Crystal Palace have moved away from the Premier League's relegation zone with a 3-1 win over Queens Park Rangers at Selhurst Park this afternoon.
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Chances were scarce in the opening 15 minutes, and although the visitors enjoyed the majority of the possession they were unable to capitalise and break the deadlock.
The home side started to see more of the ball, resulting in Scott Dann coming close with a header from a corner, but his finish lacked power.
Palace were ahead just a couple of minutes later though as Yannick Bolasie linked up with Wilfried Zaha, leaving the latter to bundle it over from close range, although he did leave himself in pain as he collided with the post while lunging at the ball.
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Glenn Murray could have added a second shortly after, but he nodded the ball on for Bolasie instead, who was thwarted by a Sandro block.
The Eagles did make it two shortly before the break as James McArthur turned the ball in from close range following another quick charge from Bolasie, with Rob Green unable to reach the cross to punch it clear.
Palace were in again just 90 seconds later as Zaha provided the ball in for Joel Ward just seconds after the restart from the previous goal, leaving the defender to hold off three QPR players before slotting a bobbling shot into the bottom corner.
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Alan Pardew's men had a quiet spell early in the second half as they seemed content to keep the ball, making sure their opponents did not get a quick goal back.
With just under 20 minutes to go, Chris Ramsey's side started to looks dangerous again as Adel Taarabt created an opening for Charlie Austin, but the striker's header was easily saved by Speroni.
Austin came close again a few minutes later from a corner, but his volleyed finish was straight at the keeper again.
Bolasie attempted to end the QPR resurgence by trying to make it four for Palace, but his free kick was watched all the way by Green, who claimed it comfortably.
The visitors did manage to give themselves faint hope of a comeback when Matt Phillips scored his first goal of the season when he went for the spectacular with a powerful shot from 40 yards out, squeezing it into the top corner.
Sensing a chance to earn a point late on, QPR pressed for a second in the final minutes, resulting in another long-range effort from Phillips, which forced Speroni to concede a corner.
Niko Kranjcar attempted to smash the ball in on the volley from the resulting set piece, but the midfielder's finish was scuffed and the ball went well wide.
The result moves Palace up to 12th in the table, while QPR stay in the bottom three.
Sian Cowper
