Queens Park Rangers defeated Wednesday’s automatic promotion-chasing opponents Leeds United 4-0, moving them to 53 points and 17th position in the standings. It puts them seven points ahead of Birmingham City in the first relegation spot and guarantees their Championship status for next season.
Ilias Chair, Lucas Andersen, Lyndon Dykes, and Sam Field scored to seal the victory for the London club, who had spent much of the season in the bottom three alongside the Owls. Like Wednesday, the appointment of a relatively unknown European manager – in this case, Spaniard Marti Cifuentes – has had a significant impact.
It is the latest example of sides in a congested bottom half outperforming sides at the top in terms of coupon-busting results. QPR are now six points ahead of Wednesday with two games to play, although they have a significantly better goal difference. Now it’s on to Danny Röhl’s side.
The Owls face play-off hopes West Bromwich Albion at Hillsborough this afternoon, knowing that only a victory will keep them out of the relegation zone moving into the final day. Birmingham and Huddersfield Town play at the John Smiths Stadium.
Wednesday manager Röhl spoke vehemently about Wednesday’s focus on following the teams ahead of them rather than looking over their shoulders. Plymouth Argyle are a point ahead of the Owls and will travel to Millwall, while Blackburn Rovers will host Coventry City.
The result also secured Leicester City’s promotion and shifted the odds in favour of third-placed Ipswich Town, who trail Leeds by only one point with two games in hand.
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