Queens Park Rangers' relegation worries were worsened this afternoon as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Goals from Nicklas Bendtner and James McClean either side of Djibril Cisse's sending-off put the hosts in control.
The Arsenal loanee headed in McClean's cross from the left on 41 minutes for his third goal in four Premier League games.
Rangers had an immediate chance to level the match but former Black Cats striker Cisse's header was well blocked by Sotiros Kyrgiakos.
The French striker then made the Hoops' task considerably harder when he was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Frazier Campbell - his second red card since arriving at Loftus Road in January.
McClean added a goal to his earlier assist when his deflected strike beat Paddy Kenny in the Hoops goal.
The Irishman capped a fine individual performance by instigating Sunderland's third goal. His ball found David Vaughan, who in turn set up Stephane Sessegnon to make it 3-0.
Taye Taiwo produced a rare moment of quality for Rangers when his 25-yard free kick beat Simon Mignolet in the Black Cats goal, but it wasn't enough to prevent Mark Hughes's side falling back into the bottom three.
Joe Fish
