Round-up: Charlie Austin double lifts QPR to second

Charlie Austin’s double lifted Queens Park Rangers to second in the Championship after a 2-1 home victory over Huddersfield Town yesterday.

Harry Redknapp’s side, heavily dependent on Austin this season, struggled before their top scorer broke the deadlock by finishing emphatically on 55 minutes following Andy Johnson’s flick. The Terriers looked set for a deserved point when Nahki Wells equalised midway through the second half, heading home a cross from Adam Hammill. But Austin’s header with 12 minutes left from Benoît Assou-Ekotto’s corner proved decisive.

Reading run riot

Adam Le Fondre scored a first-half hat-trick as Reading thrashed Bolton 7-1 to move into the play-off places. Le Fondre set the hosts on their way with three goals in the opening 33 minutes, two from close range and one from a precise finish after good work by Pavel Pogrebnyak. The Russian striker added a fourth from the penalty spot just before the break and there was no respite for Dougie Freedman’s side after the interval. The hosts claimed further goals from Kaspars Gorkss, Hope Akpan and Nick Blackman before David Ngog’s late consolation.

Maguire denies Burnley

Burnley lost ground on Leicester City and QPR at the top of the Championship after Sheffield Wednesday clinched a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor. Sam Vokes put Sean Dyche’s side ahead just before half-time with a calm finish. But that lead lasted less than two minutes before Chris Maguire, who was also denied a penalty from a late claim, fired home from close range.

Lansbury fires up Forest

Nottingham Forest made it 10 matches unbeaten as Blackburn Rovers were swept aside 4-1 at the City Ground. Henri Lansbury scored twice from the spot in the first half, and while Ben Marshall pulled a goal back before the break with a curling shot, Jamie Paterson killed off the visitors with a superb solo effort for his fifth goal in three games. Andy Reid rounded off the win with a spectacular strike from the edge of the box.

Classy Commons

Kris Commons scored twice to earn Celtic a 3-0 win at home to Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership. The midfielder registered his 18th goal of the season with a shot in the fifth minute before driving in a penalty. Stephen McManus then deflected James Forrest’s cross into his own net in the 68th minute. Celtic’s Anthony Stokes was sent off late on for a lunge.