..::Football III::..

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Southampton star Rodriguez suffers injury setback

Southampton striker and Tottenham target Jay Rodriguez has suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury, meaning he is unlikely to return in January as originally planned.

The striker impressed last season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions for the Saints before being stretchered off after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury against Manchester City on April 5.

Despite being on the sidelines, Spurs, Liverpool and Manchester City have shown an interest in a player whose form saw him handed a first England call-up in early 2014.

But Ronald Koeman has ruled out any return for the 25-year-old in the coming weeks, with February now the earliest he could return.

"Jay had to make a step back in his recovery. He will not be available until after the end of January," he told reporters.

"That was a pity because when we spoke about the squad in pre-season we said Jay would be a good signing for December, January but he isn't.

"After a big injury you don't have to rush. He needs time and he will give him time. It is a pity because he is a good player.

"This is the kind of bad luck we are having.

"He is now making steps forward but I don't like to fix a date because that puts pressure on the player and medical staff."

Rodriguez's setback is the latest fitness problem to strike Koeman's squad, with the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Toby Alderweireld and Jack Cork all missing matches through injury in recent weeks.

Those issues have coincided with the St Mary's Stadium outfit losing five successive matches, with the latest coming at the hands of League One Sheffield United in the League Cup.

And Koeman revealed Dusan Tadic is the latest player to be struck down, though his issues are linked to fatigue rather than a knock picked up while on the field.

"Tadic's tiredness has built up from playing a lot. All his injuries are built from fatigue and that means you are not fresh," he added.

"That is the difference playing outside the Premier League. These players need a break. That is one of the difficulties for us and one of the problems."

 

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Diego Lopez: I couldn't stay at Real Madrid once Navas arrived


Diego Lopez has explained that he knew his Real Madrid days were over when Keylor Navas was signed during the summer.

The goalkeeper was the European champions' first choice in La Liga last season, but Carlo Ancelotti opted to allow the former Villarreal man to join AC Milan once Navas was brought in from Levante following his impressive World Cup and club performances in 2013-14.

Lopez confessed that he suspected his Santiago Bernabeu career was over following the deal for the Costa Rican as his position would become untenable alongside both Navas and Iker Casillas.

"When it was just me and Iker Casillas the situation was sustainable, but when they signed Keylor I understood my situation would worsen," he told Tuttosport.

"Carlo Ancelotti and [Real Madrid goalkeeping coach] Villiam Vechi helped me with the decision to go to Milan - they spoke highly of the club and it was a good opportunity for me."

Lopez has played eight times for Filippo Inzaghi's men in 2014-15, after struggling with an injury during the early part of the campaign.

Navas, on the other hand, has struggled to usurp Casillas between the sticks at Madrid and has made just five appearances in all competitions.

 

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'I rate him highly' - Wenger wary of Liverpool dangerman Sterling


Arsene Wenger has hailed Raheem Sterling's impact at Liverpool ahead of Arsenal's trip to Anfield on Sunday.

Sterling came of age as Brendan Rodgers' men narrowly missed out on a first league title since 1990 last season, notching nine goals and five assists in 33 Premier League appearances.

Things have been more difficult this term, with the 20-year-old forced to assume even greater responsibility in the wake of Luis Suarez's summer move to Barcelona and Daniel Sturridge's persistent injury problems.

But as his Arsenal side prepare to take on Sterling and Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, Wenger was full of praise for the youngster.

"I rate him highly," the Frenchman told reporters. "Everybody spoke about Suarez last year but Sturridge and Sterling were very influential."

Arsenal found themselves 4-0 down after 20 minutes the last time these two sides met on Merseyside in February - with Sterling scoring twice - and while Wenger acknowledges Liverpool are significantly weakened, he is wary of the Anfield crowd.

"Last year Liverpool scored over 100 goals," he added. "Now they're not on the same trend. They came off the blocks very strong last time.

"I have a lot of respect for the crowd at Liverpool because they stand behind their team."

 

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Wenger preys on 'weaker' Liverpool


Arsene Wenger does not fear a repeat of last season's Premier League mauling when Arsenal visit Liverpool on Sunday.

