Blackburn v QPR

Blackburn 3

Yakubu 15′ Nzonzi 23′ Onuoha 45′ (og)

QPR 2

Mackie 71′, 90′

FT 90 +5
HT 3-0

By Alistair Magowan BBC Sport

Yakubu scored on his return from a three-match suspension to help Blackburn secure a crucial victory over fellow strugglers Queens Park Rangers.

The striker collected a long free-kick and fired in from 18 yards before Steven Nzonzi swept home on 23 minutes.

And Junior Hoilett's angled shot was deflected in by Nedum Onuoha to complete a fine half for the hosts.

Substitute Jamie Mackie tucked in Taye Taiwo's cross and found the net late on but QPR had too much to recover.

Onuoha could have made amends for his own goal with a great chance before Mackie's double, but could not find a way past way Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

Despite their late rally, Mark Hughes's side were made to pay for a poor first-half display, where they looked like a team still getting used to playing with one another.

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Steve Kean delighted with 'exceptional' Blackburn

And the defeat means QPR have won just once in five games since the Welshman took charge on 10 January.

Steve Kean's team were clinical in comparison with the win allowing them to move level on points with their opponents as they secured their fifth win of the season.

They will also be hugely thankful to have their leading marksman back in the side since his sending off against Fulham last month, and it was a perfect response to their 7-1 mauling by Arsenal last Saturday .

QPR only summoned up two efforts on target before the break via Armand Traore's shot and Adel Taarabt's chip.

Other than that, Bobby Zamora's overhead kick following a corner summed up a miserable half which began with a bang for Nigerian Yakubu.

As has been the case several times this season, it came via route one, with Robinson delivering the ball into the opposition penalty area and, when Nzonzi's flick landed at Yakubu's feet, he twisted past Anton Ferdinand before firing past Paddy Kenny for his 14th goal of the season.

YAKUBU BOOSTS ROVERS' FIREPOWER

Only the Premier League's top five teams have scored more goals than Blackburn's 37 this season

Soon after, the hosts doubled their lead when Nzonzi collected the ball in midfield, fed Hoilett and, after receiving his return pass, struck sweetly from just inside the penalty box.

Without the suspended Djibril Cisse, who saw red against Wolves last weekend, Hughes's team looked disjointed and were slow to support lone striker Zamora.

And their hopes of getting back into the contest before the interval were dealt a serious blow in first-half stoppage time.

Another long free-kick by Morten Gamst Pedersen was headed square by Scott Dann and, when Hoilett picked up the loose ball he somehow managed to squeeze it in from the angle as it clipped Onuoha and went in over Kenny's head.

The visitors started the second period more brightly, no doubt with a few half-time words ringing in their ears, but Yakubu almost made it 4-0 when he nonchalantly chipped on to the bar from the edge of the area.

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First half unacceptable - Hughes

That seemed to give Rangers much-needed urgency and Onuoha could have made amends for his earlier own goal but Robinson saved his effort.

Mackie then came on for Akos Buzsaky and gave QPR some reward for their improvement when he tucked in Taiwo's cross.

By this stage Blackburn were content to sit on their lead, although that gave their opponents more room to operate.

And a remarkable comeback looked possible when Taarabt found Mackie, who found the top corner in stoppage time.

But Rovers hung on and, without the likes of the suspended Gael Givet and the injured Chris Samba, they will be delighted to have their top scorer back in the fold once again.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Blackburn Rovers

01 Robinson
03 Mn Olsson
16 Dann
18 Orr
31 Hanley
10 Formica (Modeste - 66' )
12 Pedersen
15 Nzonzi
35 Lowe Booked
23 Hoilett (Henley - 50' )
24 Yakubu (Goodwillie - 90' )

Substitutes

13 Bunn
39 Henley
14 Petrovic
29 Vukcevic
09 Modeste
20 Rochina
25 Goodwillie

Queens Park Rangers

01 Kenny
05 Hall (Gabbidon - 90' )
13 Traore
34 Taiwo
35 Ferdinand
42 Onuoha
07 Taarabt
14 Buzsaky (Mackie - 66' Booked )
17 Barton
32 Wright-Phillips
52 Zamora

Substitutes

24 Cerny
03 Hill
06 Gabbidon
04 Derry
10 Bothroyd
12 Mackie
21 Smith

Ref: Dean

Att: 20,252

Match Stats

Possession 40 60

Shots

7 25

On target

5 13

Corners

5 6

Fouls

11 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:22 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +3:37

Corner taken right-footed by Joey Barton from the right by-line, clearance made by Scott Dann.

90:00 +3:10 Substitution

Substitution (QPR) makes a substitution, with Daniel Gabbidon coming on for Fitz Hall.

90:00 +2:55

Jamie Mackie takes a shot. Blocked by Grant Hanley.

89:50 +1:54

Assist on the goal came from Adel Taarabt.

89:50 +1:54 Goal scored

Goal - Jamie Mackie - Blackburn 3 - 2 QPR Jamie Mackie finds the net with a goal from just inside the area to the top left corner of the goal. Blackburn 3-2 QPR.

89:32 Substitution

Substitution David Goodwillie is brought on as a substitute for Ayegbeni Yakubu.