Report: QPR 3-0 Dons
A dogged defensive display from the Dons was ultimately undone as they fell to a 3-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers.
Karl Robinson reverted back to the starting XI that beat Blackburn Rovers last weekend – Rob Hall, Ben Reeves and Simon Church returned in place of Carl Baker, Samir Carruthers and Nicky Maynard. Darren Potter was among the substitutes for the first time since the end of August after recovering from a knee problem.
Tjaronn Chery saw a shot well saved by David Martin and Simon Church an effort blocked during an even opening 10 minutes.
Grant Hall headed Matt Phillips’ corner dangerously back across the face of goal on 14 minutes but the Dons cleared – they were dealing relatively comfortably with the hosts’ advances.
A fantastic block from Dean Lewington then denied Nedum Onuoha at the back post following a cross from the left.
QPR were upping the ante and a teasing ball in from Phillips flashed across the box and ended up going harmlessly to safety as the game approached the midway point of the first half.
A good interception from Jordan Spence set-up a chance on 31 minutes for Hall, who drove forward but sent his effort wide of Robert Green’s left-hand post.
At the other end, Antony Kay was in the right place at the right time to clear Paul Konchesky’s shot off the line after Martin had advanced from his goal to narrow the angle, which aided in the defender offering an ultimately weak effort.
Following some neat build-up play, Forster-Caskey couldn’t quite find Church while, at the other end, Karl Henry and Jay Emmanuel Thomas saw 20-yard drives deflect wide.
Rangers continued to look the more likely to open the scoring at the start of the second half and their best chance fell to Hall, who headed Phillips’ corner just over the top on 54 minutes.
An injury to Reeves forced him to replaced by Samir Carruthers just before the hour mark, and the substitution made an immediate when he won a corner, but nothing came of it.
Only some last-ditch defending from Clint Hill denied Church at the back post on 61 minutes – the Dons were growing into the game.
Church came even closer to breaking the deadlock a minute later when he was fed by Hall but his shot was magnificently saved by England international Green from 12 yards.
Just as the Dons were posing more of a threat, the hosts struck on 71 minutes – Emmanuel-Thomas bringing the ball down brilliantly before finishing past Martin from 10 yards.
The men from MK1 were almost level on 75 minutes but Church, flying in at the back post, couldn’t quite meet Josh Murphy’s teasing cross.
Murphy, coming to life, saw a low drive deflect behind, but from the resulting corner the R’s broke through Phillips and he finished superbly after cutting in from the right-hand side to give the hosts breathing space.
Junior Hoilett wrapped up the victory for the R’s in the 88
Church, continuing to work hard up front, was thwarted after initially creating space himself with some fantastic movement. th Referee: Scott Duncan
Attendance: 15,567 (1,070 Dons fans).
Bookings: McFadzean.
Unused subs: Burns, Hodson, Potter, Powell.
Starting XI: Martin; Spence, Kay, McFadzean, Lewington (c); Poyet (Maynard 79), Forster-Caskey; Hall (Baker 67), Reeves (Carruthers 56), Murphy; Church.
minute when he turned home from close range after the Dons had failed to clear.
