Match Report: Boro 3 QPR 1

Boro closed the gap even further on second-placed Sheffield United after overcoming an obdurate QPR side at the Riverside.

Chuba Akpom scored twice to take his tally to 20 for the season and Riley McGree added a third to ensure a fifth straight win for Michael Carrick’s men.

Having beaten The Blades just three days earlier with an outstanding performance, Carrick made three changes to freshen his side up. In came Dan Barlaser and Aaron Ramsey for their full debuts, and back came Paddy McNair. Darragh Lenihan also captained the side for the first time with Jonny Howson among the subs.

The two Aston Villa loan men linked up well in the opening minutes when Seny Dieng denied Ramsey after a neat ball from Cameron Archer.

The in-form Akpom, named PFA POTM for January the previous day, had the ball in the net on 15 minutes following some nice build-up play, but an offside flag cut the celebrations short.

The Londoners arrived on the back of a poor run of form and had set their stall out to make things as difficult as possible for Boro. The visitors plan was to stay organised, nullify space for Boro, and look to use the counter as their weapon.

It made for something of an arm-wrestle of a first half where Boro were the team with the inspiration, while QPR were there to keep the back door closed and deny the home side space and time.

Rangers cleared away one excellent delivery from Barlaser and Lenihan almost got on the end of another good set-piece ball into the box. Lenihan also headed a Barlaser corner over the bar before half-time.

The body of McNair denied Sam Field before the break, but Boro appeared to have good claims for a handball during the build-up.

Boro started the second half on the front foot and Dieng made a good reaction save to deny McGree after some great build-up play.

More good play was halted when Jimmy Dunne cut out a Tommy Smith cross which was bound for the waiting Akpom.

Dieng came racing off his line to deny Akpom a certain goal after a good ball from Archer as Boro started to pile on the pressure.

Archer was next to be crowded out as QPR’s defending became increasingly desperate and Dieng saved From Barlaser when he had sight of goal.

When Smith delivered another threatening cross, McGree won a corner after a deflected attempt on goal.

QPR’s resistance was finally broken midway through the second half when Akpom headed home a Barlaser cross. It was no less than Boro deserved and the volume rose a few decibels at the Riverside.

That advantage was doubled on 77 minutes when McGree was hacked down for a blatant penalty and Akpom stepped up to convert the penalty on the rebound after Dieng made an initial save.

The Hoops pulled a goal back out of the blue in the dying moments to set up a tense finale, the tireless Ilias Chair the man to find the net.

Boro have a habit of scoring three times, though, and just as at Cardiff last weekend, McGree scored the third of the afternoon in stoppage time.

The victory reduced Sheffield United's advantage in the second promotion spot to just four points.