Queens Park Rangers 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday: Michael Smith and Callum Paterson steer Owls to victory

Goals from Michael Smith and Callum Paterson gave Sheffield Wednesday a 2-0 victory at Loftus Road and halted QPR's winning run.

Smith struck on 72 minutes, shortly after coming on as a substitute, and Paterson's 88th-minute goal sealed the Owls' win.

For the opener, Barry Bannan delivered a superb diagonal ball into the box and Smith's glancing header went in off a post, crossing the line before Ronnie Edwards was able to clear.

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Rangers, who had won their previous four Championship matches and five in a row at home, had gone close when Kenneth Paal's free-kick hit a post.

But they rarely looked like equalising after going behind and Paterson's well-taken goal ended their hopes of a late comeback.

Paterson was picked out by Shea Charles on the right before cutting inside Paal and sending a left-footed strike beyond goalkeeper Paul Nardi.

QPR dominated possession in the first half but Wednesday defended well and were twice denied by Nardi.

The keeper got down quickly to his left to keep out Josh Windass' low shot after Kieran Morgan had given the ball away.

Nardi was similarly alert to hold Michael Ihiekwe's effort - and he needed to in order to prevent the lurking Windass being presented with a tap-in.

At the other end, Morgan's ball into the box just eluded Michael Frey before a slick Rangers move culminated in Sam Field's shot being deflected over.

QPR threatened again early in the second half when Edwards' header from Ilias Chair's corner was palmed away by Wednesday keeper James Beadle.

They almost broke the deadlock when Paal's free-kick came back off the woodwork, with Chair firing a follow-up attempt wide of the target.

Having rode their luck, Wednesday began to take control and went ahead with Smith's sixth goal of the season.

As Marti Cifuentes' side wilted, Paterson shot wide shortly before scoring the second.

Beadle gathered an effort from Paal in stoppage time and Rangers substitute Koki Saito saw a shot deflected wide but Wednesday comfortably saw out the final stages.

QPR were bottom of the table two months ago and looked very much like relegation material but their excellent run moved them up to ninth, just four points away from the play-off places.

However, this defeat took them down to 13th, six points behind the top six, while Wednesday - whose win was their first in four league games - are 10th.

The managers

QPR's Marti Cifuentes:

"That's not where my focus is, otherwise I think we can create a culture of excuses or finding reasons.

"We were not good enough to score goals and they were. That's it. We just need to improve. We need to keep working and learning.

"Credit to Sheffield Wednesday; they were good enough at what they wanted to do.

"We definitely need to look at ourselves and make sure we attack better against a team that was, as we expected, very physical and strong.

"We started the game quite well but didn't create enough chances to put real pressure on them. We lacked the end product and that's something we can look at.

"The first goal was a game-changer. Then it was difficult and had to risk more."

Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Rohl:

"Big credit to my team. After a small setback on Wednesday, we came here against a team that was really in form and have taken a lot of points at home.

"It's not easy to come here but we did well, were well organised and in good shape.

"To have 41 points, we should be very proud of the team at the moment. My big wish for the next 17 matchdays is to stay a bit more positive.

"After Bristol, I suffered myself - very negative - and I think this is not the right mindset. We should be proud of what we have achieved so far.

"To have 41 points in January, for me that is a big performance. Nine more points and then we can speak about 50 points."

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