Team Line Up
		1. Lee Camp
25. Bob Malcolm		28. Zesh Rehmann	5. Damion Stewart		3. Chris Barker
11. Gareth Ainsworth		32. Mikele Leigterwood	7. Adam Bolder (c)		34. Scott Sinclair
		26. Rowan Vine
		30. Marc Nygaard
Subs
Dexter Blackstock on for Scott Sinclair
Simon Walton on for Marc Nygaard
Stefan Moore on for Gareth Ainsworth
Subs Not Used
Jake Cole
Angelo Balanta

A shock win for Rangers as we win at Burnley for the first time in 27 years and gain a first away win since De Canio's arrival. A header from Damion Stewart was followed by some brave defending as we hung on before Rowan Vine finished things off during injury time.

No Match Report from me for this one as listening on the radio is no substitute for being at the game so here are two reports from the QPR Mailing List.

Dave Thomas

Fantastic evening. This was no fluke win. We played well and thoroughly deserved the win. I wouldn't describe the first-half as classic, but it was far from uninspiring. We attacked them as much as they did us, with both defences holding well. Most importantly, we got our tackles in where they mattered. It's true that the Burnley player had time and space just inside the box to drill the ball past Lee Camp... and back of the post. But it was a deserved slice of luck and we defended like demons for the rest of the game. If anything, it was Rangers who played the better passing game in the first-half, although Vine was the only one doing any work up front, with Sinclair again going missing.

After all the despair over our inability to defend a set-piece, it was Burnley who were guilty of not picking up opponents. Stewart had all the time in the world to power in an inch-perfect header from close range. It was in from the moment the ball came over. We didn't sit back on it and kept pressing forward, frustrating Burnley and their fans. But eventually we were on the defensive as Burnley threw on fresh legs in Steve Jones and searched for the equaliser. As time ran down, Kiraly ventured upfield for a corner, and then another. It's at times like this you long for a quick counter-attack leaving the goalkeeper stranded. And that's what happened. The ball came out to Vine, who controlled it beautifully and instead of doing a Michael Robinson from 50 yards, he just bore down on goal, outpacing the keeper and the trailing defenders - and stroked it into an open goals from just a few yards out. Cue mass celebration in the away end - and the first airing of Jingle Bells.

I thought it was only Loftus Road that emptied that quickly on a midweek home defeat. But the car park was empty by the time we got back to the car not many minutes later. It was a similar performance to Preston away or, say, Ipswich at home - workmanlike rather than spectacular. But most importantly, it was solid. And that, after the past few games, was a very welcomed sight.

Further thoughts. Malcolm was so much improved tonight, I am even more convinced the guy who played against Sheffield Wednesday was a ringer.

I like games when I can leave home at 7.05pm and still be at the ground before kick-off.

The players really celebrated with the fans - and it meant a lot to them, not just the win but for Ray Jones, too.

Scunthorpe's hot dogs contained proper Lincolnshire sausages. Nothing to do with tonight - but I thought I'd just mention it.

There were about 200 QPR fans at Turf Moor tonight - more than I was expecting.

Tracy was very, very happy. And it's always great to see someone like Tracy happy, because no-one deserves nights like this more.

By my calculations, we should beat Wolves 5-1 or 6-1.

Tracy Stent

I'm typing this on the way back home on the coach as by the time we get back to London it will be too late for even me to be typing reports, so if this seems a little disjointed it’s because I’m literally speaking straight from the hip so to speak, and will then post it once I reach home.

Like I say, me and Emma went up on the supporters coach today that left from the ground, setting off at just before 1pm. Before setting off we called into the clubshop to purchase some goodies, spending a significant amount shall we say (Christmas goodies for the girls, and a pair of gloves for yours truly which were going to be needed at a cold Turf Moor) but I had forgotten to take my season ticket book with me in our haste to get out and I wanted to use the discount on the goodies. The girl on the counter was apologetic, saying how fans can only use their discount (10%) on production of their books and I showed her our coach tickets which states season ticket holder on them and she referred me to another girl in there, who begrudgingly said she would allow it this time around but normally they would not and to please bring the book in the future. Not impressed with the begrudging attitude. What’s that all about?

