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Jones though is the only one of the four to finish on the winning side and he became only the second post-war Claret to hit two on his debut, the other being Warren Joyce thirteen years ago.
Jones enjoys his Clarets debut
Jones though is the only one of the four to finish on the winning side and he became only the second post-war Claret to hit two on his debut, the other being Warren Joyce thirteen years ago.
His first was the important one, the one that finally broke the deadlock just before the hour, but the second was a superb strike and has already provided us with an early goal of the season contender.
Manager Steve Cotterill's side was somewhat different than most imagined with Jones starting in a wide position with Kyle Lafferty in the starting line up and partnering Andy Gray up front. Frank Sinclair, as expected, was at right back and it was Michael Duff who got the nod ahead of Stephen Foster and John McGreal to partner new captain Wayne Thomas in the centre of defence.
There was a buzz around the ground before kick off – maybe we were all on a high from the free Coke Zero being handed out – with most fans expecting the Clarets to get off to a winning start against a side not expected to do too well. When the game did get underway, we didn't come out of the traps too quickly and QPR got the upper hand in the opening exchanges.
They had a couple of chances too, both from headers, but their new Aussie Nick Ward didn't make the most of them and they proved to be the best chances they would have all afternoon.
We struggled to put too much together and at times hit the ball too long to the front two when we really needed to be getting the ball on the ground and playing it through midfield. When we did, and it was only in short bursts, then we looked much the better side and that was when we came close to creating anything.
There were a couple of half chances, nothing more, and Kyle nearly got onto a superb through ball from Alan Mahon, but overall it was a disappointing first half although we had snuffed out the visitors long before the half time whistle.
We were treated to some fantastic skills from Daniel Magnass at half time following a somewhat tedious raffle draw. He holds the record for keeping the ball up, some thirteen and a half hours which I reckon is more than thirteen hours, twenty-nine minutes better than my personal best. He was incredible to watch.
There were no changes for the second half as the Clarets attacked the cricket field end. Referee Mark Clattenburg had yellow carded Jon Harley just before half time, having earlier handed a yellow out to Michael Duff, and in the very first minute of the second half he added James O'Connor to his list, I thought this one was particularly harsh, more so given that a couple of fouls later that looked just as bad went unpunished.
One thing was very notable after half time, that we had stepped things up and we were very much on top. We needed a goal to break the deadlock and it finally came just before the hour. It all started with another long ball and when it dropped Mahon played the ball in just too far for the strikers. Gray kept going and forced goalkeeper Paul Jones into a mistake and his namesake Steve was onto it like a shot to hit the ball home into the empty net.
You sensed a win was on the cards once in front and it was refreshing to see us go for a second to wrap it up. We made a couple of substitutions, with Wade Elliott and Micah Hyde coming on for James O'Connor and Kyle and within a few more minutes new boy Jones lifted the ground.
He collected a ball from Sinclair, moved into position some 25 yards from goal and hit a screamer into the corner leaving the keeper with no hope whatsoever and from thereon in the result really wasn't ever in any doubt.
It could have been more, we could have doubled that with Mahon coming so close with another free kick from distance and then the 39 year old keeper saving superbly from Micah after yet another powerful strike. By the end of the game we were playing some good stuff and the crowd had been roused, and no matter who the opposition, it's not bad winning the first game.
It certainly wasn't perfect, and it took us some time to get going against a QPR side who after the early exchanges were definitely looking for a point from a 0-0 draw, just as they had on their previous visit in April. Today, like then, we were patient and got our rewards. There are some real positives to come out of the game and without doubt the biggest is Jones who won the sponsors' man of the match, the same from most fans and he's also my choice.
For now, we can sit on our lofty perch at the top of the league, we can even be looking upwards like Boothroyd. There's a long way to go but a three point start is exactly what we wanted.
The teams were;
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Frank Sinclair, Wayne Thomas, Michael Duff, Jon Harley, Steve Jones, James O'Connor (Wade Elliott 62), Chris McCann, Alan Mahon (Garreth O'Connor 89), Andy Gray, Kyle Lafferty (Micah Hyde 62). Subs not used: Stephen Foster, John McGreal.
QPR: Paul Jones, Marcus Bignot, Matthew Rose, Damion Stewart, Mauro Milanese, Steve Lomas (Ray Jones 66), Gareth Ainsworth, Martin Rowlands (Scott Donnelly 79), Nick Ward, Lee Cook, Adam Czerkas (Marc Bircham 71). Subs not used: Jake Cole, Patrick Kanyuka.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne and Wear).
Attendance: 12,190.