Burnley restored their three-point advantage at the top of the Sky Bet Championship as they cruised to a 3-0 victory at QPR.
A wonderful Johann Berg Gudmunsson free-kick got them off the mark at Loftus Road, before Ian Maatsen and Nathan Tella struck to seal victory.
It took them back clear of Sheffield United after the Blades had won on Saturday to close the gap on the Clarets.
For QPR, it was a miserable afternoon in their first game since the departure of head coach Michael Beale, and their fourth defeat in a row.
Burnley cruise to victory in west London
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Ian Maatsen strikes and scores from a tight angle after Vitinho’s shot is saved by Dieng in the game against QPR.
Burnley took the lead on 19 minutes. Cork was chopped down on the edge of the area and Gudmundsson stepped up to send an unstoppable curling effort over the wall and past Seny Dieng.
On the stroke of half-time in was two as Dieng could only palm Vitinho’s 25-yard strike into the path of Maatsen, who drove it back with intent past the helpless QPR goalkeeper.
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A mistake from QPR’s Jimmy Dunne allows Nathan Tella to nip it in past the goalkeeper to make it three for Burnley.
QPR B Team manager Paul Hall, taking charge following the departure of Beale, threw on Albert Adomah and Olamide Shodipo at the break, but it did little to turn the tide.
And after 71 minutes it was 3-0 as they took advantage of a Jimmy Dunne error. The former Burnley defender selling Dieng woefully short with an attempted chested backpass, allowing Tella to nip in and round the goalkeeper before finding the back of the net from the tightest of angles.
What’s next?
Both sides are back in Sky Bet Championship action at 3pm next Saturday. QPR head to Preston, while Burnley host Middlesbrough.
