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QPR win 2-0 at Crystal Palace and move up to 51 points with four games remaining. Damion Stewart Fractures Skull. Updated Table --- Video of QPR's First Goal
QPR Official Site - STEWART UPDATE (FRACTURED SKULL)
- Damion Stewart has been transferred to a private hospital in central London after suffering a fractured skull and a small bleed into the brain following a sickening collision with Crystal Palace's Calvin Andrew this afternoon.
- The R's defender was stretchered off in the opening minute of the game at Selhurst Park after the accidental aerial collision with the Palace striker.
- QPR Head Physio Paul Hunter told http://www.qpr.co.uk/: "Obviously we are concerned about Damion.
- "He was taken straight to Mayday Hospital in Croydon and has now been transferred to the neurosurgical ward of a private hospital.
- "He has a fracture at the front of his skull and there is a small bleed into the brain.
- "On a scale of seriousness with such a matter, this is at the lower end.
- "Damion is sitting up and talking, which is obviously encouraging.
- "He will now undergo further assessment and observation." QPR
QPR Official Site - WARNOCK ON PALACE
Neil Warnock was pleased to see QPR register a crucial 2-0 win at Crystal Palace this afternoon to move six points clear of the relegation zone, but the occasion was soured by a serious injury sustained by Damion Stewart.
The R's defender was stretchered off after a sickening head collision with Calvin Andrew in the opening minute.
Warnock told http://www.qpr.co.uk/: "Damion's not very good. The x-rays have shown a crack in the skull. The neurosurgeon is on his way to see him as we speak.
"Both of them are genuine lads, so you could see it coming. Damion was in agony, so we are very concerned about him.
"It was a savage collision. Our Medical Team is obviously worried."
Turning his attention to the match itself - and his return to Selhurst Park - Warnock added: "We've got the points on board but I haven't enjoyed anything about today if I'm honest.
"I was amazed by the reception I got from the Palace fans, it was great to be appreciated for the work I did here.
"The early goal from Akos Buzsaky gave us a lift confidence-wise, and we pushed on from there.
"It's a worry when you play well and haven't won for seven games. I actually think we could have won all the matches that I've been in charge of.
"But the fact is we hadn't won for seven games before today and that's the story.
"I think we can do a lot better, I'm so excited about next season. But there's no point getting too excited until we know what division we are in.
"We're not safe yet. We're not safe until we've got the points on board but I'd like to think we could go unbeaten until the end of the season and beat Cardiff, Watford, Barnsley and finish off beating Newcastle." QPR
SPORTING LIFE - WARNOCK 'CAN'T ENJOY' WINNING RETURN
By Andy Sims, Press Association Sport
Neil Warnock could not take any pleasure from his winning return to Crystal Palace.
Warnock, who left the Eagles last month after they went into administration, guided his new QPR side to a 2-0 win at Selhurst Park thanks to goals from Akos Buzsaky and Kaspars Gorkss.
The Eagles, who were play-off contenders under Warnock until they were deducted 10 points, are now just a point and a place above the drop zone but their ex-boss is backing them to stay up.
"We got the points but I haven't really enjoyed anything about today," said Warnock.
"I was amazed with the reception I got - I expected a lot more boos so I was quite emotional. I worked my socks off while I was here so that meant a lot.
"I still feel disgusted, and don't understand why a hedge fund put us into administration. And looking at the teams in the play-offs now I think we were a better side than any of them except Nottingham Forest.
"But they've got enough under the shirt to keep them up. I hope they regroup and get enough points - and then we can have a real go at them next year."
Rangers went ahead in the 11th minute when Palace failed to clear a cross from Hogan Ephraim and Buzsaky, starting a rare game under Warnock, pounced from the edge of the box.
"He keeps telling me he can score goals like that if I play him," added Warnock.
Rangers were indebted to a fine first-half save by Radek Cerny from Clint Hill to keep the scores level, and they doubled their lead on the hour when Gorkss nodded in Adel Taarabt's corner.
But the game had got off to a distressing start after a sickening clash of heads between Rangers defender Damion Stewart and Eagles striker Calvin Andrew.
Stewart was stretchered off, with a scan later showing a slight crack in his skull.
"The neurosurgeon is on his way and they are worried about him. It was a savage collision," said Warnock.
A disorientated Andrew, meanwhile, left the field after Rangers' opening goal.
"Maybe the start, with that horrendous clash of heads, did us more harm than it did Rangers," said Eagles manager Paul Hart, who had an unhappy month-long stint in charge of QPR earlier this season.
"But having said that, QPR were better than us. It was a big game for both teams and we weren't at our best."
