Sam Field scored his first league goals of the season in the win against Oxford
Sam Field scored his first league goals of the season to extend Queens Park Rangers' unbeaten run with victory against Oxford United, whose dip in form continued.
The 26-year-old fired home from close range to give QPR a 53rd-minute lead, before coolly converting from 18 yards to seal the three points for Marti Cifuentes' side.
Field was the shining star in what was otherwise a match of sparse quality - especially in the first half - between two sides trying to ease away from the drop zone.
The victory handed QPR their third win in an unbeaten run of five games, while Oxford's slide continues as they reflected on just one win in the last 14 games.
There was plenty of enthusiasm but little goalmouth action in the opening 20 minutes in west London.
Idris El Mizouni tried his luck from 20 yards in the 22nd minute after the Hoops failed to close down a swift Oxford move. The Tunisia international's shot took a slight deflection, but failed to trouble the hosts' goal.
QPR, meanwhile, were seeking long throws into the box, without success.
That was as good as it got for both sides in an opening 45 minutes lacking in any quality.
QPR forward Paul Smyth tried to spark the game into life just four minutes into the second half. His darting run and shot from 20 yards flew high and wide of the Oxford goal.
The hosts continued to grow in confidence and superiority. They finally got their reward in the 53rd minute.
A brisk Rangers move down the right saw Smyth deliver a looping ball to the far post, where Rayan Kolli was lurking with intent. The forward outjumped his marker to nod the ball into the path of an unmarked Field, who duly volleyed a left-footed close-range shot past Jamie Cumming.
The former West Bromwich Albion man doubled the home side's advantage in the 69th minute when he stroked a right-footed cool finish following excellent work by Koki Saito, who had weaved inside from the left and laid it off for his team-mate.
Saito had a brilliant opportunity to make it 3-0 some six minutes later, only to see his shot curl wide.
Field went close to a hat-trick late on as well, only to see his looping header float over the bar.
'We need to keep encouraging Field' - reaction
QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes told BBC Radio London:
"It was a difficult game, we spoke during the week about expectations, about managing a strong performance. I knew this would be difficult game as Oxford are in a similar place to us in the table.
"You could see the expectation from our fans in the first half – they have a taste for good football. We were disappointed about the first-half performance but we knew we could adjust some details. We were definitely the better side in the second half.
"Sam [Field] has been playing in the number six and number eight. Every time he plays number eight he shows the capacity to get into the second line and get onto the second goal.
"We need to keep encouraging him. It was not an easy decision to drop Kieran Morgan after a fantastic performance against Norwich, but we felt it was important to introduce some fresh legs. Sam is an important person in the dressing room.
"The fans have been fantastic and now we want to give them something back.
"I am pleased for Sam, but everyone else who is contributing. To have four clean sheets is satisfying. We have been defending well. I am pleased that Paul [Nardi] hasn't had much work to do, and that says a lot about how the team is getting better."
Oxford United head coach Des Buckingham told BBC Radio Oxford:
"We played some good football but lacked that cutting edge in the final third. There were some good moments, but there wasn't that crispness that we've seen in recent games.
"When their first goal goes in – especially when we've had good control of the game – it changes the complexity of the match and feels like you're hard done by. We conceded a very sloppy second goal and it's not the result we wanted.
"We need to add to add that final third to the good build up play we have. We have come to a team who have picked up some good results. But we have a long way to go and we can't feel sorry for ourselves.
"We always pick the team that is the best fit for the game we have to play. We will always do that. Players have to play to a level, and we will do the same on Saturday and see what Sheffield Wednesday pose, and see what the best team is.
"This isn't the end of the world. We are disappointed, but we have a nice home game on Saturday to try and get three points."
