Kone hat-trick inspires QPR to 5-0 rout of Swansea

QPR thrashed Swansea 5-0 at Loftus Road, with Richard Kone scoring a hat-trick in less than 15 minutes. Jimmy Dunne also netted twice. The victory moved Rangers back into the Championship play-off places in eighth. Swansea remain second, but have now lost twice in a row after leading the table until Friday night.

Rangers had established a commanding advantage by half-time, scoring four times. Kwame Poku first found Paul Smyth, who played the ball across from the right for Kone to finish. QPR then doubled their lead on nine minutes. After Kealey Adamson won possession from Melker Widell, Poku sent a left-footed cross towards Kone, who headed into the far corner. Six minutes later, Lawrence Vigouroux brought Smyth down in the box, and Kone converted the penalty to complete his hat-trick.

Swansea did have opportunities to get back into the match. Adam Idah struck the crossbar shortly after the opening goal. Pierce Charles then made an important save to deny Widell just before Rangers scored their third. In first-half stoppage time, Dunne headed in Harvey Vale’s corner to make it 4-0.

At the break, Vitor Matos made two changes for Swansea, sending on Jenson Seelt and Jay Fulton for Stephen Welsh and Elijah Just. The visitors could not change the course of the game. In the 86th minute, Dunne diverted a Kone effort that was going wide into the net, giving QPR their fifth goal and Dunne his second.

The win also brought the return of Karamoko Dembele, who came on in the second half ten months after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury. QPR are still dealing with absences, however: Boy Kemper limped off late in the match, while Ilias Chair and Rumarn Burrell are also sidelined. Burrell was the club’s top scorer last season. For Julien Stephan’s side, the result also offered Kone a emphatic response to his early-season difficulties.