QPR move away from Premier League basement after home win vs. Aston Villa
Charlie Austin scored twice to lift Queens Park Rangers off the bottom of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Monday that eased some of the pressure on manager Harry Redknapp.
Having proved the architects of their own downfall with two own goals in the recent defeat to Liverpool, Rangers came out on top at Loftus Road in a game against an Aston Villa outfit bereft of confidence. When Austin struck a sweet half-volley in the first half the writing was already on the wall for Paul Lambert's visitors, who have now gone over eight hours since scoring a goal, and another predatory finish the other side of the interval secured what could be a vital 2-0 win.
They may have faced Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton in recent weeks -- with an 11-0 aggregate reverse scoreline -- but these sorts of evenings need to produce results if Villa are to stay clear of the pack squabbling at the foot of the table. But, for Redknapp and QPR, this was a much-needed second win of the campaign which lifts them above fellow newly-promoted side Burnley and to within two points of 17th-placed Leicester as the 67-year-old continues to face questions about his future.
As well as Austin's two efforts, Redknapp would have been pleased with the developing link-up play his goalscorer is enjoying with the industrious Bobby Zamora -- whilst the league's worst defense kept just their second clean sheet of the campaign with Rio Ferdinand again an unused substitute. Ciaran Clark was brought back into the Villans' defense but he wasted their best chance to grab just their fifth league goal of the season, with five defeats in succession leaving Villa only three points clear of their Monday night hosts.
The recalled Villa duo of Carlos Sanchez and Andreas Weimann combined well in the early stages, with the latter's cross headed to Ashley Westwood who could only arrow his shot into the chest of fit-again Rob Green. Gabriel Agbonlahor, who scored Villa's last league goal back in mid-September, saw a low effort bravely blocked by former teammate Richard Dunne as Lambert's side began to dominant possession.
Green was again called into action moments later as Sanchez thrashed a shot towards goal from distance but, fortunately for the former England goalkeeper, the effort flew straight into his grasp. Brad Guzan was not as lucky at the other end as Redknapp's men broke the deadlock from the next attack following a simple long ball forward.
Dunne's angled pass out of defense was chested down by skipper Zamora perfectly into the path of Austin, whose drive flashed past the despairing hand of Guzan to give the Rs a valuable lead. Benteke had a chance to level matters with a header shortly afterwards but could only flick Westwood's cross wide of Green's post as Villa searched for an immediate riposte.
Republic of Ireland defender Dunne, who spent four years at Villa Park, was again the man to put his body on the line as he blocked Benteke's next effort as Agbonlahor and Weimann combined on the break to open up the Rangers defense. Sandro came closest to extending the QPR lead before the interval but his cute chip was too high to catch Guzan off his line and drifted behind for a goal kick as Rangers reached halftime in front.
The second half started in much the same vein but Villa should have equalized on 55 minutes when Clark could only poke wide from close range after being picked out by Benteke's downward header from Westwood's deep free-kick. Zamora, who had spent the night hassling and harrying the Villa defense and proved he could still be a thorn in the side of an opposing team, was withdrawn just after the hour as Redknapp introduced Junior Hoilett from the bench.
The Canadian winger almost made an immediate impact but saw a clever shot hit the far post, but it was not long until Austin's second goal killed off the game as the former Burnley frontman did well to beat Ron Vlaar to Eduardo Vargas' low cross to steer the ball past Guzan with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Lambert responded by bringing on Darren Bent and Joe Cole but it was Vargas who should have made it three for QPR as he broke the offside trap before his tame effort was kept out by Guzan. Villa's luck in front of goal continued to desert them as Tom Cleverley's strike was palmed back into the middle of the box by Green, who then recovered well to prevent Clark from tapping home.
That proved to be the last meaningful chance at a consolation for Villa, who will be hoping to halt their slide when they welcome similarly out-of-form Tottenham to Villa Park on Sunday.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
