QPR 1-2 Cardiff City: Goutas and Ng score to start Bluebirds' year off with a win

Cardiff City kicked off the new year in perfect fashion with a 2-1 win over QPR in west London.

Headed goals in each half from Dimitrios Goutas and Perry Ng respectively handed Cardiff the win, despite Paul Smyth levelling the tie just after the restart.

There have been some poor performances in recent months, you can't really get away from that, but Cardiff were, for the most part, disciplined and organised and were good value for the victory.

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After a few nervy performances over the last six weeks or so, it would have been heartening from a Bluebirds standpoint for the supporters to see them so organised and structured in defence, while also producing a number of link-ups in attack, too, right from the off.

Jamilu Collins and Rubin Colwill caused a few issues down City's left, although Asmir Begovic wasn't really troubled in the R's goal for the first 15 minutes. But the visitors' pressure soon told and yielded the opener.

Cardiff have been excellent from set pieces so far this season and despite their improved attack in open play, it was a corner from which they scored their opener. Joe Ralls swung in a trademark cross and Goutas, who had three Championship goals to his name before the turn of the year, opened his 2024 account with a superb header which cushioned into the corner of the net.

The Bluebirds found QPR easy to defend against, with the hosts accused of the sort of ponderous and laboured build-up play which has come Cardiff's way in recent weeks. When the half-time whistle blew, a