22.09.2013 01:55 h

Football: Birmingham hail four-goal loan star Lingard

Stephen Ireland (r.) spielte seit Frühjahr 2011 für Aston Villa
Stephen Ireland (r.) spielte seit Frühjahr 2011 für Aston Villa

Birmingham assistant manager Terry McDermott claimed Jesse Lingard was unfazed by his stunning debut after the on-loan Manchester United midfielder scored all four goals in a 4-1 rout of Sheffield Wednesday.

England Under-21 international Lingard joined on loan from the Premier League champions on Thursday to help boost Birmingham's shot-shy attack and just 48 hours later he announced his arrival at St Andrews in remarkable fashion.

Lingard, who failed to score during a loan spell at Leicester last season, bagged his first senior goal after 20 minutes and added two more in the 27th and 33rd minutes to complete a 13-minute hat-trick and make it 3-0 at the break.

The 20-year-old, yet to earn his United debut and making his first ever league start, notched his fourth of the match six minutes into the second half before Kamil Zayatte grabbed a consolation for shell-shocked Wednesday, who are yet to win this season.

"For a kid so young he did exceptionally well," McDermott said. "He had only trained with us on two occasions, but what I like about him is that he is laid-back, nothing fazes him.

"Before the game he just sat there for an hour hardly speaking.

"He went on to the pitch as if he was just playing another game with his mates at school.

"He then goes out and puts on a great display. Long may it continue."

Meanwhile, Harry Redknapp saluted Richard Dunne after leaders QPR maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 1-0 win at Yeovil.

Redknapp's side, who recorded their sixth consecutive clean sheet in all competitions, took the points in the 75th minute when Charlie Austin scored his third goal of the season from the penalty spot after Dan Seaborne was adjudged to have impeded the former Burnley forward.

It was the commanding performance of former Aston Villa defender Dunne that most impressed Redknapp as the Republic of Ireland international held firm under late Yeovil pressure.

"We defended well again and dealt with a lot of set plays late on. Richard Dunne was immense," Redknapp said.

"When I brought Richard into the club this summer I slept a lot easier because I knew we were signing a top player, a captain of his country and a Premier League player. If he stays fit, we have got a great centre half."

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson was left to rue what might have been after Tom Ince's late penalty cost his side maximum points in a 2-2 draw at Blackpool.

Chris Basham's first-half header had put the Seasiders in front at Bloomfield Road but the Foxes struck back after the interval.

A penalty from Paul Konchesky and an absolute stunner from Andy King were the first goals Blackpool have conceded at home this season.

But just when it looked like Leicester had done enough to claim victory, Kaspar Schmeichel felled Gary MacKenzie in the box and Ince kept his cool to fire home, much to Pearson's disgust.

"It doesn't feel great, it's tough to take a late goal like that but that's football," he said.

"I don't expect players to be flawless. Sometimes they cost you and other times they don't."

Fifth-placed Watford's strong start continued as the Hornets thrashed Barnsley 5-1 at Oakwell.

Australian striker Scott McDonald eased the pressure on under-fire Millwall manager Steve Lomas as his deflected first half strike sealed a 1-0 win at south London rivals Charlton.

Elsewhere, Reading won 3-1 at Derby, Bolton stay bottom after a 3-1 defeat at Brighton and Burnley won 2-1 at Leeds.

Middlesbrough drew 3-3 with Bournemouth and Blackburn shared a goalless draw with Huddersfield.