QPR suffered late heartbreak at Loftus Road as Wes Brown stole the points for Sunderland at the death.

Trailing 2-0, the hosts had hauled themselves level through Heidar Helguson and Jamie Mackie – his first goal for almost a year – only for Brown to head the winner a minute from time.

Sunderland had the first clear sight of goal after 15 minutes when Seb Larsson's free-kick cut through the Rangers defence, only for Nicklas Bendtner's close-range header to bounce back off the post.

However, the visitors eventually broke the deadlock on 18 minutes when Bendtner's bullet header left the returning Paddy Kenny with no chance after the striker met Kieran Richardson's corner.

The hosts had Danny Gabbidon to thank for blocking Stephane Sessegnon's goalbound effort minutes before the break after Luke Young's slip let in the Beninese.

After a poor first-half display from Rangers, Neil Warnock hauled off Wright-Phillips at the break, with Aden Taarabt replacing him.

The R's were unfortunate not to level six minutes after the restart when Armand Traore crossed for Helguson, only for Titus Bramble to clear his header off the line.

And disaster struck for QPR moments later when Sessegnon raced clear of the Rangers defence before rounding Kenny and slotting the ball into the empty net.

The hosts looked dead and buried, but Helguson handed the hosts a lifeline just after the hour mark with his seventh goal of the season.

Alejandro Faurlin sent in a teasing cross from the left, and the Iceman was on hand to bundle the ball home from close range.

Rangers had the momentum, and they found an equaliser moments later through Mackie. Faurlin floated in another cross, and Helguson nodded the ball back for Mackie to head home.

Warnock's men pushed for a winner, with the lively Taarabt having two long-range efforts saved by Westwood.

However, they were almost caught on the break when Craig Garner found himself in acres of space in the QPR box, only for Kenny to spectacularly claw his effort round the post.

Kenny came to Rangers' rescue again in the dying minutes when he saved Phil Bardsley's effort, but the keeper was helpless to prevent Sunderland's winner seconds later.

Richardson fizzed in another corner, and Faurlin was unable to keep out Brown's thumping header as the Black Cats snatched the points.

QPR: Kenny, Young, Gabbidon, Connolly (Bothroyd 90), Traore (Hall, 80), Derry, Faurlin, Barton, Wright-Phillips (Taarabt 46), Mackie, Helguson.

Subs (not used): Cerny, Hill, Smith, Campbell.

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