Michael Frey celebratesGetty Images

Michael Frey joined QPR in the January transfer window

Michael Frey made one goal and scored the winner in a masterly centre-forward’s display as QPR scored twice in three minutes to come from behind and beat Luton Town.

Frey powered home a beautifully measured volley to earn Rangers their first Championship win of the season, just moments after his brute strength and awareness had teed up Nicolas Madsen to level the scores.

The equaliser had come against the run of play, as was the case with Luton’s first-half opener which was gifted to them when the unfortunate Jimmy Dunne bundled the ball into his own net from close range.

Luton, who remain winless with just one point and two goals from their four league fixtures, barely threatened an equaliser until injury time.

A frantic finish saw Carlton Morris denied by keeper Paul Nardi's fine save and Joe Taylor head over from close range.

But the spirited late rally could not salvage a draw or stop a few boos echoing around Kenilworth Road at the full-time whistle.

Without a victory between them in their opening three league matches, and just three days after QPR edged past Luton on penalties in the EFL Cup, a tentative start seemed likely.

But for 17 minutes, QPR retained possession impressively, seized control of the midfield and looked sharp in attack.

The experienced Jack Colback, back in the side after suspension, was the instigator of much of their best work, with some neat combination play between Madsen, Kenneth Paal and Frey creating several promising situations.

Alfie Lloyd on the left and Karamoko Dembele on the opposite flank both stood out, however, the latter missed a golden chance to make their superiority count, lashing the ball wide of the far post with his weaker right foot after some super build-up play by Frey.

Luton had been surprisingly passive, but the urgency returned after that wake-up call and they led moments after their first attempt on goal forced a corner which was only half-cleared.

Shandon Baptiste crossed the ball back in and although a thumping header by Mark McGuinness was saved by Nardi, the ball rebounded back off Dunne and into the net.

Fired-up Frey inspires Rangers

Elijah Adebayo and Tahith Chong started to threaten and the Hatters were furious they were not awarded a penalty when Morris and Colback tussled in the box.

But QPR regained their composure and finished the half strongly, Frey going closest to levelling the score with a 20-yard strike that went just wide.

A calmer second half followed as Luton defended aggressively and denied the visitors space in the final third.

The Hatters also had the better chances, causing problems from set-pieces and squandering a great one-on-one chance opportunity when Adebayo was thwarted by the on-rushing Nardi.

But burly Swiss forward Frey outmuscled McGuinness to lay on the leveller for Madsen - the Dane's first goal for the club.

And Frey then coolly grabbed his second league goal in four Championship fixtures and his third in five games this season when he guided Paal’s inviting cross beyond Thomas Kaminski.

'It's on me' - Edwards

Luton boss Rob Edwards:

“It’s on me, and it’s on us, there’s no doubt about it.

“We put ourselves in a great position to win the game, 1-0 up and I thought playing really well in the first half, I thought we were still in really good control until their first goal.

“I thought we should have gone 2-0 up, we had a big, big chance, but that can happen. The goals were really disappointing, I’ve been saying that for too long and again, it’s on me, I’m not blaming anyone.

“People can make mistakes, but then there’s got to come a point where we’ve got to deal with the better.

“It’s too easy for them to score the first goal which rocked us for a minute or two, I don’t think we should have thrown the ball into Shandon (Baptiste) for the second goal and then we didn’t defend the cross.”

QPR boss Marti Cifuentes:

“They’re a very physical side, they scored, that was the first moment and six or seven minutes of the second half they were very dominant.

“Nardi made a great save to keep us in the game, and after that we made some adjustments, but against a team that pressed so high and being so dynamic, it’s about getting the right combination.

“We got to 1-1 and that was the case. We got in behind them, we managed to get the goal which was exceptional and then we were very good.

“We got the second goal, we had good control, the last four or five minutes we came under pressure, but it was a good shift.”

Related topics