Chesterfield 2 QPR 3

(December 15)

QPR produced a marvellous display away from home to beat Chesterfield in a five-goal thriller.

All the goals came in a crazy second half which saw the home side take the lead, before Rangers bounced back in style with three goals in seven minutes. Ian Holloway's team then withstood a nervous last quarter of an hour which saw Chesterfield pull a goal back and Danny Shittu sent off for a second bookable offence.

It was Rangers who made the brighter start but the first clear cut chance fell to Chesterfield in the 13th minute when Fraser Digby needed to be alert to turn Sean Parrish's sharp strike around the post.

Kevin Gallen then had a chance when he raced in to the area and saw his low drive parried by Nathan Abbey. A minute later, Gallen was in the thick of it again, turning sharply after good work from Doudou and curling his shot just the wrong side of Abbey's left hand upright.

Chesterfield moved up a gear after the break and started well, with David D'Auria's spectacular volley drifting just wide in the 48th minute.

But on the hour mark, the Rs found themselves a goal down. The ball struck Danny Murphy's hand inside the area and referee Webster had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. David Reeves confidently despatched the penalty to put Chesterfield ahead.

Within five minutes, Rangers were back on terms thanks to a penalty of their own. Kevin Gallen danced past one defender before being brought down by Steve Payne just as he prepared to shoot.

Andy Thomson calmly slotted home the spot kick to level the scores.

Suddenly it was the home side looking nervous and Rangers took full advantage sending the Rangers faithful into raptures with two further goals in two minutes to establish a commanding lead.

Firstly, Danny Shittu powered in an unstoppable header from Murphy's corner to make it 2-1 and Matthew Rose made it 3-1 soon after.

Doudou found Gallen, whose shot was parried into Rose's path, who made no mistake.

With 12 minutes remaining, Jon Howard brought the home side back in to the game with an outstanding strike. Breaking from the halfway line, he unleashed a powerful curling strike just inside Digby's right hand post.

Rangers were then put under further pressure when Danny Shittu was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Chesterfield piled on the pressure in an almost unbearably nervous last 10 minutes but Rangers held out for a dramatic and important win.

QPR: Digby, Palmer Rose, Forbes, Murphy (Bignot), Ben Askar, Shittu, Peacock, Gallen, Connolly (Doudou), Thomson