Arsenal's previous trip to Anfield ended in a 5-1 defeat - a match that saw Brendan Rodgers' side leading 4-0 after 20 minutes - but Wenger does not believe Liverpool pose the same attacking threat now.

Luis Suarez was sold to Barcelona, while Daniel Sturridge has been injured since September, with summer arrivals Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert struggling for goals in their place.

"Every defeat leaves a scar in your heart," Wenger told reporters.

"Last year Liverpool scored over 100 goals. Now they're not on the same trend. They came off the blocks very strong last time."

The trip to Merseyside also sees forward Alexis Sanchez come face-to-face with Liverpool, who he reportedly turned down in favour of a move to Arsenal in July.

The 26-year-old has quickly become a fans' favourite at the Emirates Stadium with nine goals in 15 Premier League appearances.

And Wenger is delighted that the Chile international chose to join his side from Barcelona in the close-season.

"Every great player has the choice to play where he wants and he chose us," he added. "We're very happy. I told him the way we play football will suit him and all players want to play in the Champions League."

 

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Di Maria in contention for Manchester United's clash with Aston Villa

Louis van Gaal has revealed Angel Di Maria is in contention to be on the bench for Manchester United's trip to Aston Villa on Saturday.

Di Maria has not featured since United's 3-0 win over Hull City on November 29 due to a hamstring injury, but Van Gaal revealed in his press conference on Friday that the Argentina international has now resumed full training.

"Of course Angel Di Maria has trained this week with us, so it's always dependable how I have to compare with other players because he's not match fit after one week," the Dutchman told reporters.

"So maybe I will select him for the bench or maybe not. I have to make my decision because we have to train, so one training [session] to go."

Van Gaal also confirmed that Radamel Falcao is back in the reckoning for a starting spot against Villa, having last featured from the beginning in United's 2-1 win over Everton on October 5.

"He has shown fitness," Van Gaal added when asked about Falcao. "Maybe I shall select him for the bench, maybe for the line-up."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Angel is back!​

 

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Barclays Premier League 2014.12.20 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2014.12.20 Fixtures

Manchester City Vs Crystal Palace

Aston Villa Vs Manchester United

Hull City Vs Swansea

QPR Vs WBA

Southampton Vs Everton

Tottenham Vs Burnley

West Ham United Vs Leicester City

​

 

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La Liga 2014.12.20 Fixtures

La Liga 2014.12.20 Fixtures

Barcelona Vs Cordoba

Levante Vs Real Sociedad

Rayo Vallecano Vs Espanyol

Eibar Vs Valencia​

 

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Serie A 2014.12.20 Fixtures

Serie A 2014.12.20 Fixtures

Sassuolo Vs Cesena

Roma Vs AC Milan​

 

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Club World Cup Final 2014.12.20

Club World Cup Final 2014.12.20

Real Madrid Vs San lorenzo

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Third Place Match

Cruz Azul Vs Auckland City

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations & Good Luck Real Madrid!​

 

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Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United: Falcao on target but Red Devils held by 10 men

Manchester United's winning run came to an end on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 Premier League draw by 10-man Aston Villa.

Louis van Gaal's side travelled to Birmingham on the back of six straight wins and boasting an excellent record at Villa, who had lost to Midlands rivals West Brom last time out.

However, United were frustrated by a dogged showing from Paul Lambert's men, who held on for a point despite playing the final 25 minutes a man down after Gabriel Agbonlahor was handed a straight red card.

Christian Benteke gave Villa the lead in the 18th minute as he curled home only his second goal of the campaign.

United initially laboured in their quest to level matters, but pulled level in the 53rd minute when Radamel Falcao headed in from close range.

Lee Mason's controversial decision to send off Agbonlahor for a foul on ex-Villa man Ashley Young 12 minutes later looked to have tilted the contest in United's favour, but the visitors - who introduced the fit-again Angel di Maria off the bench - could not find a winner.

United dominated possession in the opening stages but struggled to find a way through a well-organised Villa side.

Robin van Persie crafted the visitors' first chance as his 16th-minute volley forced Brad Guzan into a strong near-post save, but United were punished for their lack of threat in front of goal by a piece of brilliance from Benteke.

The Belgium striker controlled a left-wing free-kick from Fabian Delph - in as part of four changes by Lambert - with his chest before teasing Jonny Evans and curling an expertly placed strike into the top-left corner to leave David de Gea, making his 150th appearance for United, with no chance.

