In a thrilling Championship encounter, Queens Park Rangers (QPR) secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Preston North End. The hero of the day was undoubtedly Ilias Chair, who came on as a half-time substitute and orchestrated both of QPR’s goals, providing a glimpse of his remarkable talent.
The first goal came courtesy of Chair’s vision and precision. Positioned near the left-hand edge of the penalty area, Chair delivered a sublime pass towards the far post. Paul Smyth, seizing the opportunity, bundled the ball home from close range. This goal marked a significant moment for Smyth, as it was his first since returning to Rangers during the summer for a second spell at the west London club.
With just three minutes remaining in the game, Chair once again exhibited his playmaking prowess. Collecting a pass from fellow substitute Ziyad Larkeche, he delivered a low cross from the left flank, setting up Chris Willock to seal the win for QPR.
Despite their position in the Championship’s bottom three, QPR has shown remarkable improvement under their new boss, Marti Cifuentes. Under his leadership, the team has lost only one of their last five matches. Their newfound resilience was evident as they defended effectively against Preston, who dominated much of the first half at Deepdale.
The introduction of Ilias Chair, in place of the injured Jack Colback, injected extra impetus into the QPR side. In contrast, Preston North End struggled to create scoring opportunities, while QPR threatened on the counter-attack. Chair, along with teammates Andre Dozzell and Elijah Dixon-Bonner, tested Preston’s goalkeeper, Freddie Woodman, with long-range strikes after Smyth’s opening goal.
Unfortunately for Preston, this defeat marked their third consecutive loss and their seventh in their past 11 matches. After a strong start to the season, they now find themselves in eighth place, having fallen out of the play-off spots following a 4-0 thrashing by Middlesbrough earlier in the week.
Preston’s manager, Ryan Lowe, expressed his disappointment, acknowledging that both teams had moments of sloppiness but praising Queens Park Rangers for capitalizing on their chances. He remained steadfast in his belief in his players, emphasizing their ability to bounce back from challenging times.
On the other hand, QPR’s manager, Marti Cifuentes, acknowledged the team’s progress and the importance of players like Ilias Chair and Chris Willock. He praised the hard work put in during training and the team’s determination to chase the second goal after taking the lead.
In summary, Queens Park Rangers’ victory over Preston North End showcased the impact of Ilias Chair’s brilliant assists and marked a positive turning point in their Championship campaign under Marti Cifuentes’ leadership. The team’s newfound resilience and Chair’s creative brilliance were evident in this exciting clash at Deepdale.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Chair’s Assists
What were the key moments in the QPR vs. Preston North End match?
In the QPR vs. Preston North End match, two key moments stood out. First, Ilias Chair’s brilliant assist near the left-hand edge of the penalty area led to Paul Smyth’s goal, marking a significant moment for Smyth. Second, Chair’s late-game assist to Chris Willock sealed QPR’s victory, emphasizing his playmaking ability.
How has QPR’s performance improved under Marti Cifuentes?
QPR has shown improvement under Marti Cifuentes’ leadership by losing only one of their last five matches. Their defense has become more resilient, as evidenced by their ability to withstand Preston’s dominance in the first half of the match. Cifuentes has brought a positive change to the team’s performance.
What led to Preston North End’s recent struggles?
Preston North End’s recent struggles can be attributed to a series of defeats, including their third consecutive loss against QPR. They have also failed to keep a clean sheet in 14 matches. These issues have caused them to slip from a strong start to the season and fall out of the play-off spots.
More about Chair’s Assists
- QPR’s official website
- Preston North End’s official website
- Championship official website
- Ilias Chair profile on Transfermarkt
- Marti Cifuentes – Sky Sports
3 comments
chair is da bomb! he set up goals like BOOM. QPR is up, up, up!
Typos and missing punctuation everywhere, but the match was exciting!
Tech and soccer? Nah! Stick to the gadgets, guys!