Queens Park Rangers moved out of the bottom three with a 3-1 win over fellow strugglers Wigan at Loftus Road.
Hughes celebrates his first Premier League victory
Queens Park Rangers moved out of the bottom three with a 3-1 win over fellow strugglers Wigan at Loftus Road. Heidar Helguson's penalty and Akos Buzsaky's brilliant free-kick put QPR 2-0 up at the break, but Hugo Rodallega pulled a goal back for Wigan with a fantastic free-kick of his own.Penalty
The Latics keeper denied Jamie Mackie moments later with a fine save, but a glaring error from McCarthy then gifted the hosts the lead in the 32nd minute. Inexplicably, the midfielder chose to palm the ball away from danger from Barton's corner when he realised he could not head the inswinging cross clear and Jon Moss pointed to the spot. McCarthy went into the book and Helguson slotted home for his eighth league strike of the season. Al Habsi did well to tip Buzsaky's 25-yard free-kick around the post, but the Hungarian beat the Latics shot-stopper with two minutes of the half left. Gohouri's trip on Campbell gave QPR a dangerous free-kick 25 yards out and Buzsaky curled a wonderful effort over the wall and into the net off a post to make it 2-0. Wigan boss Roberto Martinez introduced striker Connor Sammon for James McArthur at the break while Smith came on for Campbell for the hosts. Gomez ploughed a volley in to the stands after a quiet opening to the second half. The ball then popped up to Buzsaky at the other end following Wright-Phillips' lay-off and he fired a peach of a volley which Al Habsi tipped around the post with a brilliant diving save.Free-kick
The visitors found a way back into the game in the 65th minute when Barton upended Maynor Figueroa on the edge of the box and Rodallega curled in the resulting free-kick which had Paddy Kenny rooted to the spot. Sammon slipped in behind the QPR defence and calmly controlled the ball, but could only fire a yard wide of Kenny's goal. Referee Moss awarded his second penalty of the afternoon with 17 minutes left when he adjudged Gary Caldwell had climbed over Helguson's back in the box. The Icelandic striker stepped up to take the spot-kick but Al Habsi saved this time down low to his right. Helguson came within inches of making amends moments later when he hammered a powerful volley that sailed inches wide of Al Habsi's goal, with the former Bolton man easily beaten. Mackie had the perfect chance to put the game beyond Wigan's reach with 12 minutes left when he galloped clear following Wright-Phillips' through ball, but the home crowd, and Hughes, despaired as the forward blasted over. Smith put the game beyond doubt the following minute, however, when he crashed a thundering piledriver past Al Habsi from 25 yards. Buzsaky received a standing ovation when he was replaced by Shaun Derry as Rangers ran out comfortable winners.Queens Park Rangers | Team Statistics | Wigan Athletic | |||||
3 | Goals | 1 | |||||
2 | 1st Half Goals | 0 | |||||
7 | Shots on Target | 2 | |||||
7 | Shots off Target | 4 | |||||
5 | Blocked Shots | 3 | |||||
7 | Corners | 1 | |||||
11 | Fouls | 19 | |||||
1 | Offsides | 1 | |||||
2 | Yellow Cards | 2 | |||||
0 | Red Cards | 0 | |||||
66.3 | Passing Success | 77.2 | |||||
21 | Tackles | 23 | |||||
81 | Tackles Success | 73.9 | |||||
40.3 | Possession | 59.7 | |||||
53.9 | Territorial Advantage | 46.1 | |||||
288 | Total Passes | 434 | |||||
15 | Total Crosses | 11 | |||||
174 | Lost Balls | 170 | |||||
42 | Recoveries | 24 | |||||
46.6 | 1st Half Poss. | 53.4 | |||||
34.7 | 2nd Half Poss. | 65.3 | |||||