Villa's goal opened things up as United poured forward with greater intent and the visitors almost levelled when Guzan reacted late to parry away Young's cross-cum-shot.

Darren Fletcher - brought in by Van Gaal along with Falcao - was replaced by Tyler Blackett at the start of the second half, with Michael Carrick moving from defence to midfield.

United would have fallen further behind had De Gea not brilliantly tipped Benteke's header from a Delph corner over the bar.

Van Persie was then denied by Guzan at the other end, but the American could do nothing to prevent Falcao from restoring parity.

Young whipped in a left-wing delivery and the former Monaco man made no mistake, using the power of the cross to head the ball beyond a helpless Guzan.

United were handed a further boost when Agbonlahor was dismissed for a seemingly innocuous challenge on Young, referee Mason displaying no hesitation in brandishing a red card despite an apparent lack of intent on the part of the Villa forward, who caught the shin of his former team-mate.

Jores Okore was then forced to clear Carrick's goal-bound header, with Villa clinging seemingly clinging on for a point.

Yet Leandro Bacuna almost snatched all three for the hosts with a fierce long-range drive that flew narrowly over the bar, and the fact that United failed to break down a depleted Villa outfit may give Van Gaal cause for concern over Christmas as United aim to cement a top-four berth.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Manchester United!

Falcao & Di Maria is back

But aparade dinaganna thibba match 1kahamadamath wage 1st Half 1kanam chaperformance madi

Meh wage matches draw karagannawa kiyanne loku paduwak​

 

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PSG 0-0 Montpellier: Champions miss chance to go top after dour draw

Paris Saint-Germain missed the chance to go top of Ligue 1 after being held to a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Monptellier.

Laurent Blanc's men had been hoping to move two points clear of title rivals Olympique de Marseille with a win at the Parc des Princes, but they struggled to creat any clear-cut chances during a dismal first-half showing.

David Luiz tested Jonathan Ligali shortly after the restart, Thiago Silva had a header cleared off the line, while Lucas Digne went close to a last-minute winner, but Montpellier held on with relative ease to claim a surprise point.

PSG suffered their first Ligue 1 defeat of the season last weekend, at Guingamp, but the French champions had won six home games in a row in all competitions before the visit of Montpellier.

However, talismanic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic looked off the pace and the Ligue 1 champions lacked a cutting edge as they moved level on points with Marseille, but failed to claim the victory they needed to go top. Marcelo Bielsa's men now have the chance to move three points clear if they beat Lille on Sunday.

Ibrahimovic returned to the PSG starting line-up after sitting out the Coupe de la Ligue win at Ajaccio in midweek.

The hosts were soon on the front foot and the visitors were indebted to a crucial intervention from Abdelhamid El Kaoutari to deny Edinson Cavani a tap-in when Lucas Moura burst into the penalty area and fired a dangerous ball in from the left.

Montpellier also posed a threat going forward and Morgan Sanson had the ball in the back of the net after 15 minutes when he converted Anthony Mounier's cross, but the latter was adjudged to be offside.

The champions looked disjointed and Silva had to be alert to clear when Daniel Congre was left unmarked and headed the ball back across goal.

Cavani's touch let him down when Marco Verratti laid the ball off to the Uruguay striker with a deft first-time pass six minutes from half-time as PSG's frustration mounted.

El Kaoutari spared Ligali's blushes with a last-ditch tackle to thwart Cavani after the Montpellier goalkeeper had spilled a dipping long-range free-kick from David Luiz eight minutes into the second half.

Lucas was causing all sorts of problems on the right flank and the Brazilian's inviting cross flashed across the face of goal as PSG attempted to raise the tempo.

PSG appealed for a penalty when El Kaoutari challenged Lucas, but referee Sebastien Moreira correctly pointed for a corner as the defender got a touch on the ball and Silva's towering header was cleared off the line by Mounier from the resulting set-piece.

Cavani and Blaise Matuidi were replaced by Adrien Rabiot and Jean-Christophe Bahebeck 25 minute from time after ineffective displays.

Rabiot went down under a challenge from Mathieu Deplagne four minutes from time, but referee Moreira saw nothing untoward and PSG were unable to fashion a late winner to end the year on a flat note.

