Dykes strikes twice to burst Royals' bubble as QPR run continues
After scoring all seven of their home league goals before HT, QPR began the opening embers of the top-six contest affirmatively, as Joe Lumley sublimely denied Tyler Roberts the game's opening goal.
Looking to continue their momentum following a creditable 1-1 draw with automatic promotion favourites Norwich City, the visitors were certainly not without their attacking presence in the final third, despite conceding over two-thirds of the possession to their invigorated hosts.
QPR should have been allowed the opportunity to take the lead from the penalty spot shortly after the 20th-minute mark, only for referee Thomas Bramall to nonchalantly wave away the Hoops’ appeals after it appeared Sam Hutchinson had handled the ball.
Inconceivably, Bramall did indeed point to the spot 10 minutes later when Tim Iroegbunam brought down Lucas João. Wearing the unconventional number two shirt, Andy Carroll confidently stepped up to make no mistake from 12 yards, giving the Royals the lead.
Not to be deterred, QPR were back on level terms within three minutes as birthday boy Lyndon Dykes swooped low to head substitute Osman Kakay’s enticing cross past Lumley.
Despite only two other sides scoring fewer away league goals than Reading (three) this season, the visitors flew out of the tunnel for the second half's commencement, penning QPR into their half.
Without the goalscoring exploits of topscorer Chris Willock, the hosts again relied on Roberts to test out Lumley, as the former Hoops’ goalkeeper kept out the on-loan Leeds United forward’s strike with an instinctive stop.
Penalties were to be the main course when Bramall again pointed to the spot after Mamadou Loum clumsily brought down the menacing Iroegbunam. Then, commemorating his 27th birthday in style, Dykes clinically stepped up to fire QPR into the lead with six minutes left to play.
Despite Seny Dieng being needed to repel the Royals’ late attacking onslaught, QPR remained in control of the remainder of the contest to record a hat-trick of league victories and remain outside the automatic promotion positions on only goal difference.
In contrast, Reading's disheartening sequence of adversities on their Championship expeditions, following only a solitary victory in their last seven games, sees them leapfrogged by their hosts.
