Rotherham United were edged out by Queens Park Rangers at MATRADE Loftus Road on Saturday, with the hosts coming from behind to earn the three points with a 2-1 win.

The Millers made the perfect start when striker Tom Eaves scored his second in as many matches to put Leam Richardson’s men 1-0 up in the capital and that is how it stayed until the break.

The hosts came back into proceedings in the second half and equalised through substitute Paul Smyth before a stunning Chris Willock strike won it for the Rs late on.

Leam Richardson made three changes to the side that lost in dramatic circumstances at Portman Road in midweek, with Cameron Humphreys replacing Lee Peltier, Jordan Hugill making way for Sam Nombe and Femi Seriki coming in for Ollie Rathbone. Tom Eaves – who netted inside the opening two minutes against the Tractor Boys – retained his place in the XI. 

The Millers started the game brightly and had two big chances to go ahead when Sam Clucas saw his long range effort charged down, before the ball broke for Femi Seriki, who could only drag an effort wide.

The visitors didn’t have to wait long for the opening goal that their bright start had deserved and it was Eaves who added his second goal in as many starts after he capitalised on a Sam Nombe flick on before lofting the ball over the goalkeeper with a deftly executed chip.

The Millers had another chance five minutes later and again, Eaves was at the heart of the attack. The striker found Clucas in a pocket of space and the midfielder drove forward before picking out Kioso, who forced Begovic into a save with a low effort.

The first opportunity for the hosts came with 15 minutes on the clock, when Ilias Chair found Michael Frey with a lofted ball into the box. The striker met it with a firm header which forced Johansson into action, with Kenneth Paal unable to turn the rebound home.

The home side continued to maintain the pressure and had an even better chance to equalise 10 minutes later. Again, the Millers had Johansson to thank after Steve Cook met a Chair delivery from the right, with the Swede turning the powerful header over the bar.

Leam Richardson’s side continued to carry a threat on the break and Eaves looked to turn provider for his striker-partner Nombe with half an hour on the clock, when he nodded a long Humphreys pass into the striker’s path, but the forward couldn’t keep his effort down from the angle.

The home side were knocking on the door and it was Chair’s turn to try his luck when a corner was worked short to him. The attacker didn’t need an invitation to shoot, forcing Johansson to beat away his drilled effort.

Cook had a good chance to level before the break when he was picked out by Chair. The defender rose above Humphreys to meet the cross and got his header away, but again Johansson denied him.

HALF TIME: Queens Park Rangers 0-1 Rotherham United

The Millers started the second half on the backfoot as their hosts chased an equaliser but had a couple of good chances on the break. The first of which fell to Odoffin, when he set his sights on goal from 25 yards, but couldn’t keep his effort down. Then, Tiehi was picked out with space to run into and drove through midfield before laying it off for Odoffin. He picked out Eaves with his cross but the striker could only glance his effort wide.

The Millers were made to rue the missed opportunities on 61 minutes when Paul Smyth beat Johansson from a tight angle after being played through. With their tales up, the hosts went in search of another and Chair tested Johansson two minutes when he was played through.

The Moroccan international was proving to be a thorn in the side of the away team and looked to create again when he found the head of Jimmy Dunne, but the defender was unable to turn the ball home.

With 15 minutes of the contest remaining, Cafu’s delivery was cushioned back across by Morrison and met by Odoffin, but the defender’s header was kept out by Begovic. Rotherham would be made to rue the missed opportunity just moments later, when Chair picked out Willock in a pocket of space and the midfielder beat Johansson with a powerful drive from distance to make it 2-1.

And the Millers were unable to recover from that goal, with the hosts claiming the points in the capital.

FULL TIME: Queens Park Rangers 2-1 Rotherham United 

QUEENS PARK RANGERS: Begovic, Dunne, Cook, Clarke-Salter, Paal (Larkeche 84’), Colback, Hayden (Field 45’), Hodge (Smyth 45’), Chair (Andersen 90+2), Willock, Frey (Dykes 84’).

UNUSED: Archer, Cannon, Fox, Armstrong.

ROTHERHAM UNITED: Johansson, Clucas, Eaves (Wyke 79’), Rinomhota (Lindsay 85’) Odoffin, Morrison, Humphreys (Appiah 85’), Tiehi, Nombe (Hugill 79’), Seriki (Cafu 56’), Kioso.

UNUSED: Phillips, Peltier, Ferguson.

REFEREE: M. Donohue

ATTENDANCE: 16,351 (609 away)