Fulham 2-1 Queens Park Rangers: Kamara doubles sees Fulham beat QPR

Author: BBC Sport – Football

Stand-in striker Aboubakar Kamara scored twice as Fulham overcame Queens Park Rangers to move up to fourth in the Championship table.

Kamara, brought in to replace suspended top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic, coolly took his chances after Rangers stunned the hosts with an early goal.

The visitors pressed high from the start and were rewarded for their attacking approach to the west London derby when Jordan Hugill forced the ball over the line from close range after Todd Kane’s cross was parried into his path by goalkeeper Marek Rodak.

Another dangerous Kane cross almost led to a second, with Fulham defender Tim Ream seeing his attempted clearance come off the post.

Fulham recovered from their sluggish start and, with their first effort on target, Kamara headed home his first goal of the season.

Both sides had further first-half chances, Rodak keeping out Nahki Wells and what would have been an Alfie Mawson own goal either side of Ivan Cavaleiro hitting the woodwork for Fulham.

Kamara then punished QPR keeper Joe Lumley for a poor clearance, making the most of the time and space afforded to him to find the bottom corner just after the hour.

Suspension had robbed the hosts of talisman Mitrovic, who before the visit of QPR had scored half of all the Whites’ Championship goals this season, but in Kamara they found a clinical replacement.

It was just his second start for the club since he was arrested after a clash at Fulham’s training ground, banned from the club and sent on loan to Turkish side Malatyaspor earlier in the year.

The Frenchman’s double ensured Scott Parker’s side triumphed for just the second time without the league’s leading scorer among the goals this season.

Mark Warburton’s QPR, who have conceded the second most goals in the Championship, remain the only club in England’s top four division yet to keep a clean sheet this season.

Their third defeat in a five-game winless run leaves them 10th in the table, but they can slip as low as 15th if a number of sides below them win over weekend.

Rangers’ trip to Craven Cottage had got off to the ideal start, Hugill putting them ahead inside three minutes of a high-tempo opening half from the visitors which saw Rodak twice called into action while another chance came off the post.

Fulham, however, gained the composure their early performance lacked and hit back through Kamara just before the half-hour mark.

Thereafter the hosts looked a reinvigorated force, Cavaleiro hitting the post before the break while Anthony Knockaert tested Lumley early in the second half.

Kamara then profited from Lumley’s mistake to double his tally for the game and season, and it was nearly three for Fulham moments later as Knockaert hit the post in a rousing come-from-behind win for the Cottagers.