John Carver’s miserable Magpies blew a 1-0 lead in falling to already-relegated QPR 2-1 on Saturday at Loftus Road.
Emmanuel Riviere beat Robert Green to have Newcastle United up 1-0 at the break, but Charlie Austin turned playmaker for a pair of goals as Matty Phillips and Leroy Fer boosted the R’s to 30 points.
Newcastle has given Hull a lease on life, just two points ahead of the 18th place Tigers. Hull hosts Manchester United next week, while West Ham visits Newcastle.
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Newcastle scored on its first bonafide chance of the game, from a doubly-unlikely source. Goalkeepr Tim Krul sent in a long ball and Riviere made a great run to collect the pass out of the air before slotting over Robert Green.
The QPR goalkeeper was the victim of a grotesque collision, as Joey Barton’s race to clean up a loose ball ended with his knee splitting open Green’s head. The keeper came off.
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Austin’s brilliant chipped cross nearly tied the match just after halftime, but Jonas Gutierrez slid in to stop Matty Phillips close-range shot from beating Krul.
The equalizer came, though, as Newcastle’s makeshift back line was abused by Austin, who crossed for Phillips to head home.
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In classic Newcastle fashion, Phillips then picked off a Krul clearance and fed it to Fer with a sliding pass. Fer curled home a wonder goal to make it 2-1.
Newcastle United has lost 9 of 10 matches.
LINEUPS
Queens Park Rangers: Green (McCarthy, 34′), Onuoha, Caulker (Yun, 45′), Dunne, Hill; Phillips, Barton, Henry, Hoilett (Grego-Cox, 45′); Fer, Austin.
Goal: Phillips (54′), Fer (61′)
Newcastle United: Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini (c), Dummett, Gutierrez, Colback, R.Taylor Ameobi 64′), Sissoko, Cabella, Perez, Rivière (Cisse, 64′)
Goal: Riviere (24′)