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Zan Celar (centre) missed a penalty for Queen's Park Rangers last weekend Queens Park Rangers moved off the bottom of the Championship with a 2-0 win at Cardiff City. The Bluebirds dominated proceedings in the first half before Zan Celar's wonder strike put the visitors ahead five minutes before the break. Cardiff threw everything at QPR as they searched for a leveller, and came close numerous times only to be denied by goalkeeper Paul Nardi. And in the four minutes of added time, Celar broke clear of the Cardiff defence before calmly chipping the ball over Jak Alnwick to seal the win. QPR move up one place to 23rd with victory, leaving Portsmouth rooted to the foot of the Championship, while Cardiff remain one place outside the relegation zone. Championship: Leeds, QPR & Swansea lead, Pompey game off Both sides were coming off 1-1 draws on the weekend, but in desperate need for three points. Cardiff made three changes from their draw with Sheffield Wednesday, while QPR were unchanged from their game with Stoke. And it was the visitors who almost had the perfect start, Paul Smyth getting in behind the Cardiff defence with just 15 seconds played and forcing a save from Alnwick. Cardiff's best chance of the game came after just four minutes, as a corner kick fell kindly to Perry Ng just a few yards out, but his shot was straight at Nardi. The Bluebirds had QPR pinned inside their own half for the opening 30 minutes, but despite all their possession they could not break down the stubborn Rangers defence. Just as the game looked set to go into half time goalless, Celar picked up the ball on the edge of the Cardiff box, took one touch before swivelling and firing into the top corner. It was the Slovenian striker's first goal of the season, and gave QPR their first half-time lead in the Championship this campaign. Cardiff threw everything at the visitors in the second half as they searched for an equaliser, but Nardi was equal to everything. First Joe Ralls had a long-range effort tipped around the post, before the QPR goalkeeper did excellent to race across his line and save Callum Robinson's back-post header. Further efforts from distance from Callum O'Dowda and Rubin Colwill also needed saving, before Nardi had to be alert to prevent an own goal by Steve Cook on 90 minutes. And with every blue shirt up the field chasing a late equaliser, Celar got on the end of a long ball behind the Cardiff defence before calmly lofting the ball over the on-rushing Alnwick. It is just a second Championship win of the season for QPR, who move above Portsmouth at the foot of the table with victory. Cardiff remain just one point and one place above the bottom three, and have now won just one of their last six games. Cardiff City interim manager Omer Riza told BBC Sport Wales: "On tonight's game we wouldn't have scored until the cows came home. "We had chances, we tried to apply pressure but just lacked that last bit to break them down and score. "We've gone in 1-0 down which was harsh but then you're chasing the game. It was a game we needed to win. "It just didn't come, we're coming away from the game highly frustrated. " Queens Park Rangers head coach Marti Cifuentes: "It was an important win for us as a team, especially for the players as they have been working hard in a difficult period. "The fact it was Zan Celar, the whole group have been very supportive and protective of him. It was very important, it's a goal all of us have scored. "He's a good guy, been working hard, and unfortunately until today he had not got the reward of the goals. Hopefully it will increase his confidence and be the first two of many. " Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 27th November 2024 at 21: 54 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Omer Riza Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Martí Cifuentes Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Omer Riza Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Martí Cifuentes Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Cardiff City are looking for consecutive league wins over QPR for the first time since January 2008. Queens Park Rangers have won three of their last four away league visits to Cardiff, winning 2-1 last season. Cardiff have won four of their five home league games under Omer Riza (L1), though they did lose their most recent such game against Blackburn 1-3. QPR have failed to score in their last four away league games (D1 L3); they last endured a longer such run in December 2008 in the Championship (8 games). Cardiff’s Callum Robinson has been involved in four goals in his last four home Championship games against QPR (1 goal, 3 assists), though is yet to do so for the Bluebirds in two previous games. Match ends, Cardiff City 0, Queens Park Rangers 2. Second Half ends, Cardiff City 0, Queens Park Rangers 2. Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Rayan Kolli replaces Zan Celar. Substitution, Queens Park Rangers. Kieran Morgan replaces Koki Saito. Foul by Yakou Méïté (Cardiff City). Kenneth Paal (Queens Park Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Goal! Cardiff City 0, Queens Park Rangers 2. Zan Celar (Queens Park Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner following a fast break. Fourth official has announced 4 minutes of added time. Attempt missed. Calum Chambers (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Yakou Méïté following a corner. Attempt blocked. Yakou Méïté (Cardiff City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Robertson with a cross. Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Morgan Fox. Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Morgan Fox. Attempt saved. Callum Robinson (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Callum O'Dowda with a cross. Jimmy Dunne (Queens Park Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Callum O'Dowda (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Jimmy Dunne (Queens Park Rangers). Attempt missed. Perry Ng (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Alex Robertson. Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Lucas Andersen. Attempt blocked. Alex Robertson (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Perry Ng. Attempt blocked. Callum Robinson (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rubin Colwill with a cross. © 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.