It was backs to the wall over the last 10 minutes - but QPR withstood the Sunderland barrage to come away with all three points.
The game's only goal came 30 seconds before half time provided on a plate for Charlie Austin by new strike partner Leroy Fer.
The Dutchman rose like the proverbial salmon to head back for Austin to slam into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
Sunderland chances were few and far between but Rob Green did his job to dive full length and deny Steven Fletcher in the first half, and wrapped up the heartening performance when he parried Santiago Vergini's effort a crowd in the dying moments.
Players before the game wore t-shirts in hour of injured Alejandro Faurlin, out for nine months with a third cruciate injury, and fans clapped and applauded the stricken midfielder on 18 minutes - the same number as the Agentine's shirt.
