Lyndon Dykes scored a brace to help QPR produce one of the narrow football results of the weekend in the Championship. After being controversially denied a penalty of their own after Sam Hutchinson’s clear handball went unnoticed by the referees, Mick Beale’s team fell behind to an Andy Carroll penalty (30). But inside three minutes, Dykes scored his first goal since August 6 by stooping to power a diving header past former QPR goalkeeper Joe Lumley (33). After a sloppy challenge from Mamadou Loum in the 84th minute, the Scotland striker converted a late penalty to give Rangers their fourth victory in five Championship games despite the hosts’ poor start to the second half.
With a win, Reading might have taken the lead in the Championship, but Paul Ince’s team drops to fourth before the rest of the weekend’s games. A fast-paced, open first 10 minutes or so in west London eventually gave way to the terrific intensity from QPR, who fired warning shots when Tyler Roberts drew a brilliant low stop from ex-Hoop Lumley and Ilias Chair pulled a shot over after a frightening run. Without a doubt, the hosts ought to have received a penalty after 19 minutes. Tim Iroegbunam received a pass from Chair at the far post, but Reading defender Hutchinson made a clear handball, deflecting Iroegbunam’s header aside for a corner. But the officials remained unimpressed.
In a sad turn of events, the Royals seized the lead from the penalty spot on the hour, against the flow of play. Lucas Joao was pulled down by Iroegbunam just inside the box, and Carroll planted the ball firmly on the spot and out of Seny Dieng’s reach. After Thomas Bramall correctly awarded a penalty after Loum carelessly pulled down Iroegbunam in the box without clearly intending to play the ball, Dykes maintained his composure to calmly slot the ball into the bottom right corner to secure the win.
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