Crystal Palace 3 Queens Park Rangers 0

Last updated : 02 December 2006 By Footymad Previewer
Goals from Dougie Freedman, Shefki Kuqi and Clinton Morrison extended Crystal Palace's unbeaten run to four matches as Peter Taylor's Eagles outplayed Queens Park Rangers at Selhurst Park.

It was Palace's biggest win of the season and revenge for the 4-2 defeat at Loftus Road, four weeks ago.

Yet Rangers wasted a couple of glaring chances before Palace got a grip on the match. The Eagles grew in confidence after Freedman opened the scoring on 13 minutes.

Kuqi made a powerful run down the right channel from Iain Turner's long free-kick and then got the better of Jamaican international Damion Stewart before crossing perfectly for Freedman to slot past Simon Royce.

Rangers hit back in search of an equaliser and should have levelled when Dexter Blackstock crossed into the goalmouth to Marc Nygaard, who simply had to slide the ball over the line. But, amazingly, he entirely missed the ball and Palace breathed a sigh of relief.

On 32 minutes, the Freedman/Kuqi partnership worked again to double Palace's lead. Freedman did some fancy footwork just inside his own half and then made progress towards goal before setting up Kuqi.

The flying Finn made no mistake with a perfect finish from 15 yards out, giving Royce no chance.

Palace completely dominated after the break, with skipper Michael Hughes and Ben Watson in full control of the midfield. Rangers were being pulled apart and Watson, with Royce standing off his line some 40 yards out, placed his shot wide of the empty goal.

Kuqi could easily have added to the scoreline but that privilege was eventually left to substitute Morrison three minutes from the end. Tom Soares found space down the right and then crossed perfectly into the goalmouth for the former Birmingham City striker to tap in Palace's third.