Then we wanted to use the ladies before the coach turned up and as before in the past it has not been a problem in using the toilet in the reception part in such situations, we thought we’d be ok to do the same again. Wrong. When I asked the man on security if we could use the toilet his comment was ¡§Well, they’ve stopped that now as they want to keep it all clean through here¡¨. I know he was only saying what he has been told from above but we were both really offended, we are supporters, and yet we were made to feel like naughty children attempting to gatecrash an adult party. Like I say, the man was only following orders, and he opened a gate to let us use the ladies in the west paddock, but if this is the way supporters are going to be made to feel unwelcome at their own club in the future, then again, I’m not impressed.

Anyway, onto the journey. I’m not a great lover of coach journeys and try to avoid whenever possible, but at least today’s went off fine; they started off showing one of the Diehard movies but it played up so had to be turned off and was replaced by Pursuit of happiness which to me was a more fitting title for the day and then with just under an hour or so to kick off, we arrived at the ground. Now, I¦m going to be a very naughty girl and make a confession here because I accepted a couple of complimentary tickets for tonight’s game! Shocker I know, but remember the game back in August at Turf Moor and all that went on that day? Well, the very nice man at Burnley football club who came and spoke to us that afternoon after we’d made the effort to go to the training session they were putting on, along with the collection for Ray Jay’s family, spoke to us again last week and offered us complimentary tickets for tonight’s game, saying it was the least they could do for us. WE explained that only two of us were going/could make it and he arranged for me to pick them up at the ground on arrival. Felt a right ligger but it was very kind of Burnley, and at this time of the year pride certainly does not come before a fall! I¡¦ve mentioned this because I wanted QPR fans to know about Burnley¡¦s kindness.

So, onto inside the ground and the players warm up. Gigi was out there with them observing and we were most surprised to notice Simon Walton out there going through his paces with the others. He was announced as a sub. The team obviously had a few changes from Saturday¡¦s starting line-up with Nygaard starting up front with Vine and Ainsworth in for Rowlands. We had a bit more shape about us judging by the starting line up, so would we be able to step up a gear? We were a bit worried though because with no Buz (heard he had a dead leg) where were the goals going to come from?

As the players came out, the pa announced about Ray Jones, and the reason for the game being tonight, and that the QPR players would be wearing black arm bands. He said how Burnley football club sent their condolences to Ray’s family, and the club etc. It was a bit of a sad occasion as the players just before kick off all gathered in a huddle. I’m sure Ray was looking down on them.

As the game kicked off, we had noticed the section next to us down the front that had been sectioned off and which included what looked like some of the Burnley fringe players. Then just as the game started, we noticed Martin Rowlands and Ben Sahar come and sit right across the gangway from us in this section. The team coach driver was also with them! No sooner had they entered when Sahar and Rowly disappeared, only to return a few minutes later replenished with bovrils and hot food (well Rowly and the driver were getting stuck into their food anyway).

Anyway, sorry about that, onto the game. The first half actually was quite an evenly contested half. We were given more decisions and free kicks in the first 15 minutes of tonight¡¦s game than we were awarded for the entire game at Scunthorpe. Vine and Nygaard both had half chances, and with Ainsworth providing us with a real outlet on the right side, we did not look half as crumbly as we did on Saturday. Sinclair was having a quietish first half, though to be fair I don¡¦t think that was his fault as such because whenever Camp was kicking out, he was aiming for the right where Ains was. I could see Rowly out of the corner of my eye getting pretty animated a few times and heard him calling out to Campy to keep it right. Sinclair kind of roamed over to this side midway through the half and seemed a tad lost.

Although Ains was having a good first half, I think there was a realisation throughout the team that we needed to keep the ball as much away as possible from the other side, which is where Wade Elliott (their right) had on numerous occasions given Chris Barker the runaround. Elliott I remember from his time at Bournemouth was considered one of the fastest wingers around and in the first half he certainly lived up to his reputation tonight. Barker as we know is not the fastest of full back¡¦s, so it was only natural really that we tried to protect him as much as possible.

Oh, and whilst talking of Ains, not only was he the main outlet for Camp and our defence to aim for, but he was also having to cover as right back at times when superbob needed some help in dealing with Lafferty, who again is highly rated there.

