As Burnley prepare to visit Loftus Road on Saturday, LFW looks back at a memorable meeting between the two sides from 1979 when the R’s stuck seven through unfortunate debutant goalkeeper Billy O’Rourke.

Recent Meetings

With form on the wane and former Burnley striker Charlie Austin ruled out for a prolonged period of time with a shoulder injury, QPR’s promotion campaign faced a bleak future when fellow title challengers Burnley arrived at Loftus Road in February. Typically, the R’s had been very active on transfer deadline day earlier in the week and gave debuts to two strikers here — Kevin Doyle and Mobido Maiga would both end up on the scoresheet in a ding-dong encounter. Doyle went first, heading home Kranjcar’s well flighted corner after six minutes, but Danny Ings quickly struck back for the visitors. A powerful volley from another corner by Richard Dunne restored QPR’s lead but Sam Vokes headed the Clarets level for a second time after half time and when Ings retrieved a lost cause from the byline and laid another chance on a plate for his strike partner Vokes was on hand to slide Burnley into the lead for the first time. QPR fought back to equalise when Hoilett crossed low for Maiga to score from close range, suggesting the much-maligned loan signing from West Ham might not be that bad after all. As it turned out, this was the high-point of his QPR career. One of the club’s worst ever players, but every dog has its day.

QPR: Green 6; Onuoha 5, Dunne 7, Hill 6, Assou-Ekotto 4; Phillips — (Hoilett 6, 6), Barton 8, Kranjcar 7, Traore 6 (Henry 83,-); Johnson 6 (Maiga 68, 6), Doyle 8

Subs not used: Carroll, Hughes, Zamora, Murphy

Goals: Doyle 7 (assisted Kranjcar), Dunne 34 (assisted Kranjcar), Maiga 79 (assisted Hoilett)

Bookings: Doyle 40 (foul), Dunne 46 (foul)

Burnley: Heaton 6; Tripper 7, Duff 6, Shackell 6, Mee 7; Kightly 7 (Stanislas 85, -), Arfield 7, Jones 6, Marney 7; Ings 8, Vokes 8

Subs not used: Lafferty, Wallace, Cisak, Edgar, Long, Barnes

Goals: Ings 25 (assisted Trippier), Vokes 54 (assisted Kightly), 62 (assisted Ings)

Bookings: Kightly 14 (foul)

Burnley 2 QPR 0, Saturday October 26, 2013, Championship

When these sides met at Turf Moor in October that season it was a battle between the division’s top two sides — Burnley on a run of seven consecutive wins, QPR unbeaten in the first 11 of the season. It was perhaps a surprise, therefore, just how one sided the match was. Sean Dyche’s side were purposeful and positive, outplaying QPR in all departments and deservedly winning 2-0. The only surprise was it took them 65 minutes to open the scoring, Danny Ings on the end of an incisive move after Karl Henry had lost possession in the heart of the midfield. Ings scored the second from the penalty spot with two minutes left — a spot kick he won himself — and the Clarets were looking good. Oddly, they didn’t win again for six matches after this one and a dip in form from both clubs has since allowed Leicester to open a big gap at the top of the Championship.

Burnley: Heaton 6; Trippier 7, Mee 6, Duff 6, Shackell 6; Treacy 6 (Stock 90, -), Marney 6 (Edgar 83, -), Jones 7, Kightly 6; Ings 8, Vokes 7

Subs not used: Lafferty, Stanislas, Cisak, Long, Noble

Goals: Ings 65 (assisted), 88 (penalty, won Ings)

Bookings: Jones 35 (repetitive fouling), Treacy 42 (foul)

QPR: Green 5; Simpson 6, Dunne 6, Hill 7, Assou-Ekotto 5; Henry 5 (Jenas 68, 5), Barton 6, O’Neil 6 (Chevanton 73, 5), Kranjcar 6 (Phillips 73, 5), Hoilett 5; Austin 5

Subs not used: Traore, Onyewu, Murphy, Faurlin

Bookings: Barton 25 (foul), Hoilett 36 (foul), Dunne 38 (foul), Simpson 76 (foul)

Burnley 0 QPR 0, Saturday January 15, 2011, Championship

QPR had been irresistible at times in the first half of the 2010/11 Championship season, with the likes of Adel Taarabt and Kyle Walker thrilling the Loftus Road crowds, but a hectic, taxing Christmas period of fixtures saw Neil Warnock take a more pragmatic approach to games that resulted in a number of grinding performances during December and January. Perhaps the dullest came at Turf Moor where Rangers were more than happy to take a point and Burnley, with new manager Eddie Howe watching on from the stands before taking charge, likewise. Rangers were the better side, but perennial scourge of the R’s Lee Grant was in decent form in the Burnley goal, while Paddy Kenny got away with a late fumble that could easily have cost his team an injury time defeat.

