Austin: I thought I had scored

QPR striker Charlie Austin admitted he thought he had given his side the lead before he netted the opening goal in the 2-2 draw against Manchester City.

Austin scored the opener after finding the City net for the third time after 21 minutes.

The former Burnley man had two strikes ruled out in the space of 30 seconds after eight minutes, but each time the visitors’ shambolic defence was reprieved.

He was offside in heading in, then City goalkeeper Joe Hart kicked the ball twice, firstly with his standing foot, before the striker scored. Referee Mike Dean correctly ruled out the effort.

Hart was making a ’two’ gesture to the officials before the striker hit his shot but Austin thought he had scored, and told Sky Sports 1: “Didn’t you see from my celebration? I turned around and no-one was with me.

“When I looked back, everyone was around the ref.

“To be honest, when it came to me I just thought ’shoot’. It went in and I thought I’d put us 1-0 up but unfortunately it didn’t count.”

The former Burnley man eventually got his goal but Sergio Aguero equalised before Austin’s cross was then turned into his own net by Martin Demichelis.

Aguero then mesmerised the QPR defence for a second time to earn a draw.