QPR Finally Win! QPR 3 Burnley 1

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Managerial Comments - Tom Collomosse, PA Sport
GREGORY DELIGHT AT BEST YET
By Tom Collomosse, PA Sport
John Gregory hailed "the best team performance" of his time as QPR manager following his team's 3-1 win over Burnley.
The victory, achieved thanks to goals from Lee Cook, Dexter Blackstock and Steve Lomas, lifted Rangers out of the bottom three in the Coca-Cola Championship.
Chris McCann's equaliser meant the teams were level at half-time, but Blackstock and Lomas struck after the interval to extend Burnley's winless run in the league to 10 matches.
"That has to be best team performance I have been in charge of since I came to QPR," said Gregory, who took over last September.
"Burnley must have thought their throat was cut in the second half.
"Our goalkeeper Simon Royce had nothing to do, and it was so difficult to pick a man of the match."
Danny Cullip impressed for Rangers at the back on his debut, while fellow January signing Adam Bolder was excellent in midfield on his first appearance at Loftus Road for the club.
Bolder's ability to win the ball and use it wisely could prove crucial for Rangers over the coming months - a fact not lost on Gregory.
The Loftus Road chief continued: "The three players we signed (Cullip, Bolder and Sampsa Timoska) cost diddly-squat.
"Bolder was sensational today, and Cullip had a great debut."
Burnley boss Steve Cotterill believes the loss of Andy Gray to injury earlier in the campaign has damaged his side beyond measure.
The former Sheffield United striker returned as a second-half substitute, but a foot injury has kept him out of the starting line-up since November - and the Clarets have plummeted since.
Cotterill said: "People say that one man doesn't make a team, but I would like to see that statement changed, because I think one man does make a team.
"Would Argentina have won the 1986 World Cup without Diego Maradona? And when John Terry doesn't play for Chelsea, they struggle.
"We have missed Andy for a long time. We have brought in Ade Akinbiyi again, but he is nowhere near as fit as he was the last time he was here (from February 2005 until January 2006).
"Today, we had a nightmare in defending set-pieces, and we conceded two goals. When a goal goes against us, we seem to fade.
"We are devoid of confidence, and the players are hurting."
Rangers climbed to 19th in the table, but Gregory was quick to warn his players they are not out of the woods yet.
He added: "I keep reminding everyone that we do not ignore the league table.
"It doesn't mean a great deal at this stage of the season, but it is all about making sure you are not in the bottom three at the end."
Sporting Life

Update: John Gregory's Comments - Official Site
BEST YET TO COME
Gaffer John Gregory insists the best is yet to come from his new-look side, despite our impressive 3-1 victory against Burnley.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk after goals from Lee Cook, Dexter Blackstock and Steve Lomas lifted the R's out of the relegation zone, Gregory said: "We were outstanding today.
"We looked like a proper team out there.
"We had fantastic support, which has never been in question, but today we gave them something to shout about.
"Some of the football we played in the second half was like a throw back to the seventies. We were excellent.''
Gregory heaped praise on home debutants Adam Bolder and Danny Cullip, commenting: "Adam and Danny gave us everything.
"The balance of the side looked far better with them in it. They will both be huge assets to us.''
The gaffer added: "The players have set very high standards today and I expect them to maintain them and reach them week after week from now on.
"It's a great win and the manner in which we got the three points was ever so pleasing.''
Rangers' win was indebted to a fine all round team display, with the new 3-4-3 formation working superbly.
"It's a formation I'm very comfortable with,'' said Gregory.
"I don't want to get too excited about it, but we looked a lot more like a QPR side today.'' QPR

Cook put QPR ahead in the 13th minute. Burnley equalized in the 18th (McCann). 1-1 at half time. Blackstock made it 2-1 in the 55th minute. Lomas made it 3-1 in the 72nd minute. Attendance: 10,811

Teams:
QPR: Royce, Mancienne, Cullip, Stewart, Ainsworth, Lomas, Bolder, Timoska, Rowlands, Blackstock, Cook
Subs: Cole, Rehman, Nygaard, R, Jones, Smith