Palace would have gone above Rangers with a victory but the visitors can now breathe a little easier while Palace's season is going down to the wire.
Hart added: "We're down here through no fault of our own, the players have done nothing wrong but a relegation fight is a relegation fight, there'll be twists and turns and strange results at both ends of the table." Sporting Life
QPR Official Site - Crystal Palace vs QPR 0 - 2
QPR edged closer to safety with a stylish win over London rivals Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The R's took the lead on as early as eight minutes through the impressive Akos Buzsaky, after the Hungarian international smashed home from 20-yards out following Tamas Priskin's touch back from the edge of the box past a helpless Julian Speroni.
And dominant Rangers doubled their lead on the hour mark.
Adel Taarabt was the architect, playing a devastating centre on to the head of Kaspars Gorkss, who nodded home the R's second to send them six points clear of the bottom three, with a game in hand over most of the teams around them.
Hoops boss Neil Warnock made four changes ahead of the much-anticipated London derby at Selhurst Park.
Dusko Tosic made his R's debut at the expense of Matt Hill, while Radek Cerny came in for Carl Ikeme after the keeper returned to Wolverhampton Wanderers following the end of his loan spell.
In addition, Buzsaky and Priskin came in for Lee Cook and Jay Simpson respectively.
Cerny was in goal for QPR, behind a back four of Peter Ramage, Damion Stewart, Gorkss and Tosic.
Buzsaky and Hogan Ephraim were out in midfield, with Captain Mikele Leigertwood and Alejandro Faurlin in the centre of the park for the R's.
Taarabt played just off Priskin in attack.
Selhurst Park was a cauldron of noise as the teams appeared ahead of the big kick-off, and only seconds had gone before Rangers were forced into a substitution after a nasty-looking collision.
After ball from deep into the Palace half was played up to Calvin Andrew, Stewart went up for a challenge in an attempt to win the ball but ended up clashing heads with the big Eagles striker.
Both players remained on the ground for some time, with Andrews eventually coming back on to the field of play but Stewart unable to continue after being stretchered off.
Rangers reshuffled the pack, with Simpson coming on for the Jamaican international stopper.
The R's responded in emphatic style to the setback, however, as they raced into an early lead.
Ramage and Faurlin combined before the latter fed Ephraim out wide on the left, who sent over a teasing cross that was cleared only as far as Priskin on the edge of the box.
The Hungarian looked up before touching the ball to his international team-mate Buzsaky on the edge of the penalty area, who in turn wasted little time in sizing up the target before smashing home a first-time shot past Speroni and into the left-hand side of the net.
Soon after, good work from Leigertwood enabled him to play in Simpson on the right, before the Arsenal loanee drilled an effort from an acute angle straight at the keeper.
Rangers were menacing. Taarabt then played a sweeping cross from a corner over that was cleared only as far as Buzsaky on the edge of the box, and the Magical Magyar unleashed a dipping shot that went just over.
Moments later, Ephraim dispossessed Butterfield just after midway with the ball eventually finding its way to Simpson, who then turned and dragged an effort just wide of the right-hand side of the target.
The Eagles almost snatched an unlikely equaliser with half-time approaching. Darren Ambrose looked up before releasing a lovely through ball to Clint Hill, who bore down on goal on the left before blasting goalwards a shot that was excellently blocked away for a corner by Gorkss.
Rangers were out of the blocks fastest as the second half got underway.
Taarabt received possession in the Eagles half and played a ball up to Ephraim on the edge of the box, who knocked the ball back to Priskin before the frontman powered his effort over the crossbar.
Play soon switched to the other end, and after a ball from deep was played up to Stern John, the big man chested down and smashed a shot over the goal.
Soon after, Ephraim won a free-kick on left-hand byline before Taarabt played a clever centre along the ground to Faurlin, who could only smash his effort high and wide of the net.
Moments later, Danny Butterfield slid a beautiful through ball to Neil Danns, who raced clear of Gorkss before dragging a shot just wide of the left-hand post.
This was real end-to end-stuff. Priskin received possession down the right-hand side of the penalty area before he cut back and blasted over the bar.
The Hoops were edging ever-closer, and goal number two came soon after on 60 minutes.
Taarabt - a shining light throughout in the R's attacking third - played over a delicious corner into path of Gorkss, who stooped to head home past Speroni in the Palace goal.
Rangers were in confident mood after adding their second goal, and Priskin forced a fine save from Speroni when he thundered in an effort from an acute angle on the right.
Palace then almost pulled a goal back.
John played in Danns on the right-hand side of the box, but Cerny did well to parry away the effort before the ball was cleared up field.
