Round-up: Taarabt double keeps QPR flying high

The manager of Queen's Park Rangers, Neil Warnock, praised Adel Taarabt's performance after the midfielder inspired his team to a 4-0 win over Swansea City at Loftus Road yesterday, despite both teams finishing with 10 men. The Moroccan scored twice as the west London side continue their push for automatic promotion after a mini-slump in form featuring two consecutive league defeats.

"Taarabt was excellent," said Warnock. "That's what we know he can do." The Moroccan set-up Jamie Mackie to score a 16th-minute opener for the hosts before he was fouled by Ashley Williams in the box, which resulted in a successful penalty for team-mate Heidar Helguson. Then came Taarabt's stunning second-half strikes: first he managed to beat the Swansea goalkeeper Dorus De Vries with a low shot that passed under his body in the 70th minute before unleashing a 25-yard pile-driver 10 minutes later. QPR's Clint Hill had earlier received a red card for a challenge on Alan Tate, who was also sent off for Swansea in the process.

Goals from Seyi Olofinjana and Craig Bellamy send Cardiff City into second place as a result of a 2-0 victory over Coventry City. Bellamy broke free in the 21st minute and his inch-perfect cross found Olofinjana who side-footed home. The Welsh side's second goal arrived with seven minutes remaining, as Bellamy drilled home a 25-yard deflected strike.

Reading maintain their push for a play-off place as they came from a goal down to beat Bristol City 4-1. Jon Stead headed home the opener for City before Reading rallied with two first-half strikes. Jobi McAnuff provided the equaliser and team-mate Noel Hunt tapped in to put the hosts ahead, before a double from Shane Long, one strike arriving in the 66th minute and the other coming 23 minutes later, after the interval confirmed a dominant win that means Reading are one point behind Coventry in sixth.