 

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Werder Bremen 2-1 Borussia Dortmund: Selke stars as hosts heap more misery on BVB

Davie Silke was the star of the show as Werder Bremen lifted themselves off the foot of the Bundesliga with a 2-1 win over relegation rivals Borussia Dortmund.

The 19-year-old opened the scoring with a stunning strike after just three minutes of play at Westerstadion before setting strike partner Fin Bartels up for a second goal on the hour mark.

Mats Hummels set up a frantic finish with a header from an Ilkay Gundogan corner but the hosts held on to end a run of six straight defeats to BVB.

The result also moves Bremen above Dortmund, who remain in the relegation zone following a 10th league loss of the season, as the pressure continues to increase on Klopp and his players.

Both sides came into this game in desperate need of three points to get their respective seasons back on track before the mid-season break, but it was the hosts who made the dream start after three minutes.

A superb ball from Santiago Garcia found Selke behind the Dortmund defence, allowing the German to pick his spot and apply a smart curled finish past Mitchell Langerak.

Assani Lukimya, one of two changes to Viktor Skrypnyk's side, nearly increased the lead four minutes later, but his close-range effort was deflected wide.

Dortmund, who made three alterations from the 2-2 draw to Wolfsburg, dominated possession in the middle of the park for much of the first half, but remained largely predictable in the final third, with lone frontman Ciro Immobile left with little in terms of service.

Bremen continued to look dangerous and were nearly celebrating again after 25 minutes when a sweeping counter-attacking move saw Melvyn Lorenzen break away into the area, only to skew his shot wide.

Marcel Schmelzer fizzed a half-volley over six minutes later as Dortmund looked for way back into the game, while a mistake at the other end from Hummels just before the break meant Langerak had to be alert to rush out and deny Selke from doubling his tally.

The visitors introduced Shinji Kagawa at half-time to help try and find a breakthrough that nearly came six minutes after the restart when Lukasz Piszczek's back-post cross took a heavy deflection off Garcia before looping just wide.

Kagawa then headed wide four minutes later, but Dortmund found themselves further behind after 62 minutes.

Another brilliant counter attack saw Selke drive down the right wing before his low cross found Bartels, who made no mistake from close range.

Hummels gave Dortmund a lifeline when he rose highest to meet Gundogan's corner and power a header into the net with 21 minutes remaining.

The visitors continued to press for an equaliser, with Kagawa firing wide 11 minutes from time, before Gundogan produced a tame header straight at Raphael Wolf, while Bartels was denied by the post late on.

Bremen held on to clinch three vital points in their battle to beat the drop and keep Dortmund deep in trouble.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

BVB lata meh sare mona welada manda​

 

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Barcelona 5-0 Cordoba: Suarez ends Liga goal drought as Catalans close on Real Madrid

Luis Suarez ended his Liga goal drought as Barcelona closed to within a point of leaders Real Madrid with a resounding 5-0 win over Cordoba.

Pedro broke the deadlock with just three minutes on the clock and the winger then turned provided for Suarez, who opened his Primera Division account at the eighth attempt with an instinctive finish shortly after half-time.

Gerard Pique made it 3-0 by heading home a Xavi free kick and before Lionel Messi put the seal on an ultimately facile victory with two late right-footed strikes.

Luis Enrique opted to leave Neymar on the bench despite the Brazilian overcoming an ankle injury, with Pedro's Copa del Rey hat-trick against Huesca earning the Spain international a start in La Liga.

And the coach's decision was vindicated with just over a minute played, as Rakitic's lofted pass picked out Pedro's darting run and the forward coolly steered past Juan Carlos.

Barcelona continued to dictate the game and went agonisingly close to doubling their lead in the 12th minute, but Suarez's acrobatic volley from a Jordi Alba cross found the side-netting.

Cordoba eventually tested Claudio Bravo with 26 minutes gone, as Borja Garcia tried his luck from the left flank and almost saw his attempt creep inside the Chilean goalkeeper's right-hand post.

But that only proved to be a brief moment of respite for the visitors, who had another fortunate escape 10 minutes later as Pedro fired just off target from the edge of the area, before Pique saw a header saved on the stroke of half-time.

