download All Football App

QPR 0-1 Norwich: Teemu Pukki scores winner at Loftus Road

  /  autty

Norwich's fans show their appreciation for Teemu Pukki by singing his name to the tune of the Human League's hit Don't You Want Me.

The Finnish striker wasn't quite working in a cocktail bar over the summer but he had been released by Danish club Brondby and his career was at a crossroads.

It was manager Daniel Farke that picked him out and Pukki has certainly shaken Norwich up and turned them into something new. Or, at least, a side with a goal threat.

The 'Teemu Pukki baby' lyric was again on the lips of 1,500 travelling fans here as he chested Norwich to another three points against Queens Park Rangers.

We were 71 minutes into a contest as dreary as the weather in Shepherd's Bush when Marco Stiepermann wriggled space down the Norwich left to cross.

It took a crucial deflection off the boot of Rangers defender Joel Lynch and Pukki charged in to divert the ball past Rangers keeper Joe Lumley with his chest.

It was the sixth goal he has scored since arriving at Carrow Road - not bad for a free transfer - and continued the Canaries' recent ascent in form while ending that of Rangers.

The game to that point had been a non-event with both teams demonstrating a curious reluctance to push forwards that was always going to ruin any spectacle.

Farke said: 'It is a well deserved win, we stuck together and defended everything. It is always good for the self-confidence when you're able to win games by one goal and defend the clean sheet.

'The week has not been too bad - nine points within seven days and our performance were really good.'

QPR boss Steve McClaren said: 'It was really harsh, we didn't deserve to lose. It was a typical third game in a week. In these type of games you've got to have luck and that little bit of quality.

'I said we'd take a minimum six out of nine this week and we've got that - but we should have had more.

'It had 0-0 written all over it, or one goal, and they got it but we dust ourselves down and we have to start another run now.'

Pukki almost scored during a tedious first-half when he was agonisingly close to turning home Jamal Lewis's low cross on the slide.

Rangers seemed to have cast off their early season turmoil with four unbeaten matches but regressed here, not creating a chance until the 39th minute when Nakhi Wells tested Tim Krul.

The Dutchman tipped a fizzing Luke Freeman shot over his crossbar following Pukki's goal but Norwich were good value for the points.