Middlesbrough 3-2 Queens Park Rangers
- Published
The game threatened to boil over at times as both sides tried hard for the win
Middlesbrough twice came from behind to beat QPR to move within a point of the Championship play-off places.
David Wheeler gave Rangers the perfect start as he poked in for his first R's goal, before Lewis Baker levelled with his first Boro goal.
Substitute Jamie Mackie put QPR back in front as he charged down Darren Randolph's clearance to tap in.
But Ashley Fletcher restored parity with a header before Britt Assombalonga nodded in what proved to be the winner.
Boro have lost just one of their past eight games in all competitions and ensured an entertaining affair against a QPR side who have now seen 24 goals scored in their eight league matches.
They recovered well after the early goal, with a claim for a penalty for handball while Marvin Johnson went close before setting up Baker to make it 1-1.
Rangers' Alex Smithies made a good save in first-half stoppage time to deny Baker a second, but it was his Boro counterpart Randolph who helped Mackie make it 2-1 with a poor clearance into the Scotland international's chest.
Having restored the lead Fletcher, Assombalonga and Cyrus Christie all had chances for a fourth, but Boro nearly threw away two points late on when Pawel Wszolek hit the post.
Middlesbrough manager Garry Monk:
"We had a good 25-minute period where we got our lead and if anything we should have extended it after that.
"In account of all that, we have had a hard week. There is always a debate in my mind, that freshness, physical side of it... should you change things?
"But they deserved to play in that game. Credit to those that did. It's an important trait to win when you are not at your best. We were clinical in the right areas at the right times."
QPR boss Ian Holloway:
"It was a fantastic game of football. As a neutral, that's what you want to see. After our early goal, they moved the ball and we knew they would.
"To be fair, I am scratching our head how we lost it. You have to say it's down to the changes Garry made - they had that on the bench.
"It's fine margins. We hit the post. Did the ball go out for their winner? That's the new QPR. I thought they gave me absolutely everything."