City began the second half with greater purpose, and Adam Reach had the first opportunity within three minutes of the restart. Freddie Draper initially attempted an acrobatic overhead kick but failed to connect, with the loose ball dropping kindly for Reach. He struck it well, but his effort was blocked before it could trouble the goalkeeper.
Rangers responded almost immediately, breaking quickly through Kwame Poku, who cut inside and fired towards goal. His shot took a deflection, but George Wickens was alert enough to make the save. The hosts were beginning to regain control of proceedings, and Harvey Vale was next to threaten, powering his way through a challenge despite an attempted foul before shooting straight at Wickens.
The home side continued to create the better openings, with Paul Smyth released into space after 57 minutes. His effort was saved by Wickens, but the rebound fell invitingly for Vale, whose follow-up was blocked as City desperately tried to scramble the ball clear. Eventually, the Imps managed to escape without conceding, although Rangers were looking increasingly dangerous.
A minute later, Sonny Bradley unnecessarily conceded a corner, allowing a ball to run behind that he appeared capable of clearing. The decision brought an enormous roar from the home crowd, almost as loud as the celebrations for their opening goal, with Loftus Road producing an excellent atmosphere. Fortunately for City, the resulting corner came to nothing.
The Imps made their first change after 59 minutes, with Rob Street replacing Mikkel Ladefoged in attack. Rangers also made a substitution, introducing Ilias Chair in place of Vale, and the Moroccan was quickly involved as the hosts continued to press.
Daniel Oyegoke appeared to be fouled in the build-up to another Rangers attack, but play continued and Chair curled an effort towards goal, only to see it blocked. City responded with an opportunity of their own a minute later, as a huge clearance from Wickens was allowed to bounce, giving Reach the chance to cut inside and shoot. His effort cleared the crossbar, but it was another reminder that the visitors remained capable of causing problems.
Rangers continued to find joy in wide areas, spreading play neatly to Chair after 64 minutes. His cross was blocked behind by Deji Elerewe, conceding another corner as the home side maintained their pressure. Chair was causing City particular problems, and two minutes later he cut inside from the left once again, this time curling a shot narrowly over the crossbar.
The Imps won a corner after 69 minutes, but Pierce Charles dealt with the delivery confidently before launching a quick counterattack towards Chair. Reach recovered well to make an important challenge, preventing the home side from turning defence into attack. Rangers then made a double change, with Boy Kemper and Poku replaced by Dennis Cirkin and Karamoko Dembélé.
Dembélé quickly demonstrated his pace, striding into space and driving forward before shooting over from distance. Rangers should then have regained the lead after 72 minutes, when a superb cross from the right found Richard Kone arriving behind the City defence. The striker appeared to have the simplest of finishes from around six yards, but somehow poked the ball wide of the target.
City responded with a double substitution of their own, with Tom Bayliss replacing Yunus Konak and Tom Hamer coming on for Reeco Hackett. The changes were followed by a promising break after 74 minutes, as Reach found Bayliss, who worked the ball into Draper’s path. The striker got his shot away, but Charles made the save and Rangers eventually cleared the danger.
Rob Street had an opportunity two minutes later following a mistake in the Rangers defence, finding himself with a little space to get an effort away. However, he opted for a side-footed finish that lacked the power to seriously trouble Charles, and the chance went begging.
The hosts made further changes after 77 minutes, with Kōki Saitō and Justin Obikwu introduced in place of Smyth and Kone. Rangers had continued to look the more threatening side, and their pressure finally told with ten minutes of normal time remaining.
Chair was again at the heart of the move, teasing the City defence on the edge of the penalty area before the ball broke kindly for Glen Kamara. The midfielder finished smartly to restore Rangers’ advantage, giving Wickens little chance and sending Loftus Road into celebration once again. It was a goal that had been coming, with the hosts having enjoyed the better opportunities throughout much of the second half.
City responded by making two further changes after 83 minutes, with Tanto Olaofe replacing Dom Jefferies and Chiedozie Ogbene coming on for Oyegoke. The Imps now had little time remaining to find another equaliser, having already fought their way back into the contest once.
City did have a little late pressure, with a Hmaer long throw dropping to Reach, but his drive was blocked in the area and caught by the keeper as it dropped.
The result leaves the Imps teetering close to the relegation places, and brings to an end a wretched run since the last international break.
Each bar shows the two sides' share of that row's total, so it says who had more — not whether it was good, which would need a league-wide distribution this one match cannot provide.
Leave a Reply