Harvey Vale's first goal for Queens Park Rangers earned the west London club a 1-0 victory over early high-flyers Stoke City at Loftus Road, completing a run of three successive wins and halting the visitors' flawless away start to the season. The 22-year-old former Chelsea youngster struck with 15 minutes remaining, curling a precise left-footed shot into the far corner to finally beat outstanding Potters goalkeeper Viktor Johansson.
Rangers' win, added to recent victories over Wrexham and Charlton Athletic, underlined the side's response to last month's humiliating 7-1 defeat at Coventry City. For Stoke, who arrived in west London having made their best start to a campaign since 1998 and with a perfect away record, this was only a second defeat of the season and one that owed as much to profligate finishing as to QPR's resilience.
Cagey Opening, Clear Chances for Rangers
Stoke manager Mark Robins unsurprisingly named an unchanged side after last week's win over Birmingham City, and his team quickly took control of possession and territory. Yet, despite that early dominance, it was the hosts who carved out the game's clearest opportunities in a largely forgettable first half.