It did not take long for Barca to extend their lead in the second half, though, as Pedro drove into the left side of the area in the 53rd minute and cut the ball back for Suarez, who prodded the ball under Juan Carlos.

Barca almost scored again just a few moments later, but midfielder Rakitic's venomous long-range drive rattled the post.

Juan Carlos was beaten again 10 minutes from time, though, as Pique headed Xavi's corner past the helpless goalkeeper and Messi, who had been quite by his high standards, grabbed a fourth with a tidy finish into the top-left corner after another set-piece was not cleared.

Messi completed the rout in stoppage time, brilliantly bringing down Alba's cross before slamming beyond Juan Carlos with a clinical finish to take his tally to 15 La Liga goals for the season and end another prolific year in style.

 

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Tottenham 2-1 Burnley: Lamela stunner seals win as Kane strikes again

Erik Lamela's superb first Premier League goal earned Tottenham a 2-1 win over Burnley in an entertaining encounter at White Hart Lane.

The Argentine, who arrived for a club-record fee from Roma prior to the 2013-14 campaign, had previously gone 25 league appearances without finding the net for Spurs, but he broke his duck in fine style on Saturday.

Lamela produced a sublime curling finish from 25 yards to net the winner in the 35th minute, after a strike of similar quality from Ashley Barnes had cancelled out Harry Kane's header.

Kane met Nacer Chadli's pinpoint delivery midway through the first half - his 14th goal of the season in all competitions and third in as many matches.

Barnes netted the winner in Burnley's 1-0 victory over Southampton last weekend and, although there was a slice of fortune about that strike, there was nothing lucky about his third Premier League goal as he hit a magnificent effort into the top corner from just outside the area.

That goal was outshone by Lamela's effort, however, as Spurs completed a successful seven days, having defeated Swansea City last weekend and progressed to the semi-finals of the League Cup with a 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle United on Wednesday.

The hosts showed one alteration from their 2-1 victory in south Wales as Chadli came in for Roberto Soldado.

Burnley, unchanged from their clash with Southampton, threatened an early opener when Scott Arfield fired off target from Kieran Trippier's deep cross in the second minute.

After that promising start for the visitors, Spurs began to assert themselves on the game and took the lead in the 21st minute.

Kane's quick thinking at a free-kick released Chadli down the left and the striker broke into the box where he met the Belgian's perfect cross with a simple header from close range.

The advantage was short-lived, however, as Barnes arced a delightful finish into the top right-hand corner from 20 yards six minutes later.

Kane ought to have restored his side's lead soon afterwards, but he somehow missed his kick inside the six-yard box after Lamela had cut the ball back from the byline, Christian Eriksen eventually blazing over.

Ten minutes before the interval, Lamela's moment of magic did ensure Spurs moved back in front as he cut inside on his left foot and curled a superb shot inside the far post beyond the despairing dive of Tom Heaton.

Ryan Mason injured his ankle late in the first half while shooting off target and had to be replaced by Benjamin Stambouli.

As in the first period, Burnley made a strong start in the second with Danny Ings denied three times by Hugo Lloris in the opening nine minutes.

Spurs continued to look a threat themselves and Heaton stood strong to deny Chadli, who had been played in by a fine Eriksen backheel.

Kane came closed to a third late on when he just failed to get a telling touch on Eriksen's low cross, before Lloris kept out substitute Ross Wallace's low free-kick in stoppage time, allowing Spurs to climb to sixth, while Burnley drop back into the bottom three on goal difference.

 

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West Ham 2-0 Leicester City: Carroll & Downing strike for in-form Hammers

Goals in either half from Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing helped West Ham see off struggling Leicester City 2-0 at Upton Park on Saturday.

Nigel Pearson's rock-bottom side had their winless run extended to 12 matches as the hosts continued their fine season with a fourth win from their last five Premier League outings.

Carroll maintained his strong return to action from a long-term heel injury by scoring his third goal in as many games after 24 minutes.

A short backpass from former West Ham defender Paul Konchesky presented a gift-wrapped chance to the onrushing striker, who made no mistake with a cool dinked finish.

While the hosts' opener came about from a costly error, their second was a moment of quality from Downing, whose curled strike from long range sealed the points.