As the half progressed, the home side continued to press but I have to say our central defence were holding firm, both Stewart and Rehman were having good games, and this time, unlike on Saturday when we were conceding corners after corners when coming under the Scunthorpe battering, we were actually defending with confidence with the centre halves heading out and up field (shock horror, sometimes even to hoped shirts!) rather than panicking and just heading out to corners. The luckiest thing to happen in the half really was right towards the end when (I think actually it was a result from one of their rare corners) as the ball was cleared, it fell to Blake (I think) who unmarked, unleashed a shot which hit the post and rebounded out. We were lucky, but that’s the kind of rub of the green that we have been needing lately because had we gone 1-0 down just before the break, our heads would have dropped. 0-0 at half time was more than satisfactory and as we queued for hot drinks we were having a discussion on what we could do to keep up the good work.

At the start of the second half there was a turning point in that Clarke Carlisle had to depart the pitch after only a couple of minutes or so. He had gone in for a challenge on Vine in front of us and began to limp after this. He had to go off and to me this was very good news because not only had he been dealing quite well with Nygaard in the first half, but we had noticed too how on the couple of corners they’d won, he had threatened to make late run in’s onto the ball as it was coming across and we know that he can certainly be useful with his head. Burnley fans certainly seemed to appreciate him judging by the applause he was given as he went off down the tunnel and I was thinking of him 15 or so minutes later just after we had taken the lead.

Scott Sinclair, who had enjoyed a sudden burst of freedom of around 5 minutes on the left ¡V Rowly had been shouting lots of encouragement to him too ¡§go to it Scotty¡¨ etc ¡V and after some nice play between Nygaard and Vine found himself with a shooting chance, he took it, their keeper, Kiraly, made the save, and with Sinclair this time putting a more than decent cross over, it was Damion Stewart who was able to rise above everyone else and head it into the net. Pandemonium ensued, lots of fans running down to the front, stewards getting arsey, and the players, after the initial celebrations went running over to the bench to the manager. Interesting eh?

Oh, and the reason I thought of Carlisle is because it made me wonder had he still been on the pitch defending, the quite possibly he could have been the one defender to have risen and cleared before Damo reached it. Thanks to Rowan Vine for tempting him into the challenge which resulted in him having to leave the pitch I say!

Ok, so we were 1-0 up with around 20/25 minutes to go on the clock. Coyne rang the changes and made a double substitution but surprisingly Akinbiyi was not one who came on which was a relief because what then ensued for the next 15 minutes or so was one of immense pressure by the home side. Suddenly we were conceding corners, we were giving away silly little fouls, and we were defending too deep, not pushing out as fast as we should have done etc and every time they pushed forward we were having kittens in the away end because Crystal Palace and Scunthorpe were running through our minds.

Dexter Blackstock was brought on in place of Sinclair which meant Vine going more wide but still we were having problems getting the ball out of our own half. I noticed Dexter at one stage, after he had headed the ball out came running out with his arm raised signalling for others to follow but we were being pressed so hard at this stage. Superbob went down injured at one stage which helped to give us a bit of a breather, and then Nygaard had his legs taken away from him during a rare attack and shortly afterwards he was taken off to be replaced by Simon Walton which meant a 4-5-1 type of formation.

We were hanging on and holding firm when just before injury time was due to be announced, Burnley won another corner. Their keeper took himself up to the area to give them an extra man and as the ball came over, there was a scramble and we headed it wide for another corner. Their keeper stayed in the area and at this stage we were screaming for Dexter to come out to the half way line just in case the ball fell to us and he could chance his luck with the keeper being nowhere in sight.

As it happens, it was Dexter who headed the ball out, I didn't see who managed to clear it out further, but suddenly Vine was on the ball, he was onside and with Kiraly still back field, there were two defenders desperately trying to catch Vine, but he was having none of it, a quick glance around him as he entered the box, he almost swaggered as he tucked the ball into the empty net. If we thought it was pandemonium after our first goal, then the only word I can think of to describe the scene at the front where we were was carnage. Celebrations as though we had won a cup and glancing over at Rowly and Sahar they were both giving each other the high fives.

