Queens Park Rangers secured their first win of the Premier League season with a 1-0 victory over Sunderland at Loftus Road.

Charlie Austin struck in stoppage time in the first half to hand Harry Redknapp's side a deserved half-time lead.

The Black Cats struggled to muster any clear-cut chances in the second period as they fought for a point which evaded them.

Here, Sports Mole anaylses the game to see if the result was a fair one.

Match statistics

QPR
Shots: 18
On target: 5
Possession: 39%
Corners: 4
Fouls: 8

Sunderland
Shots: 16
On target: 6
Possession: 61%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 9

Was the result fair?

QPR did enough to deserve to their win this afternoon, as Sunderland were not much of a threat in the attacking third. Redknapp's side defended stoutly when called upon and were well organised at the end of the game when the Black Cats upped the ante. The Hoops enjoyed the best spell of the game and made that count with Austin's strike, which turned out to be the winner. Redknapp will hope that his new defensive formation can play like this for the rest of the campaign.

QPR's performance

The home side were far from perfect, but did enough to secure the points and you can only beat what is put in front of you. They shaded the first half with their late flurry as they created several chances, one of which Austin managed to put away. In the second half, they went into their shell and played on the counter and were not good enough to get the second, but their defensive display was excellent and helped them pick up their first three points of the season.

Sunderland's performance

Gus Poyet will not be happy with his team and maybe himself after this display. Sunderland dominated possession, but were unable to create anything of note in the final third in the second half when they really needed it. Steven Fletcher did not quite cut the mustard as the lone frontman, and Connor Wickham looks wasted playing on the left wing. Defensively, Sunderland were solid enough apart from the 10-minute spell at the end of the first half when QPR were all over them. Definitely food for thought for Poyet going forward about how he wants to use his players and what he could still need in the transfer market.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Steven Caulker: The defender was solid at the back after a difficult start to life at the club in his first two matches. He made several key interceptions in the final third of the pitch and was dominant in the air. One particular highlight was an excellent covering block to deny Wickham, after the striker had coasted past his defensive partner Rio Ferdinand.

Biggest gaffe

Poyet could be guilty of the biggest gaffe in this game as he left it too long to replace the ineffective Fletcher. Perhaps should have gone with two up front sooner than the 82nd, when he brought on Jozy Altidore.

Referee performance

It was an inconsistent game from Bobby Madeley as he got some decisions spot on and others incorrect. The decisions to book Lee Cattermole and Jordon Mutch were fine, but Will Buckley will feel that he was hard done by not to earn a blatant free kick on the edge of the box, while Emanuele Giaccherini was booked for diving when Joey Barton headbutted his knee.

What next?

QPR: Redknapp's side face Manchester United at Old Trafford after the international break on September 14.

Sunderland: The Black Cats face Tottenham Hotspur at the Stadium of Light on September 13.