QPR 1
Dykes 20
PRES TON NE 0
QPR boss Marti Cifuentes said he would sleep soundly after his side got the vital win they needed against Preston.
Lyndon Dykes’ firsthalf goal secured victory, taking Rangers to 50 points – six above the relegation zone with two matches left to play.
Their superior goal difference means their Championship survival will be all but secured if second-from-bottom Sheffield Wednesday lose at Blackburn today.
Asked if he believes the win will be enough to keep Rangers up, Cifuentes said: “I hope so. Right now it looks like a big step forward.
“But er happens in the next whatev-games, I think the kind of mindset – the winning culture we need in this club – means we are going to try to keep winning until the end of the season.
“I’m going to sleep pretty well, that’s for sure. But until the job is done it’s not done.”
Dykes’ goal was his first in 16 matches and only his fifth in the league this season.
It was presented to him – the striker tapped into an empty net at the far post after keeper Freddie Woodman spilled Chris Willock’s cross.
Dykes said afterwards; “It’s probably one of my most important goals for QPR and I was just happy to see it go over the line.”
Results elsewhere earlier meant Cifuentes’ side kicked off knowing that a win would effectively end fears of dropping into League One.
They started in determined fashion, with Lucas Andersen firing wide and both Dykes and Ilias Chair shooting well over.
A period of Preston pressure followed and Liam Millar was denied at point-blank range by Rangers keeper Asmir Begovic.
QPR were suddenly struggling, but were gifted
