A resurgent Birmingham City claimed their biggest scalp of the season as John Eustace’s side battled to victory over high-flying Queens Park Rangers.
QPR, second in the Championship and needing a win to go back to the top, did their two London neighbors no favors as the Blues had two loan men in the first half – Arsenal’s American defender Austin Trusty and West Ham won with a goal from the wing back. Manny Longello.
Any hopes from Michael Bale’s side after the break could turn around after Blues goalkeeper John Ruddy’s fine 79th-minute penalty saved Lyndon Dykes from being denied.
After winning four times in five away games, it was QPR’s second straight defeat on the road, while the Blues’ third win in five – in front of 19,007, their biggest home crowd since before the Covid pandemic, put them top Took in the half. .
It looked on the cards from the moment when, in an already bouncy atmosphere at a reduced-capacity ground, still reeling from the loss of 10,000 seats due to delayed stadium renovations, the Blues scored a strange goal in just the fourth minute. Poorly advanced. Motivational opening goal.
Christian Baleic sent the ball back into the box after a corner was broken on the edge of the penalty area. But, with his back to goal, Trusty showed great awareness to acrobatically deliver the ball into the six-yard box with a flick of his outstretched right leg, just beyond the reach of Rangers keeper Sini Dieng. Out and out from under the bar.
The Blues were 2-0 up just before the half-hour mark when first-time passes from Scott Hogan, Hannibal Megbury and Bilek sent the ball to Longillo wide on the left and the West Ham loan man. Cut inside, moved the ball onto his right foot and drilled a low shot past Dieng to find the bottom right corner.
QPR had their chances, when Rudy touched down Elias Cheir’s curling free-kick and saved from Dykes when former West Brom striker Tyler Roberts’ effort from the edge of the box deflected off Harley Dean. Fell on the roof. Net
And, in a game of seven bookings, it could have been a different result shortly after the break when Manchester United teenager Magbury was not penalized for a challenge on Ethan Laird – also on loan at United – which easily could have warranted another yellow. Card
But Rudy saved his best 11 minutes from time for the Dykes when Longillo was adjudged to have had his foot too high on Laird as he dived down to head the ball – and referee Tim Robinson A dubious penalty was given.
The penalty came at a good height, Rudy dived to his right to get both hands on it – and it completed a miserable return to the West Midlands for former Aston Villa number two Bale.
QPR’s head coach also injured two players, Jack Clark Salter and Roberts, in the space of six minutes in the first half.