Burnley: Grant 7, Mears 6, Carlisle 6, Duff 6, Fox 6, Elliott 6, Alexander 7 (Edgar 86, -), Cork 7, Rodriguez 6, Iwelumo 6 (Thompson 68, 5), Eagles 7

Subs Not Used: Jensen, McDonald, Bikey, Wallace, Easton

Booked: Duff (foul), Alexander (foul), Fox (foul), Thompson (foul), Cork (foul)

QPR: Kenny 6, Orr 6, Connolly 7, Gorkss 7, Hill 6, Faurlin 7 (Clarke 81, -), Derry 8, Smith 6, Vaagan Moen 7, Taarabt 8 (Hall 90, -), Hulse 6 (Helguson 81, -)

Subs Not Used: Cerny, Cook, Borrowdale, German

Booked: Faurlin (foul), Orr (foul)

QPR 1 Burnley 1, Saturday October 30, 2010, Championship

Although QPR went on to win the Championship in 2010/11, they were fortunate to escape from an October home match against Burnley with a draw. Rangers, still unbeaten at this point, took the lead just after the half hour with a vintage individual strike from distance by Adel Taarabt but were pegged back on half time when a harsh penalty awarded against Matt Connolly for a meagre touch on Dean Marney gave Graham Alexander the chance to bury an equaliser from 12 yards. But thereafter the home team relied heavily on goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, who was in fine form with a number of saves. The frustration of being unable to breakthough was too much for Chris Eagles who was substituted early after being booked for diving and then losing his temper to the delight of The Loft.

QPR: Kenny 8, Walker 6, Connolly 6, Gorkss 6, Hill 5, Derry 6, Faurlin 5, Ephraim 5 (Agyemang 62, 7), Taarabt 7 (Smith 82, 8), Mackie 6, Hulse 5 (Clarke 74, 5)

Subs Not Used: Cerny, Orr, Leigertwood, Rowlands

Booked: Taarabt (handball), Gorkss (foul), Mackie (foul)

Goals: Taarabt 32 (unassisted)

Burnley: Grant 6, Mears 6, Carlisle 9, Duff 8, Fox 7, Eagles 5 (Wallace 46, 6), Alexander 6, Marney 6, Elliott 6, Rodriguez 6, Iwelumo 8 (Thompson 83, -)

Subs Not Used: Jensen, Cork, Paterson, Cort, Bikey

Booked: Eagles (diving), Duff (foul), Alexander (foul)

Goals: Alexander 45 (penalty)

Burnley 1 QPR 0, Saturday April 11, 2009, Championship

When these sides met here in April 2009 Burnley were about to be promoted to the Premier League and QPR had just sacked Paulo Sousa in farcical circumstances. The result was somewhat inevitable, with Gareth Ainsworth unusually quiet and hidden from view beginning his second spell as caretaker manager. The game was settled by a controversial goal just after half time — Chris Eagles deflecting Clarke Carlisle’s effort past Radek Cerny with his arm.

Burnley: Jensen 7, Williams 6, Carlisle 8, Caldwell 7, Kalvenes 6, Elliott 7, Alexander 7, McCann 7, Blake 7 (Gudjonsson 79, -), Eagles 7 (McDonald 89, -), Rodriguez 7 (Paterson 86, -)

Subs Not Used: Penny, Duff

Booked: Kalvenes (foul)

Goals: Eagles 49 (assisted Carlisle)

QPR: Cerny 7, Ramage 6, Gorkss 7, Connolly 7, Delaney 6, Routledge 6, Leigertwood 4, Ephraim 6 (Lopez 71, 6), Taarabt 6, Di Carmine 6 (Cook 54, 6), Vine 6 (Alberti 84, -)

Subs Not Used: Mahon, Stewart

Burnley 2 QPR 1, Tuesday January 13, 2009, FA Cup Third Round replay

Rangers, with Sousa in charge, had been to Turf Moor just six weeks previously for an FA Cup Third Round replay that formed part of QPR’s record breaking run of 11 years without a win in that competition. In an atmosphere more akin to a reserve match QPR were the better team for long periods of normal time and all of extra time before contriving to lose with the last kick. Sam Di Carmine gave Rangers the lead after Mikele Leigertwood had won possession in midfield just after half time and counter attacked. Martin Rowlands then hit the bar and Heidar Helguson had a goal disallowed with the most delayed offside decision ever seen before. Steve Thompson got a scruffy equaliser after a poor piece of goalkeeping by Radek Cerny to set up extra time and when QPR failed to make their possession tell penalties looked a certainty. That was until Damion Stewart made a hash of a routine long ball down the field to give Jay Rodriguez a sight of goal and, with Cerny inexplicably in no man’s land, the youngster calmly lobbed the ball towards goal and in off the post to but Burnley into the next round at West Brom.

