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Yun cements starting spot in QPR win over Burnley

Yun Suk-young of the Queens Park Rangers (QPR) made his eighth consecutive start in the English Premier League match against Burnley on Saturday and contributed to his team’s 2-0 victory.

Yun performed well on both defense and offense on Saturday. The 24-year-old left fullback shut down Burnley’s right wing Scott Arfield throughout the match, but at the same time he actively participated in attacks.

Yun also received the ball from Leroy Fer and made an on-target effort with his right foot in the penalty box, but it was saved by goalkeeper Tom Heaton.

Charlie Austin set up a goal, scored another and was sent off against his former club in the relegation zone fight.

Fer put the hosts ahead in the 51st with a low left-footed shot after an assist by Austin, who then doubled the lead in the 74th with his eighth goal of the season.

Two minutes later, Austin was sent off for a second yellow card after fouling Michael Keane.

QPR moves out of the relegation zone for the first time since September with 14 points from 15 games. Burnley drops a place to 19th with 12 points from 15 games.

Austin had endured a quiet first half, but six minutes after the break the in-form striker provided the decisive pass for Fer to break the deadlock. Bobby Zamora passed to Austin, who cut the ball back and Fer bundled it home.

The game was effectively over when Eduardo Vargas played a neat one-two with Mauricio Isla to reach the touchline before squaring the ball back to Austin, who slotted home for his sixth goal in seven games.

It was QPR’s third win in four home matches.

As Yun played full-time on Saturday, he is expected to keep his name on the starting roster. He had not been a starter since joining the club in January 2013.

After the team was relegated to the second-tier Football League Championship for last season, Yun appeared in only 11 games and often stayed on the bench.

Manager Harry Redknapp apparently preferred other options such as Benoit Assou Ekotto, Clint Hill and Armand Traore.

But the situation is different this year.

Redknapp sent out Traore to start most of games in the first two months of this season.

But since Yun made his first Premier League appearance in the match against Liverpool on Oct. 19, he became Redknapp’s first option, playing full time in seven of his eight matches this season. He was injured and was replaced by Traore in the other one.

BY KIM BONGMOON, AP [bongmoon@joongang.co.kr]