Burnley: Pollitt, Foster, McGreal, Duff, Harley, Mahon, Gudjonsson, J, O'Connor, McCann, Lafferty, Akinbiyi
Subs: Coyne, Jones, Gray, Elliott, Caldwell

League Table -
Burnley 30 38
Norwich 30 37
Coventry 31 37
Leicester 30 34
QPR 31 33
Luton 31 32
Barnsley 31 32
Hull 31 31
Southend 31 28
Leeds 30 27
Table

PA Sports Match Report - Report

REPORTS
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
Goals from Lee Cook, Dexter Blackstock and Steve Lomas set the seal on a stunning QPR victory against Burnley.

Rangers belied their lowly league position to totally orchestrate proceedings in West London, with new signings Adam Bolder, Sampsa Timoska and Danny Cullip all at the heart of their positive display.

With fellow strugglers Southend United, Leeds United and Hull City all dropping points, it was just about the perfect afternoon for John Gregory's men.

In a whirlwind opening, Rangers took a 13th minute lead, when Cook applied the finishing touch to a move sparked by home debutant Bolder.

The former Derby County man did fantastically well to poach the ball off James O'Connor in midfield, before feeding Cook some 40-yards from goal.

Gifted the freedom of the attacking third, the R's front-man made no mistake, sending a peach of a drive into the far corner of the net from the edge of the penalty box.

Burnley responded in kind five minutes later though, with Grant McCann heading home from 12-yards, after Joey Gudjonsson picked him out with an inch-perfect right wing cross.

It was the Clarets' first goal of 2007 and only McCann's third goal of the campaign.

Undeterred, Blackstock's ninth goal of the campaign gave Rangers a dream start to the second half.

Arriving onto Cook's 55th minute corner, the R's top scorer sent a powerful header into the roof of the net, leaving Mike Pollitt clutching at thin air.

Lomas put the result beyond all doubt with 18 minutes remaining, heading home his second goal of the season to the delight of the home faithful.

Gregory handed a full debut to new signing Cullip, while Bolder made his Loftus Road bow.

Martin Rowlands and Gareth Ainsworth were also recalled, but there was no place in the starting XI for Jimmy Smith, who dropped to the bench.

Burnley signalled their attacking intentions inside the opening three minutes.

Ade Akinbiyi's knock-down fell perfectly into the path of the roaming Alan Mahon, who was only denied a free shot on goal by an excellent covering tackle from Sampsa Timoska.

Rangers were by no means second best though, with Blackstock, Cook and the returning Rowlands linking up efficiently in a three pronged attacking line-up.

The reward for their fast start arrived in the 13th minute.

Bolder played provider, nicking the ball off James O'Connor in the centre circle, before laying a delightful ball in to the path of Cook. With Michael Duff backing off, the inspirational wide-man wasted no time in pulling the trigger, sending a fearsome left footed drive into the bottom corner.

The celebrations told their own story, with Bolder doing a jig of delight at the part he played in the goal.

Undeterred, Burnley were on the attack almost immediately, with Duff forcing Simon Royce into a stunning full-length save after he stole a march on his marker to head O'Connor's corner kick on target.

Rangers failed to heed the warning though and when Gudjonsson flighted in a teasing ball from the right flank just moments later, McCann arrived bang on cue to direct a downward header into the far corner of the net, giving Royce absolutely no chance.

The match continued to flow from end to end, with Rowlands' looping header forcing Mike Pollitt to scamper back and grasp the ball on his line, before calling the Wigan loanee into action yet again with a fierce 25-yard strike.

Rangers continued to pose the greater attacking threat as the half wore on, with Rowlands firing high and wide and Blackstock seeing his header deflected wide on the stroke of half-time.

The R's began the second half in a similar vein, with Ainsworth firing wide from fully 20-yards after good build-up play involving the influential Bolder yet again.

And they didn't have to wait too long for the all-important third goal of the contest.

Cook's out-swinging corner was flighted into the heart of the penalty area and Blackstock stooped to head into the roof of the net from the edge of the six-yard box.

