QPR 3 - 0 Doncaster Rovers

A DOUBLE from Latvian international defender Kaspars Gorkss and an Adel Taraabt penalty gave table-topping QPR a hard fought victory yesterday.

A DOUBLE from Latvian international defender Kaspars Gorkss and an Adel Taraabt penalty gave table-topping QPR a hard fought win yesterday.


The result was harsh on Doncaster, who had controlled a lot of possession and created a few decent efforts, but were made to pay by the home sides' second-half performance.


QPR boss Neil Warnock was clearly delighted with a win against a side he calls 'unique'.


He said: I said to my players before the match that this was going to be our hardest game so far. I don't think there is another side like them in the Championship. They're a unique side and they play a certain style that Sean (O'Driscoll) always plays - it was important we didn't go a goal down."


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As early as the fourth minute, the away side had claims for a penalty cancelled out after James O'Connor went down under a challenge inside the box.


But they came the closest the opening the scoring midway through the first half when O'Connor's free-kick was superbly tipped on to the post by goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, and from the follow-up, Clint Hill was hand to clear away a shot off the line.


They had frustrated the league leaders in the opening half, with the only decent effort on goal from Rangers coming from the in-form Jamie Mackie, who you would have backed to score from 8 yards out, but his low shot was comfortably saved by Neil Sullivan.


But they broke the deadlock on 53 minutes thanks to central defender Gorkss following a mix-up in the Doncaster rearguard.


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A corner was floated in and met with Gorkss' head, but the attempt was half cleared off the line and the ball fell kindly to the Latvian who made no mistake with the follow-up.


Just five minutes later, Doncaster were unlucky not to equalise through James Coppinger, who struck the crossbar after cutting in from the left and curling the ball towards the top corner.


QPR were made to scrap throughout the second half, but were rewarded with a penalty on 81 minutes after Sullivan brought down Heidar Helguson when through on goal.


The veteran 'keeper got away with just a yellow card, but was further punished when Adel Taraabt sent him the wrong way, drilling the penalty into the bottom left corner.


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As the game headed for full-time, they made sure of the points with a third thanks to Gorkss.


Again, from a corner, the defender rose to plant a powerful header past Sullivan and extend their lead at the top of the table to six points.


Doncaster boss Sean O'Driscoll was disappointed with the result but couldn't fault the effort from his players. He said: I'm pleased with our performance but there's nothing you can do with someone 6'3 (Gorkss) against someone much shorter for their goals. I thought we played really well and we've got to take the positives."


He went on to compliment Warnock's side, saying: "We found it difficult to break QPR down - it's a tight little ground and they were well drilled and organised which is what you would expect from a Neil Warnock side."


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Attendance: 13,990


QPR: Kenny; Walker, Hill, Gorkss (C), Connolly; Derry (Leigertwood), Buzsaky, Ephraim, Taraabt, Mackie (Smith), Helguson (Agyemang).


Doncaster Rovers: Sullivan; O'Connor, Friend, Martis, Woods; Oster, Gillett (Hayter), Dumbuya, Coppinger; Sharp, Shiels.


Follow reporter Mark Ritson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/RizzoJournalist


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