EFL roundup: Kone makes history as QPR run riot - Late goal denies Bromley win as they begin life without Woody
Richard Kone's star turn had QPR historians thumbing through their record books as the men from W12 came up with a statement win at Loftus Road.
The striker scored a hat-trick inside the first 16 minutes to blow away high-riding Swansea City, while Jimmy Dunne added two more to make it a miserable visit for the Welshmen.
It is thought to be the quickest hat-trick from the start of a match in EFL history.
The goals were Kone's first since April and pushed Julien Stephan's men back up into the play-off positions.
Kone steered in a Paul Smyth cross just two minutes in before heading home a cross from Kwame Poku andhe completed his treble from the penalty spot after Smyth had been brought down by keeper Lawrence Vigouroux.
It was quite the response to the 3-0 loss at Birmingham City the week before.
"I enjoyed the way the players came on with some clear ideas, with a strong desire to bounce back from the last game and to show at home with our fans we were ready to compete and deliver a top performance," said Stephan.
"How the players played today, it was just outstanding. The players deserve all the credit today - the starters, the finishers, the players who stayed on the bench. They all worked so hard this week to prepare for the game. They put top quality on the pitch during the different sessions we had together and we felt something very special."
Next up for the Hoops is a testing trip to Southampton, who showed they are likely to be in the promotion shake-up, despite a points deduction, after ending West Ham's nine-match unbeaten run.
The Saints breezed into a 2-0 lead after 11 minutes through Kuryu Matuski and James Bree. Kyle Walker-Peters pulled a goal back, only for Lewis Dobbin to restore the tw- goal cushion. Tomas Soucek's injury time goal was too little, too late. Final score: 3-2 to the Saints.
"It was a very frustrating day for us with the way we started and conceded so early," lamented Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo. "The reaction after going behind was good and we went for it and created lots of situations. We have to go again and it's a quick turnaround to West Brom [the next home game]."
There were defeats for both Millwall and Watford on the road. Jenson Metcalfe gave the Lions an early lead at Portsmouth with his first goal for the club, but Millwall were pegged back at a rainy Fratton Park when Lyndon Dykes put through his own net after 16 minutes. Thomas Waddington got a scrappy winner for Pompey eight minutes from time.
"I don't think there was a lot in the game," said Millwall boss Alex Neil. For large parts, I thought we were arguably better but we found a way to lose. We just made some really naive errors - for the second goal in particular."
The Hornets were beaten 1-0 at Wolves and are now just one place above the bottom three. Adam Armstrong's 35th minute strike settled it. Alessio Dionisi, who has seen his side lose five of the past six games, said: "We need courage with the ball. In the first half we played without courage. Last season, Wolves played in the Premier League and there is a difference between them and us.
"The second half was different. We played with courage. We play match by match. We will prepare better to play against Norwich, but for me the mentality is better."
In League One, caretaker boss Byron Webster was denied a winning start as Bromley conceded an injury time equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Peterborough United at Hayes Lane - Michael Cheek having given the Ravens the boost of an early lead.
It was the first match of a new era without Andy Woodman, the man who oversaw promotion into the EFL and a rise to League One as champions of League Two.
Following a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Leicester City in midweek, the club announced a parting of the ways 'by mutual consent' though it is clear the decision was not really Woodman's.
Woodman issued a statement though the League Managers Association (LMA) saying: "It is with great disappointment that my time at Bromley has come to an end after five and half years of continued success and achievement.
"When I arrived at the club we had a vision of where we wanted to take Bromley and to have taken this club from non-league football to League One in just five seasons, as well as winning the FA Trophy at Wembley against a fantastic Wrexham side is something I will always be incredibly proud of. These are achievements and moments that will stay with me forever.
"Naturally I am disappointed that I have not been given the time and opportunity to steer the club through its current difficulties and turn our season around, particularly when we are just one point away from safety. I firmly believe that given the opportunity and the return of key players from injury, we could have given ourselves every chance of achieving our objective."
Elsewhere in League One, AFC Wimbledon drew 1-1 at home to Wycombe, while Leyton Orient lost 2-1 at Burton Albion.
Jayden Stockley put the Dons ahead after half an hour but Fred Onyedinma drew the Chairboys level on the hour. The draw means Wimbledon are without a win in six matches but ended a run of three defeats in a row.
"It wasn't pretty. Hard to be in those conditions today," said boss Johnnie Jackson at a windswept Plough Lane. "But it was probably a fair result on balance. It was an improved performance from us - especially after the last two games. We needed a response from that. We gave absolutely everything and sometimes as a coach that's all you can ask for."
Alex Gilbert's long-range free-kick put Orient ahead at Burton but two second half goals from Kegs Chauke and Will Collar saw them return to east London empty-handed. "Poor and leggy," was how boss Richie Wellens summed up the performance from his side.
"Physically, it was very disappointing today," he said. "We are so inconsistent in our basics and at the moment, I think we are cheating our supporters. We are letting them down massively."
In League Two, Barnet's hopes of bouncing back from their first defeat of the season (3-1 at home to Swindon in midweek) were undone in the fourth minute of injury time as Mike Fondop's goal for Oldham cancelled out the 20th minute opener from Kabongo Tshimanga.
The Bees' cause was not helped by having Isiah Noel-Williams sent off after 70 minutes for a second yellow.
"I think the red card is a farce," said boss Dean Brennan after the 1-1 draw. "I think the second yellow card isn't a yellow card and it's changed the whole game. It was so, so harsh. We didn't build a big enough lead although we had a glorious chance to make it 2-0 and weren't ruthless enough first half.
"We've now dropped four points from goals in injury time this season. We also dropped two points at Chesterfield. But I've no qualms. The lads gave their all and emptied the tank for us."
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