Queens Park Rangers vs Sheffield Wednesday. Sky Bet Championship.
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Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday at Loftus Road on Saturday | Goals from Djeidi Gassama and Anthony Musaba help move the Owls to within one point of safety
Saturday 6 April 2024 18:39, UK
Goals from Djeidi Gassama and Anthony Musaba handed Sheffield Wednesday a vital 2-0 victory at fellow strugglers QPR to boost their chances of staying in the Sky Bet Championship.
The win leaves second-from-bottom Wednesday just a point from Huddersfield in 21st.
QPR's own relegation fears were eased by recent back-to-back wins but this result leaves them just four points ahead of Wednesday - a victory would have put them 10 clear of the Yorkshire side.
Wednesday would have gone ahead in the first half had Josh Windass not missed a sitter. The forward contrived to nudge the ball past the far post from a yard out after being set up by Ian Poveda.
The Owls suffered another setback when the lively Poveda, who had been causing Rangers problems, was taken off just before the half-hour mark after picking up what looked like a hamstring injury.
But Gassama, his replacement, was also a thorn in QPR's side and scored the opening goal on 59 minutes.
Gassama weaved his way into the box, going past Sam Field with ease, and then had a touch of good fortune when Isaac Hayden's attempted clearance cannoned off the Frenchman and into the net.
Lucas Andersen almost equalised when his fierce strike hit the bar but otherwise Rangers struggled to create clear-cut chances.
That prompted boss Marti Cifuentes to make a triple substitution, sending on Morgan Fox along with forwards Lyndon Dykes and Paul Smyth.
QPR still struggled to create opportunities but one did fall to Jimmy Dunne, who headed over from Chris Willock's cross.
Dunne headed over again late on, this time at the far post from a cross by Ilias Chair, but Wednesday were generally comfortable and scored again in the final seconds to seal their win.
Gassama was again involved, this time darting down the left and finding Musaba, who blasted past goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
Cifuentes and his Wednesday counterpart Danny Rohl have radically improved results since taking over this season at clubs heading towards relegation.
But the defeat leaves Rangers still looking anxiously over their shoulders and Wednesday very much in with a fighting chance of staying up.
QPR's Marti Cifuentes:
"I'm very disappointed but especially with myself. When I look at the performance, I didn't prepare the team well enough for the kind of game that I knew it would be.
"We were not good at all. It was a bad performance. I'm disappointed not only about the result but about the game and the (lack of) quality we showed. It's a very disappointing day.
"I take responsibility for this defeat. One result will not change my confidence in the players.
"That's always the danger - not only in football but as human beings. Sometimes we tend to relax and those moments are very dangerous.
"When you think you are doing so well, suddenly football always gives you the reality that if you are not at 110 per cent it's very difficult.
"We tried during the whole week to let them understand this was a very difficult game - probably the most difficult game of the season.
"It looked like Sheffield Wednesday were playing for their lives and unfortunately I was not good enough to convince my players we needed that kind of intensity."
Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Rohl:
"We changed a lot. For me it was clear after the Middlesbrough game that we could not just continue and hope something changes.
"I think some people will be surprised to see all these changes. It was a bold decision from my side. I cannot just continue and hope. I want to see a reaction and I saw a reaction.
"We played very well and did well as a team. I'm very happy. There are five games to go and we have a chance.
"Everybody was ready for this fight and that is our job. Do it - and do it until the end.
"My job and the players' job is that we have a big party at the end of the season. Keep going and we have a big party at the end.
"It is our job and this is what I demand. With the right mindset and attitude we can do it."
