Queens Park Rangers have secured their first away points of the season with a 2-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light this evening.
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Sunderland were under pressure at the back early on when a Niko Kranjcar free kick fell to the head of Bobby Zamora, but the striker could only nod the ball wide.
The visitors continued to look the more likely early on as Leroy Fer tried to blast a 25-yard effort past Costel Pantilimon, but the keeper held on.
Anthony Reveillere tried to give the home side the lead against the run of play, but Patrick ban Aanholt could only volley the defender's cross high of the crossbar.
QPR continued to dominate though, and opened the scoring when Matthew Phillips sent in a cross for Fer, leaving the Dutchman to head in at the far corner.
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Fer could have added a second later in the first half when he won the ball on the edge of the box, but his low strike on the turn came back off the post.
The visitors did double their lead before the break though, as Zamora lashed the ball in from another Phillips cross moments before the half-time whistle.
Rob Green had to remain alert in the second half as Sunderland tried to get back into the match, but Jermain Defoe could not get the better of the keeper.
The home side were under pressure down the other end as Ricardo Alvarez looked to put the win beyond doubt for QPR, but his path was blocked before he could get his shot away.
Alvarez continued to look Sunderland's best chance of getting a goal back in the closing stages, weaving his way in from out wide, but none of his teammates were there to finish.
Sebastian Larsson also came close in stoppage time with a low strike, but Rio Ferdinand was back to help out, turning away the shot.
The result moves QPR out of the bottom three, while Sunderland sit 14th, just two points clear of the relegation zone.
Sian Cowper
