Queens Park Rangers produced the response new head coach Julien Stephan had demanded as late goals from Koki Saito and Richard Kone secured a 3-1 win over Charlton Athletic at Loftus Road, delivering the west London side's first victory of the season and first under their French boss.
Paul Smyth's early opener had been cancelled out by Rob Apter's first Charlton goal early in the second half, and the visitors threatened to turn the screw before Saito, on his first appearance since returning to QPR on a permanent deal from Lommel, struck on 84 minutes and Kone added a stoppage-time clincher. The result offered an emphatic response to Rangers' 7-1 humiliation at Coventry City, while extending the losing run of Nathan Jones' side to three matches in all competitions.
High-Tempo Rangers Seize Early Initiative
Stephan had challenged his players to perform 'like they wanted revenge' after the collapse at Coventry, and his side responded with a blistering opening. QPR pressed aggressively, played with a higher tempo and, as their head coach later noted, were willing to adapt with 'a different style of play' that at times relied on more direct balls to turn Charlton around in the early stages.