Barton turns it on as QPR climb out of relegation zone

Joey Barton confounded the naysayers last night as he led embattled QPR to victory against Swansea at Loftus Road as the Hoops climbed out of the relegation zone.

Barton has received a frosty reception since joining from Newcastle, but the captain shone at both ends of the pitch and fired the relegation-threatened west Londoners ahead on the stroke of half-time, controlling the ball with aplomb before lashing home. QPR continued to impress in the second-half and deservedly doubled their advantage 10 minutes after the restart through Jamie Mackie, whose shot from the edge of the box deflected in off Angel Rangel.

The attacker was marginally offside when he collected the ball for the goal but, given the poor run of fortune QPR have endured in recent weeks, there were few complaints in west London.

Akos Buzsaky wrapped up victory with a thunderous 25-yard strike that gives the Hoops a two-point cushion over the drop zone and leaves tonight’s opponents nursing a fourth successive league defeat.

And now striker Mackie believes QPR can avoid the drop providing they win their remaining home fixtures.

“It was a massive win,” he said. “We’ve been tremendous at home. We haven’t been great this season against opposition around us, so we’ve given ourselves a massive chance with five games remaining. Our home form is vital. We have two homes game left which we believe we can win.”

Boss Mark Hughes said: “You saw by the manner of our performance tonight that we can take anyone here and that’s what we have to do — take maximum points from our home games and then take that form away with us. People looked at our run-in and told us it was too hard, but we’re getting good results at the moment.”

QPR: Kenny, Onuoha,Ferdinand, Hill, Taiwo, Mackie (Wright-Phillips 77), Barton, Diakite, Buzsaky, Taarabt (Smith 88), Zamora (Bothroyd 78).

SWANSEA: Vorm, Rangel, Caulker, Williams, Taylor (Tate 46), Sigurdsson, Britton (Moore 62), Allen, Routledge (Dyer 46), Graham, Sinclair.

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Result: Scottish First Division: Ayr 1 Ross County 3.