Lyndon Dykes scored a brace to help QPR produce one of the most comfortable football scores of the weekend in the Championship. At Loftus Road, where Bluebirds defender Jack Simpson was dismissed, Dutch left-back Kenneth Paal’s debut goal for Rangers completed a convincing victory for the R’s. The possibility of boss Beale leaving, however, significantly dampened the enthusiasm of the home crowd. Only 15 Sky Bet Championship games into his first management position, Beale is apparently in the running to take over at Wolves. His departure would be a major setback for the west London club, whose victory may put them on top of the standings dependent on the outcomes of games between rival contenders Burnley and Sheffield United, which began later in the evening.
After going 10 games without scoring, Dykes has suddenly scored four goals in three contests. He gave Rangers the lead with a penalty kick in the 18th minute after Sinclair Armstrong was brought down in the box for dribbling between Simpson and Cedric Kipre’s center-backs as he pursued a through-ball from Stefan Johansen. When a Scotland striker pushed Ilias Chair’s enticing ball in from the left against the crossbar, Dykes nearly doubled the lead. However, Dykes did score again in the 33rd minute, as Chair provided the assist once more. Chair sprinted onto Ethan Laird’s pass and crossed from the right side for Dykes to apply a close-range finish.
After it appeared that Simpson had brought down on-loan Manchester United right-back Laird, Rangers unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty. But the home team was able to seize the initiative after Simpson was given a penalty kick and then fired. Field found Paal, who added a late third goal by looping a header from the edge of the six-yard box over Allsop and into the far corner of the goal. Allsop made saves to stop Chair and Tim Iroegbunam, maintaining a good score.
For more football scores, click here
