Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the Premier League clash between Queens Park Rangers and Sunderland.

QPR are still searching for their first points of the season after back-to-back defeats to open their Premier League campaign to Hull City and Tottenham Hotspur. Harry Redknapp's side also lost in the Capital One Cup in midweek to Burton Albion so are in dire need of a win to turn their fortunes around at the start of this season.

Sunderland will be looking to continue their decent start to the campaign. The Black Cats are undefeated in their first two Premier League games after drawing against West Browmwich Albion and Manchester United, and also picked up their first win of the campaign in midweek in the League Cup against Birmingham City.

The team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.

QPR STARTING XI: Green, Isla, Ferdinand, Caulker, Hill, Fer, Barton, Mutch, Phillips, Austin Hoilett.

QPR SUBS: Murphy, Onuoha, Traore, Henry, Dunne, Zamora, Taarabt.

SUNDERLAND STARTING XI: Mannone, Vergini, van Aanholt, Brown, O'Shea, Cattermole, Larsson, Rodwell, Johnson, Wickham, Fletcher.

SUNDERLAND SUBS: Pantilimon, Jones, Bridcutt, Gomez, Altidore, Giaccherini, Buckley.

QPR have made three changes from the side that lost 4-0 to Tottenham last time out in the Premier League. Clint Hill, Charlie Austin and Junior Hoilett all come into the team at the expense of Richard Dunne, Armand Traore and Loic Remy, who is reportedly close to leaving the club.

Gus Poyet has made just the one change to his side for the trip to Loftus Road. Adam Johnson returns to the side that drew 1-1 with Manchester United after recovering from the illness that rules him out of the match and replaces Will Buckley on the wing.

Redknapp looks to be altering his formation this afternoon and appears to opting for a 4-3-3 system with Clint Hill and Mauricio Isla operating at left and right-back respectively. Charlie Austin will lead the line for the Rs flanked either side by Matt Phillips and Hoilett. Jordon Mutch, Joey Barton and Leroy Fer as expected will operate in the three-man midfield.

The Black Cats will stick with their same 4-3-3 formation they have used in their opening two matches so far. Connor Wickham will likely start on the left flank for the third match in a row as Steven Fletcher is preferred as the lone striker down the middle, while Johnson will start from the right wing. Jack Rodwell, Lee Cattermole and Sebastian Larsson will continue their three-man midfield partnership and it's the same back for Sunderland from their 1-1 draw against Manchester United.

The last time these sides met in the Premier League, QPR enjoyed a 3-1 win over a Sunderland side managed by Martin O'Neill. Steven Fletcher scored the opening goal of the game for the Black Cats but Loic Remy responded for the home side, and second-half goals from Andros Townsend and Jermaine Jenas handed the Rs the victory.

A result like that one would delight Redknapp and his side, just to settle the nerves that could be settling in after a poor start to the campaign. It's hard enough for newly-promoted sides to adjust to the top flight again, so a victory would be just the ticket for QPR before the international break.

BREAKING NEWS! Harry Redknapp has confirmed that striker Loic Remy will leave the club to join Chelsea. The Frenchman was left out of the team today and know we know the reason for his absence.

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet admitted earlier this week that he wanted to bring in some new faces before the close of the transfer window. The team put out today by the Uruguayan looks not too dissimilar from the side that managed to haul themselves away from the drop zone last season with a miraculous set of results towards the end of the campaign. However, the depth doesn't look sufficient for the the Black Cats beyond the 18 that feature at Loftus Road today, so their business could be key for the club over the next few days.

QPR's latest signing Alex McCarthy is at Loftus Road today but doesn't play this afternoon following his move from Reading. It won't be long before he is challenging Rob Green for the starting spot between the sticks for the Rs this season.

PHOTO: #QPR's newest recruit @Alex_Macca23 is an interested onlooker at Loftus Road today #QPRvSUN pic.twitter.com/2uuEXpP78Q — QPR FC (@QPRFC) August 30, 2014

As we approach kickoff check out our preview of the game to see how the lads at Sports Mole towers see this game going.

A report from BBC Sport suggests that Remy was originally in the starting lineup for QPR this afternoon until 1pm when Chelsea triggered his £10.5m release clause. The Frenchman reportedly offered to play but was left out by Redknapp. Very interesting news.

Sunderland go through their final paces before kickoff at Loftus Road.

