Bellamy shines on debut, Taarabt fires QPR to the top
Craig Bellamy-mania kicked off at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday as their new hero made his Cardiff debut in the 4-0 win over Doncaster.
Bellamy, whose signing from Manchester City has created a real frenzy in South Wales, performed to the level that every Cardiff fan expected as he ran the show from the left wing. He even had time to fire in a 35-yard-free-kick just before he was substituted to a standing ovation. Jay Boothroyd (two) and Chris Burke were the other scorers for the free-flowing Bluebirds.
At Loftus Road another player whose ability far outweighs the standard of the Championship, Adel Taarabt, showed why he was labelled the next Zinedine Zidane only a few years ago as QPR continued their 100% record with a 2-0 victory over Scunthorpe.
Reportedly attracting attention from the big hitters in La Liga over the summer, following an unsuccessful spell at Tottenham, Taarabt chose to move back to the west London side, where he had impressed on two separate loan moves last season.
And judging by the crowd's reaction to their superstar - every corner he took was met with a "we are not worthy" bow - they understand that they have gem on their hands. Handed the captain's armband by Warnock, the 21-year-old, despite looking rather confused with the duties at the coin-toss, mesmerised the Scunthorpe defence with some sublime skill, vision and technique.
It was his corner - one that he won himself following an audacious drag-back and shot - in the 17th minute that found another just as effective Rangers new boy, Bradley Orr, to steer a header past a defiant Joe Murphy.
The lead was doubled just before the break as Heidar Helguson latched onto Taarabt through ball before the Iceland international controlled expertly and lobbed Murphy.
Burnley are in hot pursuit of league leaders QPR after a 3-0 home victory over Leicester, courtesy of strikes from Ross Wallace, Chris Iwelumo and Graham Alexander.
Coventry also extended their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-1 win over Derby. Lukas Jutkiewickz had given the home side the lead, but Dean Moxey levelled just after the break before Ben Turner popped up with a late winner for the Sky Blues.
Newly relegated Portsmouth and Hull continued their woeful start to the season with a 1-0 defeat to Preston and a 0-0 draw at home to Watford respectively.
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