Eagles Hands Clarets the Points...

Burnley 1-0 QPR

QPR ended what was a traumatic week for the Club, with a narrow defeat away at play off chasing Burnley at a sunny Turf Moor.



For one reason or another, it was a slightly late get away for myself, PK and Leeroy but we arrived in what was a very sunny Burnley at just after 2pm. As per usual for Burnley away, we used the excellent Cricket Club to park, but due to our later than normal arrival, we used the club for a post match beer rather than a pre match one and spoke with a few Clarets fans, who were as bemused at what was going on at QPR, as we were. But what was noticeable around Turf Moor amongst the QPR supporters, was how subdued it was and I have never been in an away end yet that was so quiet, but understandably so after the events of the week gone by and indeed, the season as a whole.

Moving onto the game which overall, was pretty forgettable. Burnley seemed nervous, Rangers looked lost and in all honesty, how could you blame them?? The contest was decided on 49 minutes as Burnley upped the tempo in as soon as the second half started - Carlisle towered to meet Blake's right-wing corner with a powerful header, which was clearly deflected into the net by the arm of Chris Eagles. Personally, I am always one who looks at player reactions in these incidents - Eagles looked at the linesman, and R's keeper Radek Cerny ran 40 odd yards to protest the decision, but in all that, the goal stood.



Rangers had a great chance to equalise late on, when Cook, albeit unexpectedly, met a powerful cross from the left and drilled the ball wide, but in truth, one goal would have always been enough for the home side today.

QPR: Cerny, Delaney, Leigertwood, Routledge, Vine (Alberti 85), Gorkss, Ramage, Connolly, Di Carmine (Cook 54), Ephraim (Lopez 72), Taarabt. Subs: Stewart, Mahon.

Lofty's Man of the Match - Kaspars Gorkss

In summary, Burnley deserved their win but despite the disappointment, one thing you couldn't blame Rangers for, was a lack of effort, which you would fully expect from a side led by Gareth Ainsworth. As mentioned, they looked lost at times and again, showed very little up front. Ironic really that QPR's top scorer, Dexter Blackstock, scored the all important winner for Nottingham Forest against Bristol City yesterday.

Note: For those who used to follow the pie rating, the Chicken Balti tasted yesterday at half time, was the best in the Championship - 10/10 without a shadow!!

And finally, warmest Congratulations go to QPR Legend, Paul Furlong, who scored his 200th career goal, with a superb header in Barnet's 1-0 win over Bournemouth yesterday!!



'THERE'S ONLY ONE FURLONG!!!'