With the Baggies sitting in 6th place at the start of play, 3 points away from home were essential if Mowbray's men were to have any chance of a Top 2 finish.

Darren Carter received his first start in seven games, Gera making way from the Baggies midfield, and Ellington also dropped to the bench after being replaced by Kevin Phillips. Albrechtsen returned from a one match ban to take his place on the bench, and Clement and Robinson shook off injuries to take their places in the starting eleven. The Baggies had not won in five, QPR unbeaten in three.

Kamara, Koren and Koumas all had good chances to put the Baggies in front in the first half, Ainsworth coming closest for QPR. But all in all the first half remained goalless with both sides going into the interval with a share of the spoils.

Albion started the second half the brighter, and three minutes into the half Kevin phillips struck home to gain his 16th goal of the season. The Baggies forced a counter attack after Clement had slipped and allowed Aisnworth to present Furlong with the chance to put OPR 1 up. But the striker fluffed his shot from 10 yards and the Baggies punished the host with a swift counter attack as Koumas found Phillips with a neat pass. Phillips fended off 2 challenges before hitting home from 12 yards.

An inspired substitution from Gregory put the scores level at 1 each in the 63rd minute. Dexter Blackstock headed home with his first touch of the game having been on the pitch for only 60 seconds. Just three minutes later QPR had the chance to go ahead after a combination of pressure from Clement, Robinson and Kiely saw Rangers striker Furlong go down in the box. Referee Paul Armstrong made no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Furlong himself put the ball on the spot to take the penalty. The striker shot hard and low to his right, but Kiely pulled off a fine one handed save to keep the scores even.

In the 84th minute the Baggies made QPR pay for their loss when substitute Zoltan Gera hit a volley shot after latching on to a pass from Ellington. The game finished with Baggies making the journey back to the Midlands with all 3 points. The win moves them to 5th in the table, one point above rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Wolves crashed and burned at home to Southampton, being hit for 6 and slipping to 6th in the table. Saganowski scored a hatrick at Molineux, hitting goals in the 24th, 36th and 83rd minutes. Wolves defender Gary Breen added to the nightmare by scoring an own goal in the 27th minute to put the visitors 2 up. Best and Surman added goals for Southampton in the 55th and 79th minutes respectively. More misery was piled onto the home side as fans favourite Michael Kightly missed a penalty on the stroke of half time. Wolves remain in the playoff places, but their goal difference of minus two will do them no favours. Wolves face a difficult test to pick themselves up at the Stadium of Light next weekend.

Other fixtures which effect the two midlands sides saw Derby County take all 3 points at Barnsley with a 2-1 victory. Sunderland took 3 points home from Ninian Park as they overcame Cardiff by 1 goal, and Preston lost lastnight at lowly placed Leeds United by 2 goals to 1. Birmingham take on Coventry tomorrow at St Andrews.

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