AFP, London :
Charlie Austin eased the pressure on Harry Redknapp as the QPR forward struck twice to lift his side off the bottom of the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Monday.
Redknapp’s side secured just their second victory of the season, and their first since August, thanks to the predatory finishing of Austin, who netted in either half to see off lacklustre Villa at Loftus Road.
Austin’s heroics ended QPR’s three-match losing run and helped the west London club move above Austin’s former club Burnley into 19th place, within two points of the teams directly above the relegation zone as they try to scramble to safety following a disastrous start to their first season back in the top-flight.
It was a crucial result for Redknapp, who had endured reports that QPR owner Tony Fernandes was considering sacking him after his team’s dismal run.
“It was an excellent performance, we did ever so well,” Redknapp told Sky Sports.
“Villa dominated possession in the second half, but once we put an extra man into midfield we started seeing more of the ball and hit the post before scoring a second.
“There’s no reason why Charlie Austin can’t score a lot of goals this season. I’m pleased for the lad.”
While Redknapp earned at least a momentary reprieve, the pressure is mounting on Villa manager Paul Lambert.
Despite a positive opening to the campaign, Villa have slumped down the table in recent weeks and are now only three points above QPR after suffering a fifth successive defeat without scoring a goal.
Facing a Villa team in the midst of one of the worst runs in their history eventually proved a welcome tonic for QPR, who had suffered an agonising loss with virtually the last kick of the game against Liverpool last weekend.
Yet it was the visitors who started the brighter as Ashley Westwood and Carlos Sanchez both tested QPR goalkeeper Robert Green in the early stages.
