Sam Gallagher scored a brace to help Blackburn produce one of the most comfortable football scores of the weekend in the Championship. After Gallagher’s opener, Ainsworth’s side leveled with Tim Iroegbunam’s goal, but promotion-chasing Rovers responded to earn a third consecutive win and extend their unbeaten league run to six games. Sammie Szmodics pulled them back in front, and Gallagher’s second goal of the game sealed the deal for Rangers, who had won only one of their previous 19 games. Despite an anticipated thunderous welcome for Ainsworth, a tremendously popular figure from his seven-year tenure at QPR, and a high-tempo start by the home side, they fell down after 14 minutes. Tyrhys Dolan’s effort deflected, and the ball looped towards Gallagher, who headed in from close range for his 50th goal of the season.
Rangers responded 10 minutes later when on-loan Aston Villa midfielder Iroegbunam scored his first senior goal. Osman Kakay’s cross was not cleared by Rovers, and the ball dropped to Iroegbunam, who neatly side-footed in the equalizer. But the tide swung against QPR once more, with playmaker Ilias Chair leaving with what appeared to be a hamstring injury 10 minutes before the break and Szmodics restoring Blackburn’s advantage in the last stages of the first half. Lewis Travis’s wonderful pass freed up Rangers’ defense, and Szmodics slid in behind Kakay to put past goalkeeper Seny Dieng. Worse was to come for QPR, as Gallagher scored again on the hour mark after being expertly set up by Joe Rankin-Costello.
The loss to Chair, whose offensive connection with Chris Willock anchored the squad earlier in the season, might be devastating for Ainsworth, who took over for the fired Neil Critchley this week. With Willock out with a hamstring issue, which has hampered his season, the loss of Chair to hamstring trouble will be a major concern as Ainsworth attempts to stem the slump. Rangers’ troubles are compounded by the fact that attacker Lyndon Dykes is expected to be out for some time while he recovers from illness. The new head coach definitely has his hands full.
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