Sam Field’s second-half double continued QPR’s revival as they sank Oxford 2-0 at Loftus Road.
Field’s first Championship goals of the season made it back-to-back home wins for Rangers, who had not won in front of their own fans this term until Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Norwich.
They are now five games unbeaten – having won just one of their first 16 – and edged further away from the drop zone and above fellow strugglers Oxford into 19th.
Defeat left the U’s, who had not played for 11 days after their trip to Plymouth was postponed due to Storm Darragh, still without an away since they were promoted from League One.
Match Action
Rangers could have taken an early lead when defender Jimmy Dunne met a cross from Nicolas Madsen, but he planted it back across goal and wide.
For the visitors, Cameron Brannagan, making his 300th Oxford appearance, fired too close to Rangers keeper Paul Nardi and Idris El-Mizouni’s deflected shot flew wide.
Highly rated U’s youngster Tyler Goodrham’s promising run towards the penalty box was then halted by the outstretched leg of Jonathan Varane.
Rangers threatened again before half-time when, for the first time, they managed to find teenage forward Rayan Kolli in the box.
The two-goal hero against Norwich spun sharply, but his angled shot was beaten away by Oxford keeper Jamie Cumming.
After the break Varane blazed over from 20 yards before Paul Smyth’s dangerous run forward ended with the same disappointing outcome.
But they broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half when Smyth swung a cross in from the right.
Kolli got up above U’s skipper Elliott Moore and headed the ball back to Field, who swept it home from eight yards.
Rangers struck again in the 68th minute after a mistake by Oxford full-back Peter Kioso.
Koki Saito pinched the ball and darted into the area before cutting it back, where Alfie Lloyd allowed it to run across him for Field to curl home.
Rangers went in search of a third and Saito almost grabbed it after a mazy run into the box, but he curled his effort wide and Cumming held a late long-range effort from Lucas Andersen.
REACTION: Marti Cifuentes wants QPR to remain humble after upturn in recent form
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