BURNLEY (4-4-2)

Michopoulos;

(from right) Weller, Davis, Thomas, Branch;

Little, Cook (Armstrong 77), Ball, Smith (Maylett 64);

Moore (Payton 69), Taylor.

Subs not used: Mullin, Crichton.

QPR (4-4-2, manager Ian Holloway)

Harper;

(from right) Perry, Maddix, Brown, Baraclough;

Knight, Bignot, Murray (Kulcsar 87), Darlington;

Kiwomya (Thompson 46), Crouch Ngonge 74).

Subs not used: Plummer, Miklosko.

VITAL STATISTICS

Shots on target...Burnley 5, QPR 2

Off target...Burnley 3, QPR 5

Woodwork...Burnley 0, QPR 2

Corners...Burnley 5, QPR 7

Offside...Burnley 3, QPR 1

Fouls committed...Burnley 7, QPR 12

Booked...Burnley: Ball, Weller (fouls); QPR: Baraclough (foul), Ngonge (dissent)

Attendance...14,018

Referee...David Pugh (The Wirral) 7

FORM GUIDE

MICHOPOULOS : Had very little to do despite a clutch of chances for the visitors...6

* WELLER: Given a tough time in the first half by Jermaine Darlington, but an impressive second-half showing at right-back...8

DAVIS: Managed to restrict Peter Crouch's best work to a safe distance from goal, although Burnley's back four had their share of worrying moments...7

THOMAS: Got them out of a couple of scrapes...7

BRANCH: Not at his best defensively against Leon Knight or when delivering the ball from the back...6

COOK: Gave QPR a bit too much room in midfield after the break but his use of the ball was impressive...7

BALL: Set the tone early on for Burnley, winning tackles and getting forward into the box. Didn't have it so much his own way after half-time but did enough to keep the Clarets' noses in front...7

LITTLE: Found himself on the back foot at times in the second half but Burnley were often at their best when they played through Little either out wide or when he came inside. Lovely cross for the first goal...7

TAYLOR: Worked well with Ian Moore in the first half and took his goal well before the service started to dry up later on...7

MOORE: Looked more like his old self and almost got the change of luck he needs in front of goal with a second-half rebound that went just wide...7

SMITH: Took his chance of a rare start by scoring one and making one and posing a threat down Burnley's left flank...7

SUBSTITUTES

MAYLETT: Gave Burnley a lift when he came on by opening up QPR's left side with his pace...7

PAYTON: Looked sharp and up for it for the last 20 minutes or so

ARMSTRONG: Filled in for a tiring Cook in the closing stages

OPPOSITE CAMP

HARPER: Kicking a bit suspect...6

PERRY: Steady showing...7

BARACLOUGH: Wicked delivery from set-pieces...7

MADDIX: Had hands full with Taylor early on...6

BROWN: Grew in confidence on debut...7

KNIGHT: Pacey winger caused problems...7

BIGNOT: Got the goal that gave Rangers hope...7

MURRAY: Missed a good first-half chance...7

DARLINGTON: Looked a threat but missed a decent chance...6

CROUCH: Dangerous in the air and at times on the floor...8

KIWOMYA: Lacked the end product...5

SUBSTITUTES:

THOMSON: Helped keep defence at full stretch...7

NGONGE: Wasted two great openings

KULCSAR: No time to make an impact 47

TECHINCAL TALK: Burnley went back to a 4-4-2 formation and looked impressive early on when they played it through midfield or widemen Glen Little and Paul Smith. Allowed themselves to get a bit stretched after the break and weren't as effective when they knocked it long from the back

SET-PIECE WATCH: Set-plays weren't a big feature for the Clarets, although their second goal followed on from a corner and a well-directed Mitchell Thomas free-kick from which Ian Moore went close. For Rangers, Ian Baraclough's left-foot delivery twice resulted in the visitors hitting the woodwork.

KEY MOMENT: Having led 2-0, Burnley allowed Rangers back into the game and all their good work could have gone to waste if referee David Pugh had awarded a penalty when Graham Branch tangled with Michel Ngonge a minute from time.

TIME FOR ACTION

01The Clarets make a bright start typified by Kevin Ball whose volley goes straight at Rangers keeper Lee Harper

12Burnley's enterprise is rewarded when Paul Smith connects sweetly with a Glen Little cross to make it 1-0

15The Hoops miss the first of a number of good chances, Jermaine Darlington being the guilty party

28Nik Michopoulos spills a corner but Paul Murray fails to punish the Clarets keeper

33Chris Kiwomya is the next to spurn a chance for the visitors and five minutes later the impressive Peter Crouch is also off target

42Taylor gets up well to head home Burnley's second from a corner

45Ian Baraclough crashes a free-kick against the post

51Again QPR are denied by the woodwork with Crouch this time the man to go close

54Rangers finally find a way through when Bignot scores

72Substitute Michel Ngonge wastes the first of two great chances

89Burnley survive a late scare when Ngonge goes down in the box but the foul is not given