Josh Sargent and Jovon Makama scored in each half as Norwich City earned a vital 2-1 victory at Queens Park Rangers, boosting their survival hopes with a first away win under Philippe Clement and a first on the road since August. Sargent headed the visitors in front in the opening minute of the second half before substitute Makama doubled the lead in stoppage time, and although Amadou Mbengue pulled one back deep into added time, QPR ran out of road in their search for an equaliser.
The Canaries, who began the day second from bottom, climbed a place and moved to within a point of safety thanks to a controlled second-half display that contrasted sharply with Rangers' growing disjointedness. QPR, who had won their previous four home games and thrashed Leicester 4-1 just before Christmas, have now suffered back-to-back defeats and taken only one point from their last three outings, a slump that visibly frustrated head coach Julien Stephan.
Bright first half, but no breakthrough for either side
Both managers reacted to defeats three days earlier by shuffling their packs, and the extent of the changes shaped a first half that was energetic but uneven. Stephan made eight changes to his QPR starting XI, while Clement altered three of his Norwich side. The result was a lively, end-to-end opening period without consistent control from either team, as new combinations on both sides searched for cohesion.