QPR’s survival bid boosted by vital victory

QPR 3 Sunderland 1

Long-range strikes by Andros Townsend and Jermaine Jenas preserved QPR’s fighting chance of staying up.

Loic Remy’s equaliser – his third goal since moving to west London – cancelled out Steven Fletcher’s opener at Loftus Road.

On-loan Tottenham winger Townsend put Rangers ahead on 70 minutes, controlling the ball on his chest and sending a dipping volley past keeper Simon Mignolet.

And Jenas, on as a substitute, thumped home from the edge of the penalty area in injury time.

The victory is a huge boost to bottom-of-the-table Rangers’ survival hopes, although they remain four points adrift of 17th-placed Aston Villa, who won at Reading.

Without injured keeper Julio Cesar but aided by the return of Bobby Zamora, the R’s made a determined start and Hoilett twice fired wide in the opening 10 minutes.

But they were undone after Stephane Sessegnon wriggled away from Ji-sung Park on the right-hand side.

Sessegnon’s ball to the far post was collected by Adam Johnson, whose driven cross was turned in by Fletcher from close range.

A mixture of good fortune and Remy’s clinical finishing hauled Rangers level on the half-hour mark.

Townsend’s speculative shot ricocheted off Sunderland defender John O’Shea into the path of the French striker, who made no mistake.

Remy then had a chance to put his side ahead but blazed over following Zamora’s knock-down.

But Rangers continued to press in the second half and were rewarded with Townsend’s all-important goal, with Jenas’ bullet sealing a potentially crucial triumph.

QPR (4-4-2): Green; Bosingwa, Samba, Hill, Fabio; Townsend, Mbia, Park, Hoilett (Wright-Phillips 78); Remy (Jenas 80), Zamora (Mackie 72).
Subs not used: Murphy, Granero, Onouha, Bothroyd.

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