QPR break away duck with 2-0 win at Sunderland

Tony Fernandes will be happy QPR finally won away from home

QPR picked up a first away league victory of the season thanks to first half goals from Leroy Fer and Bobby Zamora at Sunderland.

It was a fantastic performance from an injury-hit Hoops, who dominated the first half and deserved their lead before Rob Green denied Sunderland with a host of top-class stops.

Chris Ramsey and Kevin Bond made six changes from the weekend's defeat to Southampton as they had to cope without the injured trio of top scorer Charlie Austin, Richard Dunne and Nedum Onouha.

QPR hadn't won in five but you wouldn't have guessed that as they started the game in great spirits. The visitors were bright from the off and Fer was the first to trouble the hosts as his 25-yard shot forced Costel Pantilimon into a smart stop.

Sunderland had a good opening when Anthony Reveillere got forward down the right and his deep cross was met by Patrick van Aanholt at the back post, but his volley was woeful and ballooned over the crossbar.

Fer gave the visitors a deserved lead on 17 minutes after great work down the Rangers right by Matt Phillips. The winger swung in a fantastic cross and Fer was left unmarked to bury a header past Pantilimon and into the back of the net.

The Stadium of Light fans were audibly frustrated by a woeful performance on the pitch and things almost went from bad to worse. Phillips wasted a good headed chance before the winger set up Fer and the Dutchman's low shot struck against the post with the keeper beaten.

Sunderland had two good chances to get back into the game. Firstly Jermain Defoe missed the target from six yards when he just beat Green to a low Jordi Gomez cross. Then, on 36 minutes, an in-swinging cross from Adam Johnson was met by Connor Wickham at the back post and Green made a great stop, as he tipped the header against the bar and then scooped the ball clear off the goal line.

Gus Poyet's planned half-time team talk changed dramatically as Zamora struck in first half injury time to double QPR's lead. Another ball into the box from Phillips caused problems and Zamora connected with a thunderbolt half-volley that flew into the top corner.

The second half saw Sunderland try in vain to get back into the game, but when they did create opportunities they found a goalkeeper in top form. Green firstly pulled off an instinctive stop to keep out a flicked effort from Defoe and then had to perform a low diving save when Ricky Alvarez's shot looked to be heading into the bottom corner.

QPR fans will not have enjoyed seeing Fer taken off on a stretcher with a suspected twisted knee, but they rode out the last period of the game with relative ease. The closest Sunderland came was Alvarez firing into Green's hands from outside the area.

It was a thoroughly professional performance from QPR and they deserved all three points as Sunderland were made to pay for their poor first half performance. The Black Cats have been dragged thoroughly back into the relegation mire on the back of this performance.

The result concluded an eventful day for QPR, after chairman Tony Fernandes had revealed earlier on Twitter than he had got his "dream manager" lined up to replace Harry Redknapp, but it may take some time to confirm the appointment.