Paul Smyth scored a stunning goal at the weekend as QPR salvaged a point in their 1-1 Championship draw with Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
The former Linfield winger capitalised on an error by home keeper Max O’Leary to score from 40 yards out to extend the west London outfit’s unbeaten run to six games.
“It’s always nice to score and help the team,” Smyth told the Queens Park Rangers media channel. “It was a really nice goal as well so I can’t really complain.
“As soon as I hit it to be honest (I knew it was going in). I had a good connection with it and I looked up and thought ‘this is in’.
“It was a good finish and I’m happy to get on the scoresheet and help the team get a draw. We have a big game on Saturday so we keep fighting, and we will analyse the game and see where we can do better.”
Elsewhere in the EFL Championship Daniel Ballard scored his first of the season when he headed home a Trai Hume free-kick as Sunderland came from behind to win 3-2 at Swansea City.
In League One Nottingham Forest loanee Dale Taylor was on target as Wigan Athletic ended a run of four games without a win with a 2-0 success at Bolton Wanderers and Josh Magennis scored for the sixth time this season as Exeter City fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Barnsley.
Huddersfield Town fought back from two goals down to earn a point at home to Lincoln City thanks to goals from substitutes Brodie Spencer and Callum Marshall, who is on loan from West Ham United.
Spencer scored his first ever goal in senior football when he headed home a 49th minute cross from Josh Koroma and he then set up international colleague Marshall for the equaliser a minute from time.
Spencer told the club website: “It’s good to get my first professional goal and even sweeter that my teammate and friend Callum got the equaliser, too.
“We’ve got a big, competitive squad so every time there’s an opportunity to play you have to step up and show what you’re about.
“At two-nil, the next goal means so much so to score and change the momentum of the game was great,” he added. “All we needed was a lift in intensity and when that happened the game flipped.
“I’ve been here for nearly five years now, and the club means a lot to me, so to score today was a very proud moment for me.”
In the Premier League Justin Devenny was used as a late substitute in Crystal Palace’s impressive 3-1 win at Brighton and Hove Albion for whom Ruairi McConville was an unused sub.
Meanwhile, in the Scottish Premiership, Makenzie Kirk scored his third goal in four games as St Johnstone lost 3-2 at home to St Mirren, and in the Scottish Championship former Cliftonville striker Ben Wilson hit a brace as Airdrie drew 2-2 at home to Morton.
There was disappointment for winger Ross McCausland who remained on the bench as Rangers lost a thrilling Scottish League Cup final on penalties to Old Firm rivals Celtic. The game ended 3-3 before Celtic won the shootout 5-4.
Finally, former Linfield midfielder Aodhan Doherty scored twice as Blackburn Rovers defeated Leeds United 4-2 in the U21 Premier League and George Feeney was among the scorers as Spurs U18s beat their Norwich City counterparts 3-1.
