QPR guaranteed their First Division survival in spectacular style as Chris
Kiwomya scored a hat-trick in front of a full house at Loftus Road.
Palace, who managed only one shot on target, finished with nine men after
having Fan Zhiyi and David Woozley sent off in a blistering second half.
Rangers, on a run of five consecutive defeats, looked jittery at the start of
this vital game but they grabbed an early goal to steady their nerves.
On eight minutes a clever move involving Chris Kiwomya and Keith Rowland saw
the ball cleared to the edge of the Palace area.
George Kulcsar waited patiently for the ball to come down before thumping a
superb shot into the top corner with Palace keeper Kevin Miller watching in
admiration.
Palace, with nothing to play for, found themselves overwhelmed by hungry
Rangers and the home side should have added to their lead.
Two minutes before half time Miller was at fault as Rangers deservedly made it
2-0.
A huge goalkick by Ludek Miklosko saw Miller dawdle on his line and Kiwomya
took full advantage, getting to the ball first and after hitting the post he
calmly headed in the rebound.
Palace's token resistance all but ended three minutes after the break when
they were reduced to 10 men.
They conceded a foul on the edge of their own box and as midfielder Fan Zhiyi
protested he seemed to push the referee and was immediately sent off.
Rangers went for the kill and on 56 minutes they made it 3-0 when Tony
Scully's free kick was bodied on by Slade and after an almighty scramble forced
over the line by Kiwomya.
Palace were in freefall and Rangers were beginning to revel in the open spaces
all over the park.
Scully made it four on 76 minutes when he latched on to Andy Linighan's nod
down to thump an unstoppable shot into the top corner. And six minutes later
Palace went down to nine men when Woozley was dismissed after pulling down
Scully as he was about to tap in to an empty net.
Kiwomya was given the chance of his hat-trick from the spot but his effort was
blocked by Miller only for Tim Breacker to follow up and score.
Still QPR weren't finished. Three minutes later Scully crossed to Kiwomya
whose first header was saved, his second effort hit the post, before he
completed his hat-trick with his third chance to make it 6-0.
Rowland hit a post, Kevin Gallen had another effort just wide and the Rangers
fans, so tense before kick off, were hailing their team as if they had won the
championship by the end.
Teams:
QPR: Miklosko, Breacker, Baraclough, Kulcsar, Linighan, Maddix,
Scully, Peacock, Rowland (Gallen 86), Slade,Kiwomya (Murray 86).
Subs Not Used: Plummer.
Booked: Slade.
Goals: Kulcsar 8, Kiwomya 43, 56, Scully 76, Breacker 82,Kiwomya 85.
Crystal Palace: Miller, Frampton, Woozley, Austin,
Petric (Tuttle 615), Thomson, Foster (Burton 55), Zhiyi,
Martin (Carlisle 52), Morrison, Mullins.
Sent Off: Zhiyi (48), Woozley (81).
Booked: Austin, Petric.
Att: 18,498
Ref: P Rejer (Tipton).
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