Queens Park Rangers 1-3 Blackburn Rovers: Gareth Ainsworth loses first game as R's boss

Sammie Szmodics put Blackburn in front at Loftus Road

Sam Gallagher's double strengthened Blackburn's play-off hopes as they triumphed at QPR to ruin Gareth Ainsworth's first game in charge.

Gallagher headed the visitors into an early lead, only for Tim Iroegbunam to bring Rangers level.

But Sammie Szmodics restored Rovers' advantage in first-half injury time and Gallagher tapped in Joe Rankin-Costello's cross for their third.

That extended Blackburn's unbeaten run to seven games, while QPR have not won in their last 11.

Szmodics sent a shot whistling wide before Rovers opened the scoring in the 14th minute, Tyrhys Dolan drifting inside and unleashing an attempt that deflected and spun up perfectly for Gallagher to nod home.

Ainsworth's side battled back and it needed a desperate challenge from Rankin-Costello to prevent Stefan Johansen's strike from bringing Rangers level.

But the home team did achieve parity soon afterwards as Hayden Carter failed to clear Osman Kakay's cross and the ball dropped for Iroegbunam to steer home the first senior goal of his career.

New QPR boss Gareth Ainsworth had two caretaker spells in charge of the team in 2008 and 2009

The R's suffered a setback, though, when playmaker Ilias Chair was forced off through injury - and then another on the stroke of half-time as Lewis Travis split their defence with a deft pass for Szmodics to collect and fire beyond Seny Dieng.

Neat footwork by Rankin-Costello enabled Blackburn to stretch their lead on the hour mark as he wriggled free on the right-hand touchline and delivered a cross for Gallagher to score his second of the game.

That third goal effectively cemented the points and Dolan might have inflicted further damage on QPR, but his left-foot drive was kept out by Dieng.

Blackburn remain fourth but are now just two points behind third-placed Middlesbrough, while Rangers stay 18th.

Blackburn head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"I'm delighted with the result, we fully deserved to win this game. We scored three excellent goals and created more chances.

"We conceded an unnecessary goal but I think that was the only shot they had on goal, more or less.

"We all know how difficult it can be to come to this ground and with a new manager, you felt the energy in the stadium and you saw their players had a lot of energy as well.

"It was nice to see Sammie and Sam getting goals. I think Sam played an extremely good game, not only because of his goals - he was on the front foot, very intense without the ball and made some good runs in behind."

QPR boss Gareth Ainsworth told BBC Radio London:

"I'm not going to rose-tint things but I thought we were competitive with a team that's one of the favourites for promotion. The third goal was a real killer as well because at 2-1, you've always got a chance. Second half, Blackburn controlled the game a bit more and maybe there were tired legs out there.

"He [Ilias Chair] was amazing and losing him, it whacks the players as well - he's a superstar for the club and once you lose someone like that it's going to hit you hard.

"But I have to say the boys rallied round each other. I've got some good leaders here, they've just got to start getting the others believing and get the right culture and start winning games. I'm going to have a full week training now, hopefully we can get some principles into them and go again next Saturday.

"It's a big education for me today, seeing the team playing in the flesh. You see the videos but seeing what they can put on the pitch is vitally important and I'm taking plenty of notes and ironing out plenty of problems."