Boro 2 QPR 0
TWO penalties in seven minutes towards the end of the first half were enough as Boro completed their first ever double over QPR.
The Boro side showed two changes from that which lost at Forest as Chris Killen and Leroy Lita returned to the starting line-up.
Julio Arca and Scott McDonald made way, the latter out injured, the former on the bench where he was joined by Brad Jones who was making his first appearance with the first team squad since December 20. Jason Steele joined Northampton Town on loan earlier in the day.
Mick Harford, naming what he felt may well be his last starting line up before another managerial change at Loftus Road, replaced Matt Connolly, who kissed the game with an ankle injury, with Mikele Leigertwood who returned from a three-match suspension to captain the side.
Former Boro loanee Marcus Bent was fit to return to the bench having been missing with hamstring trouble since February 9.
A quiet start in a quiet stadium gave way to moments of lively play from both sides as the game gradually got to its feet.
Good movement from Boro's front line had QPR stretched and Carl Ikeme almost went down in slow motion to palm away a 30-yard free-kick from Gary O'Neil who has struck a better shot before. But it was the visitors who almost opened the scoring when Antonio German hit the back stanchion with a powerful shot from just inside the penalty area.
Boro created a better chance as the game swung to the other end, but the ball arrived unexpectedly at the feet of Killen at the back post and he hurriedly shot over from seven yards.
Barry Robson was caught ball watching as QPR threatened down their inside left channel, Danny Coyne needing to produce a smart save to grab a low drive from the edge of the penalty area from Leigertwood.
With 36 minutes played Jeremie Aliadiere, playing on the left wing, was presented with a fine chance just along from the right-hand edge of the penalty area, but he shot horribly wide - just over a minute later his pace got the better of Peter Ramage and the ex-Newcastle right-back brought him down inside the penalty area.
Three players wanted to take the kick, Barry Robson won the argument with Aliadiere and Killen and drilled a low shot straight and past Ikeme from the spot with 39 minutes played.
Boro were almost caught out approaching the final minute of the half when German timed a run behind the back line despite looking offside. The home side survived and went on to double their lead in the first minute of injury time.
Another poor piece of defending, this time from Kaspars Gorkss, saw him drag back Lita inside the penalty area and Barry Robson rammed home an excellent penalty time firing high away to the goalkeeper's left.
Half-time: Middlesbrough 2 QPR 0
After a bright start from Boro they fell away a little as QPR upped their game and went off in search of a foothold in the game.
A couple of early substitutions seemed to galvanise that approach, though Bent was given at best a lukewarm welcome from the Boro fans.
But Danny Coyne was rarely stretched as Stephen McManus in particular effected two or three good challenges.
When Emanuel Pogatetz gave the ball away deep inside his own half there was danger as a deep cross looked like finding its target, Bent, until a timely touch from McManus.
Jonathan Franks was given a good reception when he replaced Aliadiere, but it was another change which almost made an immediate impact as Adel Taarabt, on for Alejandro Faurlin, forced Coyne into a smart full-length save away to his right as he shot low from 30 yards.
There was a more routine save from Ikeme when Lita shot for goal from the edge of the penalty area, an effort which carried plenty power but one aimed straight at a well positioned goalkeeper.
Boro were given a let-off 12 minutes from the end of normal time as Leigertwood, unmarked seven yard from and in front of goal, struck low against the base of Coyne's right-hand post.
Excellent work from Franks saw him hold off a firm challenge and drill a low cross into the penalty area, sadly for him, his team mates didn't match his good approach with anticipation and there was no-one in a red short to take the delivery.
Two minutes from the end of normal time Gary O'Neil made a fine run into the right-hand side of the Boro box, but again the finishing touch failed to match the approach as his shot was straight at Ikeme.
*Earlier this afternoon Boro's U18s drew 1-1 with Huddersfield Town at Rockliffe. James Gray scored in the first half and was sent-off on in the second.
Middlesbrough: Coyne, Naughton, Wheater, McManus, Pogatetz (Taylor 78), Flood, O'Neil (Capt), Robson, Aliadiere (Franks 66), Lita (Arca 83), Killen. Subs: Jones (gk); Hoyte, Grounds, Miller.
QPR: Ikeme; Ramage, Stewart, Leigertwood, Hill (Borrowdale 53), Gorkss, Buzsaky, Faurlin (Taarabt 69), Cook, Simpson, German (Bent 53). Subs: Cerny (gk); Ephraim, Vine, Balanta.
*For the purposes of statistical analysis, the QPR substitutions were in the following order: Borrowdale for Hill, then Bent for German.
Referee: Andy Woolmer, Northamptonshire.
Bookings:
Boro Killen, 71, foul.
QPR Gorkss, 45+1, foul.
Attendance: 17,568 (523 QPR)
