QPR 1 Fulham 2: Stefan Johansen goal seals bragging rights from West London derby

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James Benge29 September 2017

Fulham’s smash and grab mission earned them three points at Loftus Road with a 2-1 win over QPR.

There had been plenty of fortune in Fulham’s 41st-minute opener as Jack Robinson deflected Ryan Fredericks’ ambitious low drive into the net but Fulham’s quality told in the second half, when Rui Fonte missed a penalty moments before Stefan Johansen smashed home the winner.

QPR boss Ian Holloway would be entitled to feel aggrieved as his side dominated the West London derby but a lack of quality in front of goal until substitute Connor Washington’s 92nd minute volley cost them dearly.

The hosts enjoyed much the better of the play in the first half but lacked the cutting edge to make their dominance count, with Jamie Mackie wasting an early header before Jake Bidwell and Massimo Luongo saw their shots blocked following an ingenious run down the right by Freeman.

Fulham were similarly rusty in the final third, Sheyi Ojo twice stumbling when released on the counter and Fonte blazing into the side netting.

It was no surprise then that the game’s opener – four minutes before half-time – came in inauspicious circumstances. Fredericks’ low punt from 25 yards out ought to have been comfortably saved by Alex Smithies but the QPR goalkeeper found himself stranded when the ball took a huge deflection off Robinson.

The visitors ought to have doubled their lead moments into the second half but Ojo somehow contrived to miss Johansen’s tempting cross from the right when only the faintest of touches was required.

Ojo would soon depart on a stretcher after a coming together with QPR defender Joel Lynch that left him with a suspected broken collarbone whilst Sessegnon would require treatment as the derby became ever more bruising.

Freeman curled a free-kick just wide of David Button’s post from the edge of the area with 25 minutes left to play but as Holloway threw on more and more of his strikers QPR lost their grip on the midfield.

Indeed the hosts ended up leaving space at the back that was remorselessly exploited by substitute Neeskens Kebano, who won a penalty for a trip by Lynch. Fonte would shank that well over the bar but there was to be no reprieve for QPR as Johansen secured the victory with a low drive from the edge of the area.

But nine minutes of injury time handed Holloway’s men further hope. They needed only two to trim the advantage as Washington volleyed home from a Matt Smith knockdown. Freeman and Luongo would go close as time ticked away but Fulham just about held out to claim a win that moves them within a point of the playoff spots.

Starting line-ups

QPR: Smithies; Baptiste, Lynch, Bidwell, Wszolek; Luongo, Scowen, Freeman; Mackie, Sylla, Bidwell

Fulham: Button; Fredericks, Kalas, Ream, Sessegnon; Mcdonald, Norword, Johansen; Mollo, Ojo, Fonte

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