QPR equalled the worst home defeat in their history as Newcastle United demonstrated just why they are the Championship favourites on a miserable night at Loftus Road

Prompted by former England and Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, Rafa Benitez’s Magpies gave a footballing masterclass to match Arsenal’s 6-0 win in W12 in the FA Cup back in 2001.

To complete Rangers’ misery they lost James Perch with what looked a serious knee injury in the first half.

The warning signs came early for Rangers when two chances to head clear a corner were spurned allowing Jonjo Shelvey to tee off a shot from the edge which hit Ayoze Perez and looped beyond Alex Smithies.

Celebrations were cut short by an offside flag, but five minutes later Newcastle were ahead.

The recalled Steven Caulker was caught sleeping at a throw-in allowing Aleksandar Mitrovic to get down the left. His ball back to the edge of the area again found former England man Shelvey and his low shot hit Karl Henry, wrong-footing Smithies who watched in horror as the ball trickled in.

Matt Ritchie was close to doubling the lead minutes later with a cracker tipped over by Smithies and Rangers’ night got worse when James Perch went down in a challenge and had to be stretchered out of the game against his former club.

Perez celebrates the second, QPR v Newcastle United match in the Skybet Championship 2016/17
Perez celebrates the second, QPR v Newcastle United match in the Skybet Championship 2016/17

The inevitable second arrived on the half hour. Again Rangers contributed to their own downfall by losing possession on halfway. Ritchie pounced on the loose ball sweeping it left to right to Perez and although Smithies kept out his first shot he arrowed a second strike inside the far post.

Chery tested Matz Sels immediately after the restart, but it was a false dawn as just three minutes in Shelvey produced his very best with a 25-yarder on the turn which soared over Smithies into the top corner.

The floodgates were now as open as the burst water main in White City earlier in the evening and Ciaran Clark headed home a fourth from a right wing corner, while only Smithies’ brilliant fingertip save onto the underside of the bar from Mitrovic prevented a fifth.

No matter, the suspiciously offside looking Serbian international gobbled up the next chance offered and unmarked Grant Handley made it six, prodding home from eight yards out.

Only the underside of the bar prevented a new unwanted record before the whistle mercifully ended the torment.