Millwall 0-2 Queens Park Rangers: Chris Willock & Stefan Johansen inspire Hoops win

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Chris WillockImage source, Rex Features
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Chris Willock has scored in five of his six appearances this season

Chris Willock's superb finish helped propel QPR to victory in the Championship over Millwall at The Den.

Willock swivelled and lashed a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box for his fifth goal of the season after the break.

Stefan Johansen doubled the lead on a comfortable night for Rangers, meeting a quickly-taken corner at the near post to slide a cool finish into the far corner.

Millwall went close late on when Ethan Laird's goal-saving block denied George Honeyman before Zian Flemming's shot smacked the bar, but the visitors held out for a first clean sheet of the season.

QPR move up to eighth place in the table, six points off the top, while Millwall drop to 19th, a point above the bottom three.

A third win in four matches lifts QPR into eighth, while in contrast, the Lions drop to 19th after a third defeat in their past four Championship games.

Willock also created the best chance of the first half when picking out Tim Iroegbunam unmarked, but the Aston Villa loanee was denied on his first QPR start by goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

The first chance of a frenetic start had fallen to Millwall when Callum Styles' deflected effort drew a save from Rs keeper Seny Dieng, but as the tempo dropped, the hosts struggled to create openings.

Rangers created openings but lacked a finish as Jimmy Dunne headed over from Ilias Chair's free-kick before Tyler Roberts blazed over when well found by Ethan Laird's pull-back.

Willock provided the moment of quality the match needed nine minutes after the break, receiving Chair's pass with his back to goal and making space with a slick turn before applying a pinpoint finish.

The Lions continued to work hard, but a late flurry aside, Johansen's goal put the seal on a comfortable evening for Rangers who have now lost just three times in 23 meetings with the Lions.

Millwall manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio London:

"I felt it was a pretty even game. The disappointing thing for us is the only two efforts they've had in the second half they scored both of them.

"We had some good chances in the second half, but it makes it a hill to climb when you're 2-0 down at that point.

"In games we don't play well in, we have to stay in the game and make sure that we turn a 0-0 into one of those games where we nick a set-piece or win the game through that pressure.

"But unfortunately when you make two silly mistakes like that it makes it very, very difficult."

QPR boss Mick Beale told BBC Radio London:

"Sometimes we play nice football, but tonight I thought we had to do a bit of everything. We had to scrap, we had to run hard so I was delighted."

"[On Chris Willock and Ilias Chair] When I looked at the club in the summer and the opportunity to come, they were the two people who helped me see a little bit of myself in this team.

"They drive me mad at times because they're mavericks, but you have to make allowances for your match-winners and on nights like tonight when they create and score.

"The most important thing for us is finding the consistency in our performance and understanding the game takes place with and without the ball."

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