Queens Park Rangers remain seven points from safety in the Premier League table courtesy of a 3-2 defeat at the hands of 10-man Fulham this evening.
© PA Photos
The hosts took the lead in just the seventh minute when Ashkan Dejagah was brought down inside the box by Christopher Samba having stolen the ball off the defender. Dimitar Berbatov stepped up and sent Julio Cesar the wrong way with his spot kick.
Berbatov doubled his personal tally 15 minutes later when Samba was once again caught in possession by Dejagah. The ball eventually found its way to the Bulgarian striker, who coolly slid it underneath Cesar.
© PA Photos
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors four minutes before the break when a fluid Fulham move resulted in John Arne Riise's cross being bundled into his own net by Clint Hill.
QPR were handed a lifeline right on the stroke of half time, however, when Adel Taarabt made the most of a Giorgios Karagounis slip. The midfielder ran at Brede Hangeland before hitting a low effort across Mark Schwarzer and into the bottom corner.
Taarabt was also at the heart of the next big moment in the match as he enticed Karagounis into bringing him down inside the box. The referee pointed to the spot, but Loic Remy's effort was tame and saved by Schwarzer.
© PA Photos
Remy made up for this just two minutes later when he span off Hangeland before thumping a shot in off the underside off the crossbar.
QPR's chances of pulling off an unlikely comeback were handed a boost 10 minutes from time when Steve Sidwell was shown a straight red card for a heavy challenge on Stephane Mbia.
However, Harry Redknapp's men could not find a crucial third goal in the closing stages as they took one step closer to relegation from the top division.
Barney Corkhill
