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Queens Park Rangers vs Scunthorpe United. Sky Bet Championship.

Loftus Road StadiumAttendance12,046.

Queens Park Rangers 2

  • B Orr (17th minute)
  • H Helguson (41st minute)

Scunthorpe United 0

    Perfect Hoops march on

    Image: Helguson: On target

    First-half goals from Bradley Orr and Heider Helguson helped early pace-setters QPR see off Scunthorpe.

    Orr and Helguson goals see QPR sink Iron

    First-half goals from Bradley Orr and Heider Helguson helped early pace-setters QPR see off Scunthorpe and maintain their perfect start to the Championship campaign. Orr headed the opener from an Adel Taarabt corner in the 17th minute, while Taarabt was again the provider as Helguson made sure of the points with a superb chip four minutes before the break. The victory made it three wins out of three for Neil Warnock's Hoops, who are two points clear of the chasing pack in the early table. Despite not getting on the scoresheet, Taarabt was the star of the show as he caused no end of problems for the Iron defence before he was replaced in the 72nd minute. Having dispatched Barnsley and Sheffield United, scoring seven goals in the process, the Hoops dominated from start to finish to condemn Scunthorpe to back-to-back defeats. Warnock was forced to change his starting line-up for the first time in the league as defender Fitz Hall failed to recover from a hamstring strain he suffered in the 3-0 win over the Blades and was replaced by Matthew Connolly. Scunthorpe made three changes, with Michael Raynes, Niall Canavan and Sam Togwell replacing Rob Jones, David Mirfin and Garry Thompson, while manager Nigel Adkins was only able to name six substitutes.

    Confidence

    Full of confidence following their superb start to the season, the Hoops started brightly and Taarabt's 20-yard free-kick forced a fine save from Iron keeper Joe Murphy. Taarabt was having a massive influence in the game and it was no surprise that he had a hand in QPR's opener after 17 minutes. The Moroccan's corner found the unmarked Orr and he scored his first goal for the club with a glancing header. It was all one way traffic and only Murphy's point-blank save from Helguson's header prevented the hosts from doubling their lead in the 26th minute. Jonathan Forte nearly levelled matters in a rare Scunthorpe attack but his chip on the edge of the area went narrowly over the bar. However, they then went two down four minutes before the interval after the impressive Taarabt crossed the ball to Helguson, who brought the ball down and lobbed the helpless Murphy from close range.
    Penalty shout
    Taarabt thought he should have been given a penalty after he fell under a challenge by Raynes but he was booked for his efforts. Helguson nearly doubled his tally with another header but Murphy was equal to the effort as QPR finished the half in a dominant position. Kaspars Gorkss headed over six minutes after half-time, while at the other end, Paddy Kenny was on hand to deny Forte's volley from 12 yards. Helguson should have put Warnock's men three up but he struck the ball over from six yards after Hogan Ephraim and Taarabt had linked up well to set up the Iceland international. Forte, who was by far and away the best attacking threat for Scunthorpe, missed a gilt-edged chance as his strike from close range produced an excellent save from Kenny. Alejandro Faurlin's 25-yard volley narrowly missed the target but it mattered little as QPR completed to their third consecutive Championship win of the campaign.

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