Cardiff City 1-2 Queens Park Rangers: Sinclair Armstrong inspires Rs to first win of season

Irish forward Sinclair Armstrong's first-half goal was his first senior strike for QPR

Queens Park Rangers recorded their first win of the Championship season at a lethargic Cardiff City.

Sinclair Armstrong's close-range finish put the Rs in front in the first half.

Aaron Ramsey hit the bar as Cardiff pushed for an equaliser but they were picked off on the break as Armstrong teed up Kenneth Paal to score.

Ike Ugbo tapped in to give the hosts hope, while Mark McGuinness hit the bar in the 89th minute, but those efforts were too little too late for Cardiff.

Although these are still very early days in the season, this felt like a significant result for QPR after a turbulent summer and 4-0 thrashing by Watford on the opening weekend.

That result had appeared to give some credence to the many pre-season forecasts counting Gareth Ainsworth's men among the favourites for relegation.

As for Cardiff, a sloppy performance and disappointing defeat dampened what had been a celebratory mood at Cardiff City Stadium as Wales captain Ramsey made his first home appearance since rejoining his boyhood club last month.

Ramsey is one of six signings for Cardiff so far this summer, and their new-look team had started their campaign with an encouraging 2-2 draw at Leeds United.

But they showed precious few signs of that promise against a much-improved QPR.

New signing Steve Cook gave Cardiff an early warning with a header which was well-saved by Jak Alnwick, before Armstrong put the visitors ahead as he struck from close range after Paul Smyth's fine run and low cross from the right.

In contrast to their clinical first half at Elland Road, Cardiff offered little in attack on this occasion, with Ugbo's turn and shot wide about as close as they got to a goal before the break.

The Bluebirds started the second half in the same laboured fashion, but the introduction of substitute Callum Robinson gave them some urgency with Ramsey going close with a curling shot from 20 yards which hit the crossbar.

Four minutes later, however, Ramsey gave the ball away and his mistake led to QPR's second goal. A long ball freed Armstrong and he took his time to assess his options before pulling the ball back for onrushing left-back Paal, who scored with a powerful first-time finish.

Another Cardiff substitute, Ollie Tanner, helped get them back into the game as his clipped cross to the back post found Callum O'Dowda, who slid in to set up Ugbo for a simple tap-in.

And although the home crowd thought the comeback was on when McGuinness headed against the bar, Cardiff's late attempts to salvage a point were in vain as QPR held on for a morale-boosting victory.

Cardiff manager Erol Bulut:

"We're gutted. We were not concentrating in the first half, many players were nervous. We couldn't manage the game or keep the ball well enough to create chances. Individual mistakes led to their goals. The opponents did not push too much or create much.

"We created enough to at least score a second goal and get a point. But two individual mistakes in the game meant the opponents led 2-0 and it's not easy to come back to draw from there.

"We have to keep working on our mistakes. Also some players have to be much more active. From some players, it's not enough. They have to give a better performance.

"Many players still have in their heads the last two years, how the Championship was for them. I try to push it out of them, to believe in themselves and focus on our target. It will take time but I think I can push it out of them. We need positive things, not negative things."

QPR manager Gareth Ainsworth:

"A lot better than last week. Last week was my fault. My system, my way of setting the boys up and I didn't give them the best chance of succeeding.

"It's been a big week for me and that's a big day for me today. I can't thank the guys enough for their work on the training ground. I really did think how can I get the best out of the players I've got, rather than think what's brought me success over the years.

"We changed, we signed again, Steve Cook is a good addition, and I can't thank the boys enough for their efforts. They deserved that result. They've delivered and they'll enjoy that one.

"We've worked hard with Sincs [Sinclair Armstrong], what he's good at. He'll be a threat to any defence. I told him in the hotel this morning he'd score his first goal and his beaming smile gave me confidence, never mind him. He's a work in progress but I believe we've got a real diamond there."