Neil Warnock came out on top on his return to Crystal Palace, with QPR claiming a 2-0 win on the road.
Rangers secure welcome win
Neil Warnock came out on top on his return to Crystal Palace, with Queens Park Rangers claiming a 2-0 win on the road.
Both teams entered the game struggling towards the foot of the table, but it was to be Rangers who ended the day with a bit of breathing space.
Akos Buzsaky and Kaspars Gorkss did the damage for the visitors as penniless Palace's recent revival came to a grinding halt.
The Eagles, who are still in administration, are now just a place and a point above the drop zone while Rangers can relax a little after a first win in eight.
Warnock, who claimed prior to the match that he was in a no-win situation as he does not want to see Palace relegated, received a mixed reception before kick-off.
Replaced
He had barely reached the dug-out when, five seconds in, Rangers centre-half Damion Stewart was involved in a sickening clash of heads with Eagles striker Calvin Andrew.
Stewart had to be stretchered off while Andrew soldiered on before eventually having to be replaced.
By then, Rangers had already taken an 11th-minute lead after Palace failed to clear Hogan Ephraim's cross and Buzsaky rifled his 11th goal of the season from the edge of the area.
Buzsaky, who has been in and out of the team since Warnock took over, looked eager to make the most of his latest chance and nearly doubled the lead with a dipping volley which flew just over.
Palace would have equalised eight minutes before the break but for a stunning save from Rangers keeper Radek Cerny.
Wayward
Overlapping left-back Clint Hill looked certain to score after being put through by Darren Ambrose but Cerny kept out his shot at full stretch.
Rangers could have gone further ahead shortly after the break when Ephraim chested Adel Taarabt's pass into the path of Tamas Priskin but the Hungarian striker's shot was wayward.
But they did double their lead on the hour when Taarabt swung in a corner and Gorkss got ahead of his marker to head home.
Palace, to their credit, did not give up and Stern John volleyed over before Neil Danns squandered two decent chances, rolling a shot wide before firing another straight at Cerny.
But Warnock was able to enjoy a happy return to his old manor while Palace's season looks set to go to the wire.
