Queens Park Rangers turned a narrow deficit into a 2-1 triumph at Ewood Park, marking their second win in three matches in the Sky Bet Championship. The Rovers began the first half on an even footing, but Blackburn took the lead in the 49th minute when Ryoya Morishita unleashed a spectacular volley that left the QPR goalkeeper stranded.
The visitors, however, responded almost immediately; within two minutes Paul Smyth calmly slotted home a well‑placed finish to level the score. The decisive moment arrived in the 74th minute when Jimmy Dunne rose above the defence to head a powerful cross into the net, completing the comeback and securing three points for the London side. The win demonstrated QPR’s resilience and character, allowing them to accumulate seven points from a possible nine and propelling them into fourth place early in the campaign. Blackburn’s unbeaten streak was snapped, and while their effort was commendable, manager Tony Mowbray admitted his squad lacked the depth on the bench that QPR enjoyed.
The match opened with Blackburn carving out the first clear chance in the 21st minute. Ryan Alebiosu surged down the right flank and delivered a pinpoint cross to Todd Cantwell, who rose at the far post and directed a header over the bar. Nine minutes later the same duo combined again; Alebiosu’s centre missed everyone, but Cantwell displayed excellent technique, stepping back before striking a volley that whistled past the far post. QPR nearly took the lead when Rumarn Burrell slipped a low pass to Ilias Chair, only for Balazs Tóth’s outstretched left leg to block the attempt.
As the half progressed, both sides created opportunities. Ronnie Edwards forced a fine save from Tóth, who stretched to tip away a curling 20‑yard effort destined for the bottom right corner. The first half concluded without a goal, setting the stage for a dramatic second period.
Blackburn opened the scoring early in the second half in spectacular fashion. Andri Gudjohnsen flicked the ball forward to Morishita, who controlled it and unleashed an astonishing left‑foot volley from about 20 yards, sending the ball into the top corner. The goal seemed to shift momentum, but QPR reacted swiftly. Burrell sprinted down the right wing and sent an intelligent low cross to the near post, where Smyth met it with a composed finish, restoring parity.
A crucial moment came in the 53rd minute when Charles, Blackburn’s keeper, made a superb reflex save, diving low to flick away an Alebiosu cross that could have restored the lead. From that point QPR began 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 the target. Edwards unleashed another powerful strike that rattled the post, but the ball failed to find the net. The decisive breakthrough arrived with 16 minutes remaining. After a clearance, QPR recycled the ball, and Tariq Lamptey delivered an excellent cross that found Jimmy Dunne unmarked in the box.
Dunne rose to meet the ball and powered a close‑range header into the net, giving QPR a 2-1 lead that they would protect for the remainder of the game. A late attempt by Alfie Lloyd was blocked, and the visitors eased to a second consecutive win at Ewood Park. Post‑match, Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray reflected on the performance: "There are plenty of positives.
We faced a strong side and managed them well overall. The game was tight, with periods where we dominated and others where they had the edge. The substitutions, particularly Glen Kamara and Kwame Poku, added a different dimension that helped us.
We knew Adam Forshaw wouldn’t last the full ninety minutes, so we planned accordingly. If we can sustain the intensity we showed in the first hour for the full match, we’ll be in a good position.
The final twenty minutes were tough, especially conceding and seeing the euphoria of their comeback. I’m proud of how the team performed for the majority of the game." QPR manager Julien Stephan praised his side’s start and resilience: "We began well, controlling the first fifteen to twenty minutes with good positioning and dominance.
I wasn’t happy with the drop in quality and intensity in the last twenty minutes of the first half. Conceding such a high‑quality goal early in the second half was a blow, but the players responded brilliantly. Not only did we score quickly, but the overall second‑half performance was impressive.
The squad showed top‑class management and quality. We scored twice, but we could have added another two or three goals." The victory underscores QPR’s growing momentum in the league, while Blackburn will look to regroup and address the bench depth that proved a decisive factor in this encounter. The match also highlighted the importance of tactical adjustments and the impact of fresh legs in turning the tide of a closely contested fixture.