Goalkeeper Pierce Charles’ superb double save from a penalty in second-half added time denied West Ham top spot in the Championship and earned Queens Park Rangers a point in a thrilling finish at the London Stadium.
West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen delivered the cross which led to Amadou Mbengue teeing up Pablo for a spectacularly timed spot-kick, then saw his shot deflected by Charles before the Manchester City Loanee brilliantly turned Arne Engels’ head against the woodwork from the rebound.
Nicolas Madsen’s controversial first-half penalty had put QPR on course to overcome their opponents, converting after the returning Tomas Soucek was adjudged to have fouled Paul Smyth inside the box.
Former England international Bowen equalized for West Ham in the second half, bursting in from the right and firing home at the second attempt after his initial effort was blocked to earn West Ham a point on a night when the hosts paid tribute to the goalkeeper and manager. Ludek Mikloskowho died last month.
West Ham vs QPR: The visitors’ penalty is ‘terrible’
The opening act was part of an insured QPR display in the first half, almost scoring a second when Rayan Kolli had a shot deflected by goalkeeper Mads Hermansen before the break.
West Ham sent on Edvin Austbo and Pablo for Kyle Walker-Peters and Soucek at the interval and were well up when they responded through Bowen, who had a shot saved by Charles before the Northern Ireland international’s penalty heroics as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side pushed for a winner.
Former QPR and England defender Paul Parker called referee Ruebyn Ricardo’s decision for the penalty “terrible”.
“It was an absolutely perfect position for the ref to see the deflection of the ball,” Parker said. BBC Radio London.
“You could see the reaction from the player. Even Smyth wasn’t jumping for it. The ref went boo-boo there, double boo-boo.”
what happens next West Ham, QPR Championship matches
QPR are next in action at home to Derby County, who started the weekend in the relegation zone. West Ham visit Lincoln City, who were 12th before the last round of fixtures.
| date | game | Start time BST | E.T | P.T |
| Wednesday, October 14 | QPR vs Derby | 7:45 p.m | 2:45 p.m | 11:45 a.m |
| Wednesday, October 14 | Lincoln vs West Ham | 20:00 | 15:00 | 12:00 |
West Ham squad vs QPR
West Ham made one change to the team that started their 2-2 draw at Millwall in the Championship on September 19, bringing on midfielder Soucek for Joel Piroe. Mohamadou Kante was penalized for being sent off in that match.
West Ham: Mads Hermansen, Kyle Walker-Peters, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Maximilian Kilman, Morat, Jarrod Bowen, Tomas Soucek, Divine Mukasa, Arne Engels, Manor Solomon, Valentin Castellanos
Substitutes: Joel Piroe, Pablo, Alphonse Areola, Soungoutou Magassa, Ollie Scarles, Joel Veltman, Edvin Austbo, Airidas Golambeckis, Lewis Orford
Queens Park Rangers v West Ham team
QPR made five changes to the team that drew 2-2 at home to Preston North End on the same day, introducing Kealey Adamson, Jake Clarke-Salter, Boy Kemper, Smyth and Kolli.
Mbengue, Harvey Vale and Leon Scarlett moved to the bench, with Rumarn Burrell not involved. Dennis Cirkin was suspended.
QPR: Pierce Charles, Kealey Adamson, Jimmy Dunne, Jake Clarke-Salter, Boy Kemper, Nicolas Madsen, Ronnie Edwards, Glen Kamara, Kwame Poku, Rayan Kolli, Paul Smyth
Substitutes: Liam Morrison, Calum Ward, Harvey Vale, Richard Cone, Justin Obikwu, Amadou Mbengue, Leon Scarlett, Jonathan Varane, Tariq Lamptey
Championship games this weekend: 9 October 2026
This is how this weekend’s games look. Saturday’s televised games are exclusively on Sky Sports Plus in the UK, with Southampton vs Portsmouth on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player.
This game is also shown on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Ultra and Sky Sports Plus.
| date | fixation | BST | E.T | P.T | UK TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, October 10 | Charlton Athletic vs Bristol City | 12:30 | 07:30 | 04:30 | Sky Sports |
| Sat, October 10 | Swansea City vs Norwich City | 12:30 | 07:30 | 04:30 | Sky Sports |
| Sat, October 10 | West Bromwich Albion vs Birmingham City | 12:30 | 07:30 | 04:30 | Sky Sports |
| Sat, October 10 | Blackburn Rovers vs Cardiff City | 15:00 | 10:00 | 07:00 | – |
| Sat, October 10 | Bolton Wanderers v Stoke City | 15:00 | 10:00 | 07:00 | – |
| Sat, October 10 | Derby County vs Wrexham | 15:00 | 10:00 | 07:00 | – |
| Sat, October 10 | Middlesbrough vs Wolves | 15:00 | 10:00 | 07:00 | – |
| Sat, October 10 | Preston North End v Millwall | 15:00 | 10:00 | 07:00 | – |
| Sat, October 10 | Sheffield United v Lincoln City | 15:00 | 10:00 | 07:00 | – |
| Sat, October 10 | Watford vs Burnley | 15:00 | 10:00 | 07:00 | – |
| Sunday, October 11 | Southampton vs Portsmouth | 12:00 | 07:00 | 04:00 | Sky Sports |
