QPR 0-4 Middlesbrough: Championship 2025-26 match report

Middlesbrough produced a clinical display of attacking football at Loftus Road on Sunday, dismantling Queens Park Rangers 4-0 to secure a dominant victory in the Championship. Under the tactical direction of Kim Hellberg, the visitors controlled the tempo and exploited defensive lapses in the QPR backline, leaving Julien Stephan’s side with few answers throughout the 90 minutes.

The opening

Julien Stephan opted for a traditional 4-4-2 formation, looking to maintain a compact shape and utilize width to trouble the Middlesbrough defense. However, the visitors’ 4-1-4-1 setup proved superior in the middle of the park, allowing them to dictate the rhythm of the game from the outset.

Middlesbrough’s persistence in the final third yielded the opening goal in the 20th minute. Morgan Whittaker provided the creative spark, delivering a precise ball that found David Strelec. The forward made no mistake, finishing calmly to give the visitors an early advantage. The goal forced QPR to adopt a more aggressive posture, but they struggled to break down a well-organized Middlesbrough defensive unit. The visitors were forced into an early tactical adjustment in the 31st minute when Dael Fry replaced A. Malanda, a change that maintained their defensive integrity as they headed into the halftime break with a slender lead.

The decisive moment

The second half began with QPR attempting to find an equalizer, but the game turned decisively in Middlesbrough’s favor midway through the period. Following a double substitution in the 66th minute—where Whittaker and Strelec were replaced—the visitors found a second wind that overwhelmed the home side.

Just two minutes after those changes, Alan Browne extended the lead to 2-0, effectively deflating the atmosphere at Loftus Road. The momentum swung entirely toward the visitors, and they capitalized on their dominance in the 72nd minute. Tommy Conway, who had been a constant threat, turned provider for Hayden Hackney, whose strike pushed the lead to 3-0.

Despite Stephan’s attempts to alter the course of the match through a flurry of substitutions—introducing K. Morgan, J. Varane, K. Saito, R. Norrington-Davies, and A. Mbengue—QPR remained unable to establish a foothold. The visitors maintained their composure, and in the 88th minute, Tommy Conway capped his impressive individual performance by converting from the penalty spot to finalize the 4-0 scoreline.

Looking ahead

The result marks a significant setback for Queens Park Rangers, who will need to address their defensive vulnerabilities quickly as they look to stabilize their position in the Championship table. For Middlesbrough, the comprehensive victory serves as a statement of intent, demonstrating the attacking depth and tactical discipline required to sustain a push during the final stages of the season.