Aston Villa 1 QPR 3: Villans’ promotion bid rocked as Ryan Manning, Jake Bidwell and sub Luke Freeman clinch Hoops’ romp
Steve Bruce's third-placed side are stunned as midfielder Bidwell inspires shock triumph for mid-table visitors
ASTON VILLA were brought back down to earth with an almighty bump.
And this shock defeat could end up costing Steve Bruce’s side automatic promotion.
The result meant Villa lost crucial ground on second-placed Cardiff, who are now seven points ahead with nine games left.
Lacklustre Villa paid the price for their high-tempo 4-1 win over Wolves on Saturday.
The stars of the weekend looked sluggish compared to their livewire display three days earlier.
QPR’s impressive win was their biggest of the season — and Villa are now facing the likely prospect of relying on the play-offs for a return to the Premier League.
Ryan Manning’s opener and Jake Bidwell’s first league goal for the club put Rangers in control before the break.
And sub Luke Freeman sealed the points with eight minutes to go.
James Chester fired in a consolation with his third goal in successive games but it came far too late to make a difference.
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Bruce stuck to the same side that had crushed the Championship leaders — but it was a real case of after the Lord Mayor’s show.
If their weekend victory left the players on a high, this was a huge low.
And with Wolves also winning, Villa’s home clash with Neil Warnock’s Cardiff next month could be crucial to any hopes of a top-two finish.
Villa showed none of the confidence of the Wolves win — and the euphoria of that victory quickly disappeared.
Ian Holloway’s Rangers looked dangerous from the start and forward Matt Smith forced keeper Sam Johnstone into a low save to his left with a 20-yard effort after only two minutes.
QPR took the lead ten minutes later when Bidwell crossed for Manning, who got in front of John Terry to head home in only his fourth start of the season.
Albert Adomah and Terry threatened an equaliser but Rangers were still causing problems — and they stunned Villa Park with a second goal after 33 minutes.
Pawel Wszolek broke clear and pulled the ball back for Bidwell, who fired home a pinpoint shot in a crowded area.
On the stroke of half-time, Rs keeper Alex Smithies needed to pull off two vital saves to keep out efforts from Adomah and Jack Grealish.
Bruce changed formation just before the hour and sent on striker Keinan Davis and played two up front.
But there was no immediate effect and QPR looked the more likely to add another.
Wszolek soon raced in on goal and Johnstone had to come out to make the save.
But when Darnell Furlong set up Freeman to score left-footed, it was the signal for Villa Park to all but empty before Chester netted with two minutes left.
