0 win against Birmingham City, while Lynden Gooch also performed admirably in his side’s 1-0 home loss to Sheffield Wednesday.
Queens Park Rangers 2-0 Hull City
Reggie Cannon put on a solid defensive shift for QPR, registering four successful duels, two recoveries, two clearances, and two tackles, according to FotMob. Not only was he great defensively, but the right-back also played a key role in kickstarting a counter-attack. Hull City, the dominant team fighting for a playoff spot, faced QPR, who find themselves at the opposite end of the table.
On the other hand, Charlie Kelman came on in the 86th minute and hardly had a touch due to the extended periods Hull City possessed the ball while trying to salvage a result.
The returning Ilias Chair ignited a strong start for the Rangers, flashing an early effort across the goal. Despite Lyndon Dykes narrowly missing Andre Dozzell’s cross from a ninth-minute corner, Hull improved with Liam Delap testing Asmir Begovic twice and Tyler Morton’s close-range attempt blocked by Steve Cook.
However, Chris Willock skillfully broke the deadlock, maneuvering around three defenders and curling his shot past goalkeeper Ryan Allsop. Although Reggie Cannon’s challenge on Hull’s Connolly went unpunished, Ilias Chair’s impactful play highlighted his worth for the west Londoners. A poor back pass from Jean Michael Seri led to Willock’s cross, finding Ilias Chair who confidently scored from 12 yards out.
Despite remaining in the relegation places, QPR narrowed the gap to safety by just two points, achieving consecutive home wins for the first time in over a year under new manager Marti Cifuentes. Meanwhile, Hull maintains a position just outside the play-off places.
Coventry City 2-0 Birmingham City
Haji Wright must be kicking himself for not seeing his name on the scoresheet in the Midlands Derby after missing a big chance and a few others, racking up an xG of 0.47. Despite this, Wright didn’t give up; he created two chances and registered two dribbles. Surprisingly, he put on a solid defensive shift down that left flank, winning six duels, five recoveries, a tackle, and two clearances. It’s something that every manager would be proud of – attackers contributing to seeing out results.
Callum O’Hare provided Coventry City with a well-deserved lead at the half-hour mark, showcasing nimble footwork and a precise finish in the penalty area. His first goal for Coventry since recovering from a 10-month-long injury.
In contrast, Birmingham City struggled in the first 45 minutes, managing only two shots on target, both easily handled by the goalkeeper. They faced challenges in creating chances and were limited to counter-attacks.
Despite the visitors having more possession in the second half and attempting a comeback, Haji Wright missed two opportunities inside the box. However, Callum O’Hare sealed the victory, scoring a brace, in the 77th minute with a skillful move across the box, securing the points and capping off an impressive performance by the home side.
Stoke City 0-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Despite losing the game late on, Lynden Gooch played exceptionally well, a much-needed performance considering his prior matches. A loss is a loss, but it’s certainly a performance to build upon. Gooch received the highest FotMob rating and, according to the app, completed the most dribbles in the match. His attacking prowess extended beyond that; he created two big chances for his teammates, although they couldn’t convert, earning an xA (expected assist) of 0.45. Not only was Gooch impactful in attack, but he also showed defensive prowess with nine recoveries, five interceptions, two clearances, and five duels won.
The Potters, in need of points following losses to Blackburn Rovers, Queens Park Rangers, and Plymouth Argyle, hosted Sheffield Wednesday at the bet365 Stadium. In a game lacking quality, Lynden Gooch had a deflected shot, setting the stage for a match decided by another late drama.
Stoke’s Ryan Mmaee missed a penalty in the 62nd minute, and to the dismay of the home crowd, Sheffield Wednesday’s Anthony Musaba scored an injury-time winner, sealing a late victory for the visitors. The disappointment led Stoke City fans to turn on manager Alex Neil, resulting in his eventual dismissal after the fourth consecutive defeat, this time to the Championship’s bottom side.
Notes
Duane Holmes came on as a 63rd-minute substitute in PNE’s 0-0 draw away at Norwich.
Vaughn Covil was an unused substitute in Hull City’s U21 team, which lost 6-1 to Swansea City’s U21s, with Fletcher who is on fire.
Kristian Fletcher adds another goal to his Swansea City tally in a massive 6-1 win against Covil’s Hull City.
Jonathan Tomkinson started in the Bradford City squad that defeated Liverpool’s academy in the EFL Trophy, winning 4-0 and earning a 7.5 rating on Sofascore.
Josh Sargent and Daryl Dike are both still recovering from injury, with Sargent being slightly closer to a return.
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