Superb Taarabt gives QPR first victory
QPR 2 Fulham 1
Two goals from Adel Taarabt – one fortuitous, one brilliant – gave QPR their first league win of the season.
The skilful Moroccan found space from distance early in the second half and fired a low shot that took a deflection off the leg of Brede Hangeland and sent keeper Mark Schwarzer the wrong way.
And then a sublime solo effort saw the forward skin Hangeland and curl home with the outside of his boot from the edge of the box.
Substitute Mladen Petric pulled a goal back for Fulham late on but Ranger held on to secure a derby victory.
R’s boss Harry Redknapp made three changes to the side that drew 2-2 away at Wigan last weekend, with Djibril Cisse returning to the side to partner Taarabt up front.
Jose Bosingwa wasn’t in the matchday squad and so Nedum Onuoha started at right-back and Alejandro Faurlin came in with Samba Diakite dropping to the bench.
Both Cisse and Taarabt went close early on before Jamie Mackie fired wide with only the keeper to beat after latching on to John Arne Riise’s sloppy back-pass.
Rangers dictated the first half but the sides went in goalless at the interval and so it fell to Taarabt to produce two moments of individual quality to win the game.
QPR: Green; Onuoha, Nelsen, Hill, Traore; Wright-Phillips (Fabio 86), Faurlin, Mbia, Taarabt, Mackie, Cisse (Ferdinand 90).
Subs not used: Cesar, Diakite, Derry, Ferdinand, Granero, Fabio, Hoilett.
Fulham: Schwarzer; Riether (Kelly 46), Hangeland, Hughes, Riise; Duff, Sidwell, Baird, Richardson (Petric 63); Berbatov, Rodallega (Dejagah 72).
Subs not used: Etheridge, Senderos, Karagounis, Dejagah, Kacaniklic.
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