Sam Field’s second-half double continued QPR’s revival as they sank Oxford 2-0 at Loftus Road.
Field’s first Championship goals of the season made it back-to-back home wins for Rangers, who had not won in front of their own fans this term until Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Norwich.
They are now five games unbeaten – having won just one of their first 16 – and edged further away from the drop zone and above fellow strugglers Oxford into 19th.
Defeat left the U’s, who had not played for 11 days after their trip to Plymouth was postponed due to Storm Darragh, still without an away since they were promoted from League One.
Rangers could have taken an early lead when defender Jimmy Dunne met a cross from Nicolas Madsen, but he planted it back across goal and wide.
For the visitors, Cameron Brannagan, making his 300th Oxford appearance, fired too close to Rangers keeper Paul Nardi and Idris El-Mizouni’s deflected shot flew wide.
Highly rated U’s youngster Tyler Goodrham’s promising run towards the penalty box was then halted by the outstretched leg of Jonathan Varane.
Rangers threatened again before half-time when, for the first time, they managed to find teenage forward Rayan Kolli in the box.
The two-goal hero against Norwich spun sharply, but his angled shot was beaten away by Oxford keeper Jamie Cumming.
After the break Varane blazed over from 20 yards before Paul Smyth’s dangerous run forward ended with the same disappointing outcome.
But they broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half when Smyth swung a cross in from the right.
Kolli got up above U’s skipper Elliott Moore and headed the ball back to Field, who swept it home from eight yards.
Rangers struck again in the 68th minute after a mistake by Oxford full-back Peter Kioso.
Koki Saito pinched the ball and darted into the area before cutting it back, where Alfie Lloyd allowed it to run across him for Field to curl home.
Rangers went in search of a third and Saito almost grabbed it after a mazy run into the box, but he curled his effort wide and Cumming held a late long-range effort from Lucas Andersen.
The managers
QPR’s Marti Cifuentes:
“I’m very happy for the players and fans, it’s been a long time waiting for consecutive wins.
“I know it was not the best first half of my life as a coach, and the fans knew as well.
“We spoke in the week of expectations and maybe everyone would think this was a walk in the park, but that does not happen in the Championship.
“We made some adjustments and spoke at half-time, and then capitalised on our moments.
“Three weeks ago everybody would take a victory like this. We need to be very humble and aware of where we are.
“Sam has been showing this quality when he plays high up the pitch. He has a capacity to fill the box. I’m happy for him.”
Oxford’s Des Buckingham:
“I think we need to take the chances we create early on.
“In the first half we were really good but our final decisions were not quite good enough. When you don’t quite take them then you give the home team the advantage.
“We knew this year would be a challenge, we got off to a good start and we’ve got a long season to go. We’re not going to beat ourselves up or feel sorry for ourselves.”
