REPORT: QPR 0 - 3 BURNLEY

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Goals from Gudmundsson, Maatsen and Tella seal all three points in London

2022-12-11T15:14:31.365Z

REPORT: QPR 0 - 3 BURNLEY

Goals from Gudmundsson, Maatsen and Tella seal all three points in London

2022-12-11T15:14:31.365Z

Goals from Gudmundsson, Maatsen and Tella seal all three points in London

Burnley returned to Sky Bet Championship action with a bang, after a thumping 3-0 win over QPR at Loftus Road on Sunday afternoon.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson opened the scoring on a frosty afternoon in West London, before Ian Maatsen doubled the lead just before the break. Nathan Tella then sealed the three points late on in the second half, as the Clarets move eight points clear of the play-off positions.

As the Championship returned following the World Cup break, manager Vincent Kompany made three changes from the side that last featured in the 3-0 win over Blackburn Rovers.

Rodriguez, Gudmundsson, and Tella all came in for Ashley Barnes, Anass Zaroury and Manuel Benson, while attacking duo Scott Twine and Darko Churlinov returned to the bench following lengthy spells on the side-lines through injury.

Burnley boss reviews fine returning performance against the R's

First Half

There was an early penalty shout in the first minute for the R’s, as George Thomas tumbled over in the area, after colliding with Arijanet Muric, but referee Pete Bankes waved away any appeals from the home side.

And from the following goal-kick, Muric picked out Tella on the surge in attack, but the forward’s effort was lifted into the hands of goalkeeper Seny Dieng.

But it took less than 20 minutes for the Clarets to take the lead at Loftus Road, as Gudmundsson grabbed his second goal of the season, curling home a free kick from the edge of the area into the far corner.

QPR struggled to get a real hold of the ball in the opening half an hour but carved open a chance through Chris Willock in the 32nd minute, however the wideman could only fire over from inside the area from Ethan Laird’s low cross.

The Clarets dominated the first half and just as the break approached, Kompany’s men grabbed their deserved second and doubled their lead. Vitinho’s fierce effort was palmed away by Dieng, but only into the path of Maatsen, who steered it home from close range with a sweet finish.

MAATSEN IN FINE FORM FOLLOWING QPR WIN - Image 1

Second Half

After a quiet start to the second 45, it was the hosts who came close to clawing a goal back on the hour mark, as skipper Sam Field saw his goal-bound strike saved excellently from Muric and away for a corner.

But the visitors looked to the game well out of sight in the 72nd minute, as former Claret Jimmy Dunne attempted header back to goal was latched onto by Tella, who rounded Dieng and rifled in from a tight angle, before wheeling away in front of the travelling Clarets faithful.

Despite a late effort from the hosts to spark a glimmer of hope, Burnley stood strong in defence to keep the clean sheet and well deserved victory.

And in the final few minutes, Churlinov, Twine and Charlie Taylor were then introduced, with the attacking pair featuring for the first time since September and July respectively.

Burnley: Muric, Vitinho, Harwood-Bellis, Beyer, Maatsen (Taylor 88), Cork © (Churlinov 89), Cullen, Brownhill, Gudmundsson (Benson 74), Rodriguez (Barnes 80), Tella (Twine 89)

Unused Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Bastien,

Queens Park Rangers: Dieng, Dunne, Clark-Salter, Willock (Adomah 46), Dykes, Thomas (Shodipo 46), Field, Dozzell, Paal, Laird, Iroegbunam

Unused Subs: Archer, Kakay, Dickie, Richards, Armstrong

Goals: Gudmundsson 19, Maatsen 45+2’, Tella 72’