QPR EXTENDED THEIR unbeaten home run to five games as Charlie Austin continued his goalscoring exploits with a hat-trick in a 3-2 victory over West Brom at Loftus Road.
Austin – the top English scorer in the Premier League – headed home the winning goal in the 87th minute to complete a stunning comeback for Harry Redknapp’s side – who move out of the bottom three.
Joleon Lescott and Silvestre Varela each struck their first goals for Albion as the visitors raced into a dominant lead inside the opening 20 minutes.
Austin pulled a goal back for the R’s before the break with an emphatic penalty, and he levelled the scores with a neat finish early in the second half.
And with time running out, Austin made no mistake from Joey Barton’s corner to take his tally for the season to 11 – bettered only by Diego Costa and Sergio Aguero.
Victory moves QPR out of the relegation zone at the expense of Burnley – who lost 2-1 at Tottenham – and level on 17 points with 14th-placed Albion.
Meanwhile, Southampton ended their poor run of form by overcoming a lacklustre Everton side 3-0 at St Mary’s.
Advertisement
Shane Long played his part in Southampton's return to winning ways Chris Ison
Chris Ison
A Romelu Lukaku own-goal combined with second-half goals from Graziano Pelle and Maya Yoshida ensured that Ronald Koeman’s men secured their first victory in five league outings.
Much had been made of Southampton’s injury woes before kick-off, with a run of five consecutive defeats in all competitions culminating in the League Cup exit at League One side Sheffield United in mid-week, but the hosts were clinical against Everton.
The Toffees were beaten 2-0 in the corresponding fixture last season thanks to two own-goals and that trend continued when Lukaku put through his own net in the 38th minute.
Pelle missed a gilt-edged chance to double the advantage soon after, but the out-of-sorts forward made amends 20 minutes into the second half when he prodded in his second goal in his last nine league appearances.
Roberto Martinez’s men showed no real conviction as they attempted to pull one back and Yoshida’s 82nd-minute header condemned Everton to their sixth Premier League loss of the campaign.
More woe
Elsewhere, both Hull and Leicester City slipped deeper into the mire.
It won't be a happy Christmas for Steve Bruce Anna Gowthorpe
Anna Gowthorpe
Festive cheer will be in short supply at the KC Stadium after the Tigers saw their winless run extended by a fortuitous goal from Ki Sung-yueng for Garry Monk’s visiting Swansea side.
Steve Bruce’s side have now gone 10 Premier League games without a win and only Leicester lie beneath them in the standings.
Goals in either half from Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing condemned the Foxes to another defeat.
Nigel Pearson’s rock-bottom side have now gone 12 matches without a win as the hosts continued their fine season with a fourth win from their last five Premier League outings.
Carroll maintained his strong return to action from a long-term heel injury by scoring his third goal in as many games after 24 minutes. A short backpass from former West Ham defender Paul Konchesky presented a gift-wrapped chance to the onrushing striker, who made no mistake with a cool dinked finish.
While the hosts’ opener came about from a costly error, their second was a moment of quality from Downing, whose curled strike from long range sealed the points.
Charlie Austin's first Premier League hat-trick lifts QPR out of drop zone, Saints end barren run
QPR EXTENDED THEIR unbeaten home run to five games as Charlie Austin continued his goalscoring exploits with a hat-trick in a 3-2 victory over West Brom at Loftus Road.
Austin – the top English scorer in the Premier League – headed home the winning goal in the 87th minute to complete a stunning comeback for Harry Redknapp’s side – who move out of the bottom three.
Joleon Lescott and Silvestre Varela each struck their first goals for Albion as the visitors raced into a dominant lead inside the opening 20 minutes.
Austin pulled a goal back for the R’s before the break with an emphatic penalty, and he levelled the scores with a neat finish early in the second half.
And with time running out, Austin made no mistake from Joey Barton’s corner to take his tally for the season to 11 – bettered only by Diego Costa and Sergio Aguero.
Victory moves QPR out of the relegation zone at the expense of Burnley – who lost 2-1 at Tottenham – and level on 17 points with 14th-placed Albion.
Meanwhile, Southampton ended their poor run of form by overcoming a lacklustre Everton side 3-0 at St Mary’s.
A Romelu Lukaku own-goal combined with second-half goals from Graziano Pelle and Maya Yoshida ensured that Ronald Koeman’s men secured their first victory in five league outings.
Much had been made of Southampton’s injury woes before kick-off, with a run of five consecutive defeats in all competitions culminating in the League Cup exit at League One side Sheffield United in mid-week, but the hosts were clinical against Everton.
The Toffees were beaten 2-0 in the corresponding fixture last season thanks to two own-goals and that trend continued when Lukaku put through his own net in the 38th minute.
Pelle missed a gilt-edged chance to double the advantage soon after, but the out-of-sorts forward made amends 20 minutes into the second half when he prodded in his second goal in his last nine league appearances.
Roberto Martinez’s men showed no real conviction as they attempted to pull one back and Yoshida’s 82nd-minute header condemned Everton to their sixth Premier League loss of the campaign.
More woe
Elsewhere, both Hull and Leicester City slipped deeper into the mire.
Festive cheer will be in short supply at the KC Stadium after the Tigers saw their winless run extended by a fortuitous goal from Ki Sung-yueng for Garry Monk’s visiting Swansea side.
Steve Bruce’s side have now gone 10 Premier League games without a win and only Leicester lie beneath them in the standings.
Goals in either half from Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing condemned the Foxes to another defeat.
Nigel Pearson’s rock-bottom side have now gone 12 matches without a win as the hosts continued their fine season with a fourth win from their last five Premier League outings.
Carroll maintained his strong return to action from a long-term heel injury by scoring his third goal in as many games after 24 minutes. A short backpass from former West Ham defender Paul Konchesky presented a gift-wrapped chance to the onrushing striker, who made no mistake with a cool dinked finish.
While the hosts’ opener came about from a costly error, their second was a moment of quality from Downing, whose curled strike from long range sealed the points.
Ireland’s Daryl Murphy is now the top scorer in the Championship
Erik Lamela’s first Premier League goal for Spurs proves to be the winner
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Barclays Premier League Round-Up