Queens Park Rangers 2-1 Birmingham City: Kieran Morgan hits late winner for R’s

Queens Park Rangers climbed into the Championship play-off places after a fourth victory in five matches thanks to a dramatic late winner against Birmingham City.

Centre-back Jimmy Dunne gave QPR a first-half lead but Patrick Roberts seemed to have earned Blues a point with an equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time.

Their celebrations were shortlived, however, as the home side won it in the 96th minute through teenage substitute Kieran Morgan.

The Hoops climb up to sixth, while Blues, after a seventh away league defeat of the season, slip to 10th.

QPR dominated the match, with 16 shots to Birmingham’s three, and they created all of the best openings in the first half.

Dunne put over a deep cross from the right and it was headed back across goal by Koki Saito, finding Paul Smyth on the edge of the six-yard box – but he could only head it straight into the arms of Blues keeper James Beadle.

A minute later, Smyth turned provider, crossing for in-form striker Rumarn Burrell, looking for a ninth goal in 11 matches, who swivelled and saw his shot blocked just inside the box.

It was no surprise when QPR finally took the lead in the 39th minute from Dunne’s close-range header after he outjumped defender Phil Neumann.

Birmingham were toothless for most of the match, and have now won just two of their 11 away games since earning promotion back to the second tier, scoring only eight goals on their travels.

They had a couple of late chances as they went in search of an equaliser, before great work down the left from Demarai Gray saw him flick the ball across the box to find Roberts, who drilled home to seemingly steal a late point.

QPR still had time to snatch a winner, though, through Morgan who finished coolly from the edge of the box into the far corner, stripping off his shirt in wild celebrations in front of jubilant home fans.

The R’s face the bottom three sides in their next six matches and will be looking to cement their spot in the top six while Birmingham have won just one in four and welcome Charlton Athletic on Saturday.