Burnley secured their second success in West London in the space of four days with a 2-1 win at QPR.
Burnley build on cup heroics
Burnley, buoyed by their midweek Carling Cup victory at Chelsea, secured their second success in West London in the space of four days with a 2-1 win at Queens Park Rangers.
Alan Mahon's winner on the hour-mark handed the Clarets all three points in the capital and helped consolidate their place in the play-offs.
Dexter Blackstock had fired Rangers ahead early on, but Robbie Blake replied against the run of play before half-time and Mahon sealed the win.
The hosts, who were themselves given a taste of life in the Premier League when they went down 1-0 at Manchester United in the Carling Cup, took the lead in the 14th minute.
Winger Lee Cook toyed with former Rangers defender Clarke Carlisle before cutting the ball back to Blackstock, who curled a fine effort past Brian Jensen into the far corner.
Jensen then had to tip a Damion Stewart header over the crossbar and Cook blasted a volley high and wide with Burnley on the ropes.
But Rangers could not find the crucial second goal and Burnley equalised with their first meaningful attack 11 minutes before the interval.
Incisive
Blake collected Joey Gudjonsson's incisive pass on the edge of the area, brought the ball onto his left foot and lashed a powerful drive past Radek Cerny.
After the break, Chris Eagles fired wide and Wade Elliott shot straight at Cerny before, at the other end, Rangers were denied what appeared a clear penalty by referee Keith Woolmer.
Blackstock raced into the area and was sent tumbling by Carlisle, the last defender, in front of goal but Woolmer waved away the hosts' appeals.
Jensen then beat out Samuel Di Carmine's shot before Burnley were dealt a blow when Eagles had to be stretchered off.
But it was his replacement, Mahon, who proved to be the match-winner with a superb strike on the hour.
Blake's cross from the right took a couple of deflections on its way through to Mahon, who was lurking on the other side of the area and buried a first-time shot back past Cerny.
Blake also hit the bar with an angled drive, while Blackstock headed over from Peter Ramage's cross as Rangers looked for an equaliser, and Jensen tipped Patrick Agyemang's header over the top in stoppage time.