Buoyed by his assist moments earlier, Cook wasted no time in calling Pollitt into action yet again on 57 minutes, sending a dipping volley inches over the bar from 12-yards.

Timoska was impressive yet again and when he got to the byline on 68 minutes, only a poor final ball prevented Rangers from adding a third goal their performance undoubtedly warranted.

Pollitt came to the Clarets' rescue again on 71 minutes, diving full stretch to tip away Blackstock's downward header.

The R's weren't to be denied though and when Rowlands' corner was met by a powerful Lomas header, Pollitt was powerless to prevent the Rangers skipper from putting the gloss on a stunning second half display from the hosts.

QPR: Royce, Cullip, Bolder, Ainsworth, Rowlands, Lomas, Cook, Stewart, Timoska, Blackstock, Mancienne.

Subs: Cole, Rehman, Nygaard, Jones, Smith.

Scorers: Cook 13, Blackstock 55, Lomas 72

Bookings: Lomas 89

Burnley: Pollitt, Harley, McGreal, Duff, O'Connor, Mahon (Jones 65), McCann, Lafferty, Akinbiyi, Foster (Caldwell 65), Gudjonsson (Gray 65).

Subs: Coyne, Elliott.

Scorers: McCann 18

Referee: Mr D J Gallagher

Attendance: 10, 811 QPR OFFICIAL

BURNLEY OFFICIAL SITE
Burnley endured a spot of capital punishment as two second half corners condemned them to an away day defeat in London.

The Clarets offered Dexter Blackstock and Steve Lomas free headers to seal a crucial victory after Chris McCann's first half header cancelled out Lee Cook's early opener.

And the beaten Clarets were left with the sole consolation of seeing Andy Gray return to action for the first time in two months.

Gray was the name on everyone's lips before kick off. The 10-goal striker had been sidelined for two months since breaking three metatarsals in his right foot against Leeds United in late November.

But his name on the substitutes' bench sent a ripple of excitement around the travelling Burnley supporters who made the journey to Loftus Road.

A disappointing recent run of results had seen the Clarets sink down the Championship table, but they almost grabbed the lead inside four minutes.

Skipper for the day Ade Akinbiyi nodded down a hopeful ball into the box and Mahon was only denied by a combination of a bobbling ball and a last-gasp tackle from Adam Bolder.

Burnley had begun looking like they meant business, but the 13th minute proved unlucky as Rangers broke to grab the lead.

Cook received the ball in the left channel and he advanced before unleashing a low drive back across Mike Pollitt and just inside the left hand post.

Michael Duff's header was plucked out of the air by Rangers keeper Simon Royce as the Clarets looked for an instant response.

And the deserved equaliser arrived in the 18th minute as McCann arrived stealth-like to head home from 12 yards.

Joey Gudjonsson delivered the killer ball and the Irish teenager, who scored a goal of the season contender here last season, rose to plant a towering header past a stunned Royce.

The game was now in full ebb and flow, but after Mike Pollitt saved comfortably from Martin Rowlands midway through the half, the action ground to a halt as both sides scrapped their way to the break.

The second half began in similar fashion, but in the 55th minute Rangers struck for a second time to regain the lead.

The first corner of the half was drilled into the six yard box and Blackstock rose totally unchallenged to power home an easy header.

Cook was inches too high with a speculative volley as the hosts looked to turn the screw.

And that was enough for Steve Cotterill, who made a triple substitution to try to instigate a second fightback.

Gray made his long-awaited return and he was joined by Steve Jones and debutant Steven Caldwell as Gudjonsson, Mahon and Stephen Foster made way.

However, Rangers continued to make all the headway and in the 73rd minute the third decisive goal arrived.

Pollitt made a terrific sprawling save from livewire striker Blackstock, but from the resulting corner Steve Lomas had far too much room to head past the helpless Pollitt.

Burnley showed character to try to earn a lifeline. However, despite enjoying plenty of possession in the closing stages, the goal that might have set up a grandstand finish failed to arrive. Burnley Official