QPR 3 - West Brom 2: Charlie Austin hat-trick rescues all three points for Hoops
CHARLIE AUSTIN won herograms from both managers last night after becoming the first Rangers player to score a Premier League hat-trick since Bradley Allen 21 years ago.
Charlie Austin went home with the match ball after a spirited comeback from QPR
Harry Redknapp and Alan Irvine were united in hailing champagne Charlie’s match-winning goals after a super solo show that also sparked a fans’ chorus for him to get an England call-up.
That will be down to Roy Hodgson, but Austin was certainly Rangers’ saviour yesterday as he took his goal haul so far to 11 – more than half the target Redknapp has set him for the season.
His manager said: “Charlie has scored goals at every level and now he’s scoring them in the Premier League – and he deserves it. His work rate today was superb.”
Irvine revealed: “I wanted to sign him when I was manager at Sheffield Wednesday and he’s gone from strength to strength.
“He was the difference today and he is a top, top player.”
Austin powers QPR to victory after being 2-0 down [AMBIENT]
This was a big result for us. My team showed a lot of character to come back after being outplayed in the first half
Harry Redknapp
Irvine was left rueing not having a striker of Austin’s quality after seeing his side surrender a two goal lead Joleon Lescott and Silvestre Varela gave them in a first half they dominated.
Austin, who scored his first from the spot before half-time, struck again twice in a second half Rangers duly edged to climb out of the relegation zone and guarantee their gaffer a happier Christmas.
Redknapp added: “This was a big result for us. My team showed a lot of character to come back after being outplayed in the first half.”
Irvine added: “The players are all bitterly disappointed, but we’ll accentuate the positives from this game – and there were plenty of them.”
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