Stoke City 1-0 Queens Park Rangers: Potters beat fellow strugglers to end four-match losing run
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Stoke's first home win since beating Leeds in October eased the pressure on boss Steven Schumacher
Stoke edged fellow strugglers QPR to end a four-match losing run and put a little daylight between themselves and the Championship relegation zone.
After a turgid opening, Stoke came to life and went ahead on the stroke of half-time when Luke McNally flicked on Lewis Baker's in-swinging corner and captain Wouter Burger tapped in at the far post.
Rangers tried to respond after the break, but failed to land a second-half attempt on target as their unbeaten four-match run came to a subdued end.
The Potters had won just two of their previous 17 league matches, but held on to secure a first victory at the Bet365 Stadium since October.
Victory in this basement battle moved Steven Schumacher's side six points clear of the Hoops who are third bottom after a ninth away league defeat of the campaign.
QPR went closest in a quiet opening half hour when the returning Paul Smyth's clean strike forced Potters keeper Daniel Iversen into a smart save.
Stoke had scored just two goals in their previous eight league matches on home turf, but finally sparked into life when Michael Rose's header from Baker's corner forced Rs keeper Asmir Begovic into an acrobatic stop.
Begovic then turned away Burger's fierce strike and held Niall Ennis' long-range attempt before the skipper struck in stoppage-time.
QPR had scored seven times in their four previous games and responded positively after the break, but they failed to force Iversen into another save and it was Stoke who carried the greater threat.
The Hoops defence blocked three chances in quick succession before Begovic held Baker's long-range effort, and Lynden Gooch drove into the box before firing over.
Stoke City boss Steven Schumacher told BBC Radio Stoke:
"It was a huge game - we knew we were coming up against a team who are very close to us in the league table so it was important for us to get a positive result, and most importantly to get a win at home which has been a long time coming.
"We had to defend well in the second half. It wasn't the best game of football to ever watch, but at this stage of the season that doesn't really matter, the result is all that counts.
"We built up a bit of momentum just before half-time and I'm really pleased to score a goal from a set-play.
"If it has to be a battle in the run-in then so be it. If we can play nice football where we can, then great, but results are all that count."
QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes told BBC Radio London:
"In the first half we got two good chances to take the lead and unfortunately the reality is that from a corner we shouldn't concede, they score a goal that is definitive.
"In the second half we adjusted a few things, the team really tried to create chances. We got much more dominance over the last 45 minutes, but still we missed that bit of quality in the last third.
"Today we definitely didn't find the flow that we wanted. Stoke played much lower than they normally do, much more narrow and compact and was not easy for us to beat.
"I said before the game this will not be a season-changer. We need to keep on working, to try and get the points we need."