Warm-up time at Loftus Road #QPRSUN pic.twitter.com/WnBSHRcuWW — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) August 30, 2014

As do the home side, are we are just eight minutes away from the action.

It's almost time! #QPRvSUN https://t.co/XvhXAFUeYB — QPR FC (@QPRFC) August 30, 2014

The players are making their way out onto the pitch and we should be underway shortly.

We're underway at Loftus Road.

CHANCE! Sunderland threaten immediately as Wickham breaks down the left and he cuts the ball back to Van Aanholt on the edge of the box. The left-back fires an effort at goal that goes just of the wide target as it clips the side-netting.

CHANCE! Great start to this game as QPR threaten now as Barton whips a corner in from the left and Austin rises highest in the area to head at goal, but his effort is cleared off the line by Wickham. Close for Redknapp's side there.

Good start to the game by both sides as the tempo is really high and there is lots of energy on the pitch at Loftus Road. The ball is being played on the deck as well, which is good to see from the teams.

Sunderland work the ball down the left again and Van Aanholt plays the ball back to Wickham on the edge of the box. The striker takes a touch and decides to shoot at goal, but Caulker does well to block his effort.

CHANCE! Rob Green makes an excellent save to keep the home side level as Fletcher's shot looked destined for the net. The Scot latched onto a lovely through ball from Johnson into the box, and he managed to clip an effort goalwards but the keeper was there to stick out a hand and divert the ball away.

QPR's turn to threaten again as Hoilett receives the ball down the left and he takes on Vergini gets ahead of the defender to whip a cross into the box, but the ball flashes across the face of the goal and is cleared. Close for Redknapp's men again.

Another good delivery from QPR this time from the right a Phillips finds space to fire a low cross into the box. It travels all the way to the back post, but Vergini is there to turn the ball behind.

End-to-end so far in this match as Cattermole finds Johnson in all sorts of space in the middle of the park. The winger then threads a perfect through ball for the run of Van Aanholt down the left, but the full-back takes on a first-time shot which goes harmlessly over the bar.

Sunderland win a corner down the left and Johnson whips a cross into the box. Rodwell wins the header as he is unmarked 15 yards from goal, but his effort lacks power and direction and goes well wide of the post. He has history of scoring from corners, but that was a poor effort from the midfielder.

The Black Cats threaten again on the counter as Larsson finds Fletcher on the left. The striker tries to take a touch out of his feet, but his shot is well blocked by Caulker on the edge of the box.

Hefty challenge from Wickham on Isla down the QPR right and the defender goes down in a heap. The home crowd and the QPR players aren't happy about the challenge, but the referee gives a free kick and a talk and not a booking.

OFF THE BAR! QPR come within inches of taking the lead as Fer beats Rodwell and lets fly with a powerful effort from 25 yards, but his shot cannons of the crossbar with Mannone beaten. That was so close to an incredible goal from the Dutchman.

CHANCE! Sunderland work the ball well in the midfield and Wickham collects the ball 25 yards from goal and drills a low shot at goal. The effort has Green scrambling across his net, but it goes just wide of the post.

YELLOW CARD! Cattermole goes into the book for pulling back Mutch as the midfielder just got past him in the Sunderland half of the field. That was cynical from the 26-year-old and he has to be careful now.

Cattermole walks the tightrope as he goes in for a challenge on Fer and clips him late. The Dutchman makes the most of it and there is mass gathering around referee Madeley, but the referee keeps his cards in his pocket on this occasion. That could be Cattermole's last warning.

CHANCE! Hill wins a header from the resulting free kick and knocks the ball into the path of Hoilett, who shoots with his left foot but his effort is straight at Mannone, who manages to gather at the second attempt.

QPR are upping the ante towards the end of the half as Isla and Phillips make runs into the box, which the Black Cats repel. The ball comes back out to Hill, who lifts in a cross for Caulker but he guides his header wide of the target.

CHANCE! Austin turns O'Shea brilliantly on the edge of the area to set up a one-on-one chance with Mannone, but his touch is heavy and the keeper is able to speed out and divert the ball away with his hands and gather at the second attempt. Brilliant keeping from the Italian.

There will be two minutes of added time.

QPR take the lead and the goal has been coming as Barton's coming is headed into the path of Austin by Fer, and the striker powers the ball into the net with his left foot from 12 yards. That is QPR's first goal of the season.

