Queens Park Rangers vs Bournemouth. Sky Bet Championship.
Loftus Road Stadium.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between QPR and Bournemouth at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium as Todd Kane's late goal handed victory to Mark Warburton's side on Saturday.
Saturday 20 February 2021 18:59, UK
Todd Kane's late goal gave in-form QPR a 2-1 victory at home to Bournemouth in the Sky Bet Championship.
The Cherries, who are looking to install Arsenal legend Thierry Henry as manager, looked like earning a point after Shane Long's equaliser cancelled out Stefan Johansen's opener.
But Kane netted with seven minutes remaining to condemn Bournemouth to a first defeat in their five matches under caretaker boss Jonathan Woodgate.
It clinched a fourth consecutive victory - and a sixth win in seven matches - for Mark Warburton's side.
The hosts went ahead after a mistake by Chris Mepham - a boyhood QPR fan - on 58 minutes.
Johansen pounced on Mepham's loose pass across the face of the penalty area and slotted past goalkeeper Asmir Begovic for the Norwegian's first goal since joining Rangers on loan from neighbours Fulham.
Long brought Bournemouth level 11 minutes later with his first goal since arriving on loan from Southampton - a close-range finish after Lewis Cook's cross from the left had been headed across goal by Sam Surridge.
But QPR regained the lead when substitute Albert Adomah's left-wing cross was fired home by Kane at the far post.
Another Rangers substitute, Macauley Bonne, missed a great chance to make it 3-1 but he hit the post after Begovic had failed to gather Kane's cross.
Bournemouth were much the better side in the first half and Long shot straight at keeper Seny Dieng after being put through on goal by Jefferson Lerma's ball over the top.
Dieng also did well to divert away a shot from Philip Billing after the Dane had been found by Jack Wilshere on the left-hand side of the penalty area.
And moments before the interval, Adam Smith went close to giving the Cherries the lead when he fired narrowly wide.
Rangers finally threatened after the restart and almost went ahead when Ilias Chair's right-wing free-kick was headed against the bar by Yoann Barbet.
The Cherries were straight back on the attack and Smith missed a golden chance to score when he contrived to nudge the ball wide from close range after being teed up by Lloyd Kelly's low ball across from the face of goal.
It proved to be a costly miss for Bournemouth as Mepham's error then gifted Rangers the points.
QPR's Mark Warburton: "Look at Bournemouth's squad and they're a very talented team. So we knew it would be a tough test. But again the boys have stood up, stuck to the game plan, worked hard and shown quality and created chances against a very good team. They deserve so much credit. When you look at Watford, Blackburn, Brentford and Bournemouth, I don't think people would have given us much chance of taking many points out of that run, so the boys have done very well.
"But this division is ruthless and you have to be focused on the next game. So everything now is about playing Preston on Wednesday night. It's a game every three days now. It's a crazy schedule. We all know about the demands being placed on the players. They've done so well."
Bournemouth's caretaker boss Jonathan Woodgate: "I have no idea what's happening with [the next manager]. We'll just have to see what the board say next.
"Obviously it can be unsettling for the players and fans, but there's nothing we can really do about it. I've just got to get on with it, keep my own counsel and do my best for the club."