Palace: Speroni, Hill, Derry, McCarthy, Ambrose, Danns, John, Scannell, Lawrence, Andrew (Clyne 23), Butterfield (Lee 58) (Ertl 70).
Subs: Carle, Hills, Ertl, Davis, Mann.
Bookings: McCarthy
QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart (Simpson 8), Leigertwood, Buzsaky, Gorkss, Faurlin, Ephraim, Tosic, Priskin, Taarabt (Parker 90).
Subs: Putnins, Cook, Brown, Oastler, German.
Goals: Buzsaky (11), Gorkss (60)
Bookings: Tosic
Referee: Mr N Miller
Attendance: 20, 430 (2462) QPR
CRYSTAL PALACE OFFICIAL SITE
Neil Warnock returned to Selhurst Park and watched his QPR side punish a lacklustre performance by Crystal Palace. The Rangers scored a goal in either half to take a 2-0 win and the three points back to west London.
Rangers' Kaspars Gorkss sealed the win on 60 minutes with a header from a corner after an 11th minute Akos Buzsaky wonder strike had given them the half time lead.
The midfielder struck the ball as straight as an arrow from 25 yards out which evaded a host of bodies and the fingertips of Julian Speroni's outstretched right hand.
It was the perfect start for Neil Warnock, who returned to SE25 expecting a hostile reception, but instead walked out to Selhurst Park to a largely positive reaction with only a smattering of boos heard amongst a chorus of applause.
Prior to the opening goal his afternoon got off to a difficult start when, inside the opening ten seconds, Damion Stewart and Calvin Andrew collided with a clash of heads and both required extensive treament.
The Palace striker eventually made it back to his feet, albeit gingerly, and battled on for another 23 minutes until being replaced by Nathaniel Clyne, but Stewart ended up being stretchered off and replaced by Jay Simpson.
The Arsenal loanee was close to making an immediate impact when he managed to get in behind Matt Lawrence, but he fired tamely at Speroni ten yards out on the angle.
It was a minute past the half hour mark before Palace managed to create their first chance of the afternoon when Clint Hill saw a soft header cleared away comfortably
But QPR continued to create the more dangerous looking chances, and Simpson again should have done better when he ghosted between McCarthy and Lawrence and received a long through ball just outside the area.
He then checked back on to his right and tried to curl the ball beyond Speroni, but he scuffed the effort wide of the post.
Palace though should have restored parity through Hill, who had made a clever run in behind the QPR defence, took the ball in his stride before trying to fire high into the opposite corner.
The strike was clean enough and looked destined for the top corner until Radek Cerny managed to get his fingertips to it and knock it wide.
The home side looked stronger in the final stages of the half and Danns saw a header from 15 yards out intercepted by a covering defender, but they couldn't find a way through a stubborn Rangers defence.
The second half began in similar vein as the first with Palace not keeping the ball for long in the middle and QPR enjoying knocking the ball around on the edge of Palace's box without much end result.
Tamas Priskin ended a passing move between Tosic and Taarabt, receiving it on the edge of the box before firing high and wide.
In reply Stern John, who was struggling to have an effect with very little service, hassled Kaspars Gorkss, robbed him of the ball but blasted his first time effort high into the Holmesdale.
After a prolonged lull in the half Palace almost caught QPR unaware when a clever through ball from Danny Butterfield found Danns in the middle, who then carried it into the box but fired wide.
But QPR provided a killer blow on the hour mark when Gorkss stole a yard on Lawrence and met a corner with a header across Speroni and into the far corner.
Speroni was then on top form to make sure it wasn't three when he got a strong hand to Priskin's shot to the near post, while Neil Danns fired straight into Cerny's chest after doing well inside the box to turn and shoot from eight yards.
Darren Ambrose then blasted a shot over the bar from just inside the box after being set up by Neil Danns on 70 minutes, while Sean Scannell fired straight at Cerny from ten yards after nipping round the back of the Rangers' defence and meeting Stern John's clever through ball first time.
Simpson completed his hat trick of missed chances on 83 minutes when he was set through one on one with Speroni but dawdled as he set himself for the shot. That extra time allowed McCarthy to claw back the yards and poke the ball away for a corner.
He came closer five minutes from time when Taarabt was set free down the left flank and crossed to him in the middle, and although closely marshalled by Lawrence he still managed get a toe to it and poke it just wide of the far post.
It proved to be the final chance of the match and Rangers saw out the remaining minutes to take the win back to Loftus Road.
20,430 (away 2,462) Crystal Palace
The Guardian QPR begin to see a way out after victory at Crystal Palace Jonny Weeks
"No Way Out" was the title of Puff Daddy's first album as an artist 13 years ago – a record which delivered a two-fingered salute to his enemies and begat his multi-million dollar empire.
