Nahki Wells ended his nine-game goal drought in style after plundering a hat-trick in Queens Park Rangers’ 6-1 win at home to Cardiff City in the Sky Bet Championship today.

The Bermuda forward, who had not scored since QPR’s 2-2 draw against Middlesbrough on November 9, put his side in the driving seat when he raced on to a through ball, then turned provider with a neat flick to set Bright Osayi-Samuel up for his first.

Wells notched his second as he followed up a scuffed shot to head home in the 48th minute before adding his third in the 64th minute when he pounced on Flint’s poor back-pass and slotted past Cardiff goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.

It was Wells’s twelfth goal of the season and first hat-trick since he completed the feat for Huddersfield Town in their 5-3 win away to Chesterfield in the Championship in August 2014.

“Starting 2020 off right. Great team effort,” Wells wrote on Instagram.

Mark Warburton, the QPR manager, said: “The one difference is that we put the ball in the back of the net. The stats are the same as the other games we played, but today we were far more clinical. As long as we create chances, then come the end of the season we’ll be in a good place.

“It’s about creating quality chances and we’ve been doing that — look at the chances we’ve missed. Today we scored.”

Meanwhile, Reggie Lambe was dismissed for second time in his last two starts in Cambridge United’s 3-2 defeat at home against his former club Mansfield Town in League Two.

The midfielder was shown his second yellow card in three minutes in the 59th minute with his team leading 2-1.

In League One, goalkeeper Nathan Trott played in AFC Wimbledon’s 1-1 draw at home to Southend United, while forward Jonté Smith, who has recently recovered from illness, was not included in Cheltenham Town’s squad for their 1-1 draw at home to Newport County.

In the Vanarama National League North, Justin Donawa scored his eighth of the season in the 38th minute as Darlington lost 3-1 away to Spennymoor Town. His Bermuda team-mate Osagi Bascome was an unused substitute.

Milan Butterfield played in Kidderminster Harriers’ 2-1 defeat away to Hereford United. Bermudian forward Knory Scott was an unused substitute.