QPR 3-3 Burnley

A six-goal thriller and strikes for two debut boys still left the Championship race open.  

A win for Hoops would have produced the Grand Canyon of a gap. Instead, it’s a tiny crevice after they conceded three for the first time anywhere – never mind at home.

Strikes from new boy Kevin Doyle after a mere seven minutes and a late tap-in for Modibo Maiga were cancelled out by the 22 of the season for Danny Ings and a pair for Sam Vokes as the match changed as much as the weather.

The sun was still out when Rangers lost Matty Phillips before latecomers had a chance to settle in their seats. The winger went down to a nothing challenge.

But the setback was short lived. Andy Johnson’s back header from Niko Kranjcar corner was well tipped over by Tom Heaton - but not the second time.

The second pinpoint delivery found Doyle flicking past the keeper for 1-0.

Rangers love of bandages was bestowed on Richard Dunne this time.

He was in the wars like Charlie Austin before him on Tuesday, and another swathe of white was needed to patch up the defender's head wound.

Burnley patched up the deficit on 25 minutes when Kieran Trippier dinked a ball into the box for Ings to hook past Rob Green from six yards.

The Terry Butcher lookalike aka Dunne was truly the hero when he scored Rangers second.

In fact, the two central defenders combined with Hill nodding on a corner for his bandaged mate to inflict a second Burnley wound with a left hook that flew into the top corner.

Even the smiling Austin watching from the stands would have been pressed to do better.

In time added on, Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s timely tackle on Michael Kightly as the midfielder burst through saved Rs blushes.

If that was a timely warning – it went unheeded.

The other half of the free-scoring Clarets duo levelled on 54 minutes when Kightly was allowed time on the left to centre for Vokes to volley in at the near post with a deft side-foot.

If that was bad, then the third was criminal.

The consistent performance of Assou-Ekotto has been a Rangers strength, but the left back won’t want to see the moment when he was robbed by Ings on the byline.

The striker centred low and Vokes swept home to but Burnley ahead for the first time.

Ings was through a bit later but after turning Hill, turned his shot an inch wide of the far post.

The man who had replaced Phillips then played a pivotal part. Junior Hoilett wriggled free on the right, and his low cross was converted by Maiga, who was last to arrive in yesterday’s transfer window and last to arrive on the pitch.

Better late than never, eh?

QPR, 4-4-1-1; Green, Onuoha, Dunne, Hill, Assou-Ekotto, Phillips, Barton Kranjcar, Traore (Henry 83), Johnson (Maiga 69), Doyle, subs not used: Murphy, Hoilett, Hughes, Zamora, Carroll