New Year's Day 1992: Manchester United 1 QPR 4

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January 1, 1992 Manchester United 1 QPR 4 (HT 0-2) Sinton, Bailey 3

Recall the goals! Video of the game's Highlights

QPR's Team
Stejskal
Bardsley Mcdonald Peacock Wilson
Sinton Holloway Wilkins Barker
Bailey Wegerle
Managed of course by Gerry Francis!

[Manchester United's team included Peter Schmeichel and Brian McClair.]


Scott Murray/The Guardian, December 21, 2007 - Joy of Six: great Christmas matches
From Christmas 1914 to a couple of Old Firm ding-dongs, here's our pick of the best football games played over the yuletide period...
2. Manchester United 1-4 Queens Park Rangers (1992)
Hogmanay 1991 saw Alex Ferguson turn 50, an event no doubt marked by the partaking of an odd nippy sweetie or two. The day after wasn't so much of a celebration for Fergie, however. His team, locked in a title race with Leeds United, kicked off against QPR at Old Trafford, then proceeded to stumble around like men who you'd suspect, if you didn't know better, had been unprofessional enough to join Fergie in his celebrations the night before. Within five minutes, QPR were two up thanks to goals from Andy Sinton and Dennis Bailey; Sinton's in particular was an eyebrow raiser, as Roy Wegerle, then Simon Barker, rolled simple slow balls across the ground and into the box towards Sinton, who had plenty of time to stroke past Peter Schmeichel despite the presence of seven United players in the box - all of whom were standing round like punters waiting patiently to be served at a bar. In the second half, Bailey scored his second - a cheeky chip over the advancing Schmeichel - before Brian McClair pulled one back for United, but there was to be no respite for the queasy home side: Bailey tapped home his hat-trick goal after Sinton had hit the post to complete a rout. Wegerle really should have made it five, blasting wildly over when free in the area, but that small mercy didn't stop United leaving the pitch to a chorus of booze. Sorry, boos. Guardian

The Independent: Football On this Day: January 1, 1992
"NEW YEAR'S DAY 10 years ago saw one of the season's biggest shocks befall Manchester United, who had ended 1991 on a high note by drawing 1-1 at Elland Road to keep Leeds in second place. United had lost only once all season but then inexplicably crashed 4-1 at home to QPR, for whom Dennis Bailey scored a hat-trick. Leeds, meanwhile, won 3-1 at West Ham, where Gary McAllister added to Lee Chapman's double to stretch the eventual champions' unbeaten run to 13 games. Southampton's home defeat against Everton left them stuck at the bottom but the followers of Leicester, Ipswich and Derby can take heart from the fact that although West Ham went down, both the Saints and Sheffield United were to escape relegation despite turning the year in the bottom three. The Blades - managed by Dave Bassett - won 11 of their last 18 games and finished ninth. Luton and Notts County were the sides to go down with the Hammers. The Independent

Dennis Bailey Remembers
FA- Bailey recalls past glory 12 August 2003.
When Ronaldo hit three goals at Manchester United for Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals in April, it brought back some golden memories for Dennis Bailey...
Stafford Rangers striker Bailey is actually the last Englishman to score a hat-trick against United at Old Trafford. It came in his time as a Queens Park Rangers player in a live television game on New Years Day 1992.
QPR astounded the nation by winning the match 4-1 with goals from Bailey (3) and Andy Sinton.
Bailey said:" Without a doubt, that game was the highlight of my career. I was fortunate enough to be part of a really good QPR side that played quality attacking football.
"Even so, we went to Old Trafford as underdogs and people were saying we would lose by three or four goals. United were unbeaten at home, chasing the championship and the whole country expected them to win.
"But the Rangers team clicked together that day and we could have scored six or seven. And for me to get a hat-trick made it a great occasion for myself and the club.
"I'm still proud to have the record as the last Englishman to notch a hat-trick at Old Trafford against United. I hope the record stands for a long time, but if someone breaks it I hope it is a QPR player!..."
FA


Alex Ferguson "..On my 50th birthday, we lost 4-1 to QPR..." Quote