Redknapp will be delighted to see his side take a 1-0 lead into half time, while Poyet will be furious with the Black Cats to concede right on the stroke of the whistle. QPR really upped the ante in the final 10 minutes of the half and were beginning to exert pressure on the Sunderland goal, which finally told with Austin's strike.

The game was quite even for the first 30 minutes as both sides enjoyed good spells of possession and decent changes as Fer saw his potential screamer cannon off the crossbar, while Fletcher had an effort saved by Green. There's plenty more goals in this fixture I feel if the first half is anything to go by, and the next one will be crucial.

PREMIER LEAGUE UPDATE: Man City 0-0 Stoke, Newcastle 1-1 Crystal Palace, Swansea 2-0 West Brom, West Ham 1-1 Southampton.

As the teams enter the pitch again for the second half, take a look at this action shot of Austin firing QPR into the lead.

PHOTO: @chazaustin9 scores his first ever @premierleague goal to put #QPR 1-0 in the first half #QPRvSUN pic.twitter.com/xeXgfjUzcZ — QPR FC (@QPRFC) August 30, 2014

We're back underway at Loftus Road.

QPR win the ball in contentious fashion as Fer brings down Van Aanholt but the referee waves play on and Barton collects the ball on the edge of the box, but he drills his effort well wide of the post.

SAVE! Sunderland work the ball well in the final third of the pitch as Fletcher picks out Van Aanholt's run down the left. The left-back crosses the ball into the box and it falls to Rodwell, who carves out space for the shot, but his effort is straight at Green.

CHANCE! Fletcher drives at goal down the left for the visitors but decides to cross to the back post where the ball finds Vergini. The defender fires a low shot at the near post, but his effort is well saved by Green.

YELLOW CARD: Mutch goes into the book for QPR following a poor challenge on Cattermole.

Couple of half-chances as Johnson whips a deep cross into the box for the run of Fletcher, who guides a header at goal but only into the gloves on Green. While at the other end Hoilett manages to escape the attentions of Vergini, but his shot is straight at Mannone.

Sunderland are having the majority of the ball but are struggling to create in the final third, with the final pass often being the problem. They need to find their clinical edge if they want to get back into the game, because it's comfortable at the back for QPR at the moment.

SUBSTITUTE: Bobby Zamora replaces the goalscorer Austin upfront, while Giaccherini replaces Rodwell and Buckley replaces Fletcher for Sunderland.

QPR are looking the more dangerous team on the counter attack as Sunderland are struggling immensely going forward. The Black Cats can't seem to pick out a forward pass and are being caught short at the back.

Buckley does well down the left and manages to skip past a challenge before he goes down on the edge of the area. Isla was the guilty party, but the referee points for a goal kick rather than a free kick, much to the bemusement of the Sunderland winger.

Sunderland are beginning to exert some pressure on the QPR goal and Giaccherini tries his luck from distance, but his effort is tame and straight into the hands of Green.

CHANCE! Wickham picks up the ball down the right and drives at Ferdinand down the middle and manages to coast past the defender. The striker shoots at goal, but Caulker closes in and makes an excellent block.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Altidore replaces Vergini for Sunderland, and Traore replaces Hoilett.

Sunderland are nearly in behind the QPR defence as Johnson gets in down the left and the winger tries to force a cross in at the near post, but Hill is there to divert the ball away from Wickham and over the bar.

CHANCE! The Black Cats go close as Altidore peels off his man and tees up Van Aanholt on the edge of the box, but the defender's shot goes inches wide of the target.

CHANCE! Green makes an excellent save to keep his side ahead as he beats Giaccherini's powerful effort away from goal as the strike looked destined for the top corner.

There will be four minutes of added time and QPR have shaved a few seconds of that by replacing Fer with Taarabt.

YELLOW CARD: Giaccherini goes into the book for Sunderland for diving.

QPR secure their first three points of the season as they defeat Sunderland thanks to Charlie Austin's first-half strike. The second half was poor and Gus Poyet will not be pleased with what he saw from his side, although he can be accused of being cautious himself, playing with one upfront until the 82nd minute.

Redknapp will be delighted with the way his defence bounced back from their 4-0 trouncing at the hands of Tottenham as they coped with the threat from Sunderland well with Caulker in particularly shining. The Rs will hope that this is the start of them finding their feet at the top level.

Thanks for joining our commentary this afternoon. Stay with Sports Mole for the rest of our coverage this evening. But from me, it's goodbye.