Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp has heaped praise on Charlie Austin following the striker's "unbelievable" hat-trick against West Bromwich Albion.

The 25-year-old became the first Hoops player in 21 years to score a treble in the Premier League this afternoon to inspire them to a 3-2 victory at Loftus Road.

QPR fell two goals behind inside the opening 20 minutes, but struck back to secure three vital points in their quest to avoid relegation.

Following the game, Redknapp told reporters: "Charlie scored the goals and has been excellent for us but we showed a lot of character to come back from two down.

"Everyone talks about his three goals but his defending at the end of the game, he makes a challenge in the corner that was unbelievable, you would've thought it was a right-back.

"If that ball had come into the box we could have been in trouble but that summed up his work-rate up today, he worked his socks off for the team."

Austin has now scored 11 goals in the top flight this season, including nine in his last eight appearances.