Burnley: Jensen 8, Alexander 7, Carlisle 7, Caldwell 6, Jordan 7, Elliott 6, McCann 6 (Mahon 20, 5), Gudjonsson 6 (MacDonald 84, 6), Eagles 8, Blake 6 (Rodriguez 69, 6), Thompson 7

Subs Not Used: Penny, Kalvenes, Akinbiyi, Kay

Booked: Caldwell (foul), Mahon (foul)

Goals: Thompson 60 (assisted Gudjohnson), Rodriguez 120 (assisted Carlisle)

QPR: Cerny 4, Hall 5, Stewart 6, Gorkss 7, Delaney 5, Alberti 5, Leigertwood 8, Mahon 6 (Rose 79, 7), Rowlands 5, Ledesma 5 (Ephraim 55, 7), Di Carmine 7 (Helguson 85, 6)

Subs Not Used: Borrowdale, Crowther, Connolly, Ramage

Booked: Delaney (foul), Alberti (foul)

Goals: Di Carmine 54 (assisted Leigertwood)

Previous Results

2013/14 QPR 3 Burnley 3 (Doyle, Dunne, Maiga!!!)

2013/14 Burnley 2 QPR 0

2010/11 Burnley 0 QPR 0

2010/11 QPR 1 Burnley 1 (Taraabt)

2008/09 Burnley 1 QPR 0

2008/09 Burnley 2 QPR 1* (Di Carmine)

2008/09 QPR 0 Burnley 0*

2008/09 QPR 1 Burnley 2 (Blackstock)

2007/08 QPR 2 Burnley 4 (Mahon, Agyemang)

2007/08 Burnley 0 QPR 2 (Stewart, Vine)

2006/07 QPR 3 Burnley 1 (Cook, Blackstock, Lomas)

2006/07 Burnley 2 QPR 0

2005/06 Burnley 1 QPR 0

2005/06 QPR 1 Burnley 1 (Ainsworth)

2004/05 Burnley 2 QPR 0

2004/05 QPR 3 Burnley 0 (Gallen, Santos, Furlong)

2000/01 Burnley 2 QPR 1 (Bignot)

2000/01 QPR 0 Burnley 1

1982/83 Burnley 2 QPR 1 (Sealy)

1982/83 QPR 3 Burnley 2 (Neill, Allen, Micklewhite)

1979/80 Burnley 0 QPR 3 (Gillard, Allen, Shanks)

1979/80 QPR 7 Burnley 0 (Goddard 2, Allen 2, Roeder, Shanks, McCreery)

1975/76 Burnley 1 QPR 0

1975/76 QPR 1 Burnley 0 (Bowles)

1974/75 QPR 0 Burnley 1

1974/75 Burnley 3 QPR 0

1973/74 Burnley 2 QPR 1 (Thomas)

1973/74 QPR 2 Burnley 1 (Thomas, Bowles)

1972/73 QPR 2 Burnley 0 (Leach, Givens)

1972/73 Burnley 1 QPR 1 (Busby)

1971/72 QPR 3 Burnley 1 (Leach 2, Marsh)

1971/72 Burnley 1 QPR 0

1968/69 Burnley 2 QPR 2 (Marsh, Leach)

1968/69 QPR 0 Burnley 2

1967/68 QPR 1 Burnley 2** (Sibley)

1961/62 Burnley 6 QPR 1* (Evans)

1920/21 Burnley 4 QPR 2* (Smith, Birch)

* - FA Cup

** - League Cup

Memorable Match

QPR 7 Burnley 0, Saturday October 27, 1979, Second Division

While it’s amazing to think that Queens Park Rangers were almost the champions of England in 1976 — pipped by Liverpool winning their game in hand over Wolves after the final day of the season, denied by a 3-2 Easter defeat at Norwich which was the R’s only defeat in the final 15 games that season — it’s even more remarkable just how quickly things disintegrated at Loftus Road thereafter.

