MX23RW : Friday, November 8 13:42:54| >> :120:26023:26023:
[monks data]
Attendance: 16,503
QPR logo
Championship
Apr 7, 2017 at 7.45pm UK
 
Brighton logo

1-2

Smith (74')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Murray (58'), Pocognoli (64')

Brighton & Hove Albion move step closer to promotion with victory at Loftus Road

Glenn Murray and Sebastien Pocognoli register for Brighton & Hove Albion in their 2-1 win against Queens Park Rangers, moving them one game closer to the top flight.

Brighton & Hove Albion have picked up a first away win at Queens Park Rangers since 1957 by coming out on top 2-1 in Friday evening's Championship clash at Loftus Road.

A fifth victory in their last six outings lifts the Seagulls back above Newcastle United to the top of the table, with the gap on third-placed Huddersfield Town now standing at 12 points after playing two games more.

Brighton have the finishing line in sight as they close in on a first ever promotion to the Premier League, sealing the three precious points thanks to goals from Glenn Murray and Sebastien Pocognoli in the English capital.

QPR midfielder Ravel Morrison started a game for the first time since appearing for Lazio in a Europa League tie 17 months ago, but he failed to inspire his side in a slow start to the contest.

It took until just short of the half-hour mark for the first serious attempt of the game, as Solly March sent a shot straight at Alex Smithies from range.

Conor Washington ran at the opposition defence and shot over the bar soon after from one of QPR's better openings of the half, before Murray converted from an Anthony Knockaert cross, only for the offside flag to go up.

The offside flag also cut short Tomer Hemed's celebrations after he found a way through, in what was proving to be a frustrating evening for those forward players in West London.

Knockaert had a free kick punched away and Matt smith headed straight at David Stockdale as both teams came close to an opener early in the second period.

The opener did eventually arrive an hour into the Championship clash, though, with Murray getting on the end of Hemed's pass and coolly slotting the ball home for goal number 20 of the season.

Pocognoli superbly curled a second into the top corner from a free kick for the second, seemingly putting Albion - without a win away to QPR in 11 previous outings - well on course for the victory they craved.

A third loss in succession for QPR was not exactly a formality, however, as Smith climbed highest from a corner to head home what would ultimately prove to be a mere consolation.

Rangers upped the pressure in the remaining 15 minutes and forced Stockdale into action on a couple of occasions, but in the end Brighton successfully held out to tick one more game off the promotion list.

ID:295563: cacheID:295563:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4214:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Brighton manager Chris Hughton looks on ahead of the Pre Season Friendly between Crawley Town and Brighton & Hove Albion at the Checkatrade.com Stadium on July 22, 2015
Read Next:
Hughton praises "professional" Brighton display
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland149322391430
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd149321871128
3Leeds UnitedLeeds147522291326
4Burnley146621761124
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom14572148622
6Millwall146441712522
7Watford147162222022
8Middlesbrough146351816221
9Swansea CitySwansea14545119219
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn145451616019
11Bristol City144731819-119
12Norwich CityNorwich144642320318
13Derby CountyDerby145361818018
14Stoke CityStoke145361718-118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds145361724-718
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd144551717017
17Coventry CityCoventry144371819-115
18Hull City143651518-315
19Luton TownLuton144371621-515
20Preston North EndPreston143651420-615
21Cardiff CityCardiff144371320-715
22Plymouth ArgylePlymouth144371425-1115
23Queens Park RangersQPR141761223-1110
24Portsmouth141671327-149


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!