Sunderland 0-2 QPR
QPR finally cured their travel sickness with a superb victory at Sunderland's Stadium of Light this evening.
Rangers had set a new Premier League record having failed to pick up a single point from their first 11 fixtures on the road this season.
But they travelled nearly 300 miles tonight and claimed all three against Gus Poyet's men as rumours intensified Michael Laudrup will replace Harry Redknapp.
Caretaker manager Chris Ramsey was forced into changes to the side that lost to Southampton on Saturday as Richard Dunne, Nedum Onuoha and Charlie Austin were all unavailable.
There were fears that Austin had broken his foot against the Saints and despite the prognosis being quite so bad the former bricklayer still faces a brief spell on the sidelines.
Dunne's injury situation is far worse and the popular Irish defender will struggle to play again after sustaining medial cruciate ligament damage to his knee. Onuoha has a hamstring strain.
Ramsey restored Bobby Zamora to his forward line and freshened up the defence with the experience of Rio Ferdinand and the Chilean Mauricio Isla coming into the side.
Rangers looked dangerous from the outset and Zamora flashed an early header just wide of the post following a well-taken free-kick from Niko Kranjcar.
At the other end, Patrick van Aanholt tried his luck with a spectacular volley but missed the target as Anthony Reveillere started a Black Cats counter attack.
But it was the Hoops who found the breakthrough when Matty Phillips drilled in a cross from the right channel and Leroy Fer thundered a header into the far corner.
Fer was desperately not to double his and QPR's tally when he struck a post, however Ramsey's side went in two goals to the good at the break when Zamora found the net on the stroke of half time.
Ramsey has given the QPR squad a clean slate and kept his promise by naming outcast Shaun Wright-Phillips in the squad at the Stadium of Light.
He gave the former Chelsea and Manchester City winger his chance in the second half as he replaced the creator of the Hoops' two goals shortly after the restart.
Rob Green was forced into several fine saves to keep his side's two-goal lead intact but Ramsey's delight turned to concern when Fer was stretchered off to be replaced by Mauro Zarate.
QPR lived dangerously and seemed to get away with a penalty shout when Steven Caulker clash with Jermain Defoe, however the referee rightly waved away a couple of handball appeals.
Ramsey handed young midfielder Michael Doughty his Premier League debut with five minutes remaining to cap off a fine night's work for the visitors.
For the first time this season there will be smiles on Hoops fans' faces as they make long journey home from an away fixture.
QPR: Green, Isla (Doughty), Caulker, Ferdinand, Yun, Phillips (Wright-Phillips), Barton, Henry, Kranjcar, Fer (Zarate), Zamora.
Subs: McCarthy, Traore, Hill, Taarabt.
