Crewe Alexandra 0 Queens Park Rangers 2

Last updated : 14 September 2004 By Footymad Previewer

QPR picked up their third win of the season as they won 2-0 at Crewe with goals in each half from Paul Furlong and Georges Santos.

The veteran striker Furlong struck in the 22nd minute after strike partner Kevin Gallen tapped a free-kick sideways to him and his screaming 25-yarder flew past home keeper Ben Williams.

Then Santos piled on the misery for the dismal Railwaymen when he thumped home Gallen's right-sided corner in the 68th minute moving ahead of his marker to get in a free header on goal.

It was no more than Ian Holloway's side deserved for their endeavour and tenaciousness.

They never allowed Crewe to settle and the hosts were very disappointing up front despite fielding a three-pronged attack.

The closest they came to a goal was when Dean Ashton volleyed on to the post in injury time.

Ashton also wasted an opportunity shortly before Furlong opened the scoring when he headed David Vaughan's free-kick over the bar from a juicy position at the near post.

But highlights were few and far between for the home side against a well organised Rangers defence in which the physical presence of Santos was always to bear.

Crewe may have felt hard done by on the half hour when Ashton's header appeared to strike Marc Bircham's arm inside the box, but referee Ray Olivier waved play on.

Ashton wasted another opportunity nine minutes before half time when he pulled the ball wide of the far post after Kenny Lunt had found him with a searching ball.

Both sides were fairly evenly matched in the first half, Rangers were by far the more authoritative in the second. Gallen came close with a fierce shot which just missed the bottom corner in the 51st minute and then he wasted an opening shortly after that by wanting too much time to take aim inside the box.

Crewe threw Michael Higdon and Luke Varney up front in the final 25 minutes, but it failed to inspire them.

Marcus Bean was the closest to adding to the scoring when his volley was beaten out by Williams in the 81st minute.