Baggies down QPR to go third

West Brom are up to the
unaccustomed heights of third place in
the Premier League table after
continuing their great start to the
season with a 3-2 win over rock-
bottom QPR.
The sides served up an entertaining
encounter at the Hawthorns and,
having raced into a 2-0 lead early on,
the Baggies weathered an improved
second-half display from the visitors to
make it four from four at home this
season.
West Brom got off to a flying start
when Shane Long raced past Clint Hill
down the right and sent over a lovely
cross which James Morrison (5)
headed home from eight yards.
Long blazed a great chance over the
bar 10 minutes later but the hosts did
not have to wait long for their second,
Zoltan Gera (22) slotting home after
Anton Ferdinand had failed to properly
clear a Morrison cross.
The R's looked down and out but
pulled one back when Adel Taarabt
scored his second fine goal inside a
week, chesting down a clever Esteban
Granero pass and beating Ben Foster
with a thumping volley.
But West Brom finished the half the
stronger and Youssouf Mulumbu shot
just wide before Julio Cesar pulled off a
fine stop to deny Gera his second goal
of the day.
QPR were improved after the break
and Foster saved a Taarabt effort
before Jose Bosingwa and Granero
failed to hit the target.
But the Baggies then strung together a
lovely passing move which apparently
made sure of the points, Mulumbu (85)
guiding his shot home after Gonzalo
Jara Reyes had exchanged passes with
Morrison and sent over a low cross
from the right.
However, there was more drama to
come, Granero (90) curling a
sumptuous shot into the top corner
when the ball fell to him on the edge
of the box, only for Bosingwa to put a
great chance to level the scoreline over
the bar with the final kick of the game.