Taarabt on fire as QPR march on

Quite how the mercurial Moroccan, who was snapped up by Neil Warnock for just under £1 million in the summer, is plying his trade at this level is a mystery.

Reportedly attracting attention from the big hitters in La Liga following an unsuccessful spell at Tottenham, Taarabt chose to move back to the west London side, where he had impressed on two separate loan moves last season.

And judging by the crowd's reaction to their superstar - every corner he took was met with a "we are not worthy" bow - they understand that they have serious gem on their hands.

Taarabt was hugely influential as he guided his new club to their third win of the season and to the top of the Championship.

Handed the captain's armband by Warnock, the 21-year-old, despite looking rather confused with the duties at the coin-toss, mesmerised the Scunthorpe defence with some sublimely ridiculous skill, vision and technique.

It was his corner - one that he won himself following an audacious drag-back and shot - in the 17th minute that found another just as effective Rangers new boy Bradley Orr to steer a header past a defiant Joe Murphy, who single-handedly kept the scoreline to a minimum throughout the afternoon.

The lead was doubled just before the break as Heidar Helguson latched onto - yes, you've guessed it - a Taarabt throughball before the Iceland international controlled expertly and lobbed Murphy.

"No-one else wanted him," smiled a jubilant Warnock when asked about his star man. "He was outstanding, unbeatable at times."