Bristol City 0-1 Queens Park Rangers: Ilias Chair's winner seals big win in visitors' relegation fight
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Ilias Chair's (centre) first-half goal secured a vital three points for struggling QPR at Bristol City
Ilias Chair's first-half goal sealed an important win for Queens Park Rangers at Bristol City, which moves the Hoops to within one point of Championship safety.
The Moroccan international slotted in Lucas Andersen's pull-back as QPR extended their winning streak at Ashton Gate to four matches.
Robins substitute Tommy Conway shot narrowly wide from a tight angle as the home side searched for the equaliser but the visitors held on to claim all three points.
QPR are now just a point behind Millwall, who lost at home to fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday, in the race to stay in the Championship.
Chances were at a premium in the opening half hour as Ross McCrorie fizzed a volley into the side netting for the hosts, who lost Sam Bell to injury early on.
The visitors made the breakthrough against the run of play as the recalled Chris Willock charged through midfield before playing it out wide to Andersen on the right and his cross was stroked into the bottom right corner by Chair for his fourth goal of the season.
Bristol City keeper Max O'Leary was tested by Chair and Andersen in the second half as the Hoops took hold of the match.
The Robins had a flurry of late corners, with Sam Field clearing off the line at the death to deny the home side the equaliser.
It was a disappointing result for Liam Manning's side who just four days earlier had ended Southampton's 25-game unbeaten run in all competitions with an impressive 3-1 victory.
Bristol City head coach Liam Manning told BBC Radio Bristol:
"We never really got going to be honest. The lads are very frustrated and disappointed, as is probably everybody associated with it.
"Nobody intentionally goes out and doesn't perform to the level they want.
"I thought we ended up playing into their game plan rather than going out and controlling the way we wanted."
QPR boss Marti Cifuentes told BBC Radio London:
"I'm very happy for the lads because we spoke about good teams, they always try to respond [after a defeat] and I think we responded not only with the result but with the performance as well.
"The second half was really good. I think we could have scored two or three more goals."