Queens Park Rangers 0-3 Sheffield Wednesday: Owls cruise to win over sorry R's
- Published
Josh Windass has three goals in his last six games for Sheffield Wednesday - and seven for the season
Sheffield Wednesday marked the death of former manager Jack Charlton with a comfortable victory over a poor QPR.
Charlton, who died at the age of 85 on Friday, spent six years as manager at Hillsborough, leading them to promotion to the second tier in 1980, before leaving in 1983.
Wednesday took an early lead when centre-half Dominic Iorfa reacted quickest to score on the rebound after Massimo Luongo's shot from the edge of the area came back off the post.
Josh Windass made it 2-0 at half-time with a close range header from a corner and Jacob Murphy wrapped up the win with a lovely curled effort.
The Owls, who could yet face a points deduction from the EFL over a misconduct charge, had lost their previous three matches.
Fast start by Wednesday
They made the perfect start at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium when Iorfa finished calmly after Joe Lumley had saved Windass' original free-kick and Luongo had then hit the post.
The R's created next to nothing in a first half when sloppy defensive errors nearly let the Owls in on more than one occasion and it was little surprise when they fell further behind just before the break.
Moments after Windass was denied by a wonderful block from defender Osman Kakay, the Wigan loanee headed in virtually on the line after the near post corner was flicked on.
Sub Remi Oteh could only tamely direct his close range effort at Wednesday goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith as Rangers tried to cut the deficit, but Murphy made the most of Kakay backing off in the area to bend in a third for the visitors.
Garry Monk's men are now 10 points clear of the relegation zone with three games to play but, with a points deduction a possibility, this win could prove to be vital.
QPR enjoyed more of the possession but have now scored just two goals from six games since they returned to action last month.
They are eight points above the bottom three and almost certainly safe but, on this showing, seem unlikely to pick up many more points before the end of the campaign.
QPR boss Mark Warburton:
"It was more than disappointing. I'll always defend my team when I think it's the right thing to do, but that would be foolish.
"We were well below the QPR of this season. We were off the pace, pointless in our passing and lacklustre. We got what we deserved today."
Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk:
"Obviously we have to be very pleased with the performance and the result.
"We had lost three games in a row and we needed to respond. It was a very pleasing day.
"We got a complete performance. When we can keep our concentration and our focus we know what quality we have. The players focused on the game plan and got their reward.
"It was a team who played with good passion and heart, and that's the recipe we need. It shows they've got it in them, and they just need to do it more consistently."