Queens Park Rangers secured their second victory in three matches in the Sky Bet Championship by overturning a deficit to beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at Ewood Park. The encounter began evenly, but Blackburn drew first blood in the 49th minute when Ryoya Morishita unleashed a spectacular volley that found the top corner. The lead, however, was short‑lived.
Within two minutes Paul Smyth restored parity for the visitors with a calm finish, and the decisive moment arrived in the 74th minute when Jimmy Dunne headed home a powerful cross, sealing the comeback. Stephan’s side displayed commendable resilience, bouncing back from the setback to accumulate seven points from a possible nine, a haul that currently places them fourth in the league table.
In contrast, Blackburn’s unbeaten streak was snapped, and despite the effort put in by Tony Mowbray’s men, they lacked the depth and variety of options off the bench that QPR enjoyed. The match opened with a promising chance for Blackburn in the 21st minute. Ryan Alebiosu surged down the right flank and delivered a pinpoint cross to Todd Cantwell, who rose to meet the ball at the back post but sent a glancing header over the bar. Nine minutes later the duo linked up again; Alebiosu’s centre missed everyone, yet Cantwell showcased superb technique by pulling back and striking the ball on the bounce, sending it whistling past the far post.
QPR could have taken the lead shortly after when Rumarn Burrell slipped a pass to Ilias Chair, only for Balázs Tóth’s outstretched left leg to block the attempt. As the half‑hour mark approached, Ronnie Edwards forced another fine save from Tóth, who stretched fully to tip away a curling 20‑yard effort destined for the bottom right corner.
The second half began dramatically. Andri Guðjohnsen’s flick‑on found Morishita, who controlled the ball and, from about 20 yards out, struck a breathtaking left‑foot volley that rocketed into the top corner, putting Blackburn ahead. QPR responded instantly; Burrell sprinted down the right wing, delivered a low, intelligent cross to Smyth at the near post, and Smyth calmly slotted the ball beyond Tóth to level the scores.
Blackburn threatened a quick equaliser when Charles made a superb reflex save in the 53rd minute, diving low to flick away a cross from Alebiosu. Yet QPR continued to dominate possession and create chances. Burrell’s header in the 64th minute drifted wide, and substitute Kwame Poku’s cross from the left also missed its target, while Edwards unleashed a piledriver that clanged against the post.
The decisive breakthrough came with 16 minutes remaining. After a clearance, QPR recycled the ball and Tariq Lamptey produced an excellent cross that found Dunne, who met it with a powerful header from close range to put the visitors ahead.
A late effort from Blackburn’s Alfie Lloyd was blocked, allowing QPR to see out the game and claim a second consecutive win at Ewood Park. Post‑match, Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray reflected on the performance: "There are many positives. We faced a strong side and, honestly, we managed them well.
It was a very tight contest. We had periods of dominance, and they had theirs. The substitutions we made, especially Glen Kamara and Kwame Poku, added attacking impetus and were very clever choices. We knew Adam Forshaw would only last about an hour, so we prepared for that.
I told the lads there are plenty of positives. If we can sustain the level we showed in the first 60 minutes for the full 90, we’ll be fine. The final 20 minutes were tough – the goal and the euphoria that followed.
At half‑time we talked about getting a goal and at least a 1‑0 win. Their subs made a difference, not a criticism of those we started with. Overall, I’m proud of how we performed for the majority of the game." QPR manager Julien Stephan praised his team’s start and reaction: "We began well. The first 15‑20 minutes we were in control, playing good football with solid positioning and dominating the pitch.
I wasn’t happy with the last 20 minutes of the first half; we dropped too much in quality and intensity. We conceded a top‑class goal at the start of the second half, but I loved the players’ reaction. Not only did we score quickly, but the way we played the remainder of the half was impressive. The management and the quality of the squad are top‑notch.
We were dominant, scored twice, and should have netted three or four times." The win reinforces QPR’s early‑season ambition and highlights their depth, especially when compared with Blackburn’s limited bench options. Both managers acknowledged areas for improvement while celebrating the positives, setting the tone for the upcoming fixtures in the tightly contested Championship race.