Will Lankshear continued his remarkable run by scoring his seventh goal in as many games, delivering Middlesbrough a narrow 1-0 triumph over a previously unbeaten Queens Park Rangers side. Since joining Boro from Tottenham in the summer, the young striker has been a revelation, and his clinical finish in the first half at Loftus Road lifted the team to second place in the Championship standings. Middlesbrough had previously found themselves level at the break in their last two away fixtures, only to be denied the full points.
This time, however, they managed to hold onto their lead and see the match through to the final whistle. Rangers entered the contest having amassed ten points from their opening four games, placing them second in the table and brimming with confidence ahead of the showdown with one of the league’s traditional powerhouses. After a season plagued by injuries to key personnel, the early-season sharpness displayed by the likes of Ilias Chair, Jake Clarke‑Salter and Kwame Poku – all of whom had struggled with fitness in the previous campaign – gave West London supporters a fresh sense of optimism.
The first half was dominated by Middlesbrough, but it was not without drama. Chair and striker Richard Kone both left the field with injuries, leaving the hosts a goal down. The decisive moment arrived in the 20th minute when Callum Brittain won a challenge on the right flank against Paul Smyth, then whipped a low cross into the middle of the penalty area.
Lankshear timed his run perfectly, meeting the ball at the far post and slotting it home to give Boro the lead. The goal was followed by a brief flurry of activity.
Kyle Joseph tried to double the advantage, but his effort failed to find the net after Brittain’s cross was deflected. Shortly afterwards, Rangers responded with a dangerous foray, as Sebastian Berhalter delivered a lofted ball over the top, only for Lankshear’s follow‑up to be saved by QPR keeper Pierce Charles.
The second half began with QPR adopting a high‑tempo approach. Amadou Mbengue and substitute Rumarn Burrell – who came on for the injured Kone – tested Middlesbrough’s goalkeeper Radek Vitek, while Chair’s replacement Koki Saito struck wide of the target.
Despite the pressure, Boro remained dangerous on the counter‑attack. After Mbengue lost possession, Tommy Conway found himself one‑on‑one with the keeper, but Charles managed to deflect the shot onto the post, preserving the slender lead.
Rangers continued to press, creating a handful of chances that barely missed the mark. In the 77th minute, Harvey Vale unleashed a powerful strike that smashed against the inside of the post, offering a glimpse of what could have been an equaliser.
Later, Tariq Lamptey fired over from distance, and Jimmy Dunne failed to connect cleanly with a corner delivered by Nicolas Madsen. As the clock ticked down, Middlesbrough’s defensive discipline shone through.
The back line held firm, and the team weathered the final onslaught, ultimately securing a hard‑earned, well‑deserved victory. After the match, QPR captain Julien Stephan reflected on the performance: "It was a top second half. We have to remember that just a few months ago, in March, we lost 4‑0 to them and we were out of the game.
This team played in the play‑off final three or four months ago, spent £50 million in the transfer market, and now, at the start of September, in only their fifth game, we are able to compete like this in the second half. What an improvement.
We had good ideas but we didn’t execute them well enough in the first half, and we lacked tempo. The contrast between halves was huge – we won most of the duels, but the difference was the quality of ball possession and passing. I think we are closing the gap quickly and have the quality to challenge teams like this.
We created enough chances in the second half to at least score one." Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg praised his side’s resilience: "Will was a little bit sick the night before. He felt better in the morning, and there were doubts about starting him, but you could see his energy was a bit lower. I always knew his energy would dip, but his movement inside the six‑yard box was excellent.
Over 90 minutes we displayed everything football is about – all aspects of the game. It was vital to see the match out. We faced a team that may have started the season the best of all, statistically very strong, and we gave them problems in the first half.
In the last 20 minutes we defended brilliantly, showing the qualities you want in a football team: good on the ball, strong in transitions, and the ability to adapt." The win not only solidified Middlesbrough’s position near the top of the table but also highlighted Lankshear’s emerging status as a reliable goal‑scorer. His consistency, combined with the squad’s growing cohesion, suggests that Boro could be serious contenders for promotion as the season progresses.
For fans eager to relive the action, highlights of the Championship match are available to watch for free online, and the full game can be streamed via the Sky Sports app. Additionally, a promotional offer invites viewers to enter a Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, with entry available at no cost.