Influential manager Dave Sexton left for Manchester United in 1977 and a farcical situation ensued where former Loftus Road favourite Alec Stock was brought in to replace him only to leave within days. When chairman Jim Gregory eventually settled on Steve Burtenshaw it didn’t go well, and by the end of the 1978/79 campaign QPR had actually been relegated from the top flight into the Second Division.

But Rangers would rebuild. As the old guard of Dave Thomas, Gerry Francis, Stan Bowles, Frank McLintock and others aged and moved on, so a new band of exciting QPR players emerged from the club’s youth team — led by dynamic striking pair Clive Allen and Paul Goddard.

Eventually, under the management of Terry Venables, QPR would contest an FA Cup final against Tottenham as a Second Division side and take it to a replay before winning promotion in fine style the following season. But even prior to that the signs were good, with Tommy Docherty returning for a second spell in charge and leading the R’s to fifth in their first season back at the lower level.

The highlight of the 1979/80 campaign was a freak 7-0 home win against Saturday’s visitors to Loftus Road, Burnley — a game which has gone down in folklore at both clubs, not only for the scoreline but also the situation surrounding Burnley goalkeeper Billy O’Rourke.

Rangers had been in decent form prior to the October meeting with five wins and two draws from seven matches, but they’d been well beaten 3-0 at Sunderland the weekend before so there was little indication that a massacre was imminent. Burnley however were in dreadful form — without a single win to their name from the first 12 games of the season and on course to be relegated second bottom of the table.

QPR showed little mercy to the Clarets, or O’Rourke who, aged just 19, was making his debut for the visitors between the sticks that day.

The R’s were gifted the first goal — O’Rourke shafted by his own centre half who knocked a heavy pass back wide of his keeper as he advanced to collect the ball leaving Goddard with the simple task of rolling the loose ball into an empty net. The second goal wasn’t that much more aesthetically pleasing either as Clive Allen’s meandering run across the edge of the penalty area ended with a scuffed shot that fell to Don Shanks at the far post and his attempt to cut the ball back was inadvertently diverted over O’Rourke’s head and into the net by defender Ian Brennan.

So far, so calamitous and when centre back Glenn Roeder — signed the previous season from Leyton Orient — showed typically brilliant anticipation to intercept a Burnley attack before escaping into space with his trademark shuffle it created a chance for Shanks to cross for Goddard to head home a third before half time.

And so the farce grew. Bowles crossed from a corner late in the half and with centre back Steve Wicks causing havoc at the back post an untidy scramble ensued in the goal mouth that was eventually finished by Dave McCreery — diving full length to guide a smooth header over O’Rourke, and two hapless defenders on the line, into the back of the net.

Burnley survived to half time without suffering further damage but when Barry Wallace, making a rare start, burst forward from midfield at the start of the second half and laid a sweet pass into Clive Allen’s path the deadly young striker produced a vintage opportunistic finish with his toe from 15 yards out. Five nil now, and all of O’Rourke’s worst nightmares were becoming reality.

Wallace, making a first start of the season, was involved in the sixth as well — chipping a fine ball into the right channel for Bowles to chase and win a penalty that Allen calmly rolled home with embarrassing ease. Allen should have had a hat trick as well when a swift counter attack saw Mickey Walsh cross for Bowles to take the goalkeeper out of play with a chip to the back post. Allen, inexplicably, hit the post from a yard out with the goal gaping but, true to Burnley’s luck on the day, the ball fell plum for Roeder, up from the back, to head home number seven.

Despite it all, the Burnley Express named O’Rourke their man of the match, and the young keeper fled from the field at full time in tears. He would spend the majority of his career — nearly 100 appearances between 1984 and 1987 — at Lancashire rivals Blackpool before finishing with a couple of years at Tranmere Rovers. Sadly he suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2002, aged just 41, and passed away.

QPR: Woods, Shanks, Roeder, Wicks, Gillard, Bowles, Wallace, McCreery, Busby (Walsh), Allen, Goddard

Scorers: Allen 2, Goddard 2, Roeder, Shanks, McCreery

Attendance: 11,261

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Pictures — Action Images

Photo: Action Images

TacticalR added 20:09 - Dec 4 Great stuff. Any team with Goddard and Allen in it was always going to get goals.
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probbo added 12:08 - Dec 5 Thanks for that trip down memory lane Clive and for the video clip, pre plastic pitch, executive boxes, etc. The old Loftus Road with terraces at both ends and also the superb Adidas kit which I hope we'll go back to one day. A seat in the Paddock for £2- £3 ! There was a lot to like about the team back then, most notably the youth team policy, which lets face it is non existent these days. It proved to the dawn of what would (in the main) be a great 80s for the R's.

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