QPR boost survival hopes with stunning win

By

West Brom 1 QPR 4

QPR’s survival hopes were given a major boost as they stormed to victory at The Hawthorns.

They scored three times in frenetic first half, with a 16th goal of the season for Charlie Austin in the middle of stunning strikes from Eduardo Vargas and Bobby Zamora.

West Brom pulled one back early in the second half thanks to Victor Anichebe but were reduced to 10 men eight minutes from time when Youssouf Mulumbu was sent off following an aerial clash with Joey Barton, who made it 4-1 deep into injury time.

Having targeted this fixture and the trip to Aston Villa on Tuesday as must-win games for his relegation-threatened side, QPR head coach Chris Ramsey brought Vargas back in starting line-up in place of Junior Hoilett.

And it was the Chilean who got the away side off to a flyer with a stunning long-range strike with quarter of an hour gone.

Having collected a knock-down from Austin, Vargas smashed a low drive beyond keeper Boaz Myhill into the bottom corner of the net from 25 yards.

Rangers doubled their advantage when Austin drifted in at the back post to score with a diving header after Niko Krancjar – on minutes earlier for the injured Vargas – had headed a Matty Phillips corner towards goal.

Two minutes before the break, Zamora made it 3-0 with a brilliant strike.

The veteran striker latched onto a long punt forward from Phillips before guiding the ball over the stricken Myhill with a glorious lob from the corner of the box.

Albion got a second-half goal when substitute Anichebe headed home a Saido Berahino cross to set up a tense final third of the game.

But the hosts’ task became even tougher after Mulumbu was dismissed – and Barton capped a great day for QPR by scoring following good work by Austin.

QPR: Green; Isla, Onuoha, Caulker, Yun (Hill 81); Phillips, Barton, Sandro, Vargas (Krancjar 29); Austin, Zamora (Henry 74).
Subs not used: McCarthy, Hoilett, Doughty, Sutherland.

Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook