Harry Redknapp paid
tribute to Robert Green for his "world-class" save that proved
pivotal in QPR's 2-0 victory over Premier League relegation rivals Burnley.
Green had already blocked a
Scott Arfield effort with the side of his face in the first half at Loftus Road
when he produced stunning athleticism to deny George Boyd the opening goal on
the half-hour mark.
Boyd's fierce strike from 25
yards was heading for the top corner until the home goalkeeper leapt sharply to
his left and somehow managed to tip the ball onto the post.
QPR's performance improved
vastly after Green's heroics, and second-half goals from Leroy Fer and former
Burnley striker Charlie Austin lifted them out of the bottom three for the
first time since September.
"Rob Green was excellent,
fantastic: that save from Boyd, I was right behind it, and that was top corner
all the way," said Redknapp.
"As soon as he hit it I
said 'that's in', so how he's got his fingertips to that I don't know,
it's an amazing save.
"He's a great keeper and a
great pro, fantastic person.
"It's a very important win:
it keeps us in the hunt, and every three points is important.
"If at the start of the
week you'd said to me we could take six points from these three games,
especially beating Leicester and Burnley, they are massive wins for us.
"They keep us in amongst
it, which is important for us.
"We've got to stay in the
group, and come January we need to look to strengthen the squad in one or
two areas if we can, and give ourselves a real chance.
"It was a great save and if
you go one down you lose momentum obviously. But he kept us in it at nil-nil,
and in the second half we showed a lot of spirit."
Austin swept in QPR's second
moments after being booked for a late challenge on Kieran Trippier, but he was
then sent off for catching Michael Keane with a leading arm as they contested a
header.
But Redknapp insisted Austin's
two bookable offences were not malicious, while he also singled out veteran
centre-back Richard Dunne for particular praise.
"I thought Dunne was
fantastic, I thought his performance again, under pressure: he has been
amazing," added Redknapp.
"I can't tell you just how
good he was. Every ball he stuck his head on, every time there was someone
to boot it away it was Dunney. "I thought he was amazing today again.
"Well Charlie scored again
which was great for us, it's just one of those things, he was trying to
get back and defend and put a shift in.
"He's not at all a nasty
type of player, but I thought it was a yellow card, and that was it you
know, nothing you can do.
"They played ever so well
in the first half, they were bright, sharp, I think Sean Dyche has done a
fantastic job with his team.
"I thought we stepped it up
at the start of the second half and came out looking a bit more: we
realised at half-time we had to sharpen up otherwise we would get
beaten."
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