Sheffield United maintain slim play-off hopes with victory at QPR

Sheffield United maintained their slim hopes of snatching a play-off place with a 2-0 win at QPR.

First-half goals from Callum O’Hare and Tyrese Campbell secured the victory against injury-hit Rangers, who have lost three of their last four home matches and were second-best throughout.

The west London side, thrashed 5-0 at Southampton in midweek, were again punished for some woeful defending.

United were on top from the start and O’Hare opened the scoring after 13 minutes with his ninth goal of the season.

Tahith Chong exchanged passes with Sydie Peck, and the Curacao international’s cross from the right deflected off sliding Rangers defender Jake Clarke-Salter towards the unchallenged O’Hare, who fired home at the far post.

Jonathan Varane went close to equalising when he fired over, but shortly afterwards he gave the ball away, resulting in the Blades doubling their lead in the 33rd minute.

Campbell took full advantage of Varane’s error, thumping a superb long-range strike past goalkeeper Joe Walsh – the forward’s first goal since November.

With his team having been totally outplayed in a one-sided first half, QPR head coach Julien Stephan made a double substitution at half-time, sending on attackers Paul Smyth and Rayan Kolli and switching to a 3-4-3 formation.

Smyth had a chance to pull a goal back when he latched onto Kieran Morgan’s pass and nudged the ball past keeper Adam Davies but shot wide of the near post from an awkward angle.

Rangers thought they had scored when Richard Kone headed in Harvey Vale’s corner but the goal was disallowed, seemingly because Smyth was standing in front of Davies in an offside position.

Kone was unable to get to Vale’s teasing cross and Isaac Hayden then headed wide as the home side tried in vain to find a goal, but United were generally comfortable.