The Rams came from behind on two occasions to seal a 3-2 win against QPR at Loftus Road in their best fightback of the season
08:00, 26 Apr 2026Updated 08:54, 26 Apr 2026
John Eustace, manager of Derby County, celebrates victory over QPR at Loftus Road as Derby came from behind on two occasions to seal a 3-2 win.
A stunning goal from substitute Jaydon Banel kept Derby County’s play-off hopes alive as they came from behind on two occasions to win 3-2 at Loftus Road.
But Richard Kone struck again before Sondre Langas equalised leaving Banel to claim the headlines.
QPR had almost taken an early lead when Richard Kone was left with a chance in the six-yard box but Jacob Widell Zetterstrom made a super stop from point-blank range.
The danger was still present, however, as Harvey Vale followed up with a shot that cannoned off the upright right in front of a relieved away end.
But with their next attack, Derby were behind when Daniel Bennie escaped down the right and picked out Vale whose first touch was excellent and his second crashed past Zetterstrom.
Derby had not started at all well, but they were back on level terms when a corner from Joe Ward was half-cleared to Max Johnston on the edge of the box.
The full-back miscued his shot but it bounced invitingly for Oscar Fraulo who did superbly to crash a shot past Paul Nardi.
But Paul Smyth drew a fine save from Zetterstrom before the hosts had a goal ruled out when Kone shoved Matt Clarke from a corner.
In the second half, Sondre Langas made a superb block to deny Bennie before QPR were back in front when Kone fended off Matt Clarke and turned to fire past Zetterstrom.
The Swedish international then made a super stop to deny Smyth after a mistake by Lewis Travis.
Derby were back level though when Joe Ward’s free-kick was headed in by Langas and then Banel wrapped up the win with an incredible bit of skill to thrash in the winner with six minutes remaining as Derby closed the gap to the top six to just a point.
Breathless
One by one the players marched over to the away end, tired but still carrying enough energy to savour an incredible win to the noise of a familiar chant.
‘We’re Derby County, we fight till the end,” they cried and they certainly did just that on a pulsating afternoon in West London.
The scenes epitomised the Derby family John Eustace often refers to after a game that was all about their character.
Derby did not play particularly well, but having trailed on two occasions, they hung in there before Eustace’s inspired substitutions helped swing the pendulum.
Jaydon Banel was one of those to enter the stage and in front of the watching Hollywood star and Derby fan Jack O’Connell, produced a blockbuster of a finish with six minutes remaining.
A wonderful piece of skill took him past two players before he bent a shot beyond the outstretched Paul Nardi after which bedlam ensued.
QPR could not summon a response and Derby’s play-off dream is still very much alive and kicking. There is a caveat in that if Wrexham beat leaders Coventry then it is over. Derby fans will hope their old manager Frank Lampard can do them a favour. If they can, then all eyes will be on next week to set-up a finale that at one point in the afternoon had looked improbable at Loftus Road.
But then again this is Derby. And drama is the Derby way.
Zetterstrom heroics
The Sweden international spoke this week about how good it felt to be back after being sidelined with a virus since that game against West Brom in January.
But that is now firmly in the past as he delivered a reminder of his brilliance with a magnificent performance. The save he made to deny Paul Smyth from making it 3-1 was perhaps as important an intervention as the goal from Jaydon Banel.
That was not the only stop he made during the afternoon, with the point-blank stop to thwart Richard Kone early in the first half, setting the tone for a man-of-the-match performance.
With the World Cup looming on the horizon, Graham Potter must surely now look at Zetterstrom and make him his number one, particularly as Viktor Johansson, who previously had the jersey, has not played since December.
It would be a fitting reward for a goalkeeper who has now established himself as one of the Championship’s best goalkeepers, and the scary prospect for the rest of the division is that he will only get better.
Banel underlines importance of wing wizards
Derby are not blessed with many authentic wide players, but their importance cannot be overstated. While they can frustrate, they can also delight in equal measure, but ultimately, they are also match-winners.
Banel proved as much here to underline that Burnley have a player on their hands. If his goal against Oxford was all about pace, this one was about intelligence and quick feet.
He had no right to beat two players stood in front of him, but in one dazzling trick, he was beyond them, in the area and the finish matched the quality of the approach.
The reason he didn’t start, Eustace explained, was that he had put so much energy into the games against Oxford and Norwich, and in his words, he was “knackered”.
Eustace sensed he could be a wildcard late on and that he was. You would think with Burnley being relegated from the Premier League, the chances of them loaning Banel to Derby again are remote.
But he is the blueprint of what Derby need, whatever division they are in next season.
Over to you Coventry
Asked what his plan was for Coventry’s game against Wrexham today, John Eustace said he will not be watching because he will be at his son’s football game.
He will not be listening on the radio either and, as you would expect, he spoke with a great deal of calm after the chaos of this victory.
Fundamentally, Derby need his old club to do them a favour and Rams fans also have a vested interest given Frank Lampard, once a huge favourite of this parish, is their manager.
With Hull losing at Charlton and Derby beating QPR in the manner that the way they did, the stars do seem to be aligning.
A win for Wrexham, however, and it is over. But should they drop points, it’s game on for Derby against Sheffield United next weekend. Just get ready to strap yourselves in.