Speculation last month that the rapper-cum-impresario intended to rescue Crystal Palace from annihilation caused frenzy among supporters, though the rumour possessed as much truth as ex-boss Neil Warnock possessed "stomach for the fight", according to the club's administrator Brendan Guilfoyle.
The title of Combs's record may yet prove to be a prognosis for Palace this season, as defeat to relegation rivals Queen Park Rangers by two goals on Saturday leaves them in great peril. Rangers, meanwhile, will feel they've escaped the drop at last.
Their defender Damion Stewart contributed just ten seconds and one zealous challenge to this match. His clash of heads with Palace's Calvin Andrew shortly after kick-off left both players prone for several minutes; Stewart was substituted and though Andrew bravely continued he could not last beyond the 21st minute before succumbing to the pain.
By that stage, the visitors were already ahead - Akos Buzsaky having flashed a sweet half-volley into the bottom corner in the 11th minute. It was the Hungarian midfielder's ninth league goal of the season.
Meaningful attacks were rare for Palace. Clint Hill went closest when he broke into the box, but Radek Cerny tipped his shot to safety, and Neil Danns dragged a good shooting opportunity wide of the far upright after the break.
Rangers doubled their advantage in the 60th minute, much to the consternation of Palace's goalkeeper Julian Speroni. The Argentinian had tried to prevent the corner from which Kaspars Gorkss scored by racing from his line to head the ball out for a throw-in, but the linesman ruled that Speroni's intervention had arrived too late.
Adel Taarabt's subsequent delivery was met with a tame, but well-placed header by Gorkss, giving Rangers an unassailable lead. The Guardian
Paul Warburton/Ealing Gazette QPR boss returns to Palace with a win
Apr 10 2010 By Paul Warburton
Crystal Palace 0-2 QPR
NEIL WARNOCK returned with all his know-how to Selhurst Park to secure a priceless win that all but guarantees QPR's Championship status.
The former Palace boss was a subdued but happy manager on the touchline - but there again - he had little to worry about other than a subsitution for defender Damion Stewart after just three seconds.
In a bizarre afternoon where the last-but-one in the QPR dugout is now in charge in south London, it's Paul Hart who is now fearing the worse for his new team.
Palace rarely threatened and Warnock was as probably as surprised as the 2,462 travelling faithful by the ease of the win.
Akos Buzsaky (pictured) sarted the rot when he scored his 10th goal of the season when he rifled home right-footed from the edge of the box to leave Julian Speroni in the Palace goal groping thin air.
The Rs lead owed much to the persistence of Hogan Ephraim on the left, and his cross was laid into the path of the Hungarian, who did his chances of getting into Warnock's good books no harm at all.
However, the QPR manager was forced into an early subsitution when a groggy Stewart made way for Jay Simpson after just three seconds.
The first action of the game saw the Hoops centre-back crunch heads with Calvin Andrew, who in turn also limped down the tunnel a little later.
The west Londoners had by far the better of the half, with Buzsaky twice more, and Simpson making Speroni scramble across his goal.
At the other end, another Rs returnee, Radek Cerny did well to turn away a Clint Hill rising shot after 35 minutes - but in truth there was little else for the home faithful to cheer about, until Dusko Tosic was booked.
The Rs debutant was deemed to have tugegd the shirt of Hill to add to the six minutes of added-on time for the early head injuries.
The home crowd grew even more restless when Kaspars Gorkss was allowed to outjump the defence just past the hour and plant a glancing header beyond Speroni into the corner of the net.
A fair number of them had already gone when Simpson stabbed just wide as ran onto an Adel Taarabt pass in the final minute.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest QPR news. Ealing Gazette
TABLE
1 Newcastle 42 51 92
2 West Brom 43 39 86
3 Nottm Forest 43 24 75
4 Cardiff 43 19 70
5 Leicester 43 10 67
6 Swansea 43 3 65
7 Blackpool 43 13 63
8 Middlesbrough 43 12 61
9 Bristol City 43 -7 59
10 Sheff Utd 43 2 58
11 Reading 41 0 56
12 Doncaster 43 0 55
13 Ipswich 43 -8 54
14 Preston 43 -11 53
15 Barnsley 43 -13 53
16 Derby 43 -11 52
17 Coventry 43 -13 52
18 QPR 42 -7 51
19 Watford 42 -10 48
20 Sc*n*horpe 42 -24 47
21 Crystal Palace 43 -3 46
---------------------------------
22 Sheff Wed 43 -19 45
23 Plymouth 43 -19 41
24 Peterborough 43 -28 31 BBC
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