Jimmy Dunne celebrates post-match. Alamy Stock Photo

Championship: Jimmy Dunne nets twice to move QPR into play-off spots

Elsewhere, Southampton announced themselves in the Championship promotion race.

IT WAS A memorable day for Jimmy Dunne as the QPR captain bagged a brace in the 5-0 thumping of Swansea at Loftus Road.

Richard Kone had already scored a hat-trick inside 15 minutes before Dunne netted his first to go four up by half-time.

The Swans – who were top of the Championship until they were overtaken by Middlesbrough on Friday night – suffered their second defeat in a row.

They did have their moments in the first half – Adam Idah fired against the bar shortly after they went behind.

But QPR were very much on top and they made it 4-0 when Dunne rose to head home Harvey Vale’s corner in first-half stoppage time.

In the 86th minute, Dunne stuck out a leg to divert Kone’s off-target shot into the net for the Irish international’s second goal and Rangers’ fifth.

Swansea remain second in the table, while QPR’s resounding victory moved them back into the play-off positions in eighth.

Elsewhere, Southampton announced themselves in the Championship promotion race with a statement 3-2 win at pre-season title-favourites West Ham.

Kuryu Matsuki, James Bree and Lewis Dobbin were all on target in a chaotic first half, while Kyle Walker-Peters and Tomas Soucek replied for the third-placed Hammers.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, relegated on the final day of last term, would have gone top with a win but instead saw their nine-match unbeaten run grind to a halt.

There were thousands of empty seats by the end at the London Stadium, with those who stayed booing the Hammers off.

For anyone who thought promotion would be achieved at a canter in east London, this was a wake-up call.

The Hammers now have a Southampton side, who were deducted four points at the start of the season, in their rear-view mirror, lying just two points behind.

Meanwhile, Adam Armstrong ended his goal drought with a milestone strike to give dominant Wolves a 1-0 win against Watford, taking them into fourth.

Championship results

  • Charlton 1-3 Norwich
  • Portsmouth 2-1 Millwall
  • Sheffield United 1-1 Derby 
  • Blackburn 2-0 Wrexham
  • Cardiff 1-0 Birmingham
  • Lincoln 4-1 Burnley
  • Preston 1-1 West Brom
  • QPR 5-0 Swansea
  • Stoke 0-0 Bristol City
  • West Ham 2-3 Southampton
  • Wolves 1-0 Watford
Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel

     
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds