Stoke City of England midfielder, John Mikel Obi was in full flight for The Potters and almost got a goal for the home side, but his efforts fell short in a 2-0 loss to Queens Park Rangers.
Despite Stoke playing at home and Mikel looking at his very best, the former Super Eagles’ captain missed a chance that could have changed the story of the evening.
However, with Mikel among the lot who missed scoring chances for the hosts, Osman Kakay scored his first Championship goal for QPR while Charlie Austin was also on target in the visitors’ victory.
The Londoners led 1-0 at the break after Austin scored his seventh goal of the season with an emphatic finish, after which Kakay calmly slotted the ball past Adam Davies from a narrow angle with 20 minutes to go to wrap up the points.
The visitors withstood some decent pressure from Stoke after the half-time interval with Rabbi Matondo, Mikel and Jordan Thompson all going close.
Sam Vokes should have set up a nervous finish when he hooked an effort wide with the goal empty with four minutes to go, while Davies held a deflected Kakay shot after 10 minutes as the visitors threatened for the first time.
Stoke were dealt a blow when Nick Powell was forced off with an Achilles injury four minutes later, while Austin fired QPR ahead with a clinical drilled finish from just outside the box after 17 minutes.
Mikel tamely headed wide from eight yards out despite being unmarked just before the hour mark and team-mate Thompson curled a 20-yard free-kick well wide after 68 minutes as Stoke kept up the pressure.
Despite their pushing, Kayak doubled QPR’s lead with a confident finish after Stefan Johansen teed him up two minutes later, after which visiting goalkeeper Seny Dieng spilled a long-range shot from Thompson 12 minutes from time, while Vokes shot wide from six yards out as the clock ticked down but Stoke failed to get a result.