Leicester huffed and puffed in an attempt to find a way back into the game but Sam Allardyce's side saw the win out in relatively comfortable fashion and will feature in the top-flight's top four at Christmas for the first time since 1985.

With the unchanged sides on starkly contrasting runs of form recently, West Ham unsurprisingly made the brighter start with Carroll twice threatening in the air early on.

Diafra Sakho was next to go close, firing Kevin Nolan's throughball wide before Leicester grew into the game and forced a number of dangerous crosses.

Despite Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez showcasing pace and trickery, Leicester were unable to fashion clear-cut chances with Carroll spurning the first real opportunity of the game after 23 minutes.

The towering striker met Stewart Downing's cutback inside the area but blazed over from close range under pressure from Marcin Wasilewski.

However, Carroll made amends soon after when he got on the end of Konchesky's woefully under-hit backpass to clip the opener over Ben Hamer.

Buoyed by taking the lead, West Ham continued to put Leicester under pressure although Mahrez tested Adrian from distance on a rare venture forward for the visitors just after the half-hour mark.

West Ham deservedly led at the break however Carroll will have had Allardyce worried early in the second half when he went over on an ankle when closing down Konchesky before stumbling into the photographers' section at the side of the pitch.

However, he was able to continue and watched on soon after as Downing curled home West Ham's second - the England man taking Sakho's knockdown in his stride before sweeping home his fourth Premier League goal of the season.

That all but ended Leicester hopes of salvaging a point or picking up a first league win since September although Pearson will likely take some heart from his side's spirited late efforts.

Substitutes David Nugent and Leonardo Ulloa both brought smart saves from Adrian late on but a comeback failed to materialise, with Leicester left with work to do to arrest their slump as they perilously sit bottom at Christmas.

 

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QPR 3-2 West Brom: Austin scores hat-trick in comeback win

Charlie Austin struck his first Premier League hat-trick as QPR came from behind to beat West Brom 3-2 at Loftus Road on Saturday.

Austin - the top English scorer in the division - headed home the winning goal in the 87th minute to complete a stunning comeback for Harry Redknapp's side - who move out of the bottom three.

Joleon Lescott and Silvestre Varela each struck their first goals for Albion as the visitors raced into a dominant lead inside the opening 20 minutes.

Austin pulled one back before the break with an emphatic penalty, and he levelled the scores with a neat finish early in the second half.

And with time running out, Austin made no mistake from Joey Barton's corner to take his tally for the season to 11 - bettered only by Diego Costa and Sergio Aguero.

Victory moves QPR out of the relegation zone at the expense of Burnley - who lost 2-1 at Tottenham - and level on 17 points with 14th-placed Albion.

The visitors, who named an unchanged side, started brightly and wasted two chances in the opening seven minutes as Rob Green saved from Craig Gardner and Brown Ideye fired over.

West Brom's early pressure finally paid dividends after 10 minutes as Lescott headed beyond Green from Sebastian Pocognoli's corner, the central defender beating Richard Dunne to a Stephane Sessegnon flick-on to score.

QPR's attempts to get back into the game failed to produce anything to test Ben Foster, and after 20 minutes West Brom delivered a sucker-punch with a second goal on the counter-attack.

Eduardo Vargas needlessly gave away possession in the West Brom half and Varela raced towards the QPR penalty area before executing a neat one-two with Sessegnon and poking the ball under Green.

Four minutes later the hosts were handed a way back into the game as Leroy Fer was dragged back by James Morrison in the penalty area, after Foster had failed to claim a corner.

Austin - returning from suspension as one of four QPR changes - stepped up and lashed a powerful shot down the middle from 12 yards.

The striker could have doubled his tally before half-time, but he saw an effort saved by Foster and then fired over from 18 yards.

QPR's growing momentum continued at the start of the second half and three minutes after the break they were level through Austin.

After Dunne saw a header crash against the crossbar, Bobby Zamora reacted quickly to find his strike partner, and the 25-year-old applied the finish.

Having overcome the shock of throwing away their advantage the visitors worked their way back into the game, however their final pass was notably lacking.

And that slackness was punished with three minutes of normal time to go as Austin thudded Barton's right-wing delivery home to complete his treble and ensure a happier Christmas for QPR fans and staff alike.