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Chris Willock finished coolly to put QPR ahead, but Simon Sluga's decision to rush out gave him an easy chanceQueens Park Rangers rose to fifth in the Championship with victory over fellow promotion chasers Luton Town in an entertaining and open game at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.
Chris Willock gave Rangers the lead with a perfectly-weighted dink over the onrushing Simon Sluga after a fine lofted route-one pass from deep by Ilias Chair in an ebb-and-flow first-half.
Having ridden an early Luton storm, Charlie Austin buried his header past the Hatters' Croatian goalkeeper early in the second, after Jimmy Dunne's cushioned knock-down into his path, to bring up the crucial second.
Ilias Chair might have made it more comfortable for the R's but his rising drive soared over early on. But, in truth, Luton had ample chances to test goalkeeper Seny Dieng themselves.
The Senegal international had to get down to deny Harry Cornick, Yoann Barbet stretched to block from Elijah Adebayo and Kal Naismith headed wide from a superb James Bree cross.
Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu scuffed a shot wide from the edge of the box deep into added time for Luton - an effort that summed up their night.
Mark Warburton's Rangers had only won one of their past five games with a habit of conceding late goals, but they showed defensive mettle and clinical finishing to see out this game.
Chair's movement and guile along with Willock was the catalyst when they did get forward, and when the game got a little more stretched and tense they stood firm at the back with Rob Dickie in particular putting himself about under pressure.
By contrast, Luton boss Nathan Jones might wonder how his side finished up with nothing to show from the match, having contributed greatly to the contest.
Adebayo and Cornick carried a threat, particularly in the first-half, which caused the home defence plenty of concern, while Bree's steady stream of crosses from the right were another useful outlet.
The game's turning point though was the goal, in which Sluga's decision to rush out of his goal with Willock chasing offered an easy route to goal and made the task more difficult for the visitors.
There was also some controversy about the second, as Sonny Bradley was booked following a 50-50 tussle with Willock, and when the set-piece was not cleared, Austin eventually found the net to ensure three points stayed in West London.
Line-ups
QPR
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Dieng
- 4DickieBooked at 90mins
- 20Dunne
- 6Barbet
- 37AdomahSubstituted forKakayat 80'minutes
- 17DozzellBooked at 59mins
- 7Johansen
- 3Wallace
- 21Willock
- 11AustinBooked at 75minsSubstituted forFieldat 79'minutes
- 10ChairSubstituted forAmosat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Kakay
- 8Amos
- 12Ball
- 13Archer
- 14Thomas
- 15Field
- 34Duke-McKenna
Luton
Formation 5-3-2
- 12Sluga
- 2Bree
- 15Lockyer
- 5BradleyBooked at 54mins
- 4Naismith
- 24Onyedinma
- 22CampbellSubstituted forJeromeat 79'minutes
- 17Mpanzu
- 23LansburyBooked at 13mins
- 7CornickSubstituted forMuskweat 68'minutes
- 11AdebayoBooked at 57mins
Substitutes
- 1Shea
- 9Hylton
- 18Clark
- 26Muskwe
- 29Bell
- 32Osho
- 35Jerome
Referee:Matt Donohue
Attendance:15,062
Live Text
Match ends, Queens Park Rangers 2, Luton Town 0.
Second Half ends, Queens Park Rangers 2, Luton Town 0.
Attempt missed. Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by James Bree.
Robert Dickie (Queens Park Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Robert Dickie (Queens Park Rangers).
Fred Onyedinma (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Luke Amos replaces Ilias Chair.
Robert Dickie (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Fred Onyedinma (Luton Town).
Attempt missed. Admiral Muskwe (Luton Town) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Cameron Jerome.
Foul by Jimmy Dunne (Queens Park Rangers).
Elijah Adebayo (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Yoann Barbet (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Admiral Muskwe (Luton Town).
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Osman Kakay replaces Albert Adomah.
Attempt missed. Fred Onyedinma (Luton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Kal Naismith.
Substitution, Luton Town. Cameron Jerome replaces Allan Campbell.
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Sam Field replaces Charlie Austin.
Offside, Luton Town. Elijah Adebayo tries a through ball, but Fred Onyedinma is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Elijah Adebayo (Luton Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sonny Bradley.
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