Football League round-up – Burnley comeback angers Ferguson
It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the Ferguson household on Saturday evening would have been a volatile place. After seeing his father’s side, Manchester United, squander a 3-1 advantage at Goodison Park, son Darren would have been equally frustrated following his Preston players collapse against Burnley.
Leading 3-1 with seven minutes remaining, Ferguson’s side somehow went on to lose the game 4-3, the collapse, according to Ferguson, triggered by referee Kevin Friend’s decision to send off Billy Jones.
Ferguson told the club’s official website: "The referee has done as much as he can to win the game for Burnley. The sending off was a disgrace and never in my life have I seen a sending off like that. The only think I was thinking at 3-1 was that it could have been more.
"We were in control of the game and I was disappointed it was only two at half-time. In terms of football there's only one team that's played but we've got nothing out of it."
Chris Iwelumo was the hero for Burnley as he grabbed a hat-trick, and youngster Jay Rodriguez continued his rapid rise from the youth-team by heading the winner in the 95th minute. Earlier strikes from Keith Treacy, Jon Parkin and Adam Barton had given the Lilywhites what seemed an unassailable lead, until the incredible comeback.
Queens Park Rangers continue to make the running at the top of the Championship after they heaped more misery upon Gordon Strachan's Middlesbrough by winning 3-0 at Loftus Road. It was the R’s third straight win at home, as they remain unbeaten so far this season. Goals from Heider Helgusson, Hogan Ephraim and Jamie Mackie left Middlesbrough still without a point away from the Riverside.
Cardiff kept pace with the leaders with a 2-0 win over Hull to stay level on points with Rangers. The inevitable goal from Seyi Olofinjana opened the scoring - he’s currently on loan from the Tigers - and Gavin Rae made the points safe late in the second half.
Roy Keane’s Ipswich lost pace on the leaders as they were held to a goalless draw at Fratton Park against Portsmouth. The Tractor Boys created the better chances in the game but drew a blank for the first time this season.
In League One, Southampton's final match without a permanent manager at the helm ended in defeat against Swindon, Charlie Austin grabbing the winner just before full-time. Nigel Adkins was finally appointed as the club’s successor to Alan Pardew on Sunday, after they managed to negotiate a compensation package with Adkins' former club Scunthorpe.
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