QPR 0-2 Manchester United

Manchester United edged out QPR at Loftus Road to pile the pressure on under-fire Hoops manager Harry Redknapp.

Reports emerged this week that Redknapp could be one loss away from the boot and if those prove accurate he may not be leading the R's into battle with Stoke at the end of the month.

Redknapp made two changes to the side that were beaten for a record 10th time on the road last week at Burnley as Steven Caulker and Adel Taarabt dropped to the bench.

Nedum Onouha was restored to the starting line-up to plug the hole left by Caulker and Bobby Zamora partnered December's player of the month Charlie Austin in attack.

Sandro and Yun Suk-Young remain unavailable but midfielder Niko Kranjcar recovered from a thigh complaint to make the R's squad in west London.

Action: QPR's Bobby Zamora and Manchester United's Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia

Superstar Colombian striker Radamel Falcao started up front for Manchester United having been axed from the side that lost to Southampton while Robin Van Persie missed out through injury.

England manager Roy Hogdson took his place in the director's box for a bird's-eye view of proceedings and take a closer look at Rangers' leading goalscorer Austin.

Falcao forced a decent early double save from Rob Green as the R's goalkeeper did well to get down low to stop his efforts after Juan Mata had picked out the forward with a lofted pass.

At the other end, Clint Hill's long throw was helped on by Zamora and Eduardo Vargas' acrobatic shot flew just over and Austin warmed the fingertips of Red Devils custodian David De Gea.

He forced De Gea into an even better save on the half-hour mark when he brought down Joey Barton's pass with his thigh and unleashed a dipping half-volley from distance.

Neither side could find a way through before half-time and Leroy Fer went close to changing that after the restart as he climbed well to meet a corner but couldn't direct his header goalwards.

Opener: Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini scoring their first goal

The visitors really should then have broken the deadlock as Angel Di Maria whipped in a cross from the right and Falcao beat the offside trap but Green somehow kept out his effort.

He could do nothing about what was to happen next though.

Substitute Marouane Fellaini, who was afforded far too much space on the edge of the area, brought Antonio Valencia's delivery under his spell and rammed it home on the half-volley.

United had the lead and they were quite happy to settle for 1-0. The pace of the game became pedestrian at times and Redknapp threw on Taarabt and Kranjcar to try and liven up his team.

Isla tested De Gea once more as the game entered stoppage time, however once again De Gea stood up to the challenge before James Wilson rubbed salt into the wound with seconds remaining.

QPR: Green; Isla, Dunne, Onouha, Hill; Vargas, Barton, Henry, Fer (Taarabt, 70); Austin, Zamora (Kranjcar, 79).

Subs (not used): McCarthy, Caulker, Ferdinand, Hoilett, Zarate.