Idrissa Sylla brace helps four-star QPR to victory over Sheffield Wednesday

Posted Wednesday, April 11, 2018 by PA

Relatives of former QPR player and manager Ray Wilkins were at Loftus Road to see Rangers beat Sheffield Wednesday 4-2 on an emotional night in west London.

The hosts were 3-0 up within 15 minutes after goals from Paul Smyth, Jake Bidwell and Idrissa Sylla.

The recalled Sylla got his second – a penalty after Tom Lees had fouled Bright Osayi-Samuel – eight minutes into the second half.

Fernando Forestieri, starting a game for the first time since August, pulled a goal back for Wednesday just after the hour mark.

Atdhe Nuhiu headed in Liam Palmer’s right-wing cross nine minutes later to test Rangers’ nerves, but their early blitz proved decisive.

There were emotional scenes before kick-off as QPR paid tribute to former England captain Wilkins following his death last week.

His sister Sandra and brothers Dean and Stephen joined Wilkins’ ex-R’s team-mates Les Ferdinand and Andy Sinton in laying wreaths in the centre circle before a minute’s applause was held.

The opener came when keeper Joe Wildsmith could only palm Bidwell’s left-wing cross as far as Smyth, who steered the ball into the corner of the net from 12 yards out.

And, after fumbling Bidwell’s shot, Wildsmith managed to prevent Sylla getting to the loose ball but left-back Bidwell followed up to score.

Wildsmith partly atoned by producing a fine save to keep out Luke Freeman’s low shot after the midfielder had been set up by Osayi-Samuel.

But Wildsmith was powerless to stop striker Sylla nodding in Darnell Furlong’s cross.

Having barely managed to get out of their own half, the visitors began to threaten before the interval and Adam Reach had a shot tipped over by QPR keeper Alex Smithies, who also denied Nuhiu at point-blank range.

Any prospect of a Wednesday comeback seemed to be quashed when Sylla tucked away his penalty.

But the Owls battled on and Forestieri fired in off the far post after finding space on the left of the penalty area.

Nuhiu’s finish was also emphatic, but the home side tightened up at the back to ensure they took the points.