Peterborough 0 QPR 2

Last updated : 01 January 2003 By Footymad Previewer

QPR boss Ian Holloway gave his side a pre-match talking too and was delighted with the response at Peterborough when the set play skills of Richard Langley unlocked the home defence and proved the key to an emphatic victory.

Struggling Posh had no answer to Langley's corners and Clarke Carlisle met a 43rd minute inswinger from the left to open the score with an unstoppable header at the far post.

Langley did even better in the 78th minute, curling the ball directly into the net from another left-wing corner with on loan Posh goalkeeper Lee Harrison able to do no more than help the ball on its way.

"What has upset me recently is the way teams seemed to affect us and I told the players in no uncertain terms," said Holloway after the game.

"The response was excellent, we were consistent in what we did and organised ourselves well and now have to take things forward from here." The win lifts QPR to seventh spot and Holloway believes there is still time for his side to meet pre-season expectations and challenge for a play-off spot.

In contrast, Posh with just two points from a possible nine in the festive programme, have been sucked into the relegation dog fight and once again seldom looked like scoring.

David Farrell brought a smart early save from Rangers' goalkeeper Nick Culkin and later smacked a rising drive against a post with Culkin beaten while leading marksman Andy Clarke caused problems in the second half only to twice shoot just wide.

Under-fire Posh manager Barry Fry admitted the game hinged on corner kicks.

"They defended magnificently when we took flag kicks but at the other end Rangers always looked like getting on the end of their own corners," he admitted.

The second Rangers goal was a signal for chants for Fry's dismissal from one section of the fans.

"Everyone is entitled to their opinions but put Arsene Wenger or Alex Ferguson here and I doubt if they would do better," said a defiant Fry.