QPR 3 Sunderland 1: Townsend and Jenas hit half-volleys for vital win

 
QPR win: Jermaine Jenas celebrates his goal
Nik Simon11 March 2013

Harry Redknapp told Queens Park Rangers fans to expect the unexpected last week and his team duly delivered with their first back-to-back Premier League wins since 1995.

It was also QPR’s first home win over Sunderland for more than 22 years and one which could prove so crucial in their battle for Premier League survival.

QPR had to come from behind when Steven Fletcher opened the scoring for Sunderland after 20 minutes but Loic Remy and Andros Townsend were on target to snatch the lead before Jermaine Jenas added a third in the final minute.

Townsend's goal put the home side in front when he struck a superb half-volley from 22 yards to put QPR on course for a vital win.

“I’ve scored a few decent goals in my time but nothing like this,” said Townsend. “Nothing in the Premier League for a club that’s fighting for their lives in such a vital game.

“Everyone’s believing. We’re only four points behind Villa and we’ve got to play them next week so it's still in our hands.

“We’ve got Villa, Wigan, Reading so it’s all in our hands. We’re confident we can go to these places and win.”

Fletcher’s opening goal on 20 minutes was completely against the run of play as both Townsend and Junior Hoilett troubled Sunderland’s makeshift fullbacks, Craig Gardner and Josh Colback, in the game’s early stages.

Stephane Sessegnon, always so dangerous for Sunderland, latched onto a neat back-heel from Steven Fletcher and drove down the right to play in Adam Johnson, who drilled the ball across goal to leave Fletcher with an easy finish. No player has scored more opening goals than the Scottish international this season.

But Rangers struck back 10 minutes later with a counterattack of their own. Jose Bosingwa carried the ball into Sunderland’s half and found Townsend. The winger cut inside from the right-flank and his shot ricocheted off John O’Shea into the feet of Loic Remy, who slotted past Simon Mignolet for his third goal in five games.

Minutes later the Frenchman could have scored a second. Junior Hoilett played the ball across the area to Bobby Zamora as Rangers again pressed out wide but Remy blasted Zamora's layoff over the bar.

And QPR scored what could be their most crucial goal of the season after 70 minutes. A headed clearance from Steven Fletcher floated onto the chest of Townsend who, after one touch, curled past Mignolet to the sound of “Harry Redknapp, he’s keeping us up”.

"Hopefully I can back my goal up here with a few more performances," said Townsend.

"The quality is there and hopefully we're starting to gel as a team now and we’ll get a few more wins before the end of the season.

"Every team has had their run this season but I don’t think QPR have had that yet."

Jermaine Jenas added QPR’s third in the 90th minute when the midfielder lashed in a low shot from outside the box to secure the three points.

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