Exeter City 0 QPR 2: Austin and Simpson on target as Harry's side KO League Two outfit

Charlie Austin took just 90 seconds of his debut to justify Harry Redknapp's belief that he has bought a natural scorer.



The 24-year-old, snapped up five days ago after a failed medical at Hull dashed his hopes of a move to the Premier League, showed his £4million fee from Burnley could be a bargain.



He produced an instinctive piece of finishing to turn in a Jermaine Jenas shot after Exeter had only half cleared a corner.



On target: Charlie Austin (left) celebrates after scoring the opening goal of Tuesday night's League Cup tie

Astonishment: Danny Simpson's second-half strike left Joey Barton (below) rubbing his eyes in disbelief

MATCH FACTS Exeter: Krysiak, Woodman, Moore-Taylor, Doherty (Davies 46), Coles, Baldwin, Sercombe, Bennett, Reid, Gow (O'Flynn 54), Wheeler (Parkin 54). Subs Not Used: Dawson, Gosling, Keohane, Pyn. QPR: Murphy, Yun, Simpson, Faurlin (Derry 63), Hill, Dunne, Barton, Jenas, Austin, Zamora (Johnson 46), Hoilett (Wright-Phillips 74). Subs Not Used: Green, Onuoha, Henry, Ehmer. Goals: Austin 3, Simpson 50. Attendance: 5,253 Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire).

'I didn't know much about the goal because I just stuck a foot in the way of Jermaine's shot, but I'm claiming it,' admitted the striker who started his working life as a bricklayer before Swindon gave him a chance.



'It was a case of being in the right place at the right time.'

The only surprise was the man who got 41 goals in 69 starts at Turf Moor didn't get more as Rangers dominated the game.



Redknapp's right hand man Joe Jordan said: 'We were delighted with Charlie and not just for his goal but for his overall game.



'His movement and general play was top class and while we know he is a natural scorer he showed there is a lot more to his game.



'That said the most important thing was a goal. I used to be a forward myself and the last thing you want after making a move is a long wait before getting off the mark, so to get a goal so soon on his full debut was huge.'

On the ball: Shaun Wright-Phillips came off the bench in the 74th minute for the away side

Redknapp, anxious to change the mentality of a team that got used to losing last season, made only three changes to the side which finished Saturday's 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday.



But the introduction of Austin made a difference – with Exeter goalkeeper Artur Krysiak performing heroics to keep out Junior Hoilett and Bobby Zamora as Rangers ran the game, with Joey Barton giving the team balance.

It was Barton who began the move just after the break from which defender Danny Simpson, another of Rangers' new signings after arriving on a free transfer from Newcastle, made the game safe - his second-half strike leaving team-mate Joey Barton rubbing his eyes in disbelief.



And a good night for Redknapp was wrapped up by the performance of 33-year-old Republic of Ireland defender Richard Dunne who was playing his first competitive club game after more than a year out injured.



Jordan added: 'It was an important game for Richard because he needs time to catch up his fitness, but there is no doubt the quality he will bring us once he does that.'

Rangers didn't have it all their own way, as Exeter, who had started their League Two campaign with a win over Bristol Rovers, produced a late spell of pressure in which substitute Arron Davies rattled the bar.



