Aston Villa 1-0 QPR: Jonathan Kodjia hits winner again

Jonathan Kodjia was the match-winner again as Aston Villa secured a 1-0 victory against QPR in the Sky Bet Championship.

The impressive Kodjia, who scored both of Villa's goals against Norwich at the weekend, bagged his 18th strike of the campaign to move the hosts within nine points of the play-off places.

Villa's seventh win in eight games was done the hard way as they failed to build upon Kodjia's fifth-minute goal. Playing a side that had won just one of their last six games on the road, Steve Bruce's side often lived dangerously before emerging with the points.

The hosts made a blistering start and posted an early indication of their danger when Albert Adomah smashed a 20-yard shot against the foot of a post in only the third minute with goalkeeper Alex Smithies well beaten.

Rangers obviously failed to heed the warning as it took Villa only another two minutes to surge into the lead.

Leandro Bacuna, drafted into the side in place of Irishman Conor Hourihane, picked out the unmarked Kodjia with a defence-splitting pass and the Ivory Coast international responded by drilling home a powerful low drive to record his seventh goal in as many games.

The visitors had obviously been caught napping as they made a sluggish start and it took them some time to regroup. They managed to build up a promising attack only for Yeni Ngbakoto's effort to be deflected just wide of a post.

As against Norwich at the weekend, Villa struggled to build upon their slender lead and consequently enabled Rangers to get back into game.

The nippy Ngbakoto, in particular, was a persistent threat and he very nearly capitalised upon a risky back pass from Neil Taylor.

Villa were put under pressure as Rangers slowly gained control in midfield as they went in search of the equaliser, only to be thwarted by a somewhat anxious opposition.

With Grant Hall finally getting to grips with the Kodjia threat, Ian Holloway's side built up several promising attacks. Substitute Conor Washington fired wide of goal while Jamie Mackie failed to hit the target when well placed in stoppage time. But Villa held out to seal their second successive 1-0 victory over the London club.

Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce:

"I believe that we have given ourselves too much to do [to reach the play-offs]. We have got to improve with the ball particularly late in the game.

"But they have found the resilience which is required in the Championship. To concede only one goal in eight games is an incredible turn around. It is a shame we are not four or five points closer to the play-offs but that is where we are at the moment.

"With six games to go we have probably given ourselves too much to do but we are making a fist of it which is good."

QPR boss Ian Holloway:

"It was a frustrating match. That is football for you as we were beaten by one hell of a goal early in the game. If one of my team had scored that goal I would have been delighted. Unfortunately I had to stand there and watch it unfold.

"We looked a little bothered by the goal but as the game went on we gave a much better account of ourselves and felt a little aggrieved with the result. But for me Steve Bruce is a world-class manager. People may laugh but you do not get four promotions at this level if you are not as good as he is. Actually I wanted him for England when he was out of work."