Blackburn bounce back as QPR downed

11 February 2012 18:16

Blackburn bounced back from their 7-1 mauling at Arsenal to down fellow strugglers QPR 3-2 on Saturday.

Nigerian international Ayegbeni Yakubu, back in the starting line-up after suspension, fired Rovers ahead on 15 minutes, latching on to a Steven Nzonzi flick-on before rifling a shot past Paddy Kenny.

Rovers took a stranglehold on the game when Nzonzi added a second eight minutes later.

David Hoilett surged into the box and teed up Nzonzi who swept hope emphatically to the delight of the Ewood Park faithful.

It got worse for Rangers on the stroke of half-time as Blackburn went 3-0 up. Scott Dann headed across the area for Hoilett whose shot flew in off QPR's transfer window signing Nedum Onuoha.

Blackburn suffered a setback shortly after half time when the rampant Hoilett suffered an injury and was replaced by Adam Henley.

However the substitution barely disrupted Rovers pressure, and they might have gone 4-0 up soon afterwards only for Yakubu's chip to hit the crossbar.

QPR, without the suspended Djibril Cisse, struggled to create much in attack, with Onuoha squandering a half chance on 65 minutes before Taye Taiwo shot wide.

However the introduction of Jamie Mackie for Akos Buzsaky midway through the half was the cue for a Rangers fightback.

The Scottish international finished from close range to make it 3-1 and could have had another shortly afterwards only to shoot tamely at Paul Robinson.

QPR continued to dominate possession however and both Adel Taarabt and Sean Wright-Phillips had chances to make it 3-2.

Mackie scored in the dying minutes to give Rangers hope but time ran out as Rovers grabbed only their fifth win of the season.

Source: AFP