CHARLIE AUSTIN EASED the pressure on Harry Redknapp as the QPR forward struck twice to lift his side off the bottom of the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Monday.
Redknapp’s side secured just their second victory of the season, and their first since August, thanks to the predatory finishing of Austin, who netted in either half to see off lacklustre Villa at Loftus Road.
Austin’s heroics ended QPR’s three-match losing run and helped the west London club move above Austin’s former club Burnley into 19th place, within two points of the teams directly above the relegation zone as they try to scramble to safety following a disastrous start to their first season back in the top-flight.
It was a crucial result for Redknapp, who had endured reports that QPR owner Tony Fernandes was considering sacking him after his team’s dismal run.
While Redknapp earned at least a momentary reprieve, the pressure is mounting on Villa manager Paul Lambert.
Despite a positive opening to the campaign, Villa have slumped down the table in recent weeks and are now only three points above QPR after suffering a fifth successive defeat without scoring a goal.
Facing a Villa team in the midst of one of the worst runs in their history eventually proved a welcome tonic for QPR, who had suffered an agonising loss with virtually the last kick of the game against Liverpool last weekend.
Yet it was the visitors who started the brighter as Ashley Westwood and Carlos Sanchez both tested QPR goalkeeper Robert Green in the early stages.
Redknapp’s men broke the deadlock from the next attack following a simple long ball forward in the 17th minute
Former Villa stalwart Richard Dunne’s angled pass out of defence was chested down by Bobby Zamora perfectly into the path of his strike partner Austin, whose long-range drive flashed past Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
Villa should have equalised on 55 minutes when Ciaran Clark could only poke wide from close range after being picked out by Christian Benteke’s downward header from Westwood’s deep free-kick.
But Redknapp sent on Junior Hoilett from the bench and the Canadian winger almost made an immediate impact but saw a clever shot hit the far post.
With the momentum back in QPR’s favour, it wasn’t long until Austin killed off Villa in the 69th minute with a clinical finish at the near post after he beat Ron Vlaar to Eduardo Vargas’ low cross.
I can’t see many having sympathy given his past.
He shamed the country. I feel sorry for the other riders whose horses ran without drugs and didn’t cheat. And that’s saying nothing about the staged burglary to steal the B blood sample from the HQ of Show jumping Ireland in the dead of night. It made us look like a bunch of gombeens.
Here come the horsey set with their red thumbs in support of Cian, tally-ho suckers !
The brown envelope comes to mind with this decision .. Shafted ..
They did however win the Most Ironically Named Horse Award.
Why did the fella run out in front of him?
Shame Sepp Blatter wasn’t in charge. Could of made a deal.
Juicstice served?
I see a lot of people saying stuff like this.. what did he do I know nothing about the man?
He won gold. Horse later tested positive. B samples went missing after a suspicious break in. Something like that.
Sound mate
Good. He’s only a cheat anyway.
I feel sorry for a lot of irish jockeys lately . Bertram Allen and yesterday Richard Howley have both being wronged by the FEI on tiny, tiny infringements. Yet they ,themselves, don’t make a big call like this which is an infringement on the actual course .
They .the FEI
Was it not when that man was in the way that O’Connor did not follow procedure to point out the unexpected obstacle?
In saying that it is a pity.
Yes. The rules are that he had to pull the horse up during the round and lodge the complaint straight away. Cian didn’t….he finished the round. Had one fence down, which was the fence directly after the man running across him, but he completed the round. Only lodged a complaint and apply after he lost out on qualification by one place because of the four faults. An International showjumper at that level should know the rules. Even more so for Cian considering his past.
Exactly, in cases like this you must stop your round and ask the judges to let you re-start it. Had he done so I am sure the judges would have allowed him to re-start. However by carrying on he was looking for two bites at the cherry. Correct decision to reject his appeal.
How is Show Jumping in the Olympics anyway? It’s presence makes a mockery off all the competitors in the real sports. Shouldn’t really be allowed. Dressidge is another one. Who came up with that nonsense?
Why isn’t horse racing included like showjumping?
What a stupid comment to make… showjumping is one of Irelands most successful sports, people who partake in any equestrian sport train just as hard as anyother sport.. its takes a lot of time, commitment and work to get to the levels of these riders and animals and its not dressidge its dressage..if you dont know the sport dont comment on it
Janis, I hardly think people who partake in equestrian “sport” have to work hard. Show Jumping and Horsey Racing are pretty much spectator sports for the riders. Sit back, relax is what’s on the cards during a ride. The only time a rider would break sweat is if they’re hitting the horse really hard with the riding crop, or maybe kicking it with the spurs. Horsey people love being cruel to animals. They’re all involved in fox-hunting and badger-baiting and the like. Stuck-up idiots
I’m surprised O’Connor took the rap…
Clearly the gag went over people’s heads (the horse usually gets the rap).
Oconnor unfairly shafted again
The rules are the rules for everyone, maybe Cian might try learning them and then following them. He lost the appeal let that be the end of it.
Not surprised at all. The incident may have cost Ireland their place because O’Connor was more concerned about the guy running out in front of him than getting on with the job and setting his horse right for the next jump. Anyway, when the jockey’s arse is bigger than the horse’s arse, our expectations weren’t high.
I Connor plus drugs equals trouble for everyone around him. Shame on him as his behaviour deserved a lifetime ban since he threatened our most valuable industry horses and farming( both linked by their very nature). I hate when people clap him at the RDS as it is like Roy Keane in the World Cup. Yet they both did well from their disgusting behaviour. This guy should have been jailed but no in Ireland he gets rewarded, just like some of our politicians snd bankers.
Most likely your man was on the same drug as Waterford crystal