Queens Park Rangers maintained their drive towards automatic promotion with a straightforward win at Middlesbrough.
Midfield playmaker Adel Taarabt, an influential figure for the visitors, squared a ball for Heidar Helguson, who fired in from 12 yards.
Helguson nodded in a second after an inviting cross from Wayne Routledge.
Taarabt got the reward for his display when, after being brought down by Merouane Zemmama, he scored a penalty against a deflated home side.
Taarabt is his side's creative force and had terrorised Boro's defence as he helped his side to a win which keeps then five points clear at the top of the Championship.
However, it could have been different had home striker Scott McDonald done better than to see an early shot saved by keeper Paddy Kenny.
QPR quickly responded and Taarabt forced two smart saves from Jason Steele with long range strikes before putting an effort over when some poor Boro defending left him clean through on goal.
Boro's build-up play was not matched with a cutting edge in the final third and QPR eventually went ahead after 41 minutes with Taarabt and Helguson combining.
The Hoops forward got a second after the break as he benefitted from the quality of service he was getting, with Routledge the provider as Helguson nodded in his second.
Taarabt's penalty delivered the final blow as QPR eased to victory without alarm.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 26 February 2011
Npower Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Middlesbrough
0-3
QPR
FT
(HT 0-1)
Helguson 41
Helguson 61
Taarabt (pen) 68
Middlesbrough
30 Steele
12 Davies (Haas 82)
24 Hines
26 Taylor
27 Bennett
29 McMahon
10 Bailey
20 Arca (Robson 59 yellow card)
07 McDonald
15 Lita
32 Emnes (Zemmama 59)
Substitutes
39 Ripley,
03 Haas,
23 Grounds,
05 Zemmama,
17 Robson,
33 Smallwood,
09 Boyd
QPR
01 Kenny
02 Orr (Connolly 78)
03 Hill
05 Hall yellow card
41 Shittu
04 Derry
07 Taarabt
11 Faurlin yellow card
15 Routledge
09 Helguson (Hulse 84)
10 Buzsaky (Ephraim 69)
Substitutes
24 Cerny,
13 Gorkss,
16 Connolly,
23 Moen,
25 Ephraim,
20 Hulse,
29 Miller
Ref: StroudAtt: 16,972
MIDDLESBROUGH
QPR
Possession
Middlesbrough47%
QPR53%
Attempts on target
Middlesbrough3
QPR4
Attempts off target
Middlesbrough2
QPR7
Corners
Middlesbrough3
QPR2
Fouls
Middlesbrough9
QPR14
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:09 The referee signals the end of the game.
90:00+2:14 Leroy Lita takes a shot. Blocked by Danny Shittu.
90:00+1:02 Shaun Derry concedes a free kick for a foul on Barry Robson. Leroy Lita restarts play with the free kick.
89:24 The ball is delivered by Tony McMahon, Danny Shittu makes a clearance. Corner taken by Merouane Zemmama from the left by-line,
clearance by Danny Shittu.
88:32 Unfair challenge on Alejandro Faurlin by Barry Robson results in a free kick. Patrick Kenny takes the direct free kick.
87:31 Scott McDonald has an effort at goal from close range which goes wide right of the goal.
83:24 Substitution Rob Hulse comes on in place of Heidar Helguson.
81:25 Substitution Maximilian Haas comes on in place of Andrew Davies.
80:47 Fitz Hall has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
78:50 Unfair challenge on Hogan Ephraim by Merouane Zemmama results in a free kick. Patrick Kenny takes the direct free kick.
77:43 Shot from just outside the box by Scott McDonald goes over the crossbar.
77:43 Substitution Matthew Connolly joins the action as a substitute, replacing Bradley Orr.
75:05 Foul by Clint Hill on Barry Robson, free kick awarded. Merouane Zemmama takes the free kick.
73:12 Andrew Davies fouled by Heidar Helguson, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Andrew Davies.
71:07 Free kick awarded for a foul by Heidar Helguson on Barry Robson. Strike on goal comes in from Tony McMahon from the free kick,
Patrick Kenny makes a save. Corner taken right-footed by Barry Robson from the right by-line, Patrick Kenny makes a save.
71:07 Booking Barry Robson goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
68:56 Adel Taarabt produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.
68:56 Substitution (QPR) makes a substitution, with Hogan Ephraim coming on for Akos Buzsaky.
68:17 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Fitz Hall by Leroy Lita. Patrick Kenny takes the direct free kick.
67:22 Foul by Merouane Zemmama on Adel Taarabt, Penalty awarded.
63:45 Wayne Routledge is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Jason Steele.
62:20 Unfair challenge on Seb Hines by Heidar Helguson results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Nicky Bailey.
60:06 Wayne Routledge provided the assist for the goal.
60:06 GOAL - Heidar Helguson:Middlesbrough 0 - 2 QPR Heidar Helguson finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close in. Middlesbrough 0-2 QPR.
59:21 Tony McMahon concedes a free kick for a foul on Heidar Helguson. Clint Hill restarts play with the free kick.
58:43 Substitution Julio Arca leaves the field to be replaced by Barry Robson.
58:43 Substitution Merouane Zemmama is brought on as a substitute for Marvin Emnes.
55:33 The ball is sent over by Joe Bennett.
55:07 Heidar Helguson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andrew Davies. Free kick taken by Nicky Bailey.
54:35 The referee penalises Scott McDonald for handball. Indirect free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.
53:53 Adel Taarabt produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.
52:59 Akos Buzsaky produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses wide left of the target.
51:38 Leroy Lita fouled by Shaun Derry, the ref awards a free kick. Nicky Bailey restarts play with the free kick.
48:23 Foul by Clint Hill on Seb Hines, free kick awarded. Tony McMahon takes the free kick.
46:07 Free kick awarded for a foul by Tony McMahon on Alejandro Faurlin. Patrick Kenny takes the free kick.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:39 The referee blows for half time.
45:00+1:14 Foul by Andrew Davies on Heidar Helguson, free kick awarded. Patrick Kenny takes the free kick.
45:00+0:44 Fitz Hall gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Leroy Lita. Tony McMahon restarts play with the free kick.
45:00+0:44 Booking Fitz Hall goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
44:56 Scott McDonald produces a cross, Clint Hill manages to make a clearance.
40:36 Adel Taarabt provided the assist for the goal.
40:36 GOAL - Heidar Helguson:Middlesbrough 0 - 1 QPR Goal scored by Heidar Helguson from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Middlesbrough 0-1 QPR.
40:07 A cross is delivered by Tony McMahon, save by Patrick Kenny.
39:01 Corner taken right-footed by Tony McMahon from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Heidar Helguson.
38:43 The ball is delivered by Tony McMahon, clearance by Fitz Hall.
38:26 Tony McMahon crosses the ball, clearance by Danny Shittu.
36:30 Heidar Helguson produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.
35:53 The ball is crossed by Bradley Orr, clearance by Nicky Bailey.
35:21 Danny Shittu fouled by Leroy Lita, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.
34:50 Effort on goal by Adel Taarabt from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.
34:07 Leroy Lita is caught offside. Free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.
33:15 Wayne Routledge sends in a cross, clearance made by Andrew Davies.
31:55 Adel Taarabt takes a shot. Save by Jason Steele.
30:00 The ball is delivered by Wayne Routledge.
27:49 Centre by Tony McMahon, clearance by Fitz Hall.
26:30 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tony McMahon by Adel Taarabt. Jason Steele takes the free kick.
23:44 The assistant referee flags for offside against Scott McDonald. Patrick Kenny takes the free kick.
23:10 Shot from just outside the penalty box by Adel Taarabt misses to the left of the target.
22:26 Leroy Lita produces a cross, Fitz Hall manages to make a clearance.
21:40 The ball is sent over by Wayne Routledge.
19:01 The assistant referee signals for offside against Scott McDonald. Patrick Kenny takes the free kick.
16:24 Free kick awarded for a foul by Joe Bennett on Wayne Routledge. Adel Taarabt restarts play with the free kick.
15:24 Shot by Adel Taarabt from 20 yards. Jason Steele makes a save.
13:15 Alejandro Faurlin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joe Bennett. Free kick taken by Joe Bennett.
13:15 Booking Booking for Alejandro Faurlin for unsporting behaviour.
11:25 The ball is crossed by Wayne Routledge, Seb Hines makes a clearance. Corner from the left by-line taken by Adel Taarabt, Seb
Hines fouled by Fitz Hall, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Jason Steele.
11:17 Adel Taarabt produces a cross, Jason Steele makes a save.
9:58 Adel Taarabt sends in a cross. Corner taken right-footed by Adel Taarabt, Tony McMahon manages to make a clearance.
8:44 Nicky Bailey fouled by Heidar Helguson, the ref awards a free kick. Andrew Davies takes the direct free kick.
6:14 Unfair challenge on Julio Arca by Adel Taarabt results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Tony McMahon.
5:39 The assistant referee signals for offside against Adel Taarabt. Jason Steele restarts play with the free kick.
3:15 Tony McMahon delivers the ball.
1:00 Scott McDonald takes a shot. Save made by Patrick Kenny.
0:00 The referee gets the match started.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
Bookmark with:
What are these?