Liverpool misfit Mark Kennedy grabbed two stunning goals and made a third as
Rangers snatched their first victory in nine games against Crewe at Loftus
Road.
Kennedy, the country's most expensive teenager when he signed for Liverpool
from Millwall for £2milllion, has been thrown a lifeline by QPR with a month's
loan deal.
And he repaid back Ray Harford's faith on his home debut with a vintage
display.
He had already tested Crewe keeper Jason Kearton with shots from 25 and 30
yards when he finally broke the deadlock.
Kennedy collected the ball 30 yards out and arrowed a blistering shot into the
far corner. It was only what Rangers deserved after dominating the first half.
They should have been in front on five minutes when Kennedy put Kevin Gallen
in the clear only for the striker's shot to be blocked by Kearton and cleared to
safety.
Gallen then squandered two more chances courtesy of passes by Paul Murray and
Iain Dowie before Kennedy took over the show, peppering the Crewe goal with
long-range shots culminating in his glorious opener.
Crewe, on a run of four successive wins before today, started the second half
more brightly and Colin Little almost volleyed in Steve Garvey's cross, but on
the hour Kennedy grabbed the second.
Gallen found Dowie and his flick put Kennedy through on goal and he fired in
off the post.
Crewe looked dead and buried but Rangers began to panic and on 62 minutes the
home side failed to clear their lines and Steve Anthrobus shot on the turn,
surprising Rangers keeper Lee Harper and the ball slipped into the corner.
That gave Crewe renewed confidence and 10 minutes later they grabbed an
equaliser. Marcus Bignot swept out a pass to Seth Johnson and after he exchanged
passes with Garvey, Johnson was able to fire into the corner from a tight
angle.
Crewe thought they had done enough for a point but they reckoned without
Kennedy.
First he almost set up Steve Yates with a superb cross which was just a
fraction too high, then on 78 minutes his corner was met by Karl Ready whose
towering header flew through a crowd of players to give Rangers the points.
Teams
QPR: Harper, Yates, Rowland, Quashie, Ready, Morrow,
Murray (Kulcsar 68), Peacock, Dowie, Gallen (Sheron 78), Kennedy.
Subs Not Used: Heinola.
Booked: Morrow.
Goals: Kennedy 43, 59, Ready 78.
Crewe: Kearton, Bignott, Unsworth (Street 22), Foran, Walton,
Lunt, Garvey, Whalley, Anthrobus (Lightfoot 83), Johnson, Little.
Subs Not Used: Smith.
Goals: Anthrobus 62, Johnson 72.
Att: 13,429
Ref: M C Bailey (Impington).
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