You know you ’ re having a bad day at the office when Crystal Palace ’ s Joel Ward is celebrating a goal like he ’ s Cristiano Ronaldo . That ’ s precisely what happened to hopeless Queens Park Rangers on Saturday . Ward converted Crystal Palace ’ s third goal inside 42 minutes at a rampant Selhurst Park after earlier strikes from Wilfried Zaha and James McArthur . Joe Ward ( right ) pulls his best Cristiano Ronaldo celebration after scoring the Eagles ' third goal . The Crystal Palace defender wheels away after scoring his side 's third goal in the 3-1 victory . Ward is chased by his Crystal Palace team-mates as he races towards the corner flag . Ward takes part in the beginning of his Ronaldo-esque goal celebration as fans laugh behind . Ronaldo shows hos his trademark celebration ends after netting against Schalke in midweek . Ronaldo 's trademark celebration fails to win over Liverpool fans during a Champions League clash . And Such was Ward ’ s enthusiasm with his first goal in close to 100 appearances for the Eagles , you can perhaps forgive him for his rather cringe-worthy celebration . Picking up the ball inside the QPR penalty area , Ward slotted the ball past Rangers stopper Rob Green with a cool left-footed strike . The 25-year-old then sprinted off towards the corner flag before leaping up in the air and stretching his arms behind his back . Ronaldo hasn ’ t played in the Premier League for the best part of six years following his mega-money move from Manchester United to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 . But for a moment it was as if the world footballer of the year was back in England ’ s top flight . Alan Pardew has taken struggling Crystal Palace to within two points of his former club Newcastle . Wilfried Zaha was credited with opening the scoring before colliding heavily with the goal post . James McArthur gestures to his shin after doubling the Eagles ' lead at Selhurst Park . It summed up an embarrassing 45 minutes from QPR who are set to be cast further adrift of Aston Villa as they , along with Burnley and Leicester City , stare at immediate relegation back to the Championship . In contrast , Palace , flying-high under Alan Pardew , are set to move to within two points of his old team Newcastle in 11th place . It isn ’ t the first time a Premier League star has mimicked one of Ronaldo ’ s iconic celebrations . Earlier this season , Peter Crouch attracted much hilarity when he puffed out his chest in the same vein as the Real Madrid star after scoring in Stoke ’ s win against Arsenal . Stoke striker Peter Crouch ( centre ) raised a smile by copying Ronaldo after scoring against Arsenal .
Premier League defeated QPR 3-1 in their Crystal Palace clash on Saturday . Wilfried Zaha , James McArthur and Joel Wards scored for the Eagles . Defender celebrated his strike with a Cristiano Ronaldo-like celebration .