Middlesbrough 2-3 Queens Park Rangers: Visitors win see-saw contest with 10 men

Chris Willock's cool finish came after a terrific solo run into Middlesbrough's penalty area for the winner

Chris Willock netted the winner for 10-man Queens Park Rangers in an incredible see-saw second half at Middlesbrough to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Uche Ikpeazu gave Boro the lead with a seventh-minute penalty, but Jonny Howson's own goal put Rangers level just after the break.

Despite Moses Odubajo's red card, the visitors then went in front through Lyndon Dykes - only for Matt Crooks to rifle in Middlesbrough's equaliser.

But Willock grabbed the decisive goal 14 minutes from time and QPR clung on for three points.

Boro, who fielded the same side that started their 2-1 win against Bristol City, began on the front foot and almost went in front when Howson's low drive thudded against the post.

Rangers scrambled the ball behind, but they failed to clear the corner that followed and when Dykes tugged at Dael Fry's shirt, referee Steve Martin awarded the spot-kick that Ikpeazu slotted home.

Dykes might have atoned for his lapse immediately as Willock broke and supplied him with a cross, but the striker's volley was smothered by former QPR goalkeeper Joe Lumley.

Apart from a routine save from Ilias Chair, Lumley remained largely untroubled until three minutes into the second half, when Rangers broke down the left and Lee Wallace whipped over a cross that the lunging Howson turned into his own net.

QPR were reduced to 10 men almost immediately, with Odubajo shown his second yellow card for shoving Isaiah Jones - but they snatched the lead when Willock threaded a delicate chip towards Dykes, who lashed a powerful finish beyond Lumley.

The lively Jones dispossessed Dom Ball and teed up Crooks to make it 2-2 with his second goal in successive games - only for QPR to restore their advantage four minutes later.

Stefan Johansen's dinked pass picked out Willock, who turned inside Fry and fired a left-foot shot into the bottom corner - and the Rangers forward could have made it 4-2 when Charlie Austin played him through soon afterwards, but was foiled by Lumley.

Middlesbrough piled on the pressure after 10 minutes were added on, but QPR held firm to clinch victory at the Riverside Stadium for the third consecutive season.

Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock told BBC Radio Tees:

"I have to grit my teeth really but the effort was there, it was misdirected at times and the fans were great again.

"We're going to have some excitement this year, you can tell the fans were enjoying it despite the result, but we've made one or two wrong decisions at the back.

"I thought we started alright in the second half, but we got caught on the break at times and we were telling them at half-time that was their danger.

"But we'll learn from that and take it forward. It's disappointing to see players who are normally reliable make such elementary mistakes.

"The lads at the back I thought were a bit soft today and we've got to be tougher."

QPR manager Mark Warburton told BBC Radio London:

"It was more than nervy. We were the victims only five minutes in of a very, very poor decision and to see the replay, there's nothing there.

"That's a huge call early in the game and we had to stand up.

"But we did and we knew that when we moved the ball well, we could hurt them and we did that from the outset in the second half. We were dangerous on the counter.

"At 2-2 and down to 10 men, the belief and character and determination to go and get a third goal, everyone deserves huge credit. When the board went up to show there were 10 minutes added on, we stood up and went again.

"You have to win ugly sometimes and defend your goal with passion and you saw that tonight."