March 14 2015

Joel Ward (Photo: Andy Roberts)

Crystal Palace moved a step closer to Premier League safety with a 3-1 win at home to QPR.

It was the Eagles' win first home win since January 10 and the victory pushes them 11 points above the drop zone.

Alan Pardew's side were in total control from the off against a Rangers team that has gleaned just three points from 42 on the road this season.

Palace, who had won just one of their last eight games at home, took a deserved 21st minute lead. Glenn Murray picked out Yannick Bolasie on the left and his low delivery to the back post was bundled in by Wilfried Zaha, who injured himself in the process by banging into the upright.

The home side doubled their lead in the 40th minute through James McArthur who side-footed home another dangerous Bolasie cross from the left for his second Eagles goal.

And two minutes later, the match was put beyond QPR's reach as Joel Ward curled in his first goal for the club after good work by Zaha.

Matt Phillips netted a sensational 35-yard goal of the season contender for the Hoops on 83 minutes but it was no more than a consolation.

Palace: Speroni, Ward, Delaney, Dann, Kelly, McArthur, Ledley, Puncheon (Gayle 56), Zaha (Maiappa 57), Bolasie, Murray (Sanogo 80).

Not used: Hennessey, Hangeland, Souare, Ameobi.

QPR: Green, Furlong (Hill 45), Caulker, Onouha, Suk-Young, Wright-Phillips (Grego-Cox 85), Sandro (Kranjcar 84), Henry, Phillips, Taarabt, Austin.

Not used: McCarthy, Hoilett, Vargas, Zamora.

Palace manager Alan Pardew: "Steve Coppell would be proud. We are famous for wingers here and there was none better than Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha today.

"I've been being the nasty teacher to them this week telling them to get in the box.

"I just thought we were very good. We were unlucky in the second half as we lost Jason Puncheon and Zaha.

"I don't think I have ever seen a better goal than we have seen (from Matt Phillips) at this place. Ironically, it was from the opposition. That was a special goal."

QPR manager Chris Ramsey: "The first-half key moments really put us on the back foot and the way we defended was really disappointing. It killed the game before we could get into it.

"It wasn't about protection for the defence. What we needed to do was to track the runners. Sometimes it's over by the time you begin getting back in the game.

"In the first-half our play wasn't horrendous but we struggled in the key moments. All the players have come off disappointed knowing we let ourselves down in the key moments.

"We knew it was a mammoth task to stay up but we are now relying on other people which you don't want to do. But, until we get into a situation where it is not mathematically possible, we are going to keep going."

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