QPR 3 Burnley 3
Pre-deadline signing Modibo Maiga rescued QPR from a defeat that would have been a major setback in their promotion bid.
Third-placed Burnley twice came from behind and were heading for a victory that would have seen them replace Rangers in the top two before Maiga, on loan from West Ham, netted shortly after coming off the bench.
Kevin Doyle also scored on his debut, his sixth-minute opener putting his new club in the driving seat before Danny Ings equalised for the Clarets and Richard Dunne’s first goal for Rangers meant they led at the break.
Sam Vokes levelled nine minutes after the restart and then finished with ease after Ings had set him up after robbing Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
But the R’s secured a potentially crucial point – and remain three points clear in second – courtesy of Maiga, who was on hand to score into an unguarded net following good work by fellow substitute Junior Hoilett.
Andy Johnson had almost given Rangers an early lead when his near-post header from Niko Kranjcar’s left-wing corner was tipped over by keeper Tom Heaton.
The resulting follow-up corner from Kranjcar was again headed at the near post, this time by Doyle – and this time into the net.
Ings hauled Burnley level on 25 minutes with a crisp volley from Kieran Trippier’s cross.
Another Kranjcar corner led to Rangers’ lead being restored, Dunne volleying into the roof of the net after the ball had been headed on by Clint Hill.
But Burnley hit back with their own replica goal; the cross-and-volley routine working again for them when Michael Kightly’s delivery was met by Vokes.
And after Ings embarrassed Assou-Ekotto near the right-hand touchline, he presented his strike partner Vokes with a tap-in.
However, a miss by Ings turned out to be a pivotal moment in the match.
He sliced wide after getting the better of Hill and Rangers were able to find a way back, with Hoilett’s persistence on the right enabling him to tee up Maiga on 79 minutes.
Hill almost netted a dramatic winner when he headed wide from Assou-Ekotto’s corner, and Burnley’s Junior Stanislas lobbed wide in injury time.
QPR (4-4-2): Green; Onuoha, Dunne, Hill, Assou-Ekotto; Phillips (Hoilett 5), Barton, Kranjcar, Traore Henry 83); Doyle, Johnson (Maiga 68).
Subs not used: Murphy, Carroll, Hughes, Zamora.
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This post was last modified on 02/02/2014
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Most important moment of the match was Ings robbing the over casual Ekotto for Burnley's 3rd. Very big mistake from the on loan Spurs man to underestimate Ings like that. Ings' "miss" soon after was not an easy chance at all, and like the match report notes both sides had chances for a fourth...Clint Hill's header, Kranjcar's blocked shot, Stanislas' lob. Very entertaining game. QPR could do with some of Burnley's so far good fortune with injuries for the rest of the season.