Hall Fitz the bill for R's

An unlikely double from Fitz Hall gave QPR a 2-1 win over Barnsley in their Championship opener.

An unlikely double from Fitz Hall gave QPR a 2-1 win over Barnsley in their Championship opener. Barnsley threatened to cause an upset when Iain Hume marked his debut with the opener after just five minutes. However, Hall took centre stage with Hall scoring twice before the break to put Rangers in control. Hall had the chance to complete his hat-trick in the second-half only to see his penalty saved by Tykes keeper Luke Steele, but it mattered little as Rangers made a winning start to the season. Former Leicester striker Hume gave the Tykes a dream start as captain Brian Howard set him up to slot home from inside the area. The visitors looked to build on their early opener with Mounir El Haimour firing an effort over the bar before QPR's on-loan Genoa midfielder Emmanuel Jorge Ledesma forced Steele into making another save. Leigertwood then fired in a long-range effort but Steele was equal to it.

Equaliser

Argentinian Ledesma caused the visiting defence all sorts of problems with a free-kick which was slotted home from close range by Hall in the 29th minute. Another set-piece, this time a Lee Cook corner, just two minutes later allowed Hall to volley home a brilliant second and put the hosts ahead. Patrick Agyemang looked to add to the Londoners' advantage shortly before the break but his effort went wide of the right-hand upright.

Penalty

It was almost a nightmare debut for Darren Moore after he fouled Dexter Blackstock inside the area, but Steele kept the visitors in the game as he saved Hall's penalty. QPR continued to dominate with Ledesma forcing Steele into making two fine saves from his free-kicks. Midfielder Mikele Leigertwood looked to put the game beyond the Tykes when he managed to get a shot away from inside the area but his effort went wide of the left-hand post. The visitors saw their hopes of grabbing a late equaliser dealt a blow when defender Van Homoet received a straight red card for a foul on Ledesma in the 83rd minute and the Tykes failed create any further chances.