Burrell delivers again for QPR – but Stephan is quick to praise Kone

Julien Stephan was quick to praise Richard Kone after the 3-1 win against West Bromwich Albion – even though Rumarn Burrell is very much the man of the moment for QPR.

Big things were expected from striker Kone when he was bought from Wycombe, but he has been somewhat upstaged by fellow summer signing Burrell, who has now scored eight goals in his past 10 matches and nine this season.

Burrell netted twice against Albion, but Kone set up both those goals and worked tirelessly in support of him in attack.

Asked about Burrell’s goalscoring form, Stephan said: “To be honest I was impressed with Richard Kone today.

“Of course Rumarn scored two – fantastic – but we need to see what all the players did around him.

“I have to say that Richard, today, it was a fantastic performance.”

Jonathan Varane’s first Championship goal put Rangers ahead and Burrell doubled the lead by firing home after Kone had dispossessed Alex Mowatt.

Aune Heggebo pulled a goal back for Albion but Burrell scored again late on to seal a deserved win for Rangers.

Kone was again involved, getting the better of George Campbell on the left and forcing a save from keeper Joe Wildsmith, whose parry fell straight to Burrell, who tapped in.

Tenth-placed Rangers have won three of their past four matches and are just two points away from the play-off spots.

Stephan said: “Two points behind sixth position. It’s a crazy league – you win two games and you are high in the table, lose two games and you are near the bottom.

“The ambition is always to improve, always to build something strong collectively, and I hope that the fans feel proud of what they see on the pitch.

“We have to continue like this. We are in December and we haven’t done 50% of the season, so we still have a lot of games to play.

“Let’s see in March exactly what the ambition is. But the ambition is always to prepare well for the next game and win the next one.”

Meanwhile, Rangers are to assess another injury suffered by the luckless Ilias Chair.