Burnley, who are now in first place in the Sky Bet Championship, defeated managerless QPR 3-0 at Loftus Road to regain a three-point advantage.

In the 19th minute, Johann Berg Gudmundsson scored the game's first goal, and in the final seconds of the first half, Chelsea left-back Ian Maatsen doubled the Clarets' advantage.

Following a mistake by Jimmy Dunne, Nathan Tella's goal in the 71st minute gave Burnley a convincing victory while also making things worse for their opponents in the wake of Michael Beale's resignation.

Gudmundsson, who was brought back into the lineup by manager Vincent Kompany, scored with class, stroking a left-footed free-kick beyond goalkeeper Seny Dieng, who hardly moved, into the far corner of the net.

When Jack Cork was fouled at the edge of the penalty area, he fell down after very little contact, giving QPR some cause for complaint.

When George Thomas was knocked to the ground by Arijanet Muric's challenge in the first minute, the home team also made strong pleas for a penalty that were rejected.

Rangers lost focus after goalkeeper Muric's subsequent goal kick, and Tella, who was playing on loan from Southampton, found himself in on goal but shot weakly at Dieng.

After Gudmundsson's goal, Chris Willock blew a wonderful opportunity to tie the score as he shot over the goal after being set up by Ethan Laird. Apart from that fright, Burnley appeared to be in control; a second goal just before halftime dealt QPR a crushing blow.

Dieng, a Senegal international who had recently returned from the World Cup, dove to his right to block Vitinho's shot, but Maatsen, who was waiting on the left side of the penalty area, quickly responded with an impressive first-time finish.

After Beale recently decided to leave west London for Glasgow and the manager's position at Rangers, Paul Hall was appointed as Beale's interim replacement. At halftime, Paul Hall made two substitutions, bringing on Albert Adomah and Olamide Shodipo in place of Thomas and the uncoordinated Willock.

In the second half, QPR made a comeback, and Muric made a fine save on a shot from Sam Field. However, Tella's sixth goal of the year dashed their chances of a comeback.

When Dunne, a former Burnley defender, foolishly attempted to chest the ball back to Dieng, Tella snuck in to score from what appeared to be an impossible angle.

The loss was QPR's fourth straight and fifth in their previous six games, which has caused them to drop from first to ninth in the standings.

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Deye Muel

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