I received a text from home asking if it were Vine or Rehman who had scored because apparently on Sky they were saying Rehman, but the commentary on the radio were saying Vine (or it might have been the other way round). Hah, if it had been Rehman then Zesh might well have found himself on the receiving end of hugs from two mad females on the pitch, and to hell with the consequences LOL

Burnley had paid the price for perhaps playing their hand too much, ambitious yes by their, keeper but I don¡¦t think they¡¦ll be trying that tactic again in a hurry. The final whistle went and each and every player came over to the 500/600 hardy souls at the end to show their appreciation, Ainsworth and Nygaard arms around one another seemed particularly pleased by making messiah gestures to the crowd. Gigi as he walked past us towards the tunnel was all smiles as he applauded and well deserved his smiles were too.

The news got better with us having lifted ourselves off the bottom and with both Blackpool and Leicester losing, the two home games now are going to be so crucial for us. As we were leaving Burnley on the coach, one of the men seated near to us invited us to have one of his chocolates by way of celebration. The chocolates were the heroes ones. How apt ļ

Player ratings:

Camp: A clean sheet, held firm, ordered his defence well at free kicks etc. All round top man. 8

Barker: Couldn¡¦t cope with Elliott¡¦s pace in the first half. Seemed to have a better second half once Wade seemed to tire and got some vital challenges in when required. 7

Stewart: Totally different player to the Damion Stewart on Saturday. Led from the heart of defence, a real rock. Clearances were better, tackling was well timed, and my word, how his goal was important. 3 goals so far now this campaign for him. 9

Rehman: Good man. Possibly his best game yet in a hooped shirt. Still a couple of quivery moments but there was one instance when he got the better of 3 Burnley players surrounding him in the area in the second half. His clearances were actually confidence ones and if he can carry on from where he left off tonight, and just so long as the fans leave off him, he¡¦ll grow in confidence. Trust me folks. 8

Superbob: Bless him, he did ok at times, a tad slow at others. Needed Ains to help him out in the first half but he was part of our defence that stayed firm tonight at a place least expected. 7

Ainsworth: Already said above how he performed. Good old Gareth, running at players, tracking back, crossing, defending. Didn¡¦t always make the final ball, but top man. 9

Leggy: Back to his more preferred holding role, though was still playing back in defence in a kind of mopping up position when required. Helped to have him back in actual central defence because the pressure on our defence was lessened. He gave away a few lax balls but more than made up with his sheer determination. 8

Bolder: See above for Leggy! 8

Sinclair: Quiet first half. A sudden burst of life from him in a ten minute spell turned the game for us. Whatever some may think about his lack of effort, we should be thankful to him for the way he helped to turn this game. I sometimes think that maybe we don¡¦t use him as we should do, and it was interesting to hear Rowlands getting excited and shouting encouragement to him when he was on the ball. He must see and realise his potential in training. 7

Vine: He seems to relish playing slightly wider which allows him to run at players and create space etc. He enjoyed this particularly tonight during spells in the early part of the second half and perhaps he and Dexter might, just might, begin to get a good little understanding between them. Of course we¡¦ll be missing him on Saturday due to suspension. His goal was kooky, bizarre and exciting! Well done to him for having the insight to catch the opposition out and for taking his opportunity. 9

Nygaard: Caused a real nuisance of himself to their defence and held the line up well. Some of his knock downs went to the invisible man in front of him and his first touch let him down a couple of times but his effort could not be faulted. 8

Subs:

Dexter: Actually saw more of him down the other end in defence than we did down our end when he came on but he made a couple of important clearances and fair play to him. He looked fresh and well up for it and give him another game or so and I have a feeling we might just see the Dexter Blackstock back of old. 8

Walton: Well, what a nice surprise that was to see him on the bench. Only played for a couple of minutes and don't think he got much of a touch of the ball, but it¡¦s good news if he¡¦s back to full fitness after a 5 month lay off. Manager rating: Tactics better than on Saturday. Good shape to the team, especially when pushing up and going 4-4-2. Good substitution too in bringing on Dexter for the fading Sinclair. 8

MOTM: Ray Jones. It just had to be, after the shock and devastation felt by everyone on that Saturday hours before the game there in August, he was looking down on us all tonight that¡¦s for sure. RIP big man, gone but never forgotten x