Rovers made it a hat-trick of wins in the space of a week to record an unbeaten February from their six Championship matches to cement a place in the Championship play-off places.

Sam Gallagher scored twice, ending a four-month wait for a goal, either side of Sam Szmodics’ strike to give them a 3-1 victory at Queens Park Rangers.

Tim Iroegbunam had equalised for the hosts midway through what was an even first half.

Boosted by Szmodics’ goal in first half injury time Rovers took charge of the second half and never looked like throwing away the lead that was doubled on the hour by Gallagher’s second of the game.

The victory was a first on the road in the Championship since the December 17 win at Norwich City, which was also the last time they scored more than once in a game.

This was arguably their most impressive display of 2023 which moved them to 55 points from their 34 games played.

The one enforced change for Rovers saw Hayden Carter replace Daniel Ayala in the heart of the defence, with Harry Pickering and Ben Brereton returning on the bench after missing the midweek win over Blackpool.

Gareth Ainsworth was unveiled to a great ovation prior to kick-off, and the home side were determined to try and feed off that energy and start off the front foot.

Ilias Chair hit an eighth minute free kick into the Rovers wall that did its job, before Chris Martin failed to get his header from the follow-up corner on target.

Rovers were to go close from a 12th minute free kick of their own, however. Sorba Thomas’ delivery was glanced away only as far as Sam Szmodics who thumped a half volley goalwards that flashed narrowly wide of the bottom corner.

Rovers did hit the front though with 14 minutes on the watch. It came via the head of Sam Gallagher as Tyrhys Dolan’s cross shot was looped in his direction to nod home from inside the six-yard box.

Joe Rankin-Costello started the move with an excellent crossfield pass, and although Dolan’s attempted curler looked to have been blocked, Gallagher was on hand to provide the finishing touch.

QPR’s first response saw Tim Iroegbunam shooting well wide from 20 yards as Lewis Travis made up ground to not give him a free strike at goal, while Rankin-Costello did well to block a Stefan Johansen long-ranger.

Ainsworth was working up the crowd who were responding, as did his side who got back on level terms eight minutes after falling behind. Iroegbunam couldn’t miss as Osman Kakay’s right-wing cross dropped kindly for him 12 yards to slot into the corner after Carter failed to clear.

QPR were then forced into an early change, as Chair limped off with a hamstring injury and Andre Dozzell came on in his place.

The game continued at quite the pace, despite Rovers’ best attempts to try and settle things down.

An off-balance Rob Dickie headed a right-wing corner over the top moments before the break, while at the other end Kakay did well to throw himself in the way of a Szmodics shot.

Yet in the second minute of stoppage time Rovers snatched the lead for a second time. It was finished off cooly by Szmodics, slotting the ball through Seny Dieng from a tight angle. Yet the goal owed much to a fine reverse pass from Travis into his path which took defender Dickie out of the game as Szmodics ran clear to score.

Rovers pressed well at the start of what was becoming a scrappy early period of the second half.

Johansen had the first effort after the break, the ball dropping invitingly for a shot at goal, but it flew over the bar with Pears untroubled in the 55th minute.

The second half needed a spark and it came via the most extravagant bit of Rankin-Costello skill. Up against two men he dragged the ball clear of both to drive into the box and square across the face of goal for the sliding Gallagher to apply the finish.

It was gift-wrapped for the striker, but he still showed good movement to pull off the back of his marker and be in the right place to put the finishing touch to an excellent move.

QPR weren’t afraid of getting shots off from distance, Dickie and Iroegbunma both trying their luck to no avail in the aftermath of the third Rovers goal.

At the other Rovers had two efforts in quick succession, first a Thomas free kick that was straight at Dieng who saved, while soon after the ‘keeper got a hand to Dolan’s effort as he broke away from Gallagher’s pass.

Tomasson turned to his bench for the first time as Ryan Hedges replaced Szmodics with 69 minutes on the watch.

By this stage Rovers were looking to manage the game, with the home crowd frustrated by the time afforded to the visitors in possession.

It was looking comfortable for Rovers whose task was to ensure that any complacency wouldn’t set in to afford Rangers a way back into the game.

Tyler Morton added an extra body to the midfield for the closing stages as he replaced Tyrhys Dolan with 10 minutes of the 90 remaining.

The only scare for Rovers in the closing stages saw substitute Albert Adomah head tamely straight at Pears from a late free kick.

There was to be no denying Rovers whose victory was emphatic, and bolstered their hopes of a top six finish.

QPR: Dieng, Kakay, Dunne, Dickie, Johansen, Chair (Dozzell, 33), Martin (Adomah, 75), Field, Lowe, Paal, Iroegbunam (Richards, 88)

Subs: Archer, Amos, Dixon-Bonner, Gubbins

Rovers: Pears, Rankin-Costello, Carter, Hyam, Brittain, Travis, Buckley (Phillips, 90), Thomas, Szmodics (Hedges, 69), Dolan (Morton, 80) Gallagher

Subs: Hilton, Pickering, Garrett, Brereton