High-flying QPR were brought down to earth by Birmingham last night.
Loan pair Auston Trusty and Emmanuel Longelo, borrowed from Arsenal and West Ham respectively, scored Birmingham’s first-half goals to rob Michael Beale’s men the chance of reclaiming the Championship’s top spot. And goalkeeper John Ruddy was Birmingham’s late hero after saving a late penalty from Lyndon Dykes.
A freakish goal gave Birmingham the perfect start on four minutes.
Trusty’s overhead flick looped over helpless goalkeeper Seny Dieng after Krystian Bielik had returned Hannibal Mejbri’s corner to the danger area after it had been punched clear.
QPR tried to hit back and Ilias Chair’s curling free-kick was tipped over by Ruddy. Tyler Roberts’s sidefooted effort from the edge of the box deflected up off Harlee Dean and on to the roof of the net.
QPR were made to pay for their profligacy in the 29th minute.
Left wing-back Longelo teased Ethan Laird before cutting inside and rolling a shot into the bottom corner.
Rangers piled forward again and a curling free-kick from Stefan Johansen was inches away, before Sinclair Armstrong scuffed his shot from eight yards out before the break. Dykes sent a low drive skidding just wide as QPR sought an immediate reply following the restart.
But Birmingham were growing in confidence and Longelo’s inviting cross just needed a touch for a third goal, only for it to fall fractionally behind Scott Hogan.
Ruddy was Birmingham’s saviour by saving Dykes’s 79th-minute penalty to his right after Longelo was judged to have raised his foot dangerously on Laird as they battled for a cross.
