Manager Jim Magilton was understandably delighted with his side on Saturday as they came from two goals down to beat Derby County, scoring four goals for the third successive game.

He told the club’s official website: “Parts of our play were very, very good, other bits and pieces weren't so - but how can I fault the lads after that. We switched off for both their goals. The first goal we conceded was a schoolboy one; the second was good execution from the free-kick. But our goal just before half-time was crucial and we're playing with great confidence and that showed in the second half when we were absolutely magnificent. We were top class for long periods in the half and we ran out worthy, worthy winners.

"We feared the worst at 2-0, but we found our cutting edge and turned in a top-class display. There is great belief in this group. These lads never give up and we showed a tremendous strength of character to get the job done. The one ingredient you need more than any other is belief and we've got that in abundance. I've no idea where this form will take us. I'm very much a Manager that deals with it game by game, but I'm delighted with the direction we're heading in. Our progression has been steady. We've skipped under the radar which is fabulous, but we're a very grounded group and we won't be letting a result like this get us too carried away."

The win at derby moved QPR up to sixth and the R’s could move to second in the table on Friday when they take on Leicester at Loftus Road in front of the Sky cameras. With Palace then due in Shepherds Bush that Tuesday in our crucial game in hand it is not unfeasible, should the R’s win both games and Newcastle fail to win next weekend, that we could top the table in ten days time. Sorry, ahem, not getting carried away Jim I promise.

Up at Watford although the Hornets’ impressive start to the season continued with a 4-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night, they were again without QPR loanee Heidar Helguson whose calf injury has now sidelined him for all but the first half an hour of his month at Vicarage Road so far. Manager Malky Mackay said: “Heidar is out for Friday. But he is coming on well and we hope he is going to be back training early next week."

Romone Rose, who was on loan at Cheltenham Town, has returned to QPR early ostensibly because manager Martin Allen, another with QPR connections, has been suspended for alleged racist remarks made to a nightclub bouncer.

In former QPR news centre half Pat Kanyuka, whose promising career at Loftus Road was curtailed by numerous injuries, has joined League Two side Northampton from Swindon. Another product of our youth set up Chris Arthur is on trial with Cambridge City.

Elsewhere in the Championship this weekend Neil Warnock and Billy Davies have clashed after a match between their Palace and Forest sides. Davies was angry that Clint Hill escaped with only a booking for elbowing Paul Anderson in the match at Selhurst Park, and that commentary from the Palace radio station describing him as “throwing his toys out of the pram” was piped into the stadium. Warnock in turn reacted angrily to suggestion that his side was overly physical and hard to handle. If you had to pick two managers to fall out this weekend it would almost certainly have been those two.

Cardiff winger Peter Whittingham has praised his team mates after his hat trick in a 4-3 win at Sheff Utd on Saturday moved the Bluebirds up to second. Whittingham said: "I'm really happy about it but it's about the team, they were brilliant and all I've done is put the ball in the back of the net. We're picking up great wins and I'm hoping there's more goals to come."

Newcastle top the table at the end of the weekend after riding a sending off and missed Doncaster penalty to win 2-1 at St James’ park, their first win in five matches after a midweek defeat by Scunthorpe.

Photo: Action Images

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