Match ends, Queens Park Rangers 0, Middlesbrough 3.
QPRQueens Park Rangers0MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough3
George Friend scored his first goal for two years as Middlesbrough gave manager Tony Pulis his second league win since taking charge by beating QPR.
Full-back Friend fired home from 25 yards after fellow defender Daniel Ayala gave them the lead with a header.
Rangers had won their two previous league games but only tested keeper Darren Randolph once in the first half.
Darnell Furlong headed a chance to cut the deficit wide after the break and Adama Traore made it three late on.
Boro, who have now won all 13 games this season in which they have taken the lead, move up to eighth in the table, just two points adrift of the top six, with QPR slipping to 16th.
There was little between the sides until Ben Gibson flicked on Adama Traore's corner and Ayala nodded in at the far post.
And Rangers were still absorbing that setback when Friend received the ball from Stewart Downing and beat Alex Smithies with a left-foot drive.
Ian Holloway sent on Matt Smith and Osayi Bright-Samuel at the interval, but they could not find a way through the visitors' defence and Traore sealed the win with an angled shot for his first Boro goal.
QPR boss Ian Holloway:
"In the first 15 minutes we were causing them all sorts of trouble and I can assure you that Tony Pulis, who's a friend of mine, wasn't too happy.
"But unfortunately we got undone by a corner, which they're brilliant at and we're normally good at.
"We lost a flick at the near post and then Ayala is standing there and heads it in. It's a mountain to climb after that."
Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis:
"As soon as we got a goal we then went on and deservedly won the game.
"For the players to put in that kind of performance and show that bit of character, I'm really pleased.
"We played some good stuff at times, created opportunities, and when we had to roll our sleeves up and battle we restricted them to not many opportunities."
Line-ups
QPR
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Smithies
- 5Onuoha
- 6Lynch
- 18Robinson
- 2Furlong
- 21Luongo
- 11ScowenSubstituted forEzeat 70'minutes
- 7Freeman
- 3BidwellSubstituted forOsayi-Samuelat 45'minutes
- 38OtehSubstituted forSmithat 45'minutes
- 9Washington
Substitutes
- 13Ingram
- 14Manning
- 17Smith
- 20Baptiste
- 22Wszolek
- 30Eze
- 34Osayi-Samuel
Middlesbrough
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 25Randolph
- 5Shotton
- 4Ayala
- 6Gibson
- 3Friend
- 16Howson
- 7Leadbitter
- 37Traoré
- 19DowningSubstituted forChristieat 87'minutes
- 11BamfordSubstituted forClaytonat 72'minutes
- 9AssombalongaSubstituted forGestedeat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Konstantopoulos
- 8Clayton
- 10Braithwaite
- 18Fletcher
- 21Johnson
- 22Christie
- 39Gestede
- Referee:
- Oliver Langford
- Attendance:
- 14,182
Match Stats
Home TeamQPRAway TeamMiddlesbrough
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away5
- Corners
- Home3
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Queens Park Rangers 0, Middlesbrough 3.
Post update
Offside, Middlesbrough. Adam Clayton tries a through ball, but Rudy Gestede is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Luke Freeman (Queens Park Rangers).
Post update
Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Cyrus Christie replaces Stewart Downing.
Goal!
Goal! Queens Park Rangers 0, Middlesbrough 3. Adama Traoré (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Rudy Gestede with a headed pass.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jack Robinson (Queens Park Rangers) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right.
Post update
Foul by Luke Freeman (Queens Park Rangers).
Post update
Jonny Howson (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Rudy Gestede (Middlesbrough) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Adama Traoré with a cross.
Post update
Attempt saved. Joel Lynch (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Foul by Matt Smith (Queens Park Rangers).
Post update
Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Rudy Gestede (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonny Howson.
Post update
Attempt missed. Darnell Furlong (Queens Park Rangers) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Luke Freeman with a cross following a set piece situation.
Post update
Eberechi Eze (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough).
Substitution
Substitution, Middlesbrough. Adam Clayton replaces Patrick Bamford.
Substitution
Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Eberechi Eze replaces Josh Scowen.
