Rangers Have a Great Night on the Claret...

Burnley 0-2 QPR

Rangers turned the form book upside down, as Damion Stewart and Rowan Vine claimed second-half goals to lift the R's off the bottom of the Championship and gain their first win at Turf Moor for 27 years.



The result was even more pleasing as it was a fitting send-off to former striker, Ray Jones, who was tragically killed hours before this fixture was originally scheduled to take place back in August.



I must admit, that I along with many others, was dreading this fixture as Burnley have been in great form and were unbeaten since the arrival of Owen Coyle as Manager. But injuries and suspension, meant that there was finally a welcome start for winger, Gareth Ainsworth and Marc Nygaard also returned to the starting line up. But something that has been kept very quiet, was the return to the squad for Simon Walton, who cruelly broke his leg pre season and made his R's debut as an 88th minute sub - Welcome Back Simon!!

Alan Mahon had the best chance of an otherwise dull first half, but saw his 20 yard shot smack the post. Rangers began creating chances in the second half and were ahead on the hour as Sinclair's corner to the far post was headed home by an unmarked Damion Stewart. It was then wave after wave of Burnley attacks with Lee Camp and Damion Stewart performing heroics at th back. But in stoppage time, Rangers sealed the win in bizarre fashion as Burnley keeper Kiraly went up-field for a corner, only for Rangers to break out of defence and secure the points as Vine stroked the ball into an empty net.



QPR: Camp, Barker, Stewart, Bolder, Ainsworth (Moore 94), Malcolm, Vine, Rehman, Nygaard (Walton 88), Leigertwood, Sinclair (Blackstock 76). Subs: Cole, Balanta.

Well, the performance of the season it may not have been, but what a fantastic result this is!! It was our game in hand on the rest of the pack and to win it was a fantastic achievement on a freezing cold night in Lancashire - and, as mentioned earlier, the result was both fitting and worthy of the memory of former striker, Ray Jones.

Ray Jones 1988 - 2007

'those we have held close to our hearts, will be there forever.' - Lofty