Callum Styles salvaged a point for West Bromwich Albion after the team fought back from an early deficit to finish the match level at 1-1 against Queens Park Rangers in the Sky Bet Championship fixture at The Hawthorns. The visitors opened the scoring in the 38th minute when a Chris Mepham own‑goal slipped past the defence, an incident that came completely contrary to the flow of the game. The moment was brief, however, as just three minutes later Styles restored parity, extending the Baggies' unbeaten run at home to eleven matches while QPR remained unbeaten on the road this season. Both sides created a fair share of chances, though West Brom appeared to enjoy a slightly higher volume of opportunities.
The line‑up featured several notable returns: former Manchester United midfielder Toby Collyer and Conor Townsend made their first starts since re‑joining the club, and defender Chris Mepham wore the captain’s armband. The match began with Albion dictating the tempo.
Early on, Rabby Nzingoula unleashed a wayward strike that glanced off Felix Horn Myhre, diverting the ball toward goal before it drifted wide. In the 34th minute, Isaac Price delivered an inswinging corner which goalkeeper Pierce Charles punched away at the near post as the home side pressed for a breakthrough. A few minutes later, Aune Heggebo connected with a cross from Collyer, firing a thunderous rising shot that appeared to strike the cross‑bar, only for the ball to rebound off the stanchion behind the goal.
The rebound set the stage for the unexpected own‑goal: Kwame Poku surged forward, feeding Rumarn Burrell, whose drive forced QPR keeper Max O'Leary into a diving save. The rebound ricocheted onto Mepham’s head and rolled into the empty net, giving the visitors a lead that ran counter to the prevailing rhythm of the match. West Brom responded swiftly.
In the 41st minute, Styles, deployed in an unfamiliar right‑back position, curled a low‑driven effort from just outside the penalty area into the bottom corner, marking his second goal of the season and leveling the score. The goal re‑energised the home crowd and set up a tense second half. After the interval, Price again threatened to put Albion ahead when his curling free‑kick was deflected by Charles.
Jayson Molumby then headed a corner from Styles narrowly wide at the far post. Throughout the half, both managers warned their teams to stay alert to the opponent’s counter‑attack potential. Poku forced O'Leary into a spectacular flying save after finding space inside the box and unleashing a 12‑yard shot. Meanwhile, Mepham’s powerful header from a corner forced Charles into a diving save, and the goalkeeper later had to react quickly to a low free‑kick from Styles after the full‑back was fouled on the edge of the area.
QPR continued to probe, with Burrell’s header from a Harvey Vale corner being smothered by O'Leary at the foot of the post. In the dying moments, substitute Jimmy‑Jay Morgan rose above the defence to meet a Molumby cross, but his powerful header sailed over the far post, missing a chance to clinch the win for West Brom.
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 coach Julien Stephan reflected on his side's performance: "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 draw leaves both clubs with a point each, maintaining West Brom's impressive home record and QPR's unbeaten away streak.
The match also highlighted the tactical flexibility of Styles, the resilience of the Baggies after conceding an own‑goal, and the strategic adjustments made by both managers as they navigate the competitive landscape of the Championship.