Barton on-song for impressive QPR

Joey Barton confounded the naysayers as he led embattled QPR to a 3-0 victory against Swansea at Loftus Road.

Barton has received a frosty reception since joining from Newcastle, but has impressed in recent weeks and he fired the relegation-threatened west Londoners ahead on the stroke of half-time, controlling the ball with aplomb before lashing home.

QPR deservedly doubled their advantage 10 minutes after the restart through Jamie Mackie, whose shot from the edge of the box deflected in off Angel Rangel, and Akos Buzsaky wrapped up victory with a thunderous 25-yard strike that gives the Hoops a two-point cushion over the drop zone and leaves Swansea nursing a fourth successive league defeat.

QPR dominated the opening minutes, with Buzsaky firing an exquisitely-struck volley inches wide from 20 yards.

Swansea's biggest threat seemed to be from set-pieces and only a goal-line clearance from Barton prevented them breaking the deadlock in the 15th minute.

Gylfi Sigurdsson's corner from the right was directed goalwards by Steven Caulker and Scott Sinclair looked set to poke home, before Barton intervened.

One minute of stoppage time was added at the end of the first half, which proved just enough time for QPR to break the deadlock.

Adel Taarabt's free-kick from the right was headed out straight into Barton's path, who controlled excellently before firing home.

The visitors fell further behind in the 55th minute when Anton Ferdinand played through Mackie, who rolled his marker and saw his left-footed effort from the edge of the box deflect in off Rangel, wrong-footing goalkeeper Michel Vorm.

Any doubt over the result was ended in the 67th minute when the ever-impressive Buzsaky collected the ball 30 yards from goal and struck a piledriver past Vorm.