West Bromwich Albion managed to claw back a point after falling behind early, finishing the Sky Bet Championship encounter at The Hawthorns with a 1-1 stalemate against Queens Park Rangers. The match unfolded with a dramatic twist when a Chris Mepham own‑goal gave the visitors the lead in the 38th minute, a moment that came completely contrary to the flow of the game.
However, the advantage was short‑lived; just three minutes later Callum Styles struck back, restoring parity and extending the Baggies' impressive unbeaten run at home to eleven matches, while QPR remained unbeaten on the road this season. Both sides enjoyed periods of dominance, with West Brom creating a slightly higher number of chances overall, though the London side also generated a respectable share of opportunities. The line‑up featured a few notable returns: former Manchester United midfielder Toby Collyer and Conor Townsend earned their first starts since re‑joining the club, while defender Chris Mepham captained the QPR side.
The teams made three changes each from the previous Wednesday's 1-0 victory over Derby County, mirroring the visitors' adjustments. The opening stages saw Albion dictating the tempo.
Early on, Rabby Nzingoula unleashed a wayward effort that glanced off Felix Horn Myhre and drifted toward goal before veering wide. In the 34th minute, Isaac Price delivered an inswinging corner that was punched clear by QPR keeper Pierce Charles, who was positioned on the line.
The ball ricocheted back into play, and Aune Heggebo rose to meet a cross from Collyer with a thunderous shot that appeared to strike the crossbar, only to hit the stanchion behind the goal. The unexpected turn came when Kwame Poku sent a through ball that set Rumarn Burrell racing into the box. Burrell turned his marker and forced QPR goalkeeper Max O'Leary into a diving save; the rebound fell to Mepham, whose head flicked the ball into the unguarded net, handing QPR a 1-0 lead. The own‑goal was a stark contrast to the prevailing rhythm of the match, catching the home crowd off guard.
West Brom responded swiftly. In the 41st minute, Callum Styles—deployed in an unfamiliar right‑back role—curled a low, precise shot from just outside the penalty area into the bottom corner, equalising for the hosts and marking his second goal of the season. The goal not only leveled the score but also underscored Styles' versatility, as he had previously excelled in midfield and on the wing.
After the restart, Isaac Price came close to giving Albion the lead. His curling free‑kick was well‑placed, but Charles managed to tip it away. Shortly thereafter, Jayson Molumby nodded a corner from Styles that drifted wide of the far post, missing a clear chance.
Both teams remained cautious, aware of the danger posed by quick transitions. Poku forced O'Leary into a spectacular flying save after finding space in the box and unleashing a shot from twelve yards. On the opposite end, Mepham's powerful header from a corner forced Charles into a diving save.
The second half continued with a series of set‑piece battles. Charles had to stay alert when Styles earned a low free‑kick after being fouled on the edge of the box, but the keeper again managed to keep the ball out.
QPR threatened once more when Burrell's header from a Harvey Vale corner was smothered by O'Leary at the foot of the post. In the dying minutes, substitute Jimmy‑Jay Morgan rose to meet a Molumby cross, heading it toward the far post, only to blast it over the bar and miss a potential winner for the home side.
Post‑match, West Brom manager James Morrison praised Styles, saying, "I challenged Callum. He can't just rest on being player of the season.
He's got to go and show it again. He's been rewarded with a new contract and I didn't want him to pick the big contract up and not be at that level of performance.
I believe in Callum so much that I think I could play him anywhere and he would be just as good. I said to him 'come inside onto your left foot and shoot' and it was a great finish. He's used to playing in midfield so he could come inside or he could stay wide.
When he was younger he played as a winger and he's played at wing‑back, so it was just about trying to get that balance right with Rabby Nzingoula. I thought they dealt with it really well." QPR boss Julien Stephan reflected on his team's performance, noting, "When you face a team with very good confidence and strong results it's really important to be strong in your foundation and our defensive organisation was brilliant.
Usually we are better with the ball and are able to create more danger. Today it was more difficult for us to create with the ball, even if we had the best chance of the second half with Kwame Poku. But it was a lovely move for our goal. I enjoyed it because it was part of our game plan after the ball was regained to be able to use the space behind their centre‑backs." The match highlighted the fine margins that often decide Championship fixtures.
West Brom's resilience in bouncing back from an own‑goal, combined with Styles' adaptability, ensured they secured a valuable point and kept their home unbeaten streak intact. Meanwhile, QPR's ability to stay unbeaten on the road demonstrated their growing confidence, even though the own‑goal proved costly. Both managers emphasized the importance of defensive solidity and tactical flexibility as the season progresses, underscoring the competitive nature of the league where every point can shape the final standings.