Burnley earn vital win

Burnley - A superb goal by Scotty Arfield sent Burnley on their way to a 2-1 home win over fellow English Premier League strugglers Queens Park Rangers on Saturday which saw them climb out of the relegation zone.

Defeat sees QPR slip to third from bottom and leaves them still without a point away from home this term.

Burnley -- who were unchanged for the seventh successive match -- took the lead through Arfield, ending his drought since scoring on the opening day of the season in memorable style.

He collected the ball wide out on the left and then beat several QPR players and looked up before curling the ball past Rob Green.

This stunning effort sparked QPR into action with Austin going agonisingly close to levelling when he beat Burnley 'keeper Tom Heaton only for the ball to hit the post.

QPR's Dutch international Leroy Fer also tested the Burnley defence but his shot drifted just wide of the post.

Austin, though, did put the visitors back on level terms when he was adjudged to have been fouled in the area and he picked himself up to convert the penalty only to be greeted by jeers of 'you're a cheat' by his former fans.

The hosts were back in front by the break and it was mostly down to woeful defending as Steven Caulker was easily brushed aside by Danny Ings.

The England Under-21 forward put the ball between the legs of Richard Dunne and slotted the ball into the net.

This time round Burnley didn't allow QPR to get back into the game and it was they who twice went close to sealing the points first through a spectacular effort by Ashley Barnes and then both Ben Mee and Ings were wide with good chances.

Indeed Barnes thought he had won the game for the Clarets when he got the better of Green in a challenge and prodded the ball home but the referee Andre Marriner ruled it out judging he had fouled the former England goalkeeper.

QPR manager Harry Redknapp desperate to at least salvage a point sent on Mauro Zarate for his first appearance for the club since moving on loan from West Ham with 14 minutes remaining.

Both Austin and Fer forced Heaton into saves as the visitors cranked up the pressure in the final 10 